Chapter 69
Warsaw, Poland, does not have a famous music school. The reason the International Beethoven Competition is held in Bonn is simply because Bonn is the headquarters of Deutsche Telekom, the competition's long-time sponsor. Of course, this city has a university. On the banks of the Rhine River is the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn. However, this school does not have a music school, so unlike in Warsaw, it does not provide practice rooms for the participants.
Bonn Central Station, less than 1 km from the university. As you exit the station from the elevated exit, the InterCity Hotel Bonn will be right in front of you.
"Martin, there are two pianos on the 12th floor, right?" the desk clerk stopped a middle-aged man in an engineer's uniform as he passed by.
The man named Martin took off his headphones.
"What did you say?"
The female employee spoke as if in a hurry.
"The students participating in the Beethoven Competition checked in today. Every year during this season, there are students who practice in the terrace practice room on the 12th floor, right?"
"Ah, it's that season already. But…?"
"A guest who checked out this morning said that the piano was tuned a semitone higher. Could you please check it?"
Martin tilted his head.
"Really? Well, I see. I'll call the technician."
Although Martin was the hotel's engineer, he was only a technician for the hotel's internal facilities. The piano tuning should be done by a professional. The female employee gestured for him to hurry.
"If they play the piano before it's tuned, it will damage our hotel's reputation. Please do it before then."
"Oh, yes, I understand."
Martin complained inwardly after putting his headphones back on.
'This is a youth competition. At most, children will come, so you can just ask for their understanding and say that it will take a few hours to coordinate. Who would go to a hotel for its reputation? Anyway, it's just a fuss.'
Martin got on the elevator, sent a text message asking the piano technician to come, and pressed the 12th floor. He looked at the time on his watch. It was 12:40. If any guests had checked in, it would have only been 40 minutes since they arrived. He laughed again at the front desk staff's fuss.
As the elevator was about to pass the 11th floor, Martin seemed startled by a faint ringing in his ears. The sounds of a violin, a cello, and a piano were resonating. It wasn't the music playing in the hotel, but someone playing on the 12th-floor terrace.
"At this time?"
The elevator doors opened and a terrace with a panoramic view of the city appeared. It was a sunny day with a good temperature. He saw two women playing the cello and the violin.
'No, the cello and violin are not the problem right now. What about the piano? I said there was definitely a problem.'
He urgently turned his head towards the piano. A grand piano occupied the center of the terrace. A boy with curly black hair was playing it. The piece being performed was the Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15. This is a piece by Beethoven that was originally performed with an orchestra, but can also be played with a simple arrangement of piano, cello, and violin.
But it was strange. If it were a badly tuned piano, it would have caused dissonance. There was no problem listening to it. No, it actually sounded very good.
'What? Was there a mistake? That's what the management people do.'
Martin, who was grumbling, went up to the terrace and checked the boiler system. It was the children who played the piano, but it was the adult women who played the cello and the violin. Martin was doing his job quietly so as not to disturb the customers. Martin, who didn't know much about classical music but was humming along to the very pleasant-sounding concerto, soon stopped playing and listened to the German he was hearing.
"Wow! You're amazing!"
It was a female voice with a pleasant sound. When Martin turned his head, he saw the woman who was playing the violin put down her bow and look at the boy sitting at the piano with a look of resignation on her face.
'He looks like an oriental boy, but can he speak German?'
But Martin's thoughts were clouded. He heard fluent German.
"You guys played very well too."
'Yes? It's a slightly strange German. I don't know exactly what it is, but it's like a very old German vocabulary.'
But the cellist and the violinist didn't seem to be German either. Their accents were a little weak. The cellist clapped softly and said,
"We are from Sweden. We came on a trip with my brother, but I didn't expect to meet a pianist like you. What's your name?"
"I am Nam Soo-hyun."
"Man… it's difficult."
"You can just call me Nam."
"Haha, I'm sorry. My brother and I are making memories while traveling and playing the cello and violin together. I never thought I could play with the piano at a hotel. And I never thought I would meet such a good pianist like you."
The violinist brother asked.
"Are you here to participate in the competition?"
"Yes, that's right."
Martin, who was working, looked carefully at the boy. The boy who checked in today and was going to the Beethoven Competition was that boy. A boy leaning against a piano, talking to women. He was a striking-looking boy.
'You must be popular. If you keep this up, you'll be considered very handsome in a few years.'
"I'm sorry for suddenly interrupting your performance."
"Of course, but when I hear you play, my hands get really itchy. What can I do? Please understand," the two sisters said with a smile. Soo-hyun shook his head and said.
"No, I'm glad we joined in."
'It's a heartwarming scene. A scene where handsome and attractive musicians share their souls.'
But this had nothing to do with Martin, who was going about his business thinking it was a good time to look at them and sell them. Martin checked the boiler and pressed the elevator button again. Then, he heard a boy's voice from behind.
"Hey?"
'Is he calling himself?' When Martin turned around, he saw three people standing side by side, looking at him. Martin ran quickly.
"Yes, sir. How can I help you?"
Soo-hyun said, pointing to the piano with his head.
"This piano is tuned a semitone higher. Could you please check it?"
'Yes? It's a polite request, but didn't you just play the piano? You didn't play it alone, but in collaboration with a cello and a violin. Is that possible with a piano that's not even tuned?'
It seemed that the two sisters were also surprised.
"What? How is it out of tune?" "That's right, I didn't feel that way at all."
The cellist sister ran over and pressed the piano keys, then looked at her younger sister and nodded. The younger sister was holding the violin and pressing the notes her older sister was pressing, and her jaw was about to drop in surprise.
"Ah, really." "That's ridiculous!"
Martin and the two sisters looked at Soo-hyun in surprise. Soo-hyun stood up from the chair and said as he headed to the elevator.
"It's a semitone higher overall, so it shouldn't be difficult to tune it. Then, please."
The violinist brother asked urgently.
"Hey, uncle! How did you collaborate with a differently tuned piano?"
The elevator door opened and Soo-hyun got on, smiling slightly as he closed the door.
"It's a song in C major, so if you transpose it to B major and play it, it's simple. It's not a big deal."
"Hey, wait a minute! What room are you staying in?"
Before the door closed completely, Soo-hyun's voice was heard.
"Room 609, I'm with a friend."
As Martin stared blankly at the closed elevator door, he heard the voices of two sisters talking quickly and surprisedly. But this time it wasn't German and Martin couldn't understand it.
"My goodness! Did you transpose that difficult song on the spot because it was out of tune? Is that possible?" "Even if you understand the song perfectly, it's hard to correct it once you get used to it. Have you ever tried, Unnie?" "No! I would never practice like that. But… is there anyone who practices like that?" "You just saw him." "Did you really… practice?" "…"
'It's impossible that you practiced. Who would practice so uselessly?' said the sister, staring blankly at the cello bow.
"That boy said he was going to the Beethoven Competition, right?" The violinist brother's smile grew deeper and deeper. "Let's change our plans! Let's go see the competition! That boy is sure to win an award. I want to see him play, little sister!"
"Alright! Let's go down to the room right now and change the schedule!"
Martin was lost in his thoughts until the two sisters, who had picked up their instruments and pressed the elevator button, gave him a quick nod. The piano technician was getting off the elevator.
"Oh, Mr. Martin. Did you call me?"
"Yes… Please take a look at the piano. I heard it was tuned a semitone higher."
"I'll investigate," the technician said. After checking the sound, he nodded. "That's right, it's exactly a semitone higher. I'll take care of it right away."
"Really… a semitone higher?"
"Yes, that's right. Ten minutes will be enough."
Martin, who was staring blankly at the technician, took out his cell phone.
"Was there an entrance fee to attend the Beethoven Competition…?"
Junwoo, who was tossing and turning on the bed, stared at Soo-hyun when he entered the room and said.
"Why are you so late? I'm hungry."
"Oh, sorry. There was a piano on the terrace. I completely forgot the time while I was playing again. Hey, did you call Jaehee?"
"No?"
"What about the text?"
"I didn't."
Junwoo spoke as if he were about to throw the hotel cushion.
"I'm worried! Call me right now!"
Soo-hyun asked with a questioning face.
"Why?"
"She even came to see me off at the airport! She told me to contact her often!"
"Do I have to do that often?"
"Of course!"
"Why?"
"Ahhh! You idiot, you fool!"
"I have no idea why you're calling me an idiot," Soo-hyun said, putting on a thin coat. "Stop talking nonsense and let's go eat. Sister Ji-ye and Professor Lee Chan-ho said they're waiting in the lobby."
"Call me and let's go!!"
Soo-hyun waved his hand as if to say "okay" and left the room. Junwoo, who quickly got dressed and followed him, clung tightly to Soo-hyun with eyes that were burning with fire and kept repeating, "Contact me, contact me."
'Why is this guy suddenly like this?'
"Okay, you can do it after you eat."
"This is something you absolutely must do."
Junwoo stared at Soo-hyun, who had no choice but to answer that he understood and turned around.
'You don't know the human heart!!'
An inexplicable feeling. Junwoo, who had a crush on Jaehee, just hoped that Jaehee wouldn't be sad.