The Muse

“Let’s stop.”What am I saying, holding on to someone who just finished work? Sihoo swallowed a bitter laugh and shook his head.“…Never mind. Just forget it.”With those brief words, he turned to walk away. But at that moment, Yejun grabbed his wrist. The hand that wrapped around him was soft, easy to shake off, yet it felt strangely searing to Sihoo, making him stop and turn around.“Where do you think you’re going after saying all that?”Facing him directly were Yejun’s eyes. The brown eyes, which had been filled with irritation, confusion, and wariness, now showed an emotion that was surprisingly… concern.‘You’re worried about me?’Since when? It was ridiculous, and yet his wrist felt like it was burning as if touched by fire. He had a foreboding feeling that he might get drawn into the gaze of the boy staring silently at him.Just as he thought he should shake off the hand and turn away, Yejun spoke unexpectedly.“Follow me.”“…Where to?”Yejun didn’t answer and instead began leading him somewhere. Even then, he didn’t let go of his wrist. To Sihoo, it felt like Yejun was saying, “You came this far, so don’t run away now.”‘I only came to listen to the music.’The plan to listen to a few songs and then leave had unraveled. Despite that, he didn’t feel too bad. In fact, he even started to look forward to what Yejun might do next.Feeling intrigued, Sihoo walked alongside Yejun, still offering his right wrist.⟡ ݁₊ .The first to let go was Yejun. Once they were inside a building, he mumbled “Ah,” and released Sihoo.Rubbing his wrist, Sihoo looked around. A long corridor stretched out in the middle with small rooms tightly packed on either side.Just as he began to feel a sense of confinement in the narrow space, a low voice echoed in his ear.“Here.”“Here?”Instead of explaining further, Yejun nodded. His large hand was now touching a nearby door. With a creaking sound, the door opened, revealing the inside of the room. Watching this, a look of understanding dawned on Sihoo’s face.In the room was an old piano. Scattered on top of it were various music sheets, highlighters, and pencils. Yejun entered first, tidied up the items, and motioned for Sihoo to come in.With two full-grown men inside, the space felt even more cramped. However, surprisingly, Sihoo didn’t find the small space unpleasant. The quiet atmosphere and the solid presence of the piano provided a sense of unknown comfort. He felt his previously tense nerves from the gathering gradually relaxing.A practice room, perhaps? Sihoo rubbed the surface of the piano with his finger. It was smooth, but there were fine scratches here and there, likely from Yejun or previous trainees.“…Nice.”Upon expressing his honest opinion, Yejun’s previously stiff face softened. He cleared his throat and rubbed the line from his neck to his shoulder. Acting somewhat awkward, Yejun soon spoke.“Yes. This is my favorite place.”His voice, now warmer, reflected the change in temperature. Yejun turned his head to meet his gaze directly. His round brown eyes were filled with liveliness. Whether it was because he had brought Sihoo here or because he was excited to be with the piano was unclear.“Why did you bring me to your favorite place?”“You said you wanted to hear it.”For a moment, Yejun’s lips hesitated.“…Hyung.”Hyung, he called him. The unchanging address made Sihoo smile.“You’re still calling me hyung?”“I don’t know your name. I asked Hyunseok, but he wouldn’t tell me.”Right. I told him not to.Sihoo responded vaguely, “I see,” muttering under his breath. Yejun looked at him curiously but didn’t ask further. Instead, he pulled the piano bench and sat down, glancing at the music sheet.He must be planning to play a song. The smile on Sihoo’s lips widened. Without realizing it, he leaned forward, intrigued by the sheet music. The cold scent of winter air wafted from their clothes, now closer together.“Sit down too.”“If I sit, it will get cramped.”“I can’t just leave you standing. Come on, sit down.”As soon as he finished speaking, Yejun raised his left hand and grabbed Sihoo’s elbow. Sihoo narrowed his eyes at the unhesitant touch, but Yejun, still focused on the sheet music, pulled him to sit down.“You’re quite touchy, Yoo Yejun.”Instead of being flustered, Yejun let out a faint laugh.“This much touch is fine. After all, we’ve already had me carrying you.”He emphasized “carrying” subtly. Understanding his intention, Sihoo didn’t lose his composure.“Trying to embarrass me, huh? It’s useless. I don’t even remember it.”“That’s a shame. I wanted to see your ears turn red again.”There was a provocative tone in Yejun’s murmured voice. If I called him cute and patted his head, he’d get angry, right? If I did that, he’d probably get offended and kick me out before any piano playing. So instead of acting on impulse, Sihoo asked a question.“Why are you doing this much? Why are you playing the piano for me this early in the morning?”“Then why did you?”“Me?”“Why did you move as I asked at this early hour? Why do you want to hear my playing this much?”Yejun slowly exercised his fingers. His long fingers moved flexibly in the air.“Just for the sake of some fatigue?”“It’s not just for that, at least not for me. Maybe for someone your age, just a good night’s sleep would do.”“…What’s wrong with my age?”“It’s young and that’s good.”“…”“I’ve already told you. I was tired, I thought of you, and I wanted to hear you play the piano.”“You thought of me?”In a voice that sounded surprised, Sihoo frowned. I don’t like the feeling of having my innermost thoughts scrutinized.For that reason, he didn’t confess that he remembered Yejun’s face, the smell of his cigarette, his space, his look in the photo frame, his soft-spoken words, and his smile.“You’re really good at playing the piano. That’s why I thought of you. Now it’s your turn to answer. Why are you doing this much for me?”Yejun silently pressed the keys. After playing a few notes, he slowly opened his lips.“Someone who comes to hear my playing at this hour, I can’t just send them away.”The added remark quietly resonated in Sihoo’s ears.“…That’s how I feel.”After speaking, Yejun closed his eyes. His long eyelashes and cheeks gave off a soft and fragile impression. However, the sharp jawline and solid shoulders told he was far from being delicate.With his hands on the keys, Yejun took a deep breath. The young man from a moment ago disappeared, replaced by someone exuding depth and seriousness.Noticing the change in atmosphere, Sihoo instinctively held his breath. The sound of his pulse pounding beneath his ears became deafening. Feeling the tension envelop him, Sihoo’s lips twitched.All he’s doing is playing music.So why am I holding my breath?Before he could answer his question, the performance began. With his head slightly bowed, Yejun moved his fingers. Watching his closed eyes, Sihoo focused on the music.It wasn’t the free-spirited jazz that filled the bar. Listening to the softly whispered notes, Sihoo read the title on the sheet music.“Jeux d’eau” (Water Games)The corners of Sihoo’s lips slowly rose as he read the title. Games. Indeed, it felt like clear water droplets were playfully bouncing around.Just listening to it, he could vividly imagine a beautiful fountain. The water, sparkling in the sunlight, sometimes shot up high, other times fell back down, as if playing a game.Sihoo’s gaze gradually lowered. It was fascinating how such a clear tone came from his gracefully moving fingers. The owner of the hands played without excitement or eagerness, simply performing steadily. Even someone like Sihoo, who knew little about music, could tell that Yejun’s playing was clean and precise.Just as the rapid waves seemed to grow more intense, Yejun straightened his back and furrowed his brows. His side profile, with lips tightly closed and brows knitted, showed seriousness.Completely absorbed, Sihoo watched him for a long time. The light in his dark pupils deepened, and his already sharp eyes took on an even keener look.It seemed Yejun didn’t notice he was being intensely observed. Even when he pressed down on Sihoo with his elbow while depicting the surging spray, he showed no sign of embarrassment. The one who reacted to the unexpected contact was Sihoo.‘Hmm.’Suppressing a murmur, Sihoo narrowed his eyes. It was a touch purely for the sake of the performance. Yet the indifferent overlap, devoid of any seductive intent, felt oddly stimulating.Sihoo raised his fingers to touch his own shoulder and elbow where they had overlapped. The tingling sensation, like an electric current, lingered on his skin.As he idly touched himself in this strange mood, Yejun’s hands rose, and the performance ended. The fingers that had been in the air fell slowly and lightly like feathers.“…”“…”Sihoo captured every bit of that slow movement with his eyes. After a moment, Yejun quietly spoke.“The composer was twenty-six years old when he wrote this piece.”As he spoke, Yejun was now looking at Sihoo. Having just emerged from deep concentration, his gaze was dreamy. Aware of his own state, he lightly brushed his face with his right hand.“Amazing, isn’t it? I want to achieve something by the time I’m twenty-six too, whether it’s performing or composing.”Though brief, this statement revealed two things: Yejun was not yet twenty-six, and he was interested in composing as well as performing.“There’s a composer’s note here. You might find it helpful to read for better understanding.”Yejun’s face was gentle as he handed over the back page of the sheet music. The emotions stirred by their second meeting seemed to have calmed through the performance. For Sihoo, a thorough entrepreneur, it was fascinating to see someone control their emotions through art.Rustle.The paper in his long fingers turned over. As Sihoo read it, Yejun repeatedly opened and closed his hands.“Do you have a specific piece you’d like to hear?”Yejun broke the silence after Sihoo finished reading the composer’s note at the back of the sheet music.“Or should I play the piece I performed last time? Piazzolla’s ‘Winter,’ right?”Sihoo didn’t ask for a specific piece or request a repeat performance. Instead, he turned his head and met Yejun’s gaze while holding the paper.If it had been one of his employees, they would have avoided eye contact, wondering what they had done wrong. Yejun, however, met his gaze directly. Seeing the sincerity in his brown eyes, Sihoo immediately sensed that his offer was made from pure goodwill.“I didn’t want to just send away someone who came to hear my performance early in the morning.”Recalling Yejun’s earlier murmuring, Sihoo lowered his unoccupied hand and took out the wallet from his pocket.“What are you doing?”“I feel like I should give you a tip.”Before he finished his sentence, Yejun placed his hand on the back of Sihoo’s hand that held the wallet. The heat pressing down felt intense.“You said you wouldn’t do it because you’d get scolded.”“Seems right to get scolded and give it. Accept it. It’s worth the performance.”Though it was genuine praise, Yejun didn’t take it that way.“You must be very wealthy. Just like last time, and now again.”“…”“Always trying to solve things with money.”Though his tone was calm, there was an edge to his words. Sihoo shook his head.“I’m just trying to be polite.”“…”“In a capitalist world, there’s nothing as certain as money when it comes to manners.”“Is it only in your world?”This time, it was Sihoo who fell silent. Yejun removed his hand and gave him a look that seemed to ask if he agreed, lifting the corners of his mouth. Dimples appeared at the curved corners of his lips. Just facing him made the back of Sihoo’s hand tingle for no reason.“At least not in mine.”“…Maybe it’s because you’re young.”“You said you’re friends with Hyunseok, right? Then you must be thirty-two. It’s a bit much for someone in their early thirties to call me young.”Sihoo, who had been quietly observing, soon mirrored Yejun’s smile.“So there are people who don’t like money. Then ask for something else, because I don’t want to listen for free.”Despite the slightly sarcastic tone, Yejun smiled brightly. It was a fresh smile, incomparable to the previous one.“Then tell me your name.”“My name?”“Yes, your name.”After admiring Yejun’s clear face for a few seconds, Sihoo opened his lips.“…Baek Sihoo.”“Sihoo…”Muttering to himself, Yejun’s cheeks flushed.“Should I change how I address you now?”“No need.”Tilting his body slightly, Sihoo raised one corner of his mouth. His relaxed voice filled the space.“I said I liked it. Just call me hyung.”“Sihoo hyung.”“…”“Sihoo hyung.”After repeating it twice, Yejun nodded.“Alright, I’ll do that.”Sihoo pleasantly absorbed the vitality emanating from him.