A practice room that Professor Lee Chan-ho hastily rented.
If you talked to Professor Lech, you could use the Warsaw Conservatory's practice room, but Professor Lee Chan-ho insisted on renting a practice room in a nearby academy. He seated Soo-hyun in front of the piano and explained with an excited expression that he secretly looked forward to having the opportunity to listen carefully to Soo-hyun's performance.
Chopin could not confess his love to his first love, a woman named Gladkowska, whom he secretly admired, and they broke up during a trip. It is said that at that time, he was unaware that he would never again step foot in his homeland.
Professor Lee Chan-ho, who had been trying to explain Chopin's state of mind while composing the piece, bowed his head at Soo-hyun's reaction.
"Huh? Why are you laughing?"
You could see Soo-hyun laughing heartily.
'Is she laughing while describing a song of deep sorrow and separation? Now that I think about it, it seems like this is the first time I've seen her laugh.'
Soo-hyun, who was laughing, asked.
"Did you leave without confessing? Were you left?"
"Huh? No… Well, I can't say there was a difference. I couldn't even express my feelings."
"Uncle Franz would probably laugh a lot if he heard that, haha."
'Who is Uncle Franz? This child is simply unmanageable.'
"Alright, let's continue. Upon leaving Vienna and traveling through France and Italy, Chopin heard news of a revolution in Poland, which was then divided and ruled by the three countries of Prussia, Russia, and Austria. He desperately wished for the revolution to succeed."
If Soo-hyun had continued smiling, Professor Lee Chan-ho would have felt hurt. But Soo-hyun soon began to listen to his words with a serious expression.
"The revolution was brutally suppressed by the Russian army that invaded Poland, and as a result, Chopin decided never to return to his homeland, shattered by Russia. Poland never gained independence during Chopin's lifetime, and Chopin never stepped on Polish soil again."
Professor Lee Chan-ho said, catching his breath.
"It is said that Chopin, who always missed his native Poland, never forgot his love for it, as he smelled the soil of his homeland in the pockets his friends gave him. After dying of tuberculosis at the age of 39, the soil of Poland he had preserved throughout his life was sprinkled on his grave, and his heart was moved to Warsaw Cathedral."
Soo-hyun's expression, which had been smiling until a moment ago, changed. A look of surprise at something.
"Pulmonary tuberculosis?"
"Yes, that's right."
'Is it such a terrifying disease?'
"It's no longer a stronghold, but back then it was a terrifying disease. Of course, acute pulmonary tuberculosis is still alarming today. Especially if a patient with other diseases contracts acute pulmonary tuberculosis as a complication, they can die. However, most can be treated with medication and injections."
Soo-hyun's face blurred.
'It's a shame Uncle Frederick passed away from such a simple disease. If he had been born now, he would have composed more songs.'
"Among the études called «Etudes», No. 3, Op. 10, is also called the «Song of Farewell». It is a piece to cultivate the technique of playing a beautiful melody, and Chopin himself is said to have stated that he had never composed such a beautiful melody in his entire life."
Soo-hyun nodded. Frederick said the same thing when he taught her this song.
Professor Lee Chan-ho, who saw Soo-hyun listening carefully, nodded towards the piano and said.
"You said you knew the sheet music by heart. Do you want to play it?"
Soo-hyun nodded.
Music that began to play as soon as she turned her body to the piano without any mental preparation. As soon as the performance began, Professor Lee Chan-ho's eyes grew even wider.
The first words written in the sheet music for the song, "Lento ma non troppo," meant "slowly, but not too much." It was a perfect beginning, and as the performance progressed, Professor Lee Chan-ho's mouth hung open.
'Oh, this is impossible! She really played the sheet music without making a single mistake! When practicing with children for a competition, it's inevitable that they make mistakes, even if they practice a single song for months. But this child didn't make a single mistake without even a score. This is... really.'
Professor Lee Chan-ho barely managed to suppress his outburst of surprise. But about halfway through the performance, his mouth closed, and he crossed his arms. Professor Lee Chan-ho, who was looking at Soo-hyun's back with serious eyes, opened his mouth only after Soo-hyun finished playing and placed her hands, which were on the keyboard, carefully on her thighs.
"Soo-hyun."
"Yes."
"The pros and cons are clear."
"Yes, they are?"
"Yes. I'm clear about what I need to help with, but it's also very difficult. It's not easy for a child your age to adequately understand and express their emotions, even if it's not you."
It was a considerate remark, as he disguised Soo-hyun's lack of understanding of emotions. 'Of course, it's true that children have a hard time at that age.'
Soo-hyun nodded slightly and said.
"Just tell me how. I'll take care of the rest."
Professor Lee Chan-ho's eyes widened.
'Is this something that should come out of a thirteen-year-old's mouth? Isn't this the age where you should be begging for help, asking for help?'
"Oh, really?"
"Yes."
After Professor Lee Chan-ho took a moment to catch his breath, he knelt down and made eye contact with Soo-hyun, who was sitting on the piano stool. Professor Lee Chan-ho looked into her eyes silently. In Soo-hyun's eyes, he was a man of pure goodness.
A look in his eyes as he gazed at Soo-hyun's face, wondering how he could guide the child in a good direction without hurting her.
"Well, Soo-hyun. You already know this song. It's called Chopin's «Song of Farewell». You know it, right?"
"Yes."
"What is a breakup?"
"It's an act of breaking."
"Well, it's not just the act of breaking up, it's the fact that you can never see the person you love again. This song is filled with longing for the homeland you miss, the homeland you cannot return to. I suppose not being able to see the woman you love there also played a part."
"Is that so?"
Professor Lee Chan-ho hesitated as he examined Soo-hyun's face.
'How should I say this? In fact, the simplest way would be to ask them to think about the pain they felt when they lost their parents. Perhaps there's no safer way.'
'But how should I convey it?'
But, to make his worries seem useless, Soo-hyun gave him an answer.
"My greatest sorrow is missing my parents. I have never lost my country. In fact, I don't even know what a country is."
Professor Lee Chan-ho's shoulders felt a little lighter since Soo-hyun took the initiative.
"Haha. Well then! It's fine. If it's deep sorrow, no matter what kind, it all goes along the same lines. And my homeland means my country."
"Is Korea my homeland?"
"Yes."
"I don't feel anything."
"Haha… really?"
"Yes, I don't think I'd feel anything special even if Korea failed."
"That's right. Right now, you probably don't feel any affection for Korea. But if you live there for a long time and form many relationships, you will develop affection for your home country."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, that's for sure."
"You'll understand when you experience it. So tell me now."
"Huh?"
"It's a way to convey emotions."
"..."
'What the hell! I told you what kind of emotions you need to express. This child… Is it that she doesn't even know how to handle basic emotions? Even with such amazing skills?'
Professor Lee Chan-ho said, coughing in vain.
"Would you like to miss your parents in your heart?"
As soon as he spoke, Soo-hyun's expression changed. Professor Lee Chan-ho's heart broke upon seeing the child's expression harden at the mere thought of her parents.
But the words that came out of Soo-hyun's mouth made him burst into laughter.
"I don't want to play while crying."
"Ugh! Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for you to play while crying."
'When I think of my parents, I cry. That's why I played the piano more. When I could concentrate on playing without thinking about anything, I could forget my parents for a while.'
"..."
'That's right. The reason this child possesses such incredible skills, beyond her age, is because she used the piano as an escape to forget the pain and longing for her parents. So that's why you were able to focus on your performance with a concentration no one else could have had.'
"Was that so?"
Professor Lee Chan-ho grabbed Soo-hyun's shoulder with a pitiful look in his eyes.
"Soo-hyun, you know? The sorrow you feel when you cry from the heart is much greater."
'Are you crying too?'
"Don't cry, because when we are happy, sad, or joyful, it is because our heart is first."
Soo-hyun closed her eyes.
'Cry with my heart. I don't know how to do that. But I think I vaguely understand it.'
After closing her eyes silently for a while, Soo-hyun turned to the piano and placed her hands on the keys. Soo-hyun spoke with a voice that was already trembling.
"First of all… I'll try."
At the same time, in the cafe on the first floor of the practice room building.
Kim Ji-ye, reporting to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, held the phone.
"Yes, Nam Soo-hyun has decided to go to Korea University."
'Really? From our perspective, it doesn't matter which option we choose, but wouldn't it be more picturesque to be at the Warsaw Conservatory? It would be nice to show off to reporters later what the government did for the child.'
Kim Ji-ye bit her lip.
'These guys don't care about the child; they just think about themselves. Of course, thanks to that, Soo-hyun enjoys many things.'
"It was something Nam Soo-hyun decided herself."
'Yes, I just said that. But I'm saying it out of regret because Professor Lech wants to take the child. If you can convince him, try. If that doesn't work, there's nothing you can do.'
"Alright, I understand. I'll call you later."
Kim Ji-ye tossed her phone onto the cafe sofa. Although she said that, she had no intention of persuading him. Kim Ji-ye, who had been with Soo-hyun for a while, thought more about Soo-hyun, to whom she had grown fond, than about the government's stance.
"Excuse me…"
Kim Ji-ye, who was very annoyed, turned her head and then her expression softened.
"Oh, I'm sorry."
Han Ji-hye stood with a slightly frightened expression, holding three cups of coffee and one cup of cocoa in front of her. Now, in her twenties and still a student, she couldn't stand the charisma of Kim Ji-ye, who was in her thirties, enough to have a social life.
Kim Ji-ye quickly packed her bags and stood up.
'The superiors' thoughts are pathetic. You must be very stressed as an assistant too. The same goes for me, so don't worry too much. Our Soo-hyun must be thirsty, so let's go quickly.'
"Ah, yes…"
The two women went up to the fourth floor where the practice room was, bowing their heads as they walked down the quiet hallway of the practice room.
"There's no way practice has ended already."
"That's right. We're in the middle of practice, but I guess the professor is still explaining."
"Well, Soo-hyun isn't the type of person who lacks understanding…"
"You'll know when you go."
But neither of them could even cross the threshold of the practice room. Because they saw Professor Lee Chan-ho sitting on the black chair in front of the practice room door, leaning over and burying his face in his knees.
"Professor? What are you doing there?"
Han Ji-hye approached and asked. However, Professor Lee Chan-ho did not lift his head. Instead, his body moved slightly.
This time, Kim Ji-ye asked.
"Professor?"
'Could it be because Kim Ji-ye's voice is a bit harsher than Han Ji-hye's?'
When Professor Lee Chan-ho lifted his head, the two women froze in place. Professor Lee Chan-ho's face was red and covered in tears and snot.
Professor Lee Chan-ho, whose chest was heaving from uncontrollable crying, spoke between sobs.
"Hehehehe… This is ridiculous. Soo-hyun, that kid… is a real genius… Hehehehe."