Chapter 9.2 - Act 9: Whimsically 2 (2/2)

Despite walking at a slow pace, I could unfortunately still see the entrance to the main building in the distance before long.

My heart trembled like I was in front of the gates of hell. When I pushed it wide open, I realised that there were already countless students gathered, regardless of grade.

“Hey hey! Your name’s there!”

“Where’s my name…”

“Ah… mum… huuk…”

Joy and sorrow were mixed into the crowd.

Some students were in tears after not seeing their name on the board while some were in tears of joy. There were students that raged after seeing the names of other students on the wall as well as some students that glanced across the board without any hope.

Walking through all those students, I stood up in front of the wall.

“Huu…”

There was a large piece of paper that read ‘Freshmen’.

The piano department, violin department, viola department… beneath all sorts of instruments, there was a row called the opera department. That row was further divided to make boxes for A+, A0, and A-.

“…”

After a deep breath in, I turned my eyes.

Rapidly, to A+.

A+: [Kim Wuju, Lee Suh-ah…]

When I read up to there, I heaved out a sigh.

Kim Wuju, Lee Suh-ah.

In the end, the future hadn’t changed.

I was disappointed when a few words written after their names entered my sight.

[…Jun Shihyuk…]

…Jun Shihyuk? Why is his name there? I’m pretty sure A+ was only given to two students though?

My confusion reached the summit when I finished reading the words after it.

[… Jo Yunjae, Han Dasom]

“What…?”

On the white piece of paper, the words written in black font appeared distinct. White and black; the blank space and the font formed an intense contrast and etched itself into my brain.

A+

I… got the highest mark possible at the prac test?

Thinking that it perhaps was a dream, I stood there blankly when a trembling voice reached my ears.

“Yunjae…”

When I turned my head to the side, I saw Han Dasom’s face. On top of her white face, she surfaced a red excitement and poured words out in a stutter.

“Is that… true? Did we really get A+…?”

“I guess so…? There’s no reason for them to lie about it…”

“Then it’s true?”

Our eyes met.

The dull unfocused eyes of Han Dasom widened as tears appeared on her wet eyes. Her eyebrows soared into the skies as her lips formed a teary smile.

Seeing that rapid change of emotion, a wave appeared inside me as well. My blank expression quickly reddened as my heart slowly started beating fast.

I could once again remember the faces of the judges – their vague, curious expressions. When I thought back on it, a smile sneaked past my lips.

Ah… my song…

It seemed to have been okay.

From the side, Chloe jumped in joy.

“Huk! Yunjae and Dasom are both A+ as well?”

“Yeah…! I think so!”

“Wahhh! I’m A+ as well!”

“Really?!”

Screaming with the highest note she had ever made in her life, Han Dasom embraced Chloe.

After rejoicing like that, they dragged me into it and jumped around before eventually dragging even Lee Suh-ah in and making a fuss.

“Haa… haa… Congr…atulations…”

“Un… You too…”

…Of course, it didn’t last long because they all had a weak stamina. After a minute or so, they leaned their backs onto the wall without moving an inch.

I watched them with a smile but a question suddenly popped up in my head.

‘But, why are there five A+s all of a sudden?’

That question was soon answered.

*

The principal’s room I visited after a long time was still the same.

Elegant wooden furniture and expensive instruments decorated the room.

If he was just going to leave them aside like that, wouldn’t it be better to just lend the instruments to someone else? I was looking at the instruments with such thoughts when the principal opened his mouth.

“Ohh student Kim Wuju. It has been a while. Have you been well? Student Lee Suh-ah and student Jo Yunjae as well. It has been a while.”

“Yes hello.”

“Right. Student Jun Shihyuk and student Han Dasom as well – welcome. Thanks for coming.”

After a round of greetings, I could somewhat tell where the conversation was going to be headed to. There’s the vibe they give off before the main topic, with their tone and aura right?

When I saw another man sitting to the side with a smile, it felt all the more so. We were the kids that received A+ and that person was… the judge from outside. In that case, it would obviously be about our marks.

I looked at the middle-aged man with such thoughts and before long, our eyes met as he then faced a smile at me.

“Well, I’m sure you all know me; I’m the principal, Song Muntak. This here is the head of SJ Opera Company, Mr Han Seungjoo.”

“Hello everyone. Nice to meet you all.”

“Hello…”

Seeing us five giving an awkward greeting, the principal gave a clap and immediately brought out the main topic.

“I’m sure you all are busy with your studies so I won’t keep you for long. The reason I’ve gathered you here is simple – it’s precisely because of the prac marks.”

“Yes…”

…He wasn’t going to say it was a mistake right?

Is he going to say something like there being a printing problem for the ones after Kim Wuju and Lee Suh-ah, and that we were in fact A0…

Nervously, I stared at the principal when he gestured for us to sit down. We sat ourselves down as the principal leaned his bum onto an extremely comfy-looking chair and opened his mouth.

“You must’ve realised that there was something strange happening. You probably heard from your seniors that only two students would be given A+… right?”

“…Yes.”

I looked forward with a trembling heart when the principal returned a grin in response.

“It’s all because you guys were too good.”

“…Sorry?”

“What I’m saying is that there is nothing wrong with your marks and that you can be relaxed.”

Joy appeared and spread on our faces.

Thank goodness they weren’t going to cancel the marks.

However, after I let out a sigh of relief, I realised that there was an unanswered question in my mind.

Then why did he call us?

I tilted my head and saw the principal folding his arms.