Devil’s Music

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.

>

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