THE VIOLINIST AND HIS PIANIST. / KTH

twenty six

"good luck, sola,"

she said

after she walked in

backstage from playing

her piece.

this is the first time

eunreul has ever

said anything to me.

i said, "thank you"

to be polite,

but i knew everyone

was feeling pity towards me,

and i hated the attention.

they should be feeling

bad for taehyung, not me,

for i was in the perfect

and healthy condition.

he was in the hospital,

locked up and unable to perform.

as the cheering subsided

after eunreul's song,

i walked out slowly.

i had already decided there

was going to be no way

i would beat eunreul again this year.

she had played beautifully

and displayed the right

amount of emotions and dynamics,

and i was nothing without my partner.

i sat down at the usual grand yamaha.

it had a nice, clear sound

and i always enjoyed playing here.

but not today.

i set my trembling, pale fingers

on the keys carefully,

and started.

at first, there were no mistakes.

this, i was glad of.

however,

the crowd was dull

and i could see

that my playing

did not match to their

expectations

right after eunreul's performance.

i needed taehyung.

he was my other half,

and the song didn't sound right

without him.

i also needed him as a companion

mentally, internally,

for my health,

but i didn't want to admit this.

the part where he was supposed

to start playing was coming up,

and i cringed as i remembered

the piece in my head.