Devil’s Music

Holding the musical score, Kevin stroked his chin thoughtfully and tilted his head.

"Is this... still unfinished?"

Shizuka, agreeing with him, sat on the floor and propped her chin up as she looked at Geon, who was also examining the score. Geon nodded as he kept his eyes on the music sheet and exhaled briefly.

"Yes, it's still unfinished. I'm planning to complete it today."

"Mmm... I see."

Now seated at the keyboard, Shizuka placed the score on the music stand and seemed to count the beats silently, tapping her thigh lightly. She then asked,

"Uh, it starts with Larghetto but the tempo marks speed up endlessly."

Kevin, having checked the tempo belatedly, agreed.

"That's right. Larghetto means it's a somewhat slow piece, but the tempo marks make it interesting. After the initial eight measures, it becomes Forte (loud), from the sixteenth measure it starts to Crescendo (gradually getting louder), and Verse 1 is marked Sforzando (especially loud)."

As Shizuka continued to scrutinize the score, she nodded.

"And for Verse 2, it only says Fortissimo (very loud). So, essentially, the music starts slow and gradually builds a strong impact, beginning with Larghetto and ending with Prestissimo."

Kevin chimed in,

"Exactly. Prestissimo means to play very fast, just one notch below Vivo in terms of speed, so it should be at least 130 BPM or more, right, Kay?"

Geon grinned and nodded.

"Exactly. Shizuka, majoring in piano at Juilliard, and Kevin, majoring in contrabass, you guys catch on quickly without needing much explanation. You both are correct."

Kevin and Shizuka looked pleased, though Shizuka still seemed perplexed, not lifting her gaze from the score. Kevin stood up straight as Geon chuckled and shook the score in his hand.

"It's still unfinished. I plan to add some flair with bending, choking, and slides."

Still focused on the score, Shizuka put her hands on the keyboard and silently practiced, then asked,

"Where will this music be used? This doesn't fit the vibe of Kay's or Montana's albums."

Kevin then seemed to remember something and replied,

"Fury didn't match Montana's style either, but this one seems too simple, doesn't it? It's too straightforward."

"You're right, it's too easy and plain for musicians like Montana or Kay. This feels more like a chant for a sports event or a work song."

Watching them agree, Geon snapped his fingers.

"That's it! It was requested by the EPL (English Premier League). They want to use Fury as a chant. And I'm adding an experimental track to it."

Kevin's face showed surprise.

"Really? Which team?"

"Arsenal."

"What!! Really!!"

Kevin pushed his guitar aside and widened his eyes, while Shizuka asked,

"Arsenal? I've heard of them, but are they a famous team?"

Kevin looked back at her in disbelief.

"Ha... there's actually someone in front of me asking if Arsenal is a famous team... I thought it was a joke when I read online that my sister doesn't know football, including Arsenal..."

Shizuka blushed slightly, and Kevin, realizing his mistake, hurriedly added,

"Ah! Ahaha, sorry. They're very famous. Well, well, it's okay if you're not interested in football! Ahaha! What's wrong with not knowing, I don't know about the luxury bags women use either?"

Seeing Kevin trying to smooth things over, Shizuka smiled slightly, and he breathed a sigh of relief as Geon looked at him.

"You didn't know?"

"I do, I've played all the soccer games. Ha, and I know better because Thierry Henry once appeared on our famous variety show."

Kevin clenched his fist, moved by the thought.

"Ah! King Henry!! Before he went to Barcelona, Henry was the best!"

"That's right, his stats were incredible in the mid to late 2000s in the soccer games."

"Not just in the games! The games can't even feel half the heat of a real soccer match!"

"Ever been to an EPL match?"

"Are you crazy, do you know how much the tickets cost? Good seats cost at least $150."

"So what, I watch the broadcasts and play the games."

"Anyway! Arsenal has been one of the best teams, never relegated from the first division since World War I! To have Montana's song as a chant there... It's really a glory of life! I'd love to go and hear the audience sing our song!"

Kevin clenched his fist and shouted towards the ceiling while Geon grinned broadly, showing his teeth.

"You'll get to go. The club will probably call you."

"What!

 Really? Wait, isn't it almost time for the Champions League Round of 16?"

"That's right."

"What, then let's watch a Champions match while we're in England!"

"Yes! Great!"

As the two men got excited about football, unlike Shizuka who didn't follow the sport, she bit her lip watching Geon talk excitedly. She felt a strange sense of isolation and made a resolution to study football when she got home as Geon picked up the score again.

"Let's stop the chit-chat here, the chant is Fury. The scores you two have are specifically requested by the club to be played when they are losing, to give a boost to the players and the cheering squad."

As they returned to discussing music, Shizuka found her moment to join in and said cheerfully,

"I see, that's why you told Kay to play it like you're packing a lunchbox for him."

"Yes, exactly."

Kevin grabbed the bass guitar next to him with an inflamed expression.

"Alright! It's a real motivator, I'll make sure to get it right! This could be a career-defining moment for me. I'll brag about it for generations! Now, let me concentrate, don't disturb me!"

Kevin put on headphones connected to the bass guitar and began to focus intensely, while Shizuka, not wanting to disturb him, also connected headphones to her keyboard and started tuning. In the quiet recording booth, only the small vibrations of the unplugged bass guitar and the soft keyboard sounds pressing against the carpet could be heard. Geon smiled as he held the guitar and walked out of the recording booth into the office.

Sitting at the control desk in the office, Geon flipped through a stack of papers Abigail had given him. It seemed she had done quite a bit of research, as the papers were highlighted in various colors. He opened a page marked by a folded corner and read it again softly,

"An upward diagonal represents agitation, turmoil, and explosion, colored red; a horizontal line represents balance and calm, order, colored white; and a downward diagonal represents seclusion and depth, shadow, colored black."

Geon quietly observed the paper and then picked up Haku. Holding the cool body of Haku, which he hadn't touched in a long time, he tried sliding on the fretboard, lost in thought.

'The upward color is red. That means it can bring passion and vitality. The method to raise the pitch is to use sliding and choking in bending. I will discard the horizontal. My song will have no horizontal notes. Balance and calm don't fit a chant. And, I will also discard the downward diagonal. It won't energize either the receivers or the givers of the cheer. But, I must remember, it's a technique I can use in other music.'

Geon looked down at the score with a purple note bordered in orange, and started marking bending notations. Not satisfied with the initial attempts, he suddenly saw the score emit light and dropped his pen. The pen rolled by, changing the color of one of the notes.

'What...is this?'

Geon's eyes widened as he saw a note surrounded by red and purple, perfectly and neatly bordered in orange.

'Three... emotions?'

Stunned, he began to frantically scribble bending notations on the score. As his hand moved, three colors trailed along the score, staining it. Elated, Geon smiled broadly and moved his hands faster. If the color did not change with choking, he changed all the notes on the score to three colors with sliding and one-note raising bending. Geon then lifted his head and smiled brightly.

"Done?"

"Ah! You scared me!"

Grinning with satisfaction, Geon suddenly heard a voice from next to him and threw his pen in surprise. Kevin and Shizuka, arms crossed, were looking down at him from beside the control desk where he was sitting.

"Why aren't you working? What are you doing out here?"

Shizuka, looking concerned, placed her hand on Geon's shoulder.

"Does your back hurt? What about your shoulders?"

Geon instinctively straightened his back and rotated his shoulders, making them crack. The slight pain made him grimace, and Kevin shook his head disapprovingly.

"Six hours, six hours."

"Huh? What?"

Kevin tapped Geon's back and said,

"You've been at it for six hours! How can a person not go to the bathroom or even lift their head for six hours? Are you even human?"

Geon looked surprised and turned to Shizuka, who nodded.

"That's right, I came in and out several times, and you didn't even notice."

Kevin rubbed his stomach and said,

"I'm starving to death, but I couldn't even talk to you about going to eat. Let's go eat, I'm dying of hunger."

Geon looked down at the completed score on the table and licked

 his lips.

"Hmm... I just finished the piece, I really want to play it now..."

Kevin grabbed Geon by the armpits and forcefully helped him stand.

"You're about to die from hunger. Let's eat first, you'll ruin your body. Do you always do this?"

Geon scratched the back of his head as he was lifted by Kevin.

"No, well... sometimes?"

Shizuka looked at him with worried eyes.

"Even sometimes is not good, let's go and have a proper meal."

As Kevin dragged Geon out, Geon flailed at the threshold.

"Wait! Just let me take the score!"

"Forget it! You don't work while eating, huh! Let go! Let's go quickly and eat, then come back and work!"

"Just the score, please!"

"No! Stop it! Let's go!"

Eventually, Kevin dragged Geon away, and Shizuka smiled as she watched them.

After having a late dinner with Kevin and Shizuka, Geon returned to Lincoln Center for about two hours of recording before heading back to Red Castle. There wasn't a pressing need to return early to Red Castle without Shizuka, but Geon felt sorry for the organization members waiting for him outside in the cold winter weather. As it passed 11 PM, he decided to head home to work. After patting the hardworking organization member on the shoulder in front of the annex, he opened the door to find Byungjun, as always, lounging on the sofa in just his underwear, looking at his phone, and waving his hand.

Geon, who no longer wanted to nag, just smiled, left the guitar and a pile of papers he had brought, took a shower, and then sat alone in his room, gazing thoughtfully at the finished music score.

"The lyrics are the issue now. If it's an anthem, it can't have lyrics that are difficult or hard to memorize. It needs to have a melody line that's easy and can be sung by anyone."

While tidying up the papers and scores, the vibration of a phone startled Geon, who then pulled an old mobile phone from the coat pocket hanging on the coat hanger. Although it was a folder phone and he couldn't tell who was calling, he knew that only Shizuka knew this phone number.

"Hello, Shizuka!"

"Yeah."

"What did you do today? Did you eat?"

"Yeah, I did."

"That's good. I recorded today with Kevin and Shizuka."

"..."

"Shizuka?"

"Were you with Shizuka?"

"Yes, why?"

"Just the two of you?"

"No, Kevin was with us."

"Was Shizuka really necessary?"

"Well... not necessarily, but it's a song that sounds good with keyboard. Why?"

"...No reason."

Feeling uneasy due to Shizuka's tone, Geon tried to change the subject. Suddenly noticing the score, he brightened and said.

"There's something I need your help with, Shizuka. How about it? Will you help?"

"...What is it?"

"It's about Arsenal and..."

Geon's explanation continued for a while. For Shizuka, who didn't know what Arsenal was, Geon excitedly explained how important the team was and that the English Premier League is a hugely popular football league worldwide, to which Shizuka, listening without a word, finally asked.

"Do you need me to write the lyrics for the anthem?"

"Yes, and it would be a steady source of income for you, as Arsenal would pay royalties every time they use the music."

"I don't care about that."

"Oh.. Alright then."

"I'll call you again in an hour."

"An hour?"

Click

Staring at the hung-up phone, Geon frowned and placed the phone under a lamp.

"Shizuka always gets cold when Shizuka is mentioned. Was there something between them?"

Geon pulled his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around them, resting his chin on his knees.

"Shizuka wouldn't say anything bad about anyone, so what could have happened between them?"

Bang

The door suddenly opened without a knock, and seeing Byungjun, Geon frowned. Byungjun, holding the doorknob in just his underwear, sheepishly closed the door again.

Knock knock

"It's already late, just come in."

"Ahaha, sorry, it's a habit."

With a mischievous smile, Byungjun climbed onto Geon's bed and lay down next to him.

"Can you buy me pajamas? It doesn't look good for two guys to be in bed in their underwear."

Pushing away Geon's foot that poked him in the ribs, Byungjun wriggled up a bit and tucked a pillow under his head, laughing.

"What's the harm? It feels like we're close brothers. But why do you look like that? You look like you've discovered bat guano in a cave after decades."

Geon frowned more.

"Can't you find a better metaphor?"

"Hehe, I've always been like this. What's up? I was about to come into the room earlier but didn't because I heard you talking on the phone. Were you talking to Shizuka?"

"Yes, she called."

"But why?"

Geon leaned back against the bed wall, inserting a pillow behind him, and sighed.

"Bro, was there something going on between Shizuka and Shizuka?"

Byungjun's face stiffened a bit as he looked at Geon's face.

"...Why?"

Looking slightly exasperated, Geon explained.

"Shizuka suddenly becomes serious whenever Shizuka comes up. It wasn't like this when she was in America, but it has always been like this since she moved to Georgia."

Byungjun sat up slightly and asked.

"When she was in America, it wasn't

 like this? What makes you say that?"

Geon stared at Byungjun.

"Do you know something?"

Byungjun, looking flustered and rolling his eyes, was pounced on by Geon, who then put him in a headlock.

"Tell me! What happened?"

"Ugh!! I can't breathe!"

Geon shifted his position and pinned Byungjun face-down with his elbow.

"Spill it! Spill!"

"Ughuhuhuh, ah, ah! It's ticklish and it hurts!"

"Hurry up and spill!"

"I, I! I'll spill! Our base is under the northern mountains!"

"Not that! I mean about Shizuka and Shizuka!"

"I don't know anything! Where is Harbin Station!"

"Why are you looking for Harbin Station all of a sudden!"

"For the independence of Korea, I dedicate my life!"

"Ah! What are you talking about!"

Eventually giving up on torturing Byungjun, Geon sat on the bed, frowning as if he had just wasted his energy, while Byungjun kicked Geon's back lightly and said.

"It's just girls being jealous. Don't worry about it."

Geon glanced at Byungjun and asked.

"How old is Shizuka to be jealous?"

"Man, a woman is a creature of envy. Even a ten-year-old is a woman."

"Don't insult my cute Shizuka with filthy words."

"Huh? I tell you the truth, and you don't believe me, why did you ask me to tell you?"

Geon shook his head and got up from the bed.

"Phew, if you don't want to tell me, then don't. I'll find out someday."

As Geon opened the door and went to the kitchen, Byungjun thrashed about on the bed and said.

"I told the truth!! You're the one who didn't believe!"

"Ah, I got it, I got it."

After grabbing a glass of water from the refrigerator, Geon dragged a chair from the desk to the bed where Byungjun lay watching him.

"Is your work almost done? I asked Director Lin and he said we need to send the music this week."

Geon nodded and put the glass on the desk.

"It's almost finished. I've asked Shizuka for the lyrics."

Byungjun sat up and asked.

"To Shizuka? You should have told me earlier, you scoundrel. I need to send the settlement data to the company. You used Shizuka for the keyboard, right? Kevin's on bass."

"Yes"

"And the drums?"

"Either I'll ask Jose, or I'll just record it myself."

"Let me know when it's decided. I need to report to the company in advance for the R/S split."

"Got it. I'll let you know as soon as it's decided."

"Did you hear that the club invited you?"

Geon, unsurprised, replied.

"I hadn't heard, but I guessed. When are they coming?"

"In two weeks."

"Kevin will be happy, he likes soccer."

"Yeah, let's take Shizuka and Kevin, do some traveling, and work on Shizuka's popularity in Europe, since she's not well-known there."

"Where's the match?"

"Champions League Round of 16, against FC Barcelona."

Geon finally showed a surprised expression, and Byungjun chuckled.

"They want it played when they're losing, right? It's best to play against a team that's expected to lose."

Geon opened his mouth in astonishment, and Byungjun nudged his knee with his foot.

"Why? You think they'll get crushed?"

Geon, coming to his senses, grabbed the phone. Watching Geon, Byungjun heard the shouting on the phone as Geon called Kevin.

"Kevin! It's the Champions League Round of 16! We're up against FC Barcelona! Yeah! Messi's team! Of course, Dembélé and Iniesta will be there too, right?"

As Geon chatted excitedly about seeing the famous players, ignoring the music, Byungjun shook his head and left the room. After talking with Kevin for about five minutes, Geon lay back on the bed, his heart fluttering, and turned on a soccer app on his phone to look up related articles when Shizuka's call came through again.

"Hello?"

"It's me, take this down."

"Ah, yes!"

As Geon took down Shizuka's words, a bright smile spread across his face. Holding the phone tightly after Shizuka finished speaking, Geon exclaimed.

"Shizuka! That's really good, you're a genius!"

"...Fairy tale."

"Huh? What book?"

"Read me a fairy tale, I'm going to sleep now."

"Oh, okay!!"

Geon went to the bookshelf, picked a book, and began reading

 it with a bright voice. After about 20 minutes of reading, hearing no sound on the other end, he said softly.

"Goodnight, Shizuka."

After waiting a moment longer, just as Geon was about to hang up, Shizuka's voice came through.

"I miss you."

Geon, about to end the call, smiled warmly.

"I miss you too."

"...Idiot."

Suddenly called an idiot, Geon's expression turned genuinely foolish.

"Huh? Why, Shizuka?"

"...Never mind, are you going to England?"

"Yes, I have to. The club invited me."

"When?"

"In two weeks."

"...And Shizuka?"

"Yes, Kevin and Brother Byungjun are going too."

"...Okay."

Geon hesitated for a moment before asking cautiously.

"Shizuka, is there something going on with you and Shizuka?"

"...Why?"

"Oh, no reason... It just seems like you get sensitive whenever Shizuka comes up."

"...Never mind then."

Unable to bear the ensuing silence, Geon changed the subject.

"Ahaha, um... Ah! Carlos says hello, he insists on buying you ice cream next time. And... oh, the guard dog, a Doberman, just had puppies, four of them. And the Shepherds that were born when you were here now weigh over 3 kilograms. They seem to grow every day."

"..."

"Uh, I went to the zoo recently. Shihwa's son is now as big as Shihwa, I was really surprised. Pi is still the king at the zoo, and Ricky looks a bit pitiful, I don't understand why they keep lions in such large spaces but confine bears to such small ones."

As Geon rambled on, eventually running out of things to say, he became flustered.

"And... uh, that, um..."

"I don't like Shizuka."

"Huh? Oh... why?"

"..."

Startled by Shizuka's sudden statement, Geon unwittingly defended Shizuka.

"Sh, Shizuka is a good person, why would you say that?"

"Me?"

"Yes, you?"

"What kind of person do you think I am?"

Sweat broke out on Geon's back.

"Sh, Shizuka is obviously the cutest, prettiest angel in the world!"

"...Really?"

"Uh, yes! Of course, it's true!"

"Fine then. I'm going to sleep now."

"Ah... okay."

Click, click, click

Looking at the disconnected phone, Geon, sweating, couldn't sleep well that night.