Chahyun’s gaze was sharp enough to look like he was suspicious of Yiyoung. Yiyoung was flustered by his attitude, but the words were even more incomprehensible.
With a rather confused expression, Yiyoung asked Chahyun.
“How did you know it wasn’t my clothes?”
In the photo, Yiyoung was wearing a bright red long padded coat in primary colors that felt overwhelming. It was a large coat that looked like he was buried in it when Yiyoung wore it. So one could naturally think it was someone else’s clothes, but Chahyun spoke in a tone of certainty as if he already knew.
‘Is it just my imagination?’
It was just a nuance, so it wasn’t a big deal.
Still, as he was bewildered by the inexplicable sense of discord, Chahyun opened his annoying mouth again.
“Because it’s a luxury brand.”
……He had no idea. Though it was a bit frustrating that he assumed Yiyoung couldn’t afford to buy luxury goods then or now, he readily agreed. Yiyoung answered with a calmly relaxed expression.
“Someone took it off for me on my way home after a performance. Said they were a fan.”
Yiyoung still remembered that person’s face and voice exactly.
She was a young woman who appeared to be a college student and had a smaller build than Yiyoung. Since she was wearing a long padded coat that was large even for Yiyoung, she naturally remained in his memory. Just as he’d told Chahyun, he’d finished performing on the street and was about to go home when she came running after him breathlessly and said:
‘I see you often here, so from now on come out wearing this.’
Then she suddenly took off the padded coat so long its hem touched the ground and handed it to Yiyoung. Yiyoung waved his frozen hands, as red as the color of the padding she’d handed him, refusing adamantly. She stubbornly placed the coat in Yiyoung’s arms.
‘I’m colder watching you. Take it.’
The woman who’d given the unexpected gift turned around and fled in a hurry while Yiyoung was flustered. At that time, Yiyoung stared blankly at her retreating figure thinking foolishly, ‘She’s wearing another padded coat under her padding?’ Having fled quite far, she suddenly looked back at Yiyoung as if remembering a forgotten mission and shouted loudly.
‘I’m a fan!’
At that moment, Yiyoung flushed so hotly he completely forgot about the cold wave of nearly -20 degrees Celsius.
He was so happy. That was why he’d worn the long padded coat until the floor wore out for an entire season after that day, and had kept it preciously in his closet like a shrine until now. Though he absolutely never wore it anymore lest it wear out, he had it dry-cleaned every year.
Chahyun glared fiercely as if trying to see through Yiyoung and asked again.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“What was that person who was a fan like?”
“Just, ordinary……”
“Don’t you remember their face?”
“No. I remember.”
When he answered this clearly, Chahyun muttered low to himself with a pensive face.
“He remembers.”
He had no idea what Chahyun was curious about.
Somehow feeling like he was being interrogated, Yiyoung awkwardly scratched his temple. Chahyun soon shrugged and relaxed his somewhat sharp expression and atmosphere.
“I asked because I have the same clothes.”
“Ah.”
If Chahyun wore it, it must really be a luxury brand. Actually, to Yiyoung’s eyes it didn’t look much different from clothes sold in stores inside traditional markets. He’d only thought it was a flashy color that fashionable elders would like.
By the way, this was the third time Chahyun had shown interest in Yiyoung’s performances. Yiyoung thought deeply with a puzzled expression.
‘Does he want to try performing?’
It might be natural, but originally Chahyun had deep knowledge of music. That fact could be known just by hearing the sharp impressions he’d occasionally given in passing about Yiyoung’s work. But in Yiyoung’s view, he not only had a high level of understanding of music but also liked it quite deeply.
When appreciating good music together, Chahyun often showed a trembling face. That wasn’t an expression made just from having a lot of knowledge about music. Chahyun loved music.
Though he didn’t know why he didn’t tell his composer lover that.
When Yiyoung mentioned music, just as when he was curious about Chahyun’s family or work, Chahyun would cleverly change the subject. So Yiyoung hadn’t persistently pressed him either.
But the current Chahyun might tell him honestly.
Yiyoung asked Chahyun with a brightly lit expression.
“Chahyun-ssi, do you know how to play any instruments? You like music.”
Somehow it seemed Chahyun would have learned various instruments as an accomplishment from childhood. It was natural he’d play anything at a high level. Moreover, since he even liked it, how could it be otherwise?
Chahyun asked back with a visibly sullen expression.
“Are you curious?”
“Yes. Very much so.”
Chahyun let out a deep, heavy sigh and answered.
“Bring any instrument from home. I’ll show you.”
As expected, it seemed there was no instrument he couldn’t handle.
Without any hesitation, Yiyoung hurriedly brought his most favorite instrument, an acoustic guitar. Chahyun held the guitar he received from Yiyoung in a posture that was even elegant. Just from that, Yiyoung was purely impressed.
Really wonderful. With a perfect handsome man holding his favorite instrument, it was truly a masterpiece painting. In that beautiful appearance, Chahyun cleared his throat.
“It’s a song I made.”
He even composes! Yiyoung’s chest swelled with uncontrollable anticipation.
His heartbeat quickened so rapidly that Yiyoung’s chest expanded greatly and his shoulders rose. As he looked at Chahyun with sparkling eyes, the performance began. Immediately, Yiyoung doubted his ears and frowned.
His eyes widened during the song’s intro. As if adding insult to injury, when Chahyun started singing as if he’d even added lyrics, his head lowered. Gradually becoming restless, he was pointlessly bouncing his buttocks in his seat when Chahyun mercilessly sang even the second verse.
Having finally finished the complete song, Chahyun asked with a shameless expressionlessness.
“How is it?”
How is it? Surely you’re not asking for my opinion?
Facing a desperate crisis, Yiyoung clutched his sweaty palms. Perhaps Chahyun was quite pleased with the song he made and his singing skills. He didn’t want to hurt him with an honest impression.
But he absolutely couldn’t lie.
He was scared that if he clumsily flattered him, he’d want to play his music all day. Moreover, if he gained confidence and played recklessly in front of other people, it would be truly disastrous. He didn’t want a situation where several victims other than Yiyoung were created because of his flattery.
Yiyoung opened and closed his lips, choosing his words for a while before giving an honest impression that was as abstract as possible without any exaggeration.
“It sounded like a dead cat’s crying.”
It was an amazing talent to use such a good voice so terribly.
The performance was also terrible. The melody Chahyun created was clumsy and boring. Today, right now, Moon Chahyun had shaken like an earthquake Yiyoung’s belief that he’d believed without doubt until now that all music had its own value, no matter how immature.
In conclusion, in all his life, this was the first time he’d seen someone so devoid of musical talent.
Chahyun didn’t stop there and said something like a bolt from the blue.
“I’ve always wanted to be a musician since I was young.”
“No!”
Yiyoung was startled by the shout that reflexively burst out before he could even think and gasped, covering his mouth. Chahyun frowned bitterly at Yiyoung and said.
“No matter how hard I tried, it was like this, so I gave up too, so don’t scold me like that.”
Only after hearing that did Yiyoung let out a long sigh of relief and stroked his chest. At the same time, he had this realization.
‘That’s why he didn’t tell me he could play instruments or compose.’
Because if that were the case, even the timid Yiyoung would have persistently begged to hear it just once.
Thinking that way, he suddenly felt sorry for the reaction he’d just shown Chahyun. He’d given too harsh an evaluation to someone whose dream was no less than to be a musician. Not just anyone else, but Moon Chahyun, who had looks, wealth, and intellectual ability all together, must have been very disheartened when he gave up on what he most wanted to do.
Whether fortunately or not, Chahyun didn’t seem particularly upset, just frustrated.
“It’s strange, isn’t it? What’s inside me is clearly beautiful, but when I bring it out, it’s not. I don’t know how to express it without ruining it. Bae Yiyoung-ssi has done it naturally since birth, so you can’t relate at all.”
