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After the midterms, it was May.

The day to compete in the piano competition was approaching.
Of course, there are many types of competitions held every month, but among them, the prestigious major competition was the Korean Student Music Association Competition held only once a year in May.

For me, who participates in competitions only twice a year due to time constraints, the Korean Student Music Association Competition was an absolute must-attend event.

But, what piece should I perform?
Since this is my first time participating as a middle school student, indecision clouded my mind.

I took out my phone and contacted my piano Teacher-nim.
I had been keeping in touch with my piano Teacher-nim regularly, but since I enrolled in middle school, things had been a bit too hectic for me to contact her.

– Oh, Dohee! What’s up? –

“Sorry for not contacting you for a while.”

– Oh, no, no~ I’m just happy to hear from you after a long time. What have you been up to lately? –

“Ah, since starting middle school, I’ve been going back and forth between school and the company.”

– Come to think of it, Dohee is already a middle school student, huh? –

“Haha, yeah.”

– You were such a little kid when we first met. Do you know how adorable you were? So how’s middle school? Are you enjoying it? –

Middle school life…
Honestly, it sucks.
Especially now, because lately I’ve been getting messages every day from unknown boys who somehow found my KakaoTalk ID.

“Yes, I’m just getting by.”

– Your trainee life isn’t too tough? –

“Yes, being a trainee is enjoyable.”

– That’s good to hear~ –

“So, what have you been doing lately Teacher-nim?”

– Oh, I’ve been so busy taking care of my Jinhyeon. –

My Teacher-nim had gotten pregnant right after her honeymoon and gave birth two years ago, so she was busy raising her child.

“Then you must be very busy?”

– It’s okay~ Teacher-nim’s husband helps me often. –

“Wait, weren’t you working at a university hospital?”

University hospital doctors are supposed to be extremely busy.

– Oh, I opened a private clinic recently. Now I get off work early and have a lot of free time. –

“Oh, I see… By the way Teacher-nim, do you know I’m participating in the middle school category for this competition?”

– Really? So now Dohee is in the middle school category? –

“Yes. And I’m having trouble deciding on a piece to perform and would like to practice a bit. If you have time, could we meet so you can teach me a bit?”

I was hesitant about bothering Teacher-nim since I knew she might be busy.
Fortunately, my Teacher-nim cheerfully responded.

– Really? I’d be so happy to see Dohee’s face after such a long time! Then let’s set up a meeting right away. I’m free anytime~ –

“If you’re busy with childcare, you don’t have to force yourself to do me a favor.”

– No, no. Well, then how about we meet at Teacher-nim’s house this Sunday? –

“Hmm, Sunday works best for me since I don’t work that day. But won’t your husband be home on Sunday?”

– Ehhh~ My husband will be thrilled to see you. –

“Really? Then can I come to your house on Sunday?”

– Of course! So I’ll see you on Sunday then? –

“Yess~”

.

.

.

I arrived in front of my Teacher-nim’s house and rang the doorbell.

– Ding-dong –

“Dohee~ Wait a moment~” “Wahh”

I could hear my Teacher-nim walking towards the door with Jinhyeon crying on the other side. My Teacher-nim opened the door and greeted me with a bright smile.

“Are you here, Dohee?”

Oh…
My Teacher-nim was wearing a tight-fitting H-line long dress, commonly known as a “missi look¹.”

Looking at her I couldn’t help myself.

“Teacher-nim~”

I set down the strawberries I was holding on the floor and ran to my Teacher-nim, throwing myself to her bosom’s embrace.

“Oh my, even though Dohee is a middle schooler now, she’s still the same little munchkin.”

“Hehe. I’m just so ecstatic to see you, Teacher-nim.”

While Teacher-nim was cuddling me, she noticed the fruit I had put down.

“Dohee! Why did you bring strawberries? You didn’t have to bring me anything.”

“I bought them because I wanted you to eat them. Haha.”

“Next time, don’t buy anything, okay?”

“Yes~”

I should buy something better next time.

“Wahh”

I could still hear Jinhyeon crying inside the house.

“Isn’t Jinhyeon crying?”

“He’s crying because I didn’t give him any candy. It’s okay.”

Following Teacher-nim to the living room, I saw Ajeossi comforting Jinhyeon, holding him while he was crying.
I greeted Ahjussi.

“Hello, Ahjussi~”

“Oh, Dohee is here?”

“Yes, have you been well?”

“Of course I have been well, are you doing well Dohee?”

“Hehe, yes.”

Teacher-nim took Jinhyeon from Ahjussi’s arms and said to the baby,

“Stop. Your Noona² Dohee is here, so you should stop crying now.”

Even though my teacher was holding him, Jinhyeon showed no sign of stopping his crying.

“Candy…Wahh..”

My Teacher-nim’s embrace usually calmed even Doa quickly, but it seems Jinhyeon is quite stubborn.
I approached Teacher-nim, made eye contact with Jinhyeon, and asked.

“Noona brought strawberries. Do you want to eat them with your Noona?”

Only then did Jinhyeon finally stop crying for a moment and said.

“Mm…”

“Sigh, you never listen to your Mom but you stop crying immediately when a pretty Noona comes.

“Hehe.”

While Teacher-nim washed the strawberries I bought and placed them on a pretty tray, I sat at the dining one of the table’s chairs holding Jinhyeon in my arms.
Teacher-nim placed the tray with the washed strawberries on the table and said.

“So, Dohee, are you still practicing the piano every day?”

As I put a strawberry in Jinhyeon’s mouth I responded.

“Yes, after practice, I can’t play at home because it’s nighttime, but I make sure to play for at least an hour a day in the company’s vocal room.”

“Really? That’s good to hear. So, you haven’t decided on a piece for the competition yet?”

“Not yet, but I have some candidates.”

“Which ones?”

“Paganini, Liszt’s Études No. 6, Chopin’s Revolutionary Etude, and Liszt’s Mephisto Waltz. I’ve been thinking about these for now.”

“Hm… I think the Mephisto Waltz would be good.”

“Isn’t the Mephisto Waltz³ too difficult?”

“Ehh, come on, you’ve played a Scherzo at eight years old. You put it on the list of candidates because you’re confident enough.”

“Hehe, that’s true.”

“Let’s try playing it once and then decide. How about we try it right now?”

“Yes.”

I lifted Jinhyeon and handed him to Ahjussi and followed Teacher-nim into the piano room, sitting in front of the piano.
Teacher-nim took the Mephisto Waltz sheet music from the bookshelf and placed it on the piano stand.

“Okay, now why don’t you try playing it now?”

“Yes, I’ll try my best.”

I began playing.
In the middle of my performance, Teacher-nim interrupted me, pointing at the sheet music and said,

“Dohee, you’re playing the first and third parts too similarly. You need to give a more intense feel to the third part; otherwise, it becomes monotonous and the music feels flat.”

“Okay. I’ll try again.”

I started playing again.
Once more, in the middle of my performance, Teacher-nim interrupted and commented,

“Dohee, you did well on what I mentioned earlier, but could you try playing the beginning a bit shorter? Teacher-nim thinks it’s too long. Try playing it more aggressively.”

“Yes.”

During the lesson, Teacher-nim gave me various pieces of advice.

“When I say to play short I mean play it dryly like a percussion instrument, Dohee. You got that?”
“Play with a softer sound. Gradually lighten up as you go towards the end of the phrase.”
“Play the second part longer; you’re playing it like the first part right now. Extend the notes.”
“Think of it as pizzicato⁴ and play it.”
“Going in and out~”

Indeed, learning with Teacher-nim made it clear what feelings I wasn’t expressing immediately.

.
.
.

While practicing the piano, it had gotten dark outside.
I must’ve been playing for at least four hours.

“Teacher-nim, aren’t you tired?”

“Why, Dohee, are you tired? Should we stop?”

“I’m tired, and besides, more than anything you need to have dinner. Ahjussi must be hungry.”

“Omo, really? I completely forgot. I should quickly prepare dinner.”

Then, my Teacher-nim hugged me as she always did and said,

“But Dohee, your skills have improved. Right?”

“Hehe, not really. Rather, since I’ve been practicing less, I think my skills have decreased.”

“Ehh~ Nonsense, decreased? The Mephisto Waltz is such a difficult piece to begin with that even high school students make mistakes while performing it, so it’s impressive that you’re playing it without mistakes.”

“Hehe.”

“And what Teacher-nim taught you today is my viewpoint and feelings about the song, so later you should find your own expressionism and perform it, okay?”

“Yes~”

“Okay, okay. Let’s eat dinner now.”

.
.
.

Competition day.

I sat alone in the waiting room, wearing earphones, replaying and listening to the piece I was about to perform.

I was actually really looking forward to my middle school piano competition.
I heard that unlike the elementary division, the middle school category has a larger audience and longer performances.
I thought I might enjoy a proper stage performance.

But when I actually got here, the number of spectators was similar, and the performance time was two minutes, longer than the one minute for the elementary division.

In fact, there was nothing the organizers could do about it.

“Number 706, Lee Gunwoo.”

The number of participants exceeded 800.
By doing a simple calculation if each participant played for 2 minutes, just the performance time alone would be 1600 minutes.
That’s why, the middle school division had the competition divided over five days, but it still took about six hours each day.

“Number 707, Lee Naeun.”

Finally, it was my turn next.

I moved to the steps beneath the stage.

Two minutes later.
Ding~ with the sound of the bell, the announcer said~

“Number 708, Lee Dohee.”

I went up onto the stage as my name was called.
And then sat at the piano and started playing immediately.

The beginning was dry and concise, played with a percussive, frightening feeling.
As I transitioned to the second part, I wanted to make it more intense, but not too strong.
In the third part, I hit the keys vigorously.
While also adding delicate strokes throughout the piece.

Soon, the two minutes were up, and the bell rang signaling the end of the performance.

“Number 709, Lee Boa.”

I stepped down from the stage.

Oh, the performance felt too short and not enjoyable at all.
Maybe I shouldn’t participate in the next competition.

I want to debut quickly and stand on a real stage.

I left the waiting room and went to the audience seats where my Mom was.
Initially, my Dad and Doa came with me, but since it’s an annual event that happens twice a year, I asked them not to come.
Even if they did come, it wouldn’t have been much different.
After all, it was just a 2-minute performance.

There she is.

I approached my Mom and asked.

“Mom, did you record a video?”

“Yes. There’s no awards ceremony, correct?”

“Yes. The awards will be sent by courier a week later. We’ll find out what award I got then.”

“Really? But the middle school students all played so well. Do you think you won’t get the grand prize this time?”

I sighed and said while looking at my Mom.

“Haa. The daughter is a musical prodigy, but her Mother is tone deaf. It’s a tragedy. Oh, a tragedy.”

“Why is she acting like this again?”

“Mom, it’s all about the details. Even when pressing a key, it involves different amounts of force and timing.”

“Really? Well, you and I have a 2.6 cm difference, but Mom is a B-cup while you’re an A-cup, the details do matter.”

Usually, I would have become dumbfounded from my Mom’s disparaging remarks about my chest.

But not anymore.

“I’m sorry, but I’m going to be a B-cup soon too. A few days ago, I felt my chest was tight, so I checked again, and I’m only 1 cm away from transcending to B-cup.”

“Yes, next is an A-cup.”

Hu…
According to my Dad, my late grandmother had a very large chest.
I believe in my Dad’s genes and I also trust in pomegranates.

.
.
.

A week later, the package arrived from the courier and inside was the grand prize trophy and plaque.

1. This is a Korean fashion term that refers to a particular style of clothing often associated with married women in their late 20s or early 30s. It typically involves tight-fitting, body-con dresses or skirts that accentuate the figure.
2. Older sister term for males while Unnie is used by females
3. If you want to listen here’s the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rIaOI0Y06g
4. The term “pizzicato” in this context refers to playing the music as if it were plucked, like a string instrument would be. It suggests a light, crisp, and detached sound.
   

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