The Grammy Awards.
The largest music awards ceremony in the United States was now right around the corner. In just two nights, the grand event would begin.
In the meantime…
Someone was preparing an acceptance speech in advance.
Someone else was practicing a joint stage with someone they didn’t particularly like.
Another person was running around until their feet were sore to ensure a flawless ceremony.
Another individual drew a long-dormant, dusty blade to ensure a fair awards ceremony.
And then…
Hyunseung, having finished his final stage rehearsal, was lying in bed, calming his mind with Animal Island.
Pyong, pyong, pyong.
In truth, he was simply resting under the pretext of managing his condition.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he had become one with the bed; Hyunseung hadn’t even thought about getting up all day.
Right.
There had to be days like this. Hadn’t he gone without a single proper day of rest until now? Back in Korea, he would occasionally get a vacation.
But since coming to the US, he hadn’t had a single day of real rest.
Ah.
After Daniel died, he had stayed holed up at home just sleeping, but it was hard to consider that resting.
His body was idle, but his mind was in turmoil.
And since his heart might become heavy again soon, it was time to soothe his mind and body.
He was, after all, facing a fairly significant event.
Brrr—!
Of course, his leisure didn’t last very long thanks to his phone suddenly ringing. The person calling was…
“What’s the old man up to?”
It was Mateo, whose name he had almost forgotten. Because he had saved him as ‘Sarah’s Papa’ instead of his name, he had to think for a moment about who it was.
“Hello.”
Hyunseung answered the phone with a vague sense of unease.
It was out of a nagging fear that the man might start nagging him again regarding Sarah Stewart.
It was understandable…
Since the incident with Daniel, they hadn’t been in contact once, and they weren’t the type to casually exchange pleasantries in the first place.
Above all, to Mateo, he was a thief who had lured away his precious daughter, as well as the CEO of the group she belonged to.
Was he planning to make a threat?
— How have you been?
Contrary to his fears, Mateo’s voice, which came after a slight pause, was gentle. Mateo asking how he was doing…
“Good. And you, sir?”
Though it was awkward, Hyunseung decided to play along.
— As for me, it’s always the same.
They weren’t exactly on “check-in” terms, so saying it was always the same left Hyunseung with no way of knowing how he actually was.
In the midst of that, Mateo kept asking questions he didn’t seem truly curious about, like whether he was eating well or if he enjoyed being the CEO of Unice.
‘Boy.’
What business did he have that he was hiding the main point and just exchanging trivial pleasantries?
“But is there something wrong?”
Hyunseung eventually couldn’t take it and jumped to the point first.
— Nothing’s wrong, I just called.
However, Mateo just brushed it off as if it were nothing.
— You’re basically my daughter’s boss now, aren’t you?
‘Aren’t you.’
— So I called to ask you to take good care of her, that’s all.
Was he calling to give a warning after all? But if so, it had been months since he became CEO.
Wasn’t it a bit too late?
However, Hyunseung decided not to dig deeper. He might have just called out of a fatherly heart.
“She does well on her own, so don’t worry. That aside, are you staying in touch with Sarah?”
— We exchange messages every now and then, but how can cracked earth be mended so easily?
Hyunseung nodded slightly at those words. He could fully empathize with that statement.
Right, no matter how much of a family you are, it isn’t easy to bridge a gap that has gradually widened in an instant.
Yes.
Just as it had been difficult for him to get close again to the family he had drifted away from in his past life.
In fact, the closer the family, the more they tend to ignore, endure, and suffer through the process of drifting apart.
Once their hearts turn away, it’s hard to turn them back.
Because they surely would have given countless chances.
Simply for the reason that they were blood relatives.
So, one must try.
Even if it’s not easy, even if it’s difficult, one must reach out.
“Still, since you’re the father, please approach her first.”
If you do that, won’t there come a day when you can laugh together again? Just as I am doing now.
— I’m already doing that. Even so, if I send three texts, she usually replies to one.
There was an unexpected hint of laughter in Mateo’s tone as he spoke. Was he happy even with that?
Hyunseung let out a small laugh. He thought that no matter how world-class a classical composer he was, he was still just a helpless doting father. He was just a dad.
Just then, Mateo continued speaking.
— This is all thanks to you. I didn’t show it, but I was grateful.
At the sincere words, Hyunseung scratched the back of his head, feeling unnecessarily shy.
Why was he suddenly acting like this?
They say there’s always a reason when a person suddenly changes.
“You couldn’t show it? Or did you just not want to?”
Hyunseung asked back with a playful smirk.
— Hmm, if you put it that way, I suppose it’s closer to the latter.
Wondering what was so funny, Mateo joked along with a “ho-ho” laugh.
And as the laughter began to fade, he brought up another topic.
— I suppose I’ll be seeing you at the Grammys.
“Are you coming too, sir?”
— You’re asking the obvious.
Hyunseung let out a deep hum for a moment.
“I’m asking just in case. Sir, you aren’t… well, expecting the Best New Artist award or something, are you?”
He asked cautiously.
— Are you mocking me?
Mateo asked back as if the words were utterly absurd, then burst into a jovial laugh.
“Just in case. You know JS, right? The kid I produced. He’s up for several categories this time, and I heard Best New Artist is one of them. I was just worried the two of you might fight over a single trophy.”
— If it’s JS, you mean that black rapper? The one who worships you.
“The description is so accurate that I have no way to deny it.”
Hyunseung was just being cheeky. It was literally just a ‘joke’ with no deeper meaning.
However, the flow of the conversation took an unexpected turn.
— Tell that friend of yours not to expect too much.
“Pardon?”
— That the world isn’t such a warm place.
“Hmm.”
— That things don’t always go exactly as planned.
Mateo’s low voice sounded more serious than ever.
— So, I’m truly sorry.
And he was more sincere than ever.
— These are words I’m saying to you as well.
Hyunseung didn’t know why he was the destination of that story, but he couldn’t find anything to say in response.
— But, you know. Isn’t it only human to repay someone who has shown you kindness, no matter what?
“I’m having a hard time understanding what you’re talking about today.”
Still, somehow, it felt precarious. He didn’t know why, but because his voice was so firm, it felt even more unstable.
“Don’t be like that, let’s work on a song for Rise together soon…”
Hyunseung wanted to quickly end the conversation that he couldn’t make heads or tails of. So, just as he was adding something to intentionally switch the topic.
As if he had no intention of following Hyunseung’s lead, Mateo spoke again.
— I will find a way to repay you, so please keep taking good care of my daughter.
“She does well on her own—”
— Don’t make her suffer over women problems.
“I’m not that kind of person…”
— She’s more affectionate and fragile than she looks. Even if you can’t make her laugh, don’t make her cry.
“No, why are you telling me this…”
He didn’t know why the conclusion was Sarah Stewart.
— I’ll see you at the Grammy ceremony in a few days. Make sure to wear a suit nice enough to catch everyone’s eye when you go up on stage.
“I’ll take care of it myself.”
— Seriously, how arrogant.
“I know that too.”
I was planning on wearing the suit Sarah bought me anyway.
Soon enough.
The day of the Grammy Awards arrived, and after finishing his preparations diligently, Hyunseung stood before the mirror.
It was to style his hair to match his perfectly fitted suit.
Of course.
Since he had zero talent for grooming, it was a bit clumsy, but he worked hard on his hair.
‘That aside…’
As Hyunseung scanned his reflection in the mirror, a question arose. The blue-black suit with an ash tint fit his body perfectly, as if it had been custom-ordered.
Furthermore…
He hadn’t bought this suit himself; Sarah had bought it for him.
‘How did she know the size?’
From the shoulders to the chest and the length, everything was a perfect fit, neither too much nor too little.
Really.
At this point, he was almost suspicious. Had she secretly measured him while he was asleep?
Knock, knock.
Hyuna, who had quietly opened the door and entered, seemed to have the same thought as she gave him a thumbs up, saying he looked so cool.
“Oppa, did you suddenly develop some aesthetic sense?”
Hyunseung didn’t bother saying it was a suit Sarah had bought for him.
The moment he said that, she would surely pester him relentlessly, asking what their relationship was.
“But you’re not going out like that, are you?”
“Why?”
“I knew it. Sit down there.”
Hyuna, apparently finding something bothersome, grabbed Hyunseung’s hand, sat him down, and immediately brought over all sorts of equipment.
From round brushes and curling irons to hair styling products, and even a pouch containing makeup.
As if he were at a salon, Hyunseung sat modestly in the chair and silently accepted Hyuna’s meticulous touch.
Tap, tap.
The powder, which gave off a faint scent, was ticklish as it tapped his cheeks, making Hyunseung’s facial muscles twitch.
“You’re going to wear a helmet again after this, aren’t you?”
Hyuna suddenly tapped Hyunseung’s nose with a brush and asked.
“Like at the fan meeting last time.”
“We’ll see.”
“Even though you’re my brother, you have a weird personality.”
Contrary to her grumbling words, Hyuna again carefully brushed Hyunseung’s face.
Hoping that just for today, her brother would look like the coolest man in the world.
“Oppa.”
She called out to Hyunseung softly.
“Yeah.”
Hyunseung replied with his eyes closed.
“Back when I was doing your makeup for your fan meeting, I never thought a day like this would come…”
“It wasn’t in my plans either.”
“But I’m so proud of you. And you look really cool today.”
After conveying her sincere feelings briefly, Hyuna put down the brush and lightly patted her brother’s shoulder.
“Oppa, you can open your eyes now.”
At those words, Hyunseung opened his eyes and checked his reflection in the mirror. The neatly styled pompadour was enough to heighten his maturity.
The lightly applied makeup made Hyunseung’s sharp features glow even more.
A handsome man by anyone’s standards.
Hyunseung suddenly thought that it might be okay not to wear a helmet today. Hyuna looked at her brother with pride for a moment.
“Dad’s toasting bread for you. Finish up quickly, come out, eat, and then go.”
She stood up and added as she opened the door to leave.
“Do well today.”
“Yeah, watch me.”
“I’ll watch with Dad.”
The siblings’ conversation ended simply, and the rich scent of butter leaked in through the gap in the door.
Today is starting off well.
For some reason, Hyunseung felt strength surging through his entire body.
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