Hyunseung told Daniel that he would be going to the United States soon, so they should meet and talk, and then he hung up.
“Ah.”
Right. In his previous life, around this time, Daniel had released his final work and then passed away not long after.
It was a sudden death.
Because only after he died did it become known that he had been battling cancer.
And so, the last album he left behind in the world was recorded as a legend.
Not because the songs were unusually good, but because they were songs he wrote and sang on the threshold of death, no one dared to evaluate the album.
And around that time, Hyunseung, who had decided to become a composer, had practiced by arranging Daniel’s last album by himself.
That was why it had sounded familiar.
Even now, after time had passed and he was living life again, that melody, at least, still sat faintly in his memory.
“Haa…”
Right now, there was only one thought in Hyunseung’s head.
He dies.
Since it wasn’t a simple accident, it would be a death that couldn’t be avoided.
Because what is meant to happen will definitely happen.
More than anything, he probably knew himself that death was closing in on him. That was why he was preparing his final work.
“Whew…”
Hyunseung let out a sigh that was somehow full of hesitation.
Normally, he would never have let go of work that could set his chest burning, and of an instrument like Daniel.
But if he left it alone, it would become a final album remembered as a legend anyway, but what if the future changed because he interfered with it…?
That was why the thought came to him.
If he couldn’t do it perfectly, then it was right not to touch it at all.
Ah, of course.
It wasn’t something that was completely impossible, but he didn’t have much time left.
He couldn’t say for sure whether Daniel’s lifespan would wait for him.
Knock, knock!
While Hyunseung was sunk deep in his thoughts.
“Oppa!”
Through the crack of the door, Hyuna called out and stopped him.
“Why…?”
“Just because.”
And then she slipped into the room and settled herself down by the bed.
“What is it?”
Hyunseung asked, staring at Hyuna as if she were strange.
“No, why is your expression like that when it’s your little sister?”
“What, do you need something?”
“Do I have to need something to come find you, oppa?”
Hyuna snapped and shouted, and then, after only a moment.
“Seriously, I can’t even praise you even if I want to.”
Maybe she was sulking, because she folded her arms and snorted.
Honestly.
Every time this happened, he didn’t know what he was supposed to say.
‘Women are too difficult.’
Hyunseung watched Hyuna’s face, then carefully opened his mouth.
“What kind of praise…?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you need something…?”
“I said no!”
Hyuna, looking frustrated, smacked her own forearm.
What was the problem?
He thought he’d asked as gently as possible compared to before.
“Hyuna.”
Just then, out of nowhere, Hyunseung lowered his voice and called to his sister.
“W-what, what is it, all of a sudden?”
Hyuna, flustered by Hyunseung suddenly turning serious, asked with a startled expression.
Hyunseung wasn’t the type to show many changes in expression, but he rarely showed a face that serious.
“If it were you, if it was something you couldn’t be sure you could do perfectly or not, would you try it?”
Hyunseung cut off Hyuna just as she was about to answer, and added the next words.
“There’s roughly a time limit, but what if the condition is that it might suddenly be time over?”
Hearing that, Hyuna went, “Hmm,” and fell into thought.
Hyunseung had asked simply because he felt stifled.
But before long, he thought he shouldn’t have asked at all, and waved his hand, saying no.
“For now, I’m tired, so I’m going to sleep. Let’s talk later.”
Hyuna said okay and brushed herself off, standing up, and then, after only a moment.
“Oppa.”
Standing in front of the door, she called to him again.
“If it were me, I think I’d just try it.”
“What?”
“Even if I can’t do it perfectly, even if I can’t finish within the time limit, it’ll leave less regret than not doing it at all.”
And then she added with a bright white smile.
“And more than anything, there’s no way our oppa couldn’t pull it off, right?”
That…
It was a smile filled with absolute trust in him.
Meanwhile, after ending the call with Hyunseung, Daniel shifted his gaze to the monitor screen lit up in front of him.
“Hm….”
On the screen, if there was one, then the one and only fancam of Hyunseung was playing.
With his eyes covered, the tall man continued a sign-language performance, then suddenly dropped to his knees with a “thump,” met someone’s eyes, and finished the stage in sign language.
To anyone watching, they would probably think it was just a performance by a handsome celebrity.
But after recognizing it, and understanding it again.
He had been able to figure out the final words Hyunseung added in sign language.
“To my respected…”
Daniel opened his mouth in time with Hyunseung’s signs on the screen.
“To my Beethoven…”
As if savoring the words, again and again.
“I dedicate this stage.”
He murmured, following the signs.
“Ha…”
Someone might think it was nothing, but to Daniel, it was quite a shock.
Because he could tell it was sincere.
And because he could tell that Hyunseung, too, had someone precious to him.
If he was that kind of person…
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to entrust his final work to him.
As for skill…
Since Mateo had vouched for him, he didn’t doubt it in the slightest.
More than anything, he had listened to every song credited as composed by HS.
In the songs of his that Daniel had heard…
There was a certain kind of “message” inside.
What he wanted to say was woven into them. Even if he couldn’t understand the lyrics and had to look at translations.
Even without knowing the lyrics, just from the atmosphere the song gave off and the singer’s voice, he could understand enough.
Yes.
With a composer like this, maybe he could capture the life he had lived, his many personas.
That vague certainty had come over him, and that was why he had willingly sent over his work.
Brrring!
Right then, a call came from Mateo, the one who had introduced Hyunseung.
“Yes, sir.”
When Daniel answered in a hoarse voice, a worried voice came from the other side of the receiver.
–What’s with your voice?
“It’s just hoarse.”
–You scared me, you punk.
Matteo was one of the few people who knew Daniel was fighting cancer, so if Daniel showed even the slightest odd sign, he would blow up and worry.
“You’ve gotten older, and I think your courage has gotten as tiny as a bean.”
Daniel smiled weakly for a moment, and then.
“Sir, I contacted HS.”
He told him the news.
–Did he answer? He hung up on my call without mercy at first… Ahem! Anyway, even if that kid’s personality is weird, his skill is pretty decent.
“Yes, I listened to all the songs he made, and each one definitely has a message and a different color. I guess that’s only possible because he’s a capable composer.”
–Not as good as me, but he’s usable.
At that, Daniel couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.
–What are you laughing at, you brat.
“Just, seeing you make jokes like that, I thought maybe you really are getting old.”
–Jokes! And I’m still young.
“At first you were honestly a scary person, but I think your personality has gotten a lot gentler.”
–Really? Maybe it’s because my heart’s gotten soft thanks to my daughter these days.
“You have a daughter?”
–She’s so pretty I kept her hidden, but that bastard HS…! Ah, no. Anyway, do you start the work right away?
“HS said he’ll come to the U.S., so we should meet and talk.”
–Yeah. That kid’s weird, so be careful.
Mateo spoke as if warning him, and then, after only a moment.
–Soon, make time and have a cup of coffee with me too.
He added the next words with difficulty.
“Excuse me? Coffee? Sir, you never drink coffee.”
–I drink coffee now.
“Life really is unpredictable. You, drinking coffee.”
Daniel was silently laughing when.
–So…
From the other side of the receiver, he heard Matteo’s voice sink heavily.
–Because life is unpredictable, never give up.
Instead of answering that he would, Daniel said thank you, and ended the call.
「 ♬ ♬ ♬ 」
On the screen, Hyunseung’s video continued to play.
Hyunseung went straight to the United States.
Even though it was a bit of a shame that he hadn’t gotten to try all the best restaurants all over the country.
The arrowroot cold noodles were really good.
He decided to be satisfied with that much and hurried his steps.
He didn’t contact Daniel separately.
Work came first. He had already made up his mind to do it anyway.
Screeech.
It was the moment Hyunseung arrived in front of VINCIS’s headquarters, still not familiar, crossed the long courtyard, and was about to enter the building.
Snip, snip.
He turned his head at a sound coming from somewhere, and a strange man was cutting off small branches.
“Who is that?”
Judging by the clothes covered in dirt dust, he thought maybe it was a hired hand who took care of the yard.
‘That helmet…’
He was wearing a helmet with a flame mark that could be called Hyunseung’s signature, so Hyunseung couldn’t just pass by.
Step, step.
As Hyunseung walked closer to the man, the man must have noticed someone approaching, because he set down the chainsaw he’d been holding.
“Oh, you’re here?”
Then he lifted the helmet goggles and spoke to him brightly.
“No way, Vincent…?”
Those gray eyes were Vincent’s, and Vincent’s alone.
“What are you doing here? And what is that getup?”
At that, Vincent looked over his own outfit once, then answered like it was no big deal.
“What do you mean what am I doing, I’m personally tending the yard of my headquarters.”
At his words, Hyunseung looked around, and all sorts of flowers and trees were neatly arranged, each in its place, giving off their scents.
Last time he came, it was empty land, so when did he do all of this?
More than that.
Would you believe it if someone told you that the pop star “Vincent” was personally trimming branches and watering flowerbeds?
Sure, he could do it himself, but usually people hire professionals for this kind of work.
And yet, the fact that he was sweating and doing it himself…
‘He’s really attached to the headquarters.’
Especially since he emphasized the words “my headquarters,” it was easy to tell Vincent was deeply fond of this place.
“By the way, what’s with that helmet?”
Hyunseung pointed at the helmet Vincent was wearing and asked.
“Branches and water kept splashing, so I bought a used helmet at a nearby motorcycle shop, and it’s nice.”
“Ah…”
“But isn’t it way cooler than you’d think? It’s like I became a hero.”
“You’ve got better taste than I expected.”
At that, Hyunseung rubbed the bridge of his nose and shrugged his shoulders.
Just then, maybe because he was hot, Vincent took the helmet off completely and asked.
“I heard you were coming today, but you got here faster than I expected?”
“I had something to do.”
“Is it starting already?”
“We said we’d launch it for the Christmas season.”
And then he grinned and murmured, “I’m looking forward to it,” and after only a moment.
“I guess I should start practicing singing again starting today?”
With the helmet tucked under his arm, he said it swaggering.
But his expression hardened at what Hyunseung added next.
“Sorry, but the song I’m giving isn’t for you.”
“What? What do you mean? It’s VINCIS’s first launch song. If I’m not singing it, then who is?”
“There is someone.”
Vincent, seeming excited, asked like he was arguing, his face even turning red.
“Don’t tell me it’s Sarah Stewart?”
“No.”
“Then who? A Korean singer?”
“No.”
“Who is it? Let’s at least hear whether they’re an instrument worth singing before me or not.”
And then.
Hyunseung met Vincent’s gaze in midair and answered.
“Daniel.”
“Huh?”
“Daniel Parker.”
At the same time…
Thud.
The helmet tucked under Vincent’s arm fell and hit the ground.
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