Devil’s Music

Carlos had rented the Lincoln Center again for Geon's last project. Given the harsh winter, there was no need to go far, and the Lincoln Center's studio had relatively excellent facilities. It was a decision made because the equipment at the Lincoln Center was sufficient even for practice, not just professional recording sessions.

Immediately after being discharged, Geon, accompanied by Kiska, returned home and headed to the studio where he had left some of his belongings. Since Geon had not yet completed the arrangement of the music scores, the Montana members seemed to be taking a break as the practice room was empty. Geon felt a bit chilly in the deserted practice room, so he raised the temperature of the individual boiler installed in each room before entering the recording booth. Looking at the empty staves placed on the music stand, Geon sat down on the floor instead of the available chairs and looked down at the staves.

"I was naive. Under the pretense of expressing the anger inherent within me, I only created a piece resenting my father, or rather, resenting all parents in the world. It would have invaded and grown within people who were not actually suffering from real violence, causing them to express their unresolved feelings towards their parents through anger. Fortunately, the score I edited in my sleep contained feelings of love-hate, avoiding becoming a social issue."

Geon glanced at the wall clock. Since the hospital always processed discharges in the morning, he realized it was just past lunchtime and stood up.

"I need to reflect on my anger. Asking to listen to a piece that merely expresses my feelings is musical arrogance. I only tell my story, but the listener empathizes and acts on it."

After a conversation and reflection alone in the drawing room with the demons he met in his dreams, Geon had matured slightly. With no bag brought along, a gang member quickly approached Geon as he stepped out in front of the Lincoln Center.

"Are you leaving already? Are you going home?"

Contrary to the expectation that Byung-jun and Kiska would have gone home together, Geon saw that more than ten gang members were still guarding around the Lincoln Center and shook his head with a smile.

"No, I'm thinking of visiting the school library. I won't be out for a few hours, so why don't you go and have your meal?"

"We will escort you to the school entrance. Let's go."

"Ah, thank you."

While chatting briefly with the gang member, people who recognized him began to gather around.

"Kay!"

"Look! I told you we might see him if we hang around near Juilliard!"

"Ahh, look here, Kay!"

Geon felt fortunate not to have sent the gang members away immediately as he exchanged smiles with the people he made eye contact with. While some tried to reach out and touch Geon, a gang member discreetly showed the gun inside his coat, causing them to step back. In Korea, people might be skeptical of bodyguards carrying real guns, but in America, it was common for bodyguards to be armed, so people just thought that Kay deserved such high-level security due to his popularity and followed him to a distance in front of Juilliard.

Standing in front of the school, Geon waved back at the cheering crowd and posed for photos taken by a few people. He whispered to a gang member.

"I might not come out for about three hours, maybe more. Go have your meal and rest a bit."

The gang member glanced at Geon over his sunglasses and said.

"We will leave one person here. If you need anything, please tell him."

"Thanks."

Geon smiled as he entered the school. The students standing in groups in the school hallway stopped their conversations and stared as Geon passed by, but he continued straight to the library. With the school focusing on practical studies and it being vacation, only a few students filled the library. A librarian who recognized him caused a brief disturbance but Geon smoothly entered the library and found a few books on psychology discussing anger, heading to the most secluded spot.

Intending to sit down, Geon pulled out a chair but pushed it back in quietly after seeing a female student across from him studying with earphones. Not wanting to disturb her if she looked up, he climbed up onto a slightly wider windowsill behind a pillar, hid behind the pillar, and opened a book. Geon, who had a fearsome concentration, was soon lost in the books, and hours passed in no time. Without once lifting his head or shifting his position, Geon finished reading two books and closed them when there were no more pages to turn.

Looking out at Manhattan's winter through the window, Geon recalled the content of the books.

"Anger needs to be controlled. But if anger is not released, it becomes pent-up and turns into illness. Therefore, expressing anger is necessary. However, there are many times

when the object of anger is too vast for direct expression."

Feeling stiff in his back, Geon stretched and shook his shoulders.

"I didn't know there was something called the Oedipus complex. This is why one should study. I've been too caught up with music all this time; I should read more."

Geon climbed down from the windowsill, gathered his books, and returned them to the shelves before passing by the sleeping librarian and leaving the school. Opening the school door, Geon was surprised to see the sky darkening and asked a gang member waiting for him.

"Um.. how long have I been inside?"

The gang member looked weary as he replied.

"Just over five hours."

"Oh.. I'm sorry. You must have been waiting in the cold. Let's go back to the practice room."

"Understood. This way, please."

Returning to the practice room, Geon looked at the clock and gave an apologetic smile.

"I might stay here overnight. You can go back and come back tomorrow."

The gang member, whose nose was red from the cold, shook his head resolutely.

"That would get me killed by Miroslav. I'll rest nearby."

Geon felt sorry.

"It must be very cold..."

"That's fine, go about your business."

Thinking for a moment in the practice room, Geon chuckled.

"Come to think of it, practicing here or at home makes no difference. Let's go home today."

Watching Geon walk to the waiting car, the gang member hurriedly said.

"You don't need to do this because of us."

Geon waved his hand without looking back.

"No, no, I want to go home. Let's go!"

Geon himself opened the car door and got in, while the gang member stood watching him, shaking his head but with a smile appearing on his face. After a while, they arrived at Red Castle, and as Geon got out in front of the annex, Miroslav approached.

"Is it really okay for you to be discharged this soon?"

Geon grinned and slammed the car door with force.

"It's okay, I just had a severe headache."

Miroslav looked Geon up and down slowly and then said.

"Could you perhaps tell the boss about it later?"

Geon widened his eyes and replied.

"I saw Gregory yesterday. Is there something wrong?"

Miroslav looked towards the main building where the lights were on with a distant look in his eyes, then turned to Geon with a complex expression and struggled to speak.

"I just thought the boss might need someone to talk to."

Sensing something was up, Geon scrutinized Miroslav's eyes and said.

"Well, shall we go now?"

"Would you do that?"

"It's not a big deal, and it's right next door, haha"

"Then I'll be in your debt."

Following Miroslav's lead to Gregory's study, Geon waited for him to open the door. After a moment of hesitation at the door, Miroslav turned to Geon.

"You go in today."

Having never opened Gregory's study door himself, Geon looked puzzled but then nodded and knocked on the door.

Knock, knock.

"Come in."

As Geon opened the door, he saw Gregory's side profile leaning against the window, smoking a cigar, and with his arms crossed. Surprised by Gregory's lonely and unfamiliar appearance, Geon stopped and stood there as Gregory, with a cigar in his mouth, turned his head and approached.

"Oh, I heard you were discharged. Come on, don't just stand there, have a seat."

Geon sat down on the single-seater sofa where he always sat when meeting Gregory.

"Kiska?"

Gregory grimaced and pointed outside.

"She's probably waiting for you in the annex."

"Ah... haha, I see."

Feeling something was off from Gregory's expression, Geon cautiously asked.

"Um.. is there something wrong?"

A bitter smile lingered on Gregory's lips. After pondering for a while with his arms crossed, Gregory finally spoke.

"I'll be leaving some matters here to Miroslav and going back to my hometown for a while."

"Really? Oh, are you going on vacation?"

"Um, you could say that."

"Your hometown... is it in Russia?"

"No, Georgia."

"Georgia... you mean the small country above Turkey?"

"That's right, it became independent after the Soviet Union was dissolved."

"Ah... the Soviet Union... it was called that when Gregory was born."

"Yes, it's also the birthplace of wine and Stalin's hometown."

"Wine originated there? I thought it was France."

"Haha, many people think that."

"I'll be taking Kiska with me," said Gregory after a pause, his gaze lingering on Geon.

Geon nodded in understanding, "I might be going to the UK soon anyway. I have a performance there. It's only for a week, but I’ll return before Kiska is back from vacation. When will you be coming back?"

Gregory's expression hardened. Geon, seeing his expression change, cautiously asked, "Will you be gone long?"

Gregory looked at Geon, then back out the window, his arms still crossed. "I might not come back."

Geon took a moment to process this, then nodded slowly, understanding the gravity of the statement.

>

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