『JenSoo Short Stories』 - Chapter 34: Chapter 34

The day she touch the piano's keys, she had lost herself to the sound of the tuning; that deafened her. It was so soothing, so soft to simply hear. The interest sparked so wonderfully inside of her to then be a pianist and follow the path of a reverberating melody. It was her that gave Jennie the idea, after all. A young, aspiring pianist who had dreams of doing nothing but playing the chords of a sincere beat, to the audience who applauded her twice as much. that was exactly how Jennie found her, the tall and slim female, a well-known pianist, Kim Jisoo.
She wasn't exactly popular, nor was she underrated. She was convenient to her own self, without wanting to boast her talent to the others. In fact, the others found her impeccably talented. That was how she gained popularity. Her simplicity drew young individuals towards her, and her charming personality spoke positivity, even into the mind of a driven pessimist.
Jennie Kim was one of those 'driven pessimists'.
Her ear rested along the wooden door, as she waited for the same song again. The same symphony that had her heart beating, had her heart doing somersaults. Honestly, the keys had the effect of a born talent. It was almost unreal, to compare a beautiful, budding talent such as hers to someone as mere as Jennie herself. But listening to the melody only gave her the same amount of happiness, the elixir of enticing aspiration. She felt motivated, as though she wanted to achieve. Wanted to make a name for herself, entitle herself to the world.
Though it felt as though she was breaching an artist's privacy, Jennie couldn't refuse the paradise that lay there, right behind that door. Guilty with consent, that's how she felt. This had been going on for a week now, and honestly, Jennie was gullible enough to be drawn towards whatever, whoever was behind that door. Even if it was a murderer who played his sadistic melodies, she would be more than happy to have them teach her.
Her fingertips were still upon the ligneous door, as she accidentally managed to dart a quick knock. This caused the music to stop, having Jennie panic. Never had she ever spoken to this stranger, not once, though he spoke big about her a wonderful pianist lived next door, she had not once seen or heard their voice.
Light footsteps were heard as the girl approached the door, as Jennie heard someone kneel down by the door as well. Then came a voice sweeter than heaven, there was no surprise that she had such a blinding beauty of playing the piano. Her voice was the same, as well. Just as alluring, just as dreamy. Jennie had expected the stranger to open the door and accuse her for invading the person's privacy, what she didn't expect was for her to talk back. She also did not expect her to say something as cryptic.
"Were you listening? did you enjoy it, today? I hope you noticed that I tried a new note."
The stranger said, so purely as though they had no care of the world. Almost scary, as to how they did not mind Jennie's presence at all. Normally, people would be disturbed if someone interrupted their work. However, their voice seemed like the person was female and calm. But Jennie decided that assuming genders was not the best thing.
"I noticed." Jennie answered. A bit nervous and fidgety than her usual blasting personality. Now, it was a stranger she was talking to after all. A talented, melodious stranger whom she looked up to. She better be careful. "Yeah, i did enjoy it." she hesitantly said, shy and flustered. When she traced back to her words, she noticed what the stranger mentioned. Today. did the person know she was listening to them play all these days? Was she reading the situation too much? Either way, she felt at ease to talk to them now. Having the person be titled as a stranger for too long isn't the best case.
There was a momentary pause, an eerie silence before the stranger cut through again. "Why did you stop talking?" Jennie involuntarily asked, waiting for an answer. She usually got nervous when a person talking would stop midway. It made her feel as though she said something wrong. "Nothing. your voice is pretty, it's my first time hearing it." the stranger replied, softly chuckling. To this, Jennie blushed. She chortled along, only to pause again.
"You must be wondering why I'm so liberal with you, right? that's because I've been watching you watch me. Your light applauds were heard, the walls aren't that solid." The stranger said, relaxing a bit more towards Jennie. Strange. Never had she once heard the stranger.. Listen to her. But, if she did, that would be fiction over reality. Perhaps, she had been too naive.
"Really? why didn't you ask me to go away?"
"I enjoy someone listening to me from there. Seeing you enjoy my music makes me happy. I can't say no to happiness, can I?"
Jennie felt warm towards whoever was behind that door. The person didn't seem to hate her, or have cold blood boiling only because Jennie listened to her. She felt utterly warm. Ecstatic.
"Can i listen to you every day? would you mind?"
"No, please do listen."
Before she uttered a word, the door fell open. Kim Jisoo, the queen of music had just made an appearance before Jennie. This was honestly odd, how had she not seen this coming? Jennie felt a dorky smile appear on her face, only brightened up thanks to Jisoo's personality and her playful looks.
"You play wonderfully, oh my god. I had no idea you moved next door-" Jennie was hushed by a silencing finger on her pouty lips.
"Thank you."
From that day, she stood by the door everyday. Listening to different keys and notes, having little conversations with Jisoo every now and then. The girl made her heart flutter, and it never stopped. Then came that day, where she was invited inside for a cup of tea, cookies and a dose of talks with none other than Jisoo herself. Jennie felt honoured.
"Thank you for inviting me inside," Jennie walked inside as the door clicked shut, having Jisoo nod, and smile with her usual peach hair. To be honest, it put her raven hair to shame. Pink really looked good on Jisoo, and that was no lie. "Make yourself at home." Jisoo said. The first thing that Jennie noticed was a grand piano seated by the door, and Jisoo's collection of various different dolls put on the shelf for show.
Jennie found herself by the piano, sliding by the keys every now and then as she hummed the same, usual song that Jisoo used to play when she stopped by the door. It was stuck in her mind like a repeating memory. To this day, she remembers how the keys went when she touched them. When Jisoo touched them.
A strong tug was felt around her, that was exerted by none other than Jisoo who sat her down the stool, placing Jennie's hands on the ivory keys. Jennie was taken aback. Never had she played a piano, though interested in music, she never had the chance to touch a single chord. But now, having Jisoo by her side, she felt comfortable.
Jisoo moved her fingers on the keys, softly playing the notes as Jennie felt a blush creep by her face. But, she followed the ghastly moves.
"Isn't it fun? Playing the piano?" she said, having Jennie nod reluctantly. She felt that guilty to be coached by an infamous person such as Jisoo.
"Yes, but—"
"Let me coach you, Jennie Kim. I'll have you in for free."
Jennie felt her mouth drop to the floor. Being coached by Jisoo? Was this a joke? She wanted to refuse, but her desires said otherwise. Being coached by Jisoo was a dream for any growing singer.
"I don't want to be a burden, please-"
"I insist."
Thus marks the day Jennie had sold her soul to Jisoo, the queen of smiles that had her heart participate in a marathon.
Since then, Jennie paid a visit everyday. To her house, and making several mistakes by playing the wrong keys. Jisoo didn't exactly scold her, but restart the whole lesson which made her sigh with exasperation. Honestly, it was worse.
"Jisoo, I don't understand." Jennie sighed, finishing the last lesson for the day. It had been a month since they started training, and Jennie was sure that she did get better. Not only did she grow wonderfully in her career of being a pianist, Jisoo had never failed to teach her the little tips and tricks of being a professional player.
"Why me? there are plenty others you can teach."
"Not all stars are pretty. It's the constellation in your eyes that I find talent."
Jisoo had said, and those very words paved her future. Day after day, Jennie found enthusiasm and determination to move on. Having Jisoo by her side, of course. Jennie was on cloud nine.
Then one day, that all disappeared like it never happened or existed. Jisoo, Kim Jisoo had disappeared. There was no more music that played when she pressed her ear against the door. Nobody was there when she played the piano by herself, which Jisoo had left for Jennie's sole use. The melodious music box she wanted to give Jisoo that day stopped working.
She was gone, vanished with a puddle of crimson, just like that. Never had Jennie cried like that, with white chrysanthemums clenched in her fist.
After all that, she still moved on.
Jennie stands tall by the audience, facing the people with her same old dorky smile, as she sits down on the stool. The white light was shifted to her gaze, as her tips touched down the keys. Jennie played the same melody which she had first heard from Jisoo, making sure to move it on as slowly as she could for the people to admire. Her rose, peach hair was highlighted brightly as a tear rolled down her cheek.
Her first concert, Jisoo had promised to attend it. But, she hadn't come. Of course she couldn't have come.
With the last note, there was an ovation which overwhelmed Jennie, causing her to burst out in tears.
She missed her.
With the light travelling through the seats, it highlighted a lone seat which shone above the rest. the place where Jisoo had promised to sit, and even reserved a seat way before.
She couldn't come, but Jennie. she would always be here for her.
Jisoo was the star which shone the brightest in her constellation, and one day, she will make it shine brighter again.