Devil’s Music

Chapter 52: Island Village Romance

Chapter 52: Island Village Romance (Part 1)

Late at night.

The island's nights are never silent. Sounds of waves, birds, and various noises fill the air.

The natural sounds, irregular yet not disturbing to the human psyche, don't interfere with our sleep rhythms.

Geon Kim slept deeply but stirred awake, sensing someone's presence, and gently opened his eyes.

Peeking in through the half-open door, a small figure quietly settled by the wall next to Geon's sleeping mat.

Geon watched the figure for a moment before slightly sitting up.

The dark figure, wearing a thumb ring and holding onto their knees, seemed startled by Geon's wakefulness.

Geon chuckled at the sight of the figure.

The figure seated on the floor was Tsuh Mei.

Returning home late after fishing, Haejin glanced at Tsuh Mei, asking about the situation with a teasing smile. After a brief explanation from Seungwon, Haejin, in his amiable manner, not only served food but also offered Tsuh Mei his own room to ensure she could rest comfortably.

Tsuh Mei, who had been sleeping alone in the larger room between the kitchen and the smaller room, noticed Geon approaching late at night and was observed by a hurried VJ, grabbing their clothes and camera, rushing from the crew's lodging to the blue-roofed house.

Geon, unable to see Tsuh Mei's face clearly in the dark room, reached out and led her to the yard. Geon shared a room with Chunho, and he was considerate, not wanting to light up the room or have conversations that might wake Chunho.

Seated together on a bench, Geon and Tsuh Mei began conversing under the moonlight.

"Tsuh Mei, have you been to an island before? It's my first time. Actually, when I was young, my grandmother's place was in Yeongdo, Busan. It's so close to the mainland that calling it an island feels awkward, just one short bridge away."

Tsuh Mei, sitting with her knees folded on the bench, replied while holding onto the back of her thigh.

"Yeah, it's my first time too. There are many islands in China, but where I live is inland."

Observing Tsuh Mei looking at the moon, Geon noticed her side profile.

Her shiny black ponytailed hair was loosely tied back. Her front bangs, trimmed long enough to almost touch her eyebrows, were swept to the side. Stray hair strands and those falling around her ears were incredibly endearing. She had a fair face with a small nose. Unusually for an East Asian, she had distinct double eyelids and large eyes, making her face bright and cheerful even when expressionless.

She wore a pink sweater with a white V-neck, and her legs in short white shorts seemed pale, possibly due to rare exposure to the sun.

Stepping out from the room in slippers, her bare feet, placed together on the bench and wiggling her toes, appeared incredibly cute.

Geon found himself smiling at her and asked without realizing it.

"I've heard Chinese art schools involve rigorous training. Isn't it tough?"

Tsuh Mei nodded.

"It is. We all live in dorms; group living requires discipline, especially in the arts. But since my major is fine arts, it's not physically demanding for me. Those specializing in dance, acting, or martial arts run around all day."

Geon nodded with a grin.

"Martial arts? They teach martial arts at an art school?"

Tsuh Mei explained.

"Yes, in China, martial arts are the foundation of everything. It's rare to find a Chinese actor who doesn't know martial arts. There might be variations in strength, but everyone learns the basics. Even singers usually learn some martial arts."

Geon playfully waved his hands in the air.

"Ah, right! Like this, like this! Yeom Moon, was it? That movie was so entertaining. I think the actor's name was Kwonya-dan?"

Tsuh Mei chuckled, looking at Geon.

"Yeah, you're right. Kwonya-dan received the highest martial artist award in China. Later, he became famous as a martial arts director in movies and transitioned into an action star."

Continuing to gesture with his hands, Geon mentioned.

"Ah, right! Was it Yungchun Fist? It was a martial art created by Bruce Lee's master, I think."

Tsuh Mei nodded.

"Yes, but what Kwonya-dan practiced wasn't Yungchun Fist. He trained for about six months for the movie; being a versatile learner, he picked it up fast after mastering various martial arts."

Glancing at Tsuh Mei, Geon asked.

"So, Tsuh Mei, do you know martial arts too? I mean, not every Chinese person is an expert in it, right?"

Tsuh Mei smiled and shook her head.

"I'm learning it as a part of my curriculum, but I don't have a talent for it."

Geon nodded, then abruptly turned as VJ rushed in, making eye contact.

"Oh? Director, why are you here at this late hour?"

The VJ hurriedly checked the stationary camera placed in a corner of the yard while speaking.

"This is a reality show, Geon. We need to capture whatever the actors do, no matter the time. So, I'm monitoring the stationary cameras in real-time. If Director Yeongseok misses this scene, there'll be chaos."

The VJ adjusted the angle of the stationary camera towards the bench and began filming from different angles using a handheld camera.

"I'm not here. Keep going with your conversation~"

Geon smiled slightly and turned to Tsuh Mei. Tsuh Mei, too, turned her head, and they exchanged smiles, looking at each other.

"Why did you choose fine arts, Tsuh Mei?"

Tsuh Mei paused for a moment, her expression turning slightly melancholic, before replying.

"At first, when I saw the painting of the Chinese impressionist artist, Hwan, I vaguely thought I wanted to draw such beautiful pictures too... But as I drew every day until blisters formed on my fingers, now I've forgotten why I wanted to draw in the first place."

Geon, with a somber expression, spoke while locking eyes with Tsuh Mei.

"You don't remember why? You just said it yourself."

Tsuh Mei grinned and tilted her head.

"What do you mean? About the artist, Hwan?"

Geon shook his head and poked Tsuh Mei's cheek with his index finger.

"No, I said I wanted to draw beautiful pictures."

As Tsuh Mei soothed Geon's poked cheek, now flushed, Geon smiled and continued.

"I, too, have one reason I want to sing and learn music. It's to create the best songs, to sing them. Do I need any other reason?"

Blushing and flustered, Tsuh Mei asked another question.

"Then who do you admire?"

Geon glanced at the camera before revealing his smile.

"I like many musicians. Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, Nirvana, Santana, Metallica... Sure, I could give an answer that seems fitting for aspiring musicians like everyone else, but if I were to name the one person I truly admire, it's a Korean comedian named 'Lee Kyung-kyu.'"

Tsuh Mei chuckled.

"A comedian? What's so admirable about that?"

Geon stretched out his legs and leaned back, hands behind his waist.

"Lee Kyung-kyu debuted as a comedian and achieved great success in entertainment. But his dream was always in movies, to become a film director. So, he once directed and starred in a movie called 'Revenge Battle.' It was a self-produced film. But it tanked badly. Even before making the movie, as a comedian, he was ridiculed everywhere for making a movie. After its failure, people said, 'See, that's what happens when a comedian tries to make a movie.' It was a colossal failure."

Tsuh Mei frowned, seemingly understanding the severity, and Geon continued with a smile.

"He returned to entertainment, regained his success, even solidifying his position in the industry. Everyone thought, 'Lee Kyung-kyu is meant for entertainment, not movies.' They advised him to give up on his movie dream and stick to entertainment. But he didn't give up on his dream and eventually rose again with a movie called 'Masked Moonlight.' It wasn't a huge success, and he participated not as a director but as a producer, but still."

Nodding, Tsuh Mei asked, "So, admiring him is about not giving up on a dream despite failures?"

Geon glanced at Tsuh Mei and then gazed at the moon before speaking.

"No. Many people can fail and rise again. But imagine everyone in the world mocking your failure. 'That's all you're good for,' 'A comedian making a sacred movie, how ridiculous!' Imagine hearing such words."

Geon circled around the table as he spoke.

"Even family didn't acknowledge him, everyone told him to give up his dream. Your path is different. Do what you're good at. There's a difference between what you want to do and what you're good at."

Geon chuckled, watching Tsuh Mei react to his movements.

"He's someone who didn't give up his dream despite the world's ridicule and disbelief. It seems tough for me. Someone who can achieve what seems impossible for me. That's who Lee Kyung-kyu is."

Tsuh Mei nodded vigorously.

"He truly is amazing. Not just a simple failure but becoming everyone's ridicule and still not giving up."

Geon sat beside Tsuh Mei, locking eyes with her.

"Let's do it too. Even if we become a laughingstock, let's try. If it doesn't work, let's try again. Until it does."

With big eyes, Tsuh Mei clenched her fists.

"Yes, Geon. Let's try."

Geon burst into laughter at Tsuh Mei's adorable determination.

"Haha, but aren't we funny, thinking like this even before people start mocking us? Haha."

Laughing together, Tsuh Mei suddenly spoke.

"I want to hear you sing, Geon. Not a song for everyone, just for me."

Geon gladly took out his guitar.

"Sure, let's call this Tsuh Mei and my song."

The gentle sound of waves and seagulls merged with the guitar's soft tones, resonating from the blue-roofed houses of Manjaedo, ensuring no disturbance to the neighbors. The softly whispered song spread.

"We have dreams.

We want to sing beautiful songs that overcome hardships.

If we believe in fairytales, even in failure, we can have hope.

Because that dream will truly change into reality.

Our destination will be hope pushing away darkness.

I believe in angels."

Hope this captures the essence of the passage for you!

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