Five and a half more years have passed.
The sound of the piano, which resonates every day under the zelkova tree, has surpassed maturity and is moving towards perfection.
Soo-hyun's skills have reached such a level that, when Frédéric visits Franz's house, he sometimes mistakes his performance for Franz's.
It's understandable. so-hyun has taken intensive lessons of more than six hours a day, for seven years.
The legendary pianists Franz Liszt and Frédéric Chopin did the same.
Since last year, instead of giving him practical exercises, I have asked so-hyun to study scores of existing works. Now I only give him instruction when I present him with a new piece; then I let him explore it for himself.
After briefly observing him on the stage of the zelkova tree, Frédéric headed straight for Franz's hut.
When he opened the door, Franz raised his head; I was reading with a magnifying glass.
"Are you here?" "Well, what are you reading?"
"I want to recommend this book to so-hyun. I'm rereading it because I don't remember the content well. I don't want you to read something that might induce strange thoughts in you.
"Oh, how strange it is for you to worry about those annoying things. But hey, it's so-hyun's business.
Franz placed the magnifying glass on the tea-table, rested his chin on his hands, and spoke:
"I taught him German, English, Polish and French. He can now read, write and speak naturally. I have also presented him with texts on philosophy – Nietzsche, Kant, Descartes – and basic historical education. I taught him moral principles. But I'm not a teacher. I've reached the limit of what I can convey. Now, I can only give you the books I've already read.
Frédéric sat down opposite him and added:
"It's the same with the piano. He has already mastered all the fundamentals. He has learned from you and me for three years. Control everything from the delicate expression of a score to a powerful and confident performance."
"Don't you say that the piano is your own master?"
"The basics, yes. But beyond that, it's territory that so hyun must figure out on his own.
Franz nodded slowly.
Seven years of daily practice.
In terms of cumulative hours, he has had the equivalent of fifty years of continuous classes, if we compare him to an ordinary pianist.
Of course, that calculation is a metaphor. But it serves to illustrate.
"Yes. so-hyun will be a great performer. Although... Dude, I'm a little scared.
Frédéric sighed after hearing Franz's words.
"Do you think he'll stay with us forever?"
It's been seven years since he arrived. It's true: if a solution hasn't been found in more than a hundred years of research, it's unlikely to come up in seven. But I've still searched everywhere. I asked everyone I could. No one knows how to do it.
"Have you been to the mountains?"
"Yes.
"How are you all?"
"The same as always. They keep playing.
"I see. He should stop by to say hello.
"No problem. They don't usually come here, anyway.
"Maybe it's because they don't know the solution either.
"Or perhaps they would not come... even if they knew.
"Haha. Maybe.
so-hyun is now thirteen years old. Although, for us, twelve. Anyway. He is a child who did not receive formal education, and since he has lived with us without leaving, he has become someone who only knows how to play the piano. If I were to come out now... it would be complicated.
"Yes. It's true.
"There's nothing else I can teach you.
"Ugh...
The concerns of both grew silent.
At first they talked freely, but little by little they became silent. They only sighed, deeply.
After a while, when the faint sound of the piano stopped, Franz stood up.
"Ugh, so-hyun finished practicing. I'll make him something to eat.
"Do me a little too."
"Don't you get tired of coming here for food every day?"
"You cook well." I don't get tired. Your pancakes are famous. Haha.
"Tsk, you don't even know how to cook...
While Franz was making noise with the dishes in the kitchen, so-hyun arrived at the house and opened the door.
Frédéric raised his hand at the sight of him.
"Did you finish the practice?"
Young so-hyun disappeared for a moment.
With a pale face and slightly thin build, it measures about 165 cm; He is slightly taller than his peers and has an excessively expressionless expression. Keeps your head slightly low.
"You're here.
With the white shirt Franz used to wear, a brown vest, black riding pants, and boots, so-hyun looked exactly like a child who would have lived in the Middle Ages.
Frédéric asked, seeing him by the window without saying anything, as he put down the sheet music he had held on the table:
"Is there any part that you find difficult while practicing these days?""
"Are you studying well?" Franz seems to be preoccupied with many things.
"Yes."
"Is anything hurting?"
"Yes.
No matter what you say, the only answer you get is "yes." A conversation that only makes the questioner uncomfortable.
Soo-hyun's personality has changed like this for a few years now.
Franz, who was cooking in the kitchen, also pricked up his ears and listened to the conversation in silence. He sighed once more, disappointed by the repetitiveness.
They both feel unnecessary guilt. They wonder if they have raised the child badly. Perhaps because they are not professional educators or parents, they have misunderstood how to raise a child.
Of course, they have always treated him with love.
After a while, Franz, who had prepared pancakes as usual, placed the plate in front of so-hyun. He moved the fork mechanically.
An empty face, as if he could no longer taste anything.
The two adults watched him in silence. They just looked at each other.
When so-hyun had eaten half of the pancake, he put down his fork and opened his mouth:
"Gentlemen.
How long has it been since you first called them that?
Franz and Frédéric reacted instantly.
"Yes!" What's going on?
"Okay, so-hyun. Go ahead and say it.
They both leaned forward, attentive, their whole bodies showing interest. They are truly wonderful people.
After all, not everyone takes care of an unknown child for seven years, even if it's just one child.
"Thank you.
An unexpected comment? They both looked at each other in surprise.
Franz swallowed hard and asked first:
"W-what's going on?"
Frédéric immediately intervened:
"Okay, so-hyun. Where does it hurt?
so-hyun shook his head.
"No. I just wanted to say thank you. I know that they watch me every day. That my expression and tone are not good...
"..."
"Eh... that's it...
"I have something to tell you.
For the next thirty minutes, so-hyun talked about what he had experienced. He apologized for taking five years to speak, and for needing time to collect his thoughts.
The kind uncles listened sympathetically. As so-hyun spoke with tears in their eyes, they were crying as well.
During that moment of confession, so-hyun looked at them gratefully. A deep gratitude.
Franz, his eyes red, sobbed:
"Sniff!" I see... We didn't know anything about that...
Frédéric's forehead hurt from crying so much.
"Yes... We thought you were gloomy because of us. But then something like this happened.
A confession after five years.
It was a catharsis for the listener and the speaker. Just expressing what he felt out loud made him feel relieved. so-hyun felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
When the three of them felt lighter, Franz took out a bottle of wine that he had hidden inside a book.
"On a day like this, alcohol cannot be missing!"
"Oh, my friend... That's why I like you. Do you give so-hyun a drink too?
"At thirteen he is old enough to drink!"
"Hey, I was just kidding. How are we going to give alcohol to the child? Let's drink with each other.
"Oh, I'm not kidding. so-hyun, do you really want to try it?
"No, I'm done. You can take a little bit, you two.
Glasses were filled, clinking at the crash, and for the first time in a long time, laughter erupted in the log cabin.
Franz, his face slightly red, asked:
"Then..." You opened the door of your house, thinking of your parents, and what appeared was the outside world? Wasn't it your country, but somewhere else?
"Yes, that's how it was. It was the station from where I got on the train, where the accident happened.
"And when you opened the bathroom door, thinking of us..." Were you here again?
"Yes, that's right.
"Haha... So it means you knew how to get out. You've been looking for this place for seven years... without knowing it.
"I'm sorry, sir.
"No, no... but you know...
Franz looked around, and his voice trailed off. Then Frédéric smiled and said:
"I wonder if you can go out that door too...
"Ahem... aren't you curious?"
"That's impossible!" We are going to die!
Frédéric stopped and looked at so-hyun. He did not want to imply that they were with the dead.
"Ahem... anyway. so-hyun has to come out. He has to live among the people.
"Well, I think so too.
so-hyun looked at them with cloudy eyes.
Do I really have to go out? There's probably no one waiting for me...
Instead of expressing sorrow at the farewell, Franz spoke with a stern face:
"Humans must live among people. They must be frustrated, happy, sad... because of them. It's a good opportunity for you to experience the emotions you express in your performances.
"Is this necessary to play?"
"That's right. All the pieces you've played contain ten thousand emotions that come from people. It is natural that someone who does not know them... I can't express them well.
"Mmm...
Frédéric patted him on the shoulder as he thought.
"What are you worried about?" You can always come back here. Go and rest. If you break down or feel tired, you can escape. We will always be here.
Flee, avoid, hide... maybe they are cowardly ways, but knowing that there is a place like this... It comforts many people.
And thanks to that, the size of the inner container that one can use is expanded.
The two friends, seeing so-hyun silently ponder with a serious expression, smiled broadly and raised their glasses.
✴︎✴︎✴︎
Interlaken Ost Station, Switzerland.
Johann Berset, a control centre worker for 35 years, woke up at dawn in the guard room and waited for the next shift.
As he warmed his frozen body with a cup of hot tea, he heard a knock on the window. He looked up.
There was a beautiful boy, with pale skin, black hair, and blue-green eyes. He was smiling brightly.
There are no trains at this hour... what's this boy doing here?
Min Yohan opened the latch and poked his head out of the window.
"The first train leaves in two hours. How can I help you?
The boy smiled back.
Go... He really is a beautiful boy. Her curly hair is very attractive. He looks a little older for just a kid...
Johann, who was watching him in silence, bowed his head.
"I think I saw you somewhere. Do you come here often? You don't answer... doesn't your friend speak German?
Since Switzerland does not have a national language, Johann repeated the question in Italian and French.
Then the boy, still smiling, replied fluently in German:
"Hello. How have you been?
"Ah! Do you speak German? I thought you didn't because you didn't respond.
"Don't you remember me?"
"Now that you say it... yes. You look strangely familiar to me. Where have I seen you before?
The boy nodded to the memorial stone, not far from the office.
"I saw him there.
"Huh?" Of course... a lot of people pass by here all the time...
"Five years ago.
"Hehe... With tourists, the floating population exceeds a thousand people a day. I don't remember who came five years ago.
so-hyun smiled and looked directly at Yohan as he spoke:
"Can you contact the Korean embassy?"
"Did you lose your phone?" You can use this one.
"If you tell them my name, they'll come and get me, won't they?"
"The embassy?" Good, good. Could you give me your passport, please?
"I don't have it.
"Did you lose it?" Alas... What a headache. When was it?
"Probably seven years ago.
"So long??" Wait... wait a minute!
Yohan's eyes widened as if they were tears. He glued himself to the window, staring at so-hyun's face.
"That... that!!! That child!! It's you!?
so-hyun smiled and looked towards the monument.
Many photos were still hanging there, but with the passage of time, the decorative flowers had shrunk, as if the memories had been gradually erased.
As he searched for the portrait of his parents, hanging among all those pictures, he leaned against the wall by the window and said:
"Yes, I'm Nam so-hyun. Please let them know I'm back. Please.
"Ugh! ¡Ah... I understand! No! Enters! I won't send you to the bathroom this time! If you're in a hurry, come in with me! Understood?
"Ha ha...