The Rap Star [EN]: Chapter 42

< Verse 5. A Certain Tuesday >

Verse 5. A Certain Tuesday

Unsan High School was known for its rigorous academic environment, so naturally, summer vacation was very short.

After a mere 12 days of vacation, students were required to attend school starting Tuesday, August 1st, under the pretense of ‘voluntary vacation study.’ The schedule was incredibly demanding for a vacation: school from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Friends like Junhyung, who were pursuing arts or sports with their parents’ support, were exceptions. Sanghyun, however, had to meet with his homeroom teacher for declaring his intention not to participate in the voluntary vacation study.

“Did you have a good vacation?”

“Yeah, you punk. Why didn’t you come to school yesterday?”

“To be honest, I forgot.”

Sanghyun’s answer left his homeroom teacher speechless.

Sanghyun had been spending almost every day with Junhyung, so he mistakenly thought he was assigned to the arts and sports class like Junhyung.

The homeroom teacher wasn’t even aware that Sanghyun was involved in music. As a result, Sanghyun didn’t attend the voluntary vacation study without any prior notice.

“Did you see your final exam report card?”

“Uh… yeah.”

Actually, he hadn’t. He wasn’t interested at all.

“I know that interfering with your career path might be upsetting to you. But as your homeroom teacher, I feel obligated to say something.”

“It’s okay. Go ahead.”

“Yesterday, you mentioned wanting to pursue music, right? I don’t know much about music… but I know that it’s not an easy path.”

“Yes.”

Sanghyun fully understood his homeroom teacher’s concerns. He also knew that studying was the most reliable way to secure a comfortable life in Korea. He had experienced that kind of life before.

But his determination was unwavering.

“Looking at your grades, if we only consider Korean, Math, and English, you’re in the top 30 in the entire school.”

“Really?”

“Do you think I’m lying?”

Sanghyun checked his report card that his homeroom teacher handed him. Korean was only a grade 2, but Math and English were grade 1. Especially English, his ranking was 3rd in the entire school.

‘Yeah, this is normal. I did so badly at first.’

He felt a little better.

However, the remaining subjects were stuck at grades 7-8. That was because he hadn’t studied for the memorization-based subjects at all, so he just guessed and slept.

“Isn’t it a waste to give up on these grades?”

“Teacher, if I focused on studying, I’m confident I could do really well.”

Looking into Sanghyun’s eyes, the homeroom teacher sensed that he couldn’t change his mind.

“But no matter how well I study, I don’t think I’ll be as happy as when I’m doing music. I know it might sound presumptuous coming from someone my age, but life is too short and only happens once, so I don’t want to do something that doesn’t make me happy.”

“…I see.”

The homeroom teacher had more to say, but he held back.

He figured that Sanghyun placed a high value on his current happiness because of the impact of his parents’ sudden passing. If that were the case, wouldn’t any words be hurtful to his student?

“Then let’s make a promise. What you’re seeking must be happiness, not mere pleasure.”

“Come on, Teacher. Stop trying to sound cool.”

“Do you want to get kicked out of school?”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Sanghyun had several more conversations with his homeroom teacher after that.

They talked about the ‘Soft Straight Line’ performance that had recently taken place, and also about an upcoming interview in ‘Show Business’ magazine in a few days.

The homeroom teacher seemed indifferent about the performance but looked quite surprised at the magazine story. ‘Show Business’ was a well-known magazine.

“So when is the magazine coming out?”

“Originally, it was scheduled for yesterday, August 1st, but it hasn’t been released yet. It’ll probably be out soon.”

“I’ll buy a copy.”

“Come on, it was just a simple interview.”

“Still.”

Sanghyun smiled shyly at his homeroom teacher’s words.

“Then I’ll give you an assignment.”

“An assignment?”

“You have some freedom now since you’re in the second grade, but because of the school’s policies, it’ll be difficult to skip mandatory night study when you’re a senior, regardless of who your homeroom teacher is.”

Sanghyun nodded. This was especially true for Sanghyun since he didn’t have parents to support him.

“So I hope you can prove it to the school. Prove that you can pursue a career in music.”

“In what way…?”

“During the school festival in October. So that your next year’s homeroom teacher and the principal, who is interested in you, won’t object.”

Only then did Sanghyun understand what his homeroom teacher wanted.

He wanted him to demonstrate his musical talent in front of the teachers before his senior year.

‘That’s difficult.’

Talent is subjective. There’s no guarantee that making everyone dance with party rap or performing a flawless rap will demonstrate talent.

However, Sanghyun nodded.

“I understand.”

He wouldn’t have started if he was going to hesitate at this point.

With that, the long meeting with his homeroom teacher ended. Sanghyun, relieved to have secured his freedom during the vacation, received a call from Mr. Hong of Sejong Music Store as he was leaving school.

-Can you come by now?

It seemed he was destined to be summoned today.

***

“Oh? Sanghyun!”

“Oh? Noona [term for older sister or female friend], why are you working? Isn’t it usually the afternoon shift?”

“Do you always have to state the obvious? Can’t you at least pretend to be happy to see me?”

“I’m so obviously happy that it’s not even worth mentioning.”

When he arrived at Sejong Music Store, Miju was unexpectedly working a part-time shift. He heard that the usual morning shift worker had to practice for his driving test, so he had switched his hours for a few days.

“Anyway, what’s up?”

“I missed you.”

“Even though you didn’t even know I was working?”

“My heart was drawn to you.”

Miju playfully smacked Sanghyun’s back.

Sanghyun yelped in pain and ruffled Miju’s hair. After a bit of playful banter, it ended with Sanghyun backing away after getting smacked on the back again.

Sanghyun grumbled.

“Noona, this is dating violence.”

“Is this a date?”

“If a man and a woman are laughing and talking alone in a small space, it’s a date.”

Sanghyun chuckled and pulled the curtain shut. The store suddenly became dark.

“Now it’s even dark.”

“Welcome to the secret room murder experience center. We have suffocation and mysterious death courses, which one would you like to choose?”

Miju clenched her fist and threatened Sanghyun. But Sanghyun smirked slyly.

“Is there no death by overwork?”

“…!”

Miju’s face turned bright red. Sanghyun was unfazed by Miju’s innocent attacks, as she only knew how to play the piano.

“Are you really going to die?”

“Oh, you’re so innocent.”

Sanghyun smiled and pulled the curtain open. The store became bright again.

“Actually, Mr. Hong called me.”

“Ahem, the boss? Why?”

Sanghyun shrugged.

“I don’t know.”

“The boss left about thirty minutes ago?”

“I’ll wait and see.”

“Sit down. I need to wipe the ukulele.”

Miju soon began wiping the ukulele hanging on the wall while standing on tiptoes. She was working hard even though she couldn’t reach well. She could have asked him to do it, but Sanghyun admired Miju’s confident and independent nature.

“Give it here.”

He took the rag and wiped the ukulele.

“It’s my job?”

“Don’t be so formal, just sit down.”

“Then would you like a cup of coffee? Or tea?”

“If it’s tea, are you talking about that expensive British tea? The one the boss cherishes? Is it okay to drink that without permission?”

“Don’t be so formal, just sit down.”

“No, isn’t that the boss’s?”

Miju laughed and went inside the music store. Sanghyun smiled at Miju and started wiping the instrument. It was also hung high.

“Here, drink.”

“Thank you.”

“Oh, by the way. Did you hear what the boss told you?”

“Huh? What?”

“He told you to see a play.”

“Ah… right. A play.”

Whenever the owner of Sejong Music Store saw Sanghyun, he wanted to help him in some way, so he taught him recording and mixing techniques (Mixing: Combining various sounds to create a cohesive and polished sound. In rap, this often involves adding effects to the recorded vocals to harmonize with the beat).

He had also repeatedly suggested that he see a play at a small theater, explaining that theater is a powerful medium for conveying emotions through gestures and expressions, much like rap.

Sanghyun was interested, but he had been too busy preparing for performances to even consider it. And the world of theater felt too unfamiliar to approach immediately.

“I should see it. But are there any theater performances in Gwangju?”

“Of course. The boss’s friend runs a small theater near Chosun University.”

“Really? So he was thinking of using me to boost ticket sales?”

“Surely not.”

“But why a performance all of a sudden?”

“Oh, I got a free ticket and thought we could go together if you were free.”

“What’s the name of the play?”

“Uh… I don’t know? I just got the ticket randomly. I don’t know the name in detail.”

“When is it? What time?”

“I think it was Friday or Saturday. Usually, there are three performances a day, so can’t we just go at any time? Was the time written down?”

“Why don’t you know anything?”

Sanghyun scolded, and Miju slowly approached. Sanghyun laughed and leaned against the wall.

“Are you making this up as an excuse to go on a date with me, and you haven’t even made a reservation yet, and you don’t know the name of the play, and you don’t know the time of the play?”

“Do you want to get hit?”

Sanghyun’s back tingled as Miju’s voice dropped. Is this Pavlovian conditioning?!

“Don’t say anything if you don’t want to see it. I even got a ticket thinking of you.”

“Hey, Noona, why are you getting angry again? I’ve already wiped the ukulele, should I wipe the bass too?”

Miju couldn’t help but laugh at Sanghyun’s smiling face.

“Give it here. I’ll wipe the parts I can reach.”

“Please send me the date and time of the play in a text message.”

“You said you weren’t going to see it?”

“Hey, when did I say I wasn’t going to see it? And even if I don’t see the play, I want to see you, Noona.”

“I’m afraid that Sangmi will learn your tricks. Imagine Sangmi saying to some guy, ‘Oppa [term for older brother or male friend], what do you eat to be so cute? Is it my love?'”

“…!”

Suddenly, Sanghyun’s expression turned serious.

He had been thinking that Sangmi had become a bit sly lately. She had also become more playful…

In fact, both his dad and mom were very playful.

The prank he still remembered was when his dad suddenly said, ‘Actually, you’re not my real son,’ when he was eight or nine years old.

Sanghyun, who was greatly shocked, kept doubting even after hearing that it was a prank, so he even had to do a paternity test.

Playfulness inherited from the bloodline.

‘No, but Sangmi can’t be like that!’

Miju couldn’t help but laugh out loud as she watched Sanghyun’s face change every moment. He’s still young himself, but he cherishes his younger sister so much. Of course, Sangmi is also very fond of Sanghyun.

Come to think of it, siblings are usually more like enemies, but Sangmi and Sanghyun are as close as friends.

‘Sanghyun’s parents must be happy. Two good kids who get along well.’

Miju knew that her parents had wanted a younger sibling for her for several years. Even 4 or 5 years ago, they often asked, ‘What would it be like if you had a younger sibling?’ But now they seem to have given up because they are getting older.

Miju always answered that she would like to have a younger sibling whenever her parents asked, but she was actually envious of her friends who had older brothers.

Due to the nature of art college, she practiced her skills at school until late at night during exam periods, and she was always envious of her classmates’ older brothers who grumbled and brought umbrellas when it rained.

Of course, the classmates always said that their older brothers were enemies, not brothers.

‘Still, if it’s an older brother like Sanghyun…’

However, Miju imagined herself calling Sanghyun ‘Oppa’ and shuddered at the thought.

‘Ah, I wonder if there will be a play? What if there isn’t?’

At that moment, the door of the music store opened.

“Welcome…! Oh, boss.”

“Can I give today’s part-time pay to Sanghyun?”

Mr. Hong said to Miju as he entered the music store. At first, Miju didn’t understand what he was saying, but then she saw Sanghyun still holding the rag and laughed.

< Verse 5. A Certain Tuesday > End

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