Devil’s Music

In a daze, Kiska watched her grandmother's aggressive suppression and only intervened belatedly with a flustered attempt to stop her.

Holding a broom and wary of Geon, the grandmother finally apologized with an embarrassed face after listening to her granddaughter's lengthy explanations.

The old grandmother's sweeping wasn't painful, and Geon, particularly sensitive to his grandmother, just smiled and reassured her that he was fine, soothing her instead.

After the grandmother returned to her room, Geon, wanting some fresh air, went outside and sat on a rock in front of a cliff.

The night view below the cliff felt different from Nepal, but the air was just as fresh and refreshing.

Sitting on the rock and stretching broadly, Geon crossed his arms and got lost in thought about various recent events—helping Arthur, handling school matters, and Kiska's issues. He had put aside his musical research and contemplations for a while and now found himself pondering music-related challenges in front of the vast natural landscape.

"The anthem I handed over to Arsenal was a success, but there are still unresolved parts. Especially the afterimage of complementary colors... I can't even get a feel for it, and though I've figured out how to incorporate three colors, whether that's everything, I don't know. Does it really require bending to incorporate three emotions?"

Lost in his thoughts, Geon was viewed from afar by Kiska, who had come out looking for him, worried because he hadn't returned late into the night.

Relieved at the sight of Geon from the back as she stepped out of the house, she wore a cardigan and approached him.

The usual view greeted her as she opened the door, but now framed within the grand natural scenery, only Geon's back was different.

But that alone made the familiar scene feel overwhelmingly beautiful to Kiska, who tiptoed closer to Geon with a smile.

She had thought to play a prank, but seeing Geon so deeply engrossed in thought with a serious expression, she quietly sat next to him on the rock, taking care not to make a sound.

Kiska's eyes softened as she gazed at the seriously contemplating profile of Geon, which looked stunningly beautiful.

The person she had merely considered handsome was now beginning to appear different to Kiska, who was entering adolescence.

His wavy black hair just covered his eyebrows.

His thick eyebrows and long eyelashes, deep-set eyes.

Perfectly sized and beautiful black pupils.

A nose high enough to fit the word 'sharp'.

Lips that looked like they could bleed any moment.

A white face with smooth lines.

And below that, a softly protruding Adam's apple.

Kiska's youthful heart began to change. He was just a person she wanted to be with, someone she wanted to own, someone she didn't want taken away by others, almost like a real older brother.

Her heart pounded insanely as she looked at the deep-thinking profile of Geon, whose face turned slowly towards her, unaware she had approached.

"When did you come?"

Stunned, Kiska fanned her face, feeling the heat.

"Ah... It's, it's hot."

Smiling, Geon tidied up Kiska's bangs with a tender voice.

"Gregory told me. You've been into soccer lately, haven't you?"

Enjoying the pleasant touch, Kiska shyly nodded.

"Mmm... But the season just ended, so no games. I'm studying by watching highlights. It's a sport with a surprisingly deep history."

"That's right, it's been over a hundred years."

Even just sitting silently together on the cliff felt awkward for Kiska, who still blushed and asked.

"Have you heard about Arsenal?"

Lowering his hand from stroking Kiska's hair, Geon replied.

"Yeah, finished second in the league, semifinals in the Champions, and won the FA Cup."

"Yeah, it's been all the buzz. They say next season is highly anticipated."

"Hehe, yeah. Kevin keeps me updated after every game."

"The, the... watch?"

"Huh? What about the watch?"

"The, the watch... isn't there another model?"

"Oh, there will be."

"What kind is it?"

"Gretsch is a place with a long history, not just the White Falcon. There'll be sunburst and orange models for new custom watches, probably coming out in two months."

"Are they making women's watches this time?"

"Yeah, the orange model will be for women. I've specially ordered yours, so you'll be able to have a series of your own."

"Uh, uh, thanks."

As Geon placed his hand on Kiska's shoulder, he asked.

"Kiska, you're stuttering more than usual. Is there a problem?"

As Geon touched her shoulder, Kiska, who flinched, blushed even more and exclaimed.

"No, nothing at all!"

She felt fortunate that her flushed face was not

visible in the dark, worry-free place, and she glanced at Geon, who was scrutinizing her with concerned eyes.

"It's really nothing."

"You seem to have a fever. Don't you have a cold?"

Geon placed the back of his hand on Kiska's cheek and then touched both her cheeks with his hands.

"It really seems like you have a fever."

Kiska placed her hands over Geon's and said.

"No... it's nothing..."

As Geon moved to touch her forehead, Kiska, with a firm grip, caught his hand and placed it back on her cheek.

"It's okay, just stay like this."

With no particular thoughts, Geon, feeling the awkwardness in the air, became flustered. Holding Kiska's hands forced to her cheek, he found himself with nowhere to look but around.

"Uh... isn't it a bit cold? Should we go in?"

"It's summer, what's cold?"

"Is it because it's night? Hmm."

"Let's stay a bit longer."

"Mmm..."

As Kiska continued to gaze into Geon's eyes, and he repeatedly avoided her burdensome stares, a slight passage of time unfolded between them, and Kiska finally spoke.

"What were you thinking about?"

"Ah... there's something I've been researching."

"What is it, tell me."

"Ah... haha, I like hearing you call me 'brother'..."

"Just tell me?"

"Ah... okay. Then let me just release your hand for a moment..."

Following Geon's words, Kiska released his hand, which she had been holding to her cheek, and quietly awaited his explanation. Feeling Kiska's warmth through his hand, Geon looked down at his hand and began.

"As I mentioned before, I was researching at the art gallery, and I saw a painting by Georges Seurat that was very helpful. With Abigail's help from the gallery, I read a paper where I saw the phrase 'afterimage of complementary colors'. I'm still researching how to apply this musically."

Kiska asked with wide eyes.

"Complementary colors? You mean two contrasting colors?"

"Yes, exactly. When you place two contrasting colors, a completely different color afterimage appears."

"Mmm... I see."

"Ah, now that I think about it, Kiska, you see colors in text, right?"

"Yes."

"Haha, now that I think about it, I see music scores, and you see colors in text. You're the only person who understands that about me."

"Yes, I like that."

"What do you like?"

"That you understand seeing colors. You're that person for me too."

"Ah... haha that, that's nice. Are you still reading a lot?"

"Yes, dad often buys me books."

"What are you reading?"

"Yesterday I read 'The Brothers Karamazov' by Fyodor Dostoevsky."

Geon's face stiffened. Kiska, who usually pestered him to read fairy tales to her, was reading a book even adults found challenging.

"Do... Dostoevsky?"

"Yes, I've read all his books now."

"Why read such books while still wanting fairy tales..."

Kiska, flustered for a moment, quietly said.

"Oh, I like falling asleep to brother's voice..."

If it had been like before, Geon would have just smiled and patted the cute Kiska's head, but now he was visibly flustered. He coughed and looked away at distant mountains, awkwardly avoiding her gaze. Kiska, noticing his discomfort, leaned her head gently on Geon's shoulder beside her and smiled blissfully.

Though he couldn't see her expression, feeling Kiska's head on his shoulder warmed Geon's heart, and he smiled.

Kiska, fiddling with Geon's fingers, suddenly remembered something and said.

"Ah! I think I read about that in a book."

Startled by Kiska looking up at him so closely, Geon pulled his head back.

"Uh, what?"

"That thing, the afterimage of complementary colors."

"Oh?"

Kiska, wrapping her arms around Geon's, said.

"Doctors wear green scrubs because of the afterimage of complementary colors. I read that when doctors spend long hours looking at blood, they become accustomed to the color red. When they look up and see another doctor or nurse in white, the complementary colors red and green swirl in their eyes, causing confusion and significantly reducing their concentration. That's why all the staff in the operating room wear green."

Geon, learning a new fact, just nodded his head.

"Mmm, so that's the hidden meaning."

Kiska looked up at Geon with wide eyes and added.

"But that book also said something else. White is a color where all colors are mixed, so the afterimage of complementary colors is distinct. People who need to avoid the afterimage of complementary colors should not use white."

"White?"

"Yes, white

. And... there was also a story about Eastern temples."

"Temples? You mean Buddhist temples?"

"Yes, Eastern temples appear mysterious and splendid because they use green and red, two contrasting complementary colors, making each other appear clearer and more distinct. The book also said that Eastern temples do not use white."

"White... white, you say."

Seeming to have gotten a hint, Geon's eyes sparked as he looked over the cliff.

Quietly watching Geon fall into thought, Kiska smiled again and leaned her head on his shoulder.

As the night deepened for Kiska, happy by just being beside Geon, the stars in Georgia's clear sky shone a warm light down on them, and the laughter of a joy-filled girl glowed beautifully.

>

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