AMGWPM 16💸

Chapter 16. Don’t Know Why (6)

Ayeon’s small hands began to walk across the piano keys. The movement was light, as if taking a stroll.

‘Slowly….’

It was the first time performing in front of her mother, so she was nervous. Yet, she didn’t make a mistake. Her fingers, which hardly moved freely at the academy, were somehow moving with liberty now. Was it because she was home? In the comfortable atmosphere, the tension left the child’s waist as well. A relaxed mood followed by a relaxed performance. The child’s spirits were oddly lifted. Though her father’s playing couldn’t be heard, it somehow felt like he was beside her. It even seemed like she could smell the scent of heavy wood.

‘Huh…?’

That unfamiliar scent was familiar to Lee Ye-eun too. It was the woody fragrance she had forgotten. The more she listened to the child’s playing, the stronger the wood scent became.

The living room was always filled with the sound of the piano. Lee Ye-eun’s mornings always began with piano music. The leisurely start of a piano piece, her husband’s performance.

Tan-tan-♬

After the existence called ‘husband’ entered her life, Lee Ye-eun began to listen to music. Before that, she hadn’t been very interested in music and felt the songs from the TV or internet were pointless. Who had the leisure to listen to music when there was no time due to work?

“How’s this song?”

What opened her ears was a certain warm voice. A close friend from her busy university days. One day, one of what people call ‘male friends’ asked. It was a singer he liked, what did she think? Lee Ye-eun’s answer was predictable.

“I don’t really like listening to music.”
“What? No, why?”
“It just seems unnecessary.”

The man fell silent at that. She, busy with assignments, didn’t properly see his expression. Time passed indifferently like that, and the next day…

“Listen to this.”
“…You’re really being bothersome. I said I don’t like listening to music, didn’t I?”
“Really, just! Once. Just listen once for me.”
“What’s so good about that song that you’re doing this?”

At the man’s desperation, Lee Ye-eun made a disgusted face but soon obliged. The song was still uninteresting. Neither the female singer’s voice nor the calm piano accompaniment. It was just boring music.

“It’s boring. Stop now.”
“Then, how about this song? It’s a song I really like? Just listen one more time for me.”

The man kept pleading tiresomely. Lee Ye-eun found the spectacle tedious, yet also somewhat interesting.

‘What’s so good about this that he likes it so much?’

Of course, she only thought that to herself. The man asked her to listen to songs for a day, a week, over a month. Lee Ye-eun thought, ‘What kind of crazy person is this?’ but eventually gave in. He was usually fun and kind, but seeing him go crazy over music was even slightly scary.

‘It seems kinda okay…?’

Listening continuously like that, Lee Ye-eun started to feel it was kinda okay. On the contrary, interest began to grow. Perhaps that was when. When she fell for that man. So much time had passed. The young university woman began working at a company. And the music-loving man was gradually making himself known. Days spent busking on the streets of Hong-dae, slowly getting to know each other. The two promised to spend their lives together. Before they knew it, a lovely being was born between them, who had become each other’s most precious existence. On a weekend morning when the sun was rising, about six months after Lee Ye-eun became pregnant with Ayeon.

“That song again?”

Lee Ye-eun said with a bored expression. On the ring finger of her left hand, resting on her head, shone a single ring.

“Why, you like it, don’t you? No?”
“…It’s a good song, alright, but you play it too much.”
“Is that so…?”
“Yeah. I’ve heard it too much.”

The man scratched his head and said.

“That seems right. I’ll listen to this and then not play it for a while, okay?”
“Sigh…. Since I have Ayeon inside me, I’ll let it slide just this time.”
“Since Ayeon is in your belly, be careful. Sit over there, I’ll bring you something to eat.”

The couple’s mornings always started simply. Even though she was pregnant, workaholic Lee Ye-eun seldom rested. Accordingly, her husband also woke up early to prepare breakfast. Eating simple but affectionate food, the two felt the morning breeze.

“But why do you play that song every day? What if Ayeon says she dislikes it later?”
“Hmm…. Won’t she understand? Or else…. Well, nothing can be done.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”

The sound of the TV, music from the speakers, the morning birds chirping. Hearing those sounds made her heart feel at ease. She realized once again how beautiful songs were that she hadn’t paid attention to before.

“Do you know why I like this song the most?”
“Huh?”

During the meal, the man spoke. At his endlessly soft voice, Lee Ye-eun’s head turned lightly. At her husband’s smile, always filled with tender affection, Lee Ye-eun also smiled.

“I don’t know why I didn’t go.”
“Huh? Suddenly?”
“No, the song lyrics. The original is in English, but I tried singing it in Korean.”

At the man’s voice while gently stroking her belly, Lee Ye-eun softly closed her eyes. A chuckle escaped at his careful touch, as if worried she might feel heavy.

“This song expresses the protagonist’s regret, right?”
“Is that so? I feel more like it’s about seeing someone off.”
“Interpreting it is the listener’s freedom. That’s how I felt it.”
“Okay.”

The man continued. His hand was still tenderly stroking Lee Ye-eun’s belly. The affectionate warmth probably reached the baby inside, she thought.

“Regret…. I’m going to do everything I want for our daughter. So that neither you nor I will have regrets.”
“What if she asks us to buy her a house?”
“Huh? Well… a house is a bit difficult.”
“Hahahaha!!”

Lee Ye-eun’s laughter was rich, as if it would spread outside the window. She was sure her laughter was filled with joy and happiness.

‘I think so too.’

That she would do everything her daughter wanted. That the child’s happiness was her top priority.

“What if our daughter is born with a talent?”
“What do you mean ‘what’? Of course…!”
“Of course?”
“We have to raise her to be the best!”

Her husband sprang up from his chair and looked at Lee Ye-eun.

“Let’s definitely make Ayeon known to the world!”

His bright smile was full of thoughts for his daughter. And that…

“Of course, whose daughter is she?”

…was the same for Lee Ye-eun.

When Ayeon was about 3 years old. That day was an ordinary day. While Lee Ye-eun, home from work, was resting while watching Ayeon, her husband called. The quietly ringing ringtone. A song he liked the most, which Lee Ye-eun also had come to like.

“…Hello?”

Sadly, her husband’s voice could not be heard.

Ayeon’s performance continued. With eyes closed, the tips of her slowly moving fingers were now stepping on grass. Under a large tree, a strong woody scent was felt. The smell of grass and a faint floral scent tickled her nose, and gradually the shade blocked the harsh sunlight.

“Lee-ya!”

Ayeon was enjoying a space that belonged only to her and her dad. In that precious space where no one else could intrude. came–. Suddenly, an intruder entered. A most precious intruder. Lee Ye-eun was smelling the wood scent. Quietly, with eyes closed. Just standing still, focusing only on the sound reaching her. The child also walked quietly toward the deeply rooted tree. The song continued slowly, and the breeze also rustled. There was enough space between the two for the sound to resonate. The same song, different memories. One recalled faint, precious memories with her dad. The other recalled forgotten, precious promises and resolutions. But perhaps with the same heart, they listened to the song holding precious memories. The two were connected by the same song.

“Ayeon-ah.”

Lee Ye-eun called softly. The two were in the living room. The forest scenery had vanished, but the strong woody scent still lingered there.

“Our daughter, do you like the piano?”

Lee Ye-eun’s cautious question.

“Yeah….”

The child answered cautiously. Ayeon’s small fingers were still playing, so Lee Ye-eun resolved to place her words upon that melody. Recalling a long-heard, no, long-forgotten song.

“Ayeon, is it hard going to the academy?”

Ding! A momentary wrong note, and then…

Tan-♩

…the performance resumed. Ayeon was silent for a moment. More than silence, it seemed like she was considering. Ayeon was 5 years old. However, as a child who lived a slightly different daily life from other children. One could say the depth of her thoughts was also somewhat shallow.

“…It’s hard.”

Ayeon said. She spoke her true feelings, emotions she had wanted to express but had kept suppressed. Her calm voice contained the answer Lee Ye-eun had anticipated.

“Then, should we quit the academy?”

The relaxed voice contained the answer the child wanted. It was the heart of a mother thinking of her child. However, Ayeon was also the same, thinking of her mother.

“It’s okay. Mommy, you work hard. I should study hard too.”

But since those were words the mother had imposed on the child, there was no need to strictly keep them. Lee Ye-eun spoke decisively.

“Daughter, you don’t necessarily have to do that. If there’s something you want to do, you can do it.”

At her sincere words, Ayeon nodded. The performance was coming to an end. The woody scent was gradually fading.

“Then, can I just go to the piano academy?”

The child turned her head to look at Lee Ye-eun. Hands gathered on her tiny chest, afraid she might be scolded. For Ayeon, it was a request made with great effort, but for Lee Ye-eun, it was an all too easy request. She felt terribly sorry for not having granted even that easy wish until now.

“Of course.”

At the words, light yet heavy.

“Really? Truly?”

The child looked surprised and laughed joyfully simultaneously.

“Mommy is the best!”

Ayeon, who always wore a heavy expression, firmly pressed on Lee Ye-eun’s thighs and hugged her neck. Not knowing her thighs hurt from that act, Lee Ye-eun laughed happily. She was so happy tears almost came out.

“Mommy, are you crying?”
“No, I didn’t cry. Must be some dust in my eye.”

It would have been okay to be honest, but somehow she felt shy. Afraid the child might think her a foolish mother. Ayeon got down from her. It was getting late, and the child wanted to wash up with her mother, so she was hurrying. Then, she remembered.

“Ah, Mommy! The song I just played, there’s a song, right? What’s the title?”
“The title?”

At the child’s question, Lee Ye-eun smiled faintly. Because it was a song she knew all too well.

“It’s a song called ‘Don’t Know Why’.”
“Don’t-why?”
“Don’t-why.”
“Hmm….”

Ayeon thought for a moment, then got down from Lee Ye-eun’s lap. And bowing her head, she said.

“Thank you!”
“Oh my, our daughter studied hard at kindergarten, huh?”
“Yep! Hmm.”

The two’s sincere smiles and laughter continued into the late night. Lee Ye-eun suddenly realized. The heavy shoulders that had tormented her for so long felt somehow lighter today.