Raising a Neglected Singer-Songwriter - Chapter 35



Only Krnovel

Episode 35. Bravo My Life (3)

What should I say about going to pick up Dong-sik in a wing body truck?

It was a kind of protest.

He is such a precious person to me.

Shouldn’t we have been grateful that we had that person? …

I was so upset about the current state of Dong-sik Hyung, which was abbreviated in letters.

It could be because I was young.

It could be because he has a powerful and wealthy brother named Taeju.

That sturdy Tae-ju hyung said this to us at a partitioned meat restaurant in Bucheon.

“Now Dong-ha is the leader here.”

I already knew this, but this is the first time Youngpil hyung is hearing it.

Of course, it was my first time meeting Dongsik hyung today.

“Dong-ha?”

“Yes. Dong-ha.”

The sound of meat being cooked can be heard, and Dong-sik, holding tongs instead of drumsticks, turns the meat over.

I felt this way 30 years ago, but the meat is really nicely cooked.

He flies around the grill like a drum, holding tongs in one hand and scissors in the other.

At first, I was wondering if I was really Dong-ha or not. I thought he was confused about whether this was real or not, but after I explained it to him a few times, he just assumed it was true and started eating meat.

People are so irrational.

Even I didn’t believe it for a long time when Beomseok, who had bald heads, said, “I’m Beomseok.”

what.

Maybe it’s because my face and personality are still the same as before.

Actually, it’s amazing how I can remember someone’s face even after 30 years.

I think it’s because these people remember.

Even Manseok, the famous musician, seemed to be hesitant.

Even someone who was that close would be like that, so high school classmates or friends from middle school would never have guessed.

“Our leader. Okay.”

When Dongsik Hyung put meat in front of him, he put it in his mouth without hesitation.

also.

delicious.

Meanwhile, Tae-ju continued speaking.

“I think a leader has to have a vision. And I’m too old to have a vision in music.”

What did the word old mean? It stabbed my heart, not my brothers’.

It looks better than before.

In the past, if someone had said, “This guy is the son of a conglomerate…” because he was so skinny, I would have scoffed. Now… … There’s an atmosphere and an intimidation that makes you think, “This guy has something” at first glance.

He has gained some weight and taken care of himself, so he is now closer to being middle-aged.

Youngpil nodded, and Dongsik silently picked up the soju glass in front of him and slowly downed it.

and.

“The alcohol tastes good. Is it because I met good people?”

Our eyes are focused on Dong-sik. Dong-sik, who was making eye contact with everyone, smiled brightly and continued speaking.

“I can’t do it. I couldn’t tell if it was a dream or reality, so I just got on board. My head is in a mess. What should I say to the company? What will I say when people ask me when I go to work tomorrow… .”

I stared blankly at Dong-sik, who didn’t avoid my gaze.

Now twenty.

He was too old to know anything, but too young to know anything.

This means that the distance between the head and the mouth is close.

The words in my head came straight out of my mouth.

“Is it because you’re an adult?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“Do you want to do it?”

“I don’t know.”

I couldn’t help but get angry at Dong-sik’s answer, which was so lackluster.

Yeongpil and hyung are… … a little different.

Brother Yeongpil wasn’t that stubborn.

It hasn’t even been a year for me.

30 years is a long time for my brothers, but I still don’t know the depth of such an enormous amount of time.

But is it okay for a person to be this powerless?

“I’ll ask you again. Do you want to do music? Aren’t you going to form a rock band with us?”

“I don’t know, Emma. It’s just nice to see you again after such a long time.”

“Answer me. Don’t try to evade it.”

The mood at the table suddenly darkened at my angry voice, and Dong-sik answered like a deflated balloon.

“Apartment loan, car installment that changed recently, kids’ school fees, electricity, water, management fees. Insurance. There are four cell phones in the house, so the communication fee alone easily exceeds 100,000 won. If you add all of this up, your monthly salary really skims through your bank account.”

“… … .”

“My daughter takes after me. She said she wants to play the guitar. She wants to do it properly, so she’s looking into going to a preparatory school. The arts and physical education are different now than they were in my time. These days, parents don’t have time to look around if they want to send their kids to a preparatory school. It costs a lot of money. Want to have a drink?”

Then he pours some soju into my glass and picks up the soju glass.

Tae-ju hyung sat calmly, while Yeong-pil hyung clinked his glasses.

Dong-sik, who had taken another sip of alcohol in silence, opens his mouth.

“Ugh… … . What kind of rock band is this at this age? My hands are stiff and I have no sense of humor. Find someone else. That’s better for you.”

Youngpil nods as if he understands, but I don’t understand.

So this time again, unrefined words came out.

“It really isn’t that good.”

“… … .”

“It’s good to live for your family. Who said that? I know that my father worked hard and used that money to eat, sleep, and wear clothes. But hyung.”

“huh?”

“It is noble to make sacrifices as a father, husband, and head of the household. That’s why I respect my father. I love him. But even though my father had a lot of sawdust under his fingernails every day, he never made excuses when he picked up a spoon.”

I was so angry that the person I thought would be the most dependable not only became smaller, but also spoke like an old man who had already lived his whole life.

And the fact that the person who brought up his family as a tool to justify losing his dream was none other than Dong-sik hyung… … really made me feel dirty.

Dong-sik got up from his chair, leaving his brother with a blank expression.

“Sir, I’m sorry for speaking informally to you so far. I’ll be more polite when we meet next time.”

“Dongha-ya… … .”

Youngpil shook off his brother’s grab for his arm and looked down at Dongsik.

Why do I hate seeing Dong-sik looking at the glass of soju in front of him with his head bowed down?

Honestly… … Really honestly.

I want to beg and recruit you as a member.

I don’t just want to do music, I want to do rock.

I wanted to be in a rock band, not just rock.

And I wanted to be with guys who were not just a rock band, but who could giggle and laugh together.

Even if 50 years had passed, not 30, and my brothers had grown old and become hunched grandfathers, it would have been the same.

But a person whose soul is dead cannot go with you.

“Taeju, give me the car keys. I’m going to close my eyes in the car.”

“okay.”

I received the car keys from Taeju hyung, sat in the car, and closed my eyes.

And then I fell asleep without realizing it, and I think I had a dream.

-Dongha-ya. As you said, I have decided to consider Lars Ulrich as my rival.

-Oh. Really?

-Yeah. What could we possibly not win against? We have Dong-ha.

The face of Dong-sik, who was twenty-one and smiling confidently, ran down my cheek.

Wheeeeeeeeing―

The cell phone I was holding in my hand vibrated, waking me up from my light sleep.

[3rd generation chaebol: Well done.]

This is a message from Taeju hyung.

“What are you good at?”

After wiping the tears flowing down my cheeks with my palm and tapping my fingers to send a message, I quickly received a reply.

[Chaebol 3rd generation: To revive scrap metal that has become unusable, you have to break it with a hammer and apply extreme heat. You did that.]

“Please speak in a way that is easy to understand. This guy’s employees must be tired too.”

[To put it simply.]

He sent the answer and leaned back in his chair.

Wheeing―

I picked up my phone and checked the messages while lying down halfway.

[Chaebol 3rd generation: Dong-sik will join. Don’t worry. You laid the groundwork, so I’ll finish it up.]

……huh?

I thought I broke the board, what do you mean I laid the board?

If you heard such harsh words, wouldn’t you feel bad and not do it?

* * *

Immediately after Lee Dong-ha left the dining table.

An awkward atmosphere hung around the grill.

It was Kim Dong-sik who broke the silence.

“Did I… … do something wrong?”

“I understand. Me too… um… . I would have done the same thing if it were you.”

Hong Young-pil and Kim Dong-sik clinked their soju glasses bitterly.

Since we were the same age, we were naturally friends, but we didn’t become close simply because we were the same age.

Keyboard and drums.

If a member in a band with a lesser known position has a light mouth or butt, the band will inevitably break up.

So, although the guitar and vocals are what determine the success or failure of a band, it is ultimately the keyboard and drums that keep the band together for a long time.

For that reason, even though they were quite different, at first glance the two seemed very similar.

Calm and calm.

There is no need to come forward.

And what’s more important is that the two people were born around the same time and lived in the same era.

We’ve only been together for a few years, and we’ve been apart for 30 years without knowing each other’s stories. But living together means this.

Something you know without having to say it.

Not because I understand that person, but because I know that his life is not much different from mine.

Yoon Tae-joo, who had been watching the two people comforting each other, opened his mouth.

“I think there is a reason why Dong-ha came to this hour for such an absurd reason.”

“No matter how you try to convince me, it won’t work, hyung.”

Although Kim Dong-sik expressed his intention to refuse, Yoon Tae-joo continued speaking without paying any attention.

“Probably our lives have changed since that day.”

“Dong-ha… … The day I thought you were dead?”

“Yes. That day. There are turning points in people’s lives. Once you get off this path, you can never go back.”

“… … .”

“Would I have been happy? I just lived. Doing what I had to do. Not much difference.”

The fact that Yoon Tae-joo was the son of a wealthy family was something that was already known 30 years ago, even when they were in a band together.

Because I was a person who didn’t even know how to ride a bus.

That person slept in a basement practice room instead of at home, played the guitar every day, and when he met a guitarist who surpassed him, he gave up the guitar without hesitation and took up the bass.

Just because they look similar doesn’t mean they’re the same guitar.

So, the person who picked up the bass guitar again and plucked the bass strings day and night in the basement practice room was Yoon Tae-joo.

When he found out that Dong-ha had the ability to compose songs, the person who was the happiest was also Yoon Tae-joo.

A man who was happy only seeing the possibility of the band’s success, even though he had lost his guitar and even his share of more important creations.

If it had been a normal person, they would have gotten angry or the conflict would have started a long time ago. If that had happened, it would have been Lee Dong-ha, not Yoon Tae-joo, the leader of the band, who would have been kicked out of the team.

Even if others didn’t know, Hong Young-pil and Kim Dong-sik knew how much Yoon Tae-joo was serious about music.

That’s why I couldn’t bring myself to whine or say things like I don’t know, like someone who has never been poor.

Instead.

He just calmly expressed his thoughts.

“My company CEO told me this when I was wandering around. When a plane takes off from the airport, it doesn’t look much different between a plane heading to New York and a plane heading to London. But as it flies, it gradually widens. That’s why the place you arrive at is incredibly wide. When I heard that, I suddenly came to my senses. Whether it’s London or New York, I need to look at the land I’m standing on. I thought that if I kept looking at a place I couldn’t go to, I wouldn’t be able to eat or drink.”

“… … .”

“If you’re a band, you have to get together and practice. How can you afford to move? The housing prices in Seoul are no joke. What about my job? Change jobs? No way. If I quit my job and just practice, that doesn’t make sense. What will our family eat and live on during that time? And what are our chances of success as a band? Back then, we didn’t think we were that much of a burden to Dong-ha, but now we’re not burdens, we’re just a bunch of shit. Do you think a drummer who’s over 50 years old would be any help? Bro. If we work with Dong-ha, we’re just malicious stock that’s free-riding on his consideration. All three of us.”

“Can’t I just have a bad dream? Can’t I just dream with my close friend? I want to dream again, even if it’s like that. I know it’s greedy, but I’m being greedy. This time, I absolutely don’t want to let Dong-ha go. But I do have one thing to believe in.”

Yoon Tae-joo’s calm eyes met Kim Dong-sik’s, and Yoon Tae-joo opened his mouth.

“We’ll have so much fun. Dong-ha will be happiest when he’s with us. And even if we’re a bad guy, he’ll easily carry us on his back and fly to the clouds.”

“… … .”

“So I’ll pretend not to know and just carry on.”

Kim Dong-sik, who had been looking into Yoon Tae-joo’s eyes for a long time, turned his back.

“Today was good. I went crazy for a moment and had a midsummer night’s dream… … Thinking about it, I think I’ll be able to find my strength again tomorrow. Tell Dong-ha I’m sorry. Oh. By any chance, if there really is, don’t even think about helping me. I just have to live my own way.”

“Don’t wait.”

“… … I’ll go.”

Yoon Tae-joo smiled faintly as he looked at Kim Dong-sik’s back, who was not answering clearly.

That’s the kind of guy he is.

I keep my word.

So if you didn’t say no… …then all you have to do is wait.

All Yoon Tae-joo has to do is lighten the weight of his steps just a little bit.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a comedy. Everything has a perfect happy ending.”