Chapter 5: Paradise

After the performance, Myeong-jeon only took the two effects pedals. The rest of the equipment belonged to the others.

He briefly considered helping them pack up, but decided against it. He’d already repaid them by delivering a performance they could never replicate.

‘And what is this feeling…?’

Something intangible kept surfacing in his mind, creating a strange sensation. A feeling he’d never experienced in his previous life. A vague, yet exciting, unfamiliar tingle, a sense that something was happening.

He’d felt it before, too. When he was singing alone in ‘Ha Su-yeon’s’ room. Although it hadn’t ended well, it felt different from when he was ‘Seo Myeong-jeon.’

‘Has something changed? Since my body changed, did my talent change too?’

Myeong-jeon’s biggest weakness as a musician had been creativity and application. The ability to create ‘originality.’ The ability to apply existing knowledge and create something new.

For example, Myeong-jeon was confident he had mastered almost everything about the guitar. Except for improvisation. To play a decent solo, he had to plan it meticulously beforehand and memorize it. Otherwise, he couldn’t produce anything beyond stringing together licks (Reference 1).

But now…

‘I keep getting these ideas in my head…?’

His train of thought was interrupted by the people approaching him.

They initially approached with an air of arrogance, but quickly became polite upon realizing that some of them were fellow music industry professionals.

‘We have to recruit this kid.’

That was the common thought among them. Securing this kid would guarantee their bonuses this year.

And that skill, which overshadowed even her appearance. The people here only knew about rock and guitar as much as the average entertainment industry worker. Yet, her skill was enough to evoke a sense of awe in them.

“Please consider our agency. With your skill, student, you could debut in no time. Please give us a call.”

“Just mention my name, and you’ll have a free pass…!”

“You know our company, right? We’re famous for our producing capabilities. Trust us and join us.”

The unusual sight of several people flocking to her with business cards drew the attention of the crowd. But Myeong-jeon simply stuffed all the cards into his pocket without a word.

‘If I join an agency, I’ll just be swept along by their plans.’

And then what? He’d become another convenient session musician for the company to exploit. Sure, the title would be different, but what would be the difference from his past?

Lost in thought, the two audience members from earlier approached Myeong-jeon. They held out a piece of paper, a notebook or something.

Signing autographs was something he’d been doing since his twenties, so he felt no particular emotion about the act itself. But…

“I don’t have a signature.”

“Then just your name!”

Should he give them his name? Myeong-jeon wondered. He thought it would be problematic for a high school student to perform in Hongdae after calling in sick. Wouldn’t leaving evidence like his name be risky?

But it’s not like they’d expel him for this, so he wrote, [Ha Su-yeon, stay healthy]. He might get scolded a bit, but that was about it. Or did they not do that in schools anymore? What was the world coming to?

He believed kids needed some discipline to grow up right. If ‘Ha Su-yeon’ had been disciplined properly, would she have ended up drinking and smoking?

Thinking this, Myeong-jeon quickly signed autographs for the growing crowd. At the end of the line, the two men he’d played with said, “Student, do you… want to play with us again sometime…?”

Myeong-jeon just smiled and left.

And someone in the crowd…

“This video is going to be huge.”

…Quickly packed up their filming equipment, sensing the potential for a viral hit.

This was definitely going to blow up. It might even surpass a million views…!

“Su-yeon, a bob is harder to manage than long hair…”

He’d simply thought short hair would be easier to manage, so he’d planned to cut it all off. But after hearing the ironic fact that long hair was actually easier for women to manage, he decided against it.

He hadn’t touched his phone since leaving the hospital. He hadn’t yet decided how to deal with Ha Su-yeon’s friends.

He sat in a chair and picked up his guitar.

In his previous life, Myeong-jeon practiced every day, rain or shine, unless something serious came up.

A minimum of four hours, up to ten. Chromatics, scales, chords, rhythm, picking, tapping, harmonics… Decades of practice, a routine so ingrained it had become second nature…

But it wasn’t easy in this body. His fingers cramped up almost immediately.

‘It’s been decades since I felt like this.’

First, he needed rigorous practice to regain his former skill.

Of course, he could still play to a certain degree… but his stamina and precision had deteriorated. Consistent practice was necessary to recover.

Second, it seemed he’d gained a new talent after becoming ‘Ha Su-yeon.’

This much was certain. A sensation he’d never experienced in his decades of playing. While playing, lost in the music, something would follow along, offering him musical ideas.

‘If this develops, it’ll become what they call ‘originality.’’

However, Myeong-jeon thought this ‘talent’ was still too weak to rely on. The realization of talent also required training. He couldn’t get complacent.

Third, he needed to figure out his musical direction.

Solo? Or in a group? Should he follow the singer-songwriter path like Eric Clapton or John Mayer? Or the pure guitarist path like Jeff Beck? Or form a band?

‘If I’m going to do it, a band seems like the best option.’

Youth never returned. After thirty, after becoming an adult, the reckless energy of youth, the ability to charge forward without knowing anything, disappeared.

Of course, Myeong-jeon’s youth was long gone, but the kids around him weren’t. Even on the periphery of youth, it was still youth.

Thinking he should try forming a band if the opportunity arose, Myeong-jeon organized his thoughts.

Feeling a sense of excitement akin to when he first learned guitar, Myeong-jeon felt a surge of happiness. But that happiness soon turned to worry.

‘Without equipment, band or talent or whatever, I can’t even practice.’

Of course, he didn’t need an amp and speakers to practice. Technology had advanced, and a computer, audio interface, and software like Guitar Rig were enough.

But there was no computer in this house.

Myeong-jeon considered which option would be cheaper. Buying an amp? Or a computer, audio interface, and software? Logically, the latter seemed better, but considering live performances, the former was preferable. Ultimately, he’d need an amp for live shows.

‘It’s best to go to Nakwon.’

Myeong-jeon decided. He could get a headphone amp, or speakers for an amp, or connect headphones to an amp… there were various options.

Nakwon Shopping Center used to be notorious for aggressive soliciting, earning it the nickname “Nakpal.” It had supposedly calmed down recently, which Myeong-jeon found slightly disappointing. He felt nostalgic for the old ways that were disappearing.

Thinking back… a long time ago, when most of the Nakwon shop owners recognized him. There were always employees who didn’t recognize him and tried to solicit him.

He’d pretend to be clueless and let them lead him around, then show off his skills after they tried to sell him a guitar, just to mess with them.

Some of those employees, years later, became managers themselves and would use new employees as bait for him, asking him to give them a “training session.”

But those days were long gone. The vestiges of that time, which had remained for him alone, had crumbled a few days ago.

‘Is it because I’m a teenage girl now? I keep getting sentimental.’

Or perhaps it was just his aging mind. Myeong-jeon shook his head slightly, dispelling the sentimental thoughts.

Unlike the bustling first floor, the sprawling second floor was quiet. Only a few people strolled around. Myeong-jeon walked slowly, enjoying the serene atmosphere.

Fender, Gibson, PRS, John Suhr, Tyler, Anderson, Jackson, Ibanez, ESP, Music Man, Epiphone, Squier, Yamaha, Cort, Beyond, Dame, Schecter, Hammer, Peerless…

Seeing the various guitars lined up like soldiers, Myeong-jeon felt a surge of happiness. He didn’t necessarily need any of these guitars, but… it was a satisfying sight.

“Young lady, looking for a guitar?”

“What are you looking for?”

He never heard solicitations when he looked like a man. But perhaps because he now looked like a clueless young girl, he was hearing the solicitations he hadn’t heard in years.

Ignoring them, Myeong-jeon continued walking. He didn’t visit Nakwon often, but his regular shop was tucked away in a corner.

They might not recognize him, but after a few conversations, they’d realize he wasn’t someone to be trifled with. Then he could probably get a price close to the lowest online price.

Myeong-jeon walked slowly down the hallway. Someone walking from the opposite direction stopped upon seeing him.

“…Huh? Ha Su-yeon?”

Myeong-jeon didn’t realize he was being called. The name was unfamiliar. He was preoccupied with looking at the guitars, but…

“Ha Su-yeon!”

He couldn’t ignore the second call. A hand tapped his shoulder, and the name ‘Ha Su-yeon’ registered. Myeong-jeon thought, That’s my name, right? and turned around.

Long, straight hair. A black vest and a white school uniform shirt couldn’t conceal her ample figure. A tight H-line skirt that barely reached mid-thigh. A school bag slung over her shoulder adorned with Sanrio mascot accessories… and a bass gig bag on her back covered in bunny stickers.

“Ha Su-yeon! What are you doing here?”

Myeong-jeon quickly searched his memories. Um… who was this again? Since the memory didn’t surface immediately, she probably wasn’t close to ‘Ha Su-yeon.’

“Uh… Choi Yi-seo?”

“What? Don’t you remember me, Su-yeon? What’s wrong with her? Oh, you were in an accident, right? Is that it?”

The girl muttered about how she hadn’t seen her at school. While she spoke, Myeong-jeon desperately searched for information.

Choi Yi-seo.

Student in another class.

A wannabe “cool kid” (at least, that’s what Ha Su-yeon thought).

Annoying because she kept trying to act close.

Liked weird characters.

That was all the information he could find in ‘Ha Su-yeon’s’ memories.

And Choi Yi-seo was also thinking,

‘What’s she doing here?’

She’d greeted her out of reflex, but she couldn’t understand why she was here.

Ha Su-yeon.

First-year, Class 6, Hanseung High School.

One of the three craziest kids at Hanseung.

She did well in school and didn’t disrupt classes, so she was on good terms with the teachers… but…

Playing pranks on other girls in her year, following couples around and making fun of them, were common occurrences.

She’d heard that Ha Su-yeon slapped a third-year senior girl at a drinking party and even got into a fight with three girls from another school while drunk.

She’d even tried to form a band. Which had failed miserably, but still…

So what was someone like that doing here? Had she woken up already?

“You… do… music…?”

Su-yeon stuttered slightly, seemingly flustered by her appearance.

Choi Yi-seo then realized she hadn’t told Ha Su-yeon about her music.

‘I was trying to keep it a secret from the kids at school because I thought it was embarrassing…!’

She’d called out without thinking, and now her secret was out. If things continued like this, everyone in the first year at Hanseung High would know she was into music by tomorrow. Knowing Ha Su-yeon, she’d definitely spread the word.

“Hey, hey, hey, Su-yeon, come over here for a sec, no, please.”

Choi Yi-seo tried to pull Su-yeon’s hand, but it didn’t work. Panicked, she wrapped her arms around Su-yeon and dragged her towards a corner of the shopping center.

‘Are high school girls this forward nowadays…?’

Dragged along, enveloped in a soft embrace, Myeong-jeon couldn’t grasp the situation and wondered.