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“Let’s try and steal it. Let's fix everyone's gaze at the wedding on you, Noona. Make them so captivated by your performance that they don't even have a chance to look at the bride.”
The moment she heard those words, Hee-jin's eyes widened as if they might pop out. Suddenly, the scene vividly played out in her mind. Inside a lavishly decorated wedding hall, herself standing under lights more dazzling than the bride's, and the guests who had forgotten their purpose of coming to congratulate and instead took on the role of an audience…. Just imagining it sent a thrilling shiver coursing through her entire body.
“Feels great just thinking about it, doesn't it?”
It was a remark that sounded as if he had read exactly what Hee-jin was imagining and thinking. Hee-jin blushed as if her inner thoughts had been exposed, yet she found herself nodding.
“Since I came up with a great idea, give me a reward.”
Before she knew it, Seok-hyun had approached her, stopping just before his lips touched hers as he locked eyes with her. His coaxing tone, asking “Come on. Hmm?” was almost cute. Hee-jin tried to snap out of it, telling herself this was absurd, but despite that, her lips were slowly drawing closer.
✾ ✾ ✾
Since Go Seok-hyun provided her with a studio, Hee-jin spent most of her days there. To be honest, the studio environment was fantastic. Despite being perfectly soundproofed, it didn't feel stifling, and the vast sky visible through the wide window calmly soothed her mind.
At first, the fact that she could practice in such an environment felt foreign. However, gradually, it began to feel like a space that fit her perfectly. That comfort lowered Hee-jin's guard.
The thought that she should refuse the sponsorship and return to the United States still lingered in her mind, but on the other hand, a part of her wanted to see how Go Seok-hyun would act.
Whether he was simply using her to satisfy his own desire for achievement, or whether he truly intended to support and cheer for her. She wanted to know for sure what his true intentions were.
‘Is it really right to miss the chance to practice in such an optimal environment?’
The voice in her heart constantly echoed, wondering if she would regret it later if she refused based on a misunderstanding of his intentions.
The Paganini Competition also weighed on her mind. Since he knew she had narrowly missed the chance to win that competition, he must have specifically mentioned it on purpose. To tell her to challenge it once more.
If she could win with Go Seok-hyun's sponsorship…. Just that imagination lit a small spark in a corner of Hee-jin's heart. She became greedy. Moreover, since the Paganini Competition was held once every five years, there was only one chance. The thought that she might never even be able to challenge it for the rest of her life if she missed this opportunity made her feel more urgent.
‘But if it were that easy, I would have achieved it long ago.’
Imagining herself on the path to success, Hee-jin shook her head vigorously to wake herself up and resumed her posture. Bach's <Unaccompanied Violin Sonata No. 1>. It was the piece from her previous audition. Hee-jin's expression became serious once again as she played the violin. Because the studio's acoustic facilities were excellent, the violin produced its finest sound.
She had started practicing to clear her head, but the more seriously she immersed herself, the more her desire to return to America seemed to fade. It had been so long that she couldn't remember the last time she had practiced in such a state of trance.
“Phew….”
Eventually, Hee-jin stopped practicing and looked around the studio. Recently, Seok-hyun had even brought in a large sofa so she could rest comfortably. Though, in reality, he spent more time sitting there watching her perform.
A space just for her, where everything was perfectly equipped…. It was dangerous that she even began to feel like this was where she belonged. Although her head knew she had to leave soon, Hee-jin could not easily shake off her lingering attachment.
“Still the same. Once you get fixated on something, you dig in obsessively.”
Hee-jin put down her bow and looked at Seok-hyun. She didn't know when he had arrived, but he was already preparing a light meal on the table. Hee-jin avoided his gaze and turned her eyes back to the sheet music. She had been practicing a specific part repeatedly because the technique wasn't yet natural in her hands.
“Give me your hand. I'll massage it for you.”
Hee-jin habitually declined the favor offered by Seok-hyun as he approached her side.
“I'm fine.”
“Your hand is numb right now. Especially the ring finger—it looks like it hurts?”
“…….”
Hee-jin looked at him in surprise for a moment. Since he specifically pointed out the ring finger, he must have been observing her condition meticulously. When repeatedly practicing pieces that used complex techniques, the ring finger often took a strain, and he had noticed it like a ghost.
Until her college years, when her practice volume was high, she frequently suffered from tendonitis, but after joining the symphony orchestra, she had been able to avoid strain by adjusting the intensity of her practice. However, since she started practicing in the studio, that aching pain was returning.
Bach's sonata, which requires technical leaps and rapid movement, put a lot of pressure on the fingers. In particular, the second movement <Fuga> has a complex polyphonic structure and many intricate chords, making it inevitable for the ring finger, which is used simultaneously with other fingers, to be strained.
“You should manage it beforehand so you don't regret it after you develop tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome.”
“…I was being careful.”
Hee-jin spoke as if making an excuse, but she didn't stop him from taking her hand after she put down the violin. The touch of his thumb pressing the palm area connected to the ring finger and drawing gentle circles was more skilled than she expected.
As he focused on releasing the tense areas, Hee-jin felt her stiff hand gradually relax. As the exhausted muscles of her palm were leisurely released from deep within, she unconsciously let out a sigh and relaxed her posture.
“Where did you learn that?”
“Of course. I've long been preparing to become Yoo Hee-jin's exclusive massage therapist.”
“…….”
Hee-jin kept her mouth shut at the words, not knowing if he was joking or serious. Seok-hyun also stopped talking and focused on massaging her hand. Whenever he gripped both sides of the ring finger with his thumb and index finger and pressed firmly, a dull pain arose in the joint and then a sensation like it was slowly melting away washed over her. As her knotted hand relaxed, her eyes began to close. Since she hadn't imagined he could massage so delicately, she saw him in a slightly different light.
“Thanks.”
After receiving the massage, her hand definitely felt more comfortable. It was on a completely different level from when she massaged it herself haphazardly.
“Just say the word anytime.”
Seok-hyun smiled and spoke as he took a step closer. Focused on her hand, Hee-jin didn't notice his approach immediately and only looked up after his lips touched her forehead with a peck. As if he had been waiting, Seok-hyun overlapped their lips.
“Mmm….”
A startled Hee-jin made a sound, but it was very faint and soon disappeared.
The hot tongue that pushed through her lips was relentless. It tempted her, entangling with Hee-jin's tongue, which was still stiff as if cautious. At the soul-stealing movement of his tongue, Hee-jin's legs gave way, and she took a step back. She regained a bit of her senses when she felt the hard texture of the piano against her back, but even then, only the sensation of Go Seok-hyun, who poured kisses on her while trapping her, became vivid.
“Hng….”
Every time he swept across the roof of her mouth and flicked his tongue upward, Hee-jin trembled like someone who had been electrocuted. It wasn't her first kiss, so why on earth did it feel so erotic? Was it the magic created by this space?
Even her own moans sounded different than usual. As if a piano's damper pedal had been pressed, they continued to echo even after leaving her mouth. It was so lewd that Hee-jin wanted to close her lips, but Seok-hyun did not allow it. Instead, he stimulated her as if telling her to make more noise.
Seok-hyun pushed his knee between Hee-jin's legs. At the sensation of the knee pressing firmly into her groin, Hee-jin let out a ragged breath. As if disappointed that no sound came out, Seok-hyun smirked and pressed his body closer. She was pushed back helplessly by the force, but the piano was standing firmly behind her.
“Wait….”
“Do you want to go up, or do you want to sit?”
“What…?”
Not understanding the meaning, Hee-jin pushed his chest, asking him to move aside just a bit, but Seok-hyun instead lifted Hee-jin's waist up and placed her on top of the piano. Hee-jin, who suddenly found herself sitting on the wide body of the grand piano, let out a scream.
“What is the meaning of this…!”
“Anyway, it won't be heard outside. Feel free to make as much noise as you want.”
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