Superstar From Age 0

Chapter 113

There are a lot of buskers today.

Well, its right next to the academy, so there must be students from our department and other departments too.

Hmm. Natalie. Look at that.

Natalie turned her gaze at Choi Yoo-seongs words. He was pointing at a young boy who was holding a violin that didnt fit his body.

Choi Yoo-seong and Natalie walked a little closer. The boys clothes and violin looked old and worn.

In a peaceful corner of the park where the warm sunlight shone, the boys black-and-white appearance drew peoples attention.

A few coins and bills were already visible in the open violin case, indicating how many songs he had played.

Not a bad income.

Choi Yoo-seong and Natalie also put some money in and waited. The boy bowed to them and rested his chin on the violin.

As the boys arm holding the bow moved, Choi Yoo-seong and Natalie swallowed their saliva at the same time.

His posture

When they were very young, their hand movements and the way they held the bow were as awkward as his.

The boys violin performance was also like that. Several notes were mixed in one bow stroke. The wrong posture changed the sound into a chilling one.

But still

Choi Yoo-seong and Natalie felt a small touch by the boys performance, which continued despite the mistakes. He was a beginner, but he was doing his best.

What is this noise?

Some people frowned and cursed at the loud noise, but only licked their tongues and left when they saw the boy.

Well, that was understandable. Of course, they agreed that it was hard to listen to the performance with a clear mind.

Even though it was hard to bear the performance, Choi Yoo-seong and Natalie felt a strange feeling. There were quite a few people who listened to the miserable performance until the end.

The violin boy played his last song and bowed. Applause was heard. The boy smiled faintly and took his money and violin case and left. The spectators also scattered one by one.

The old clothes and pale image of the boy stuck in Choi Yoo-seong and Natalies minds. Choi Yoo-seong, who was looking at where the boy had disappeared, opened his mouth.

I hope he has a good dinner.

Yeah.

But there are people who film such performances.

Well, maybe its a memory for them.

I just hope they dont make fun of him.

Natalie sighed at Choi Yoo-seongs words.

***

Seo-jun headed to the store that was used as a waiting room with the bodyguards and Ahn Da-ho. He changed his old clothes and handed them to the staff. The staff took the clothes, but gave the violin back to Seo-jun.

Ill bring you different clothes next week. You can take the violin and practice. The violin youll use for filming might be different, so it might be hard to play.

Okay! Oh, what about the money?

Seo-jun looked at the bills and coins that he had placed on his two hands.

He didnt expect to get any money for the promotional video, but someone had opened the violin case on the bench and put some money in. After that, some people put some coins and bills in. He couldnt stop them because he was playing.

The staff smiled and said.

Its your money, Joon. Buy whatever you want. Joon. You did a great job today.

Goodbye!

As Seo-jun greeted the staff and bodyguards, Ahn Da-ho arrived with the car in front of the store.

He put the two violin cases in the back seat and sat in the passenger seat with the coins and bills clenched in his hand.

He fastened his seat belt and spread his palm to count the coins and bills one by one.

Seven dollars! Seven dollars, Da-ho hyung.

Really? Thats good.

Ahn Da-ho smiled at Seo-juns words.

Did you put some of this in, Da-ho hyung?

How did you know?

I saw you sneaking it in.

Seo-jun saw Ahn Da-ho secretly putting in some coins in the middle of the performance.

He probably knew how bad Grays first performance was, and he was worried that he would be disappointed by the little money in the violin case that someone had opened. He didnt put in a lot of money because it would stand out, so he just put in some coins.

Seo-jun remembered the faces of the people who listened to his performance up close. The coins and bills in his hand felt heavier as much as their hearts.

Ill save this and not use it.

Seo-jun smiled and cherished the coins and bills.

The next filming was the scene where Gray learned the violin from Rebecca.

Gray, who was still colorless, only smiled brightly like a colorful flower when he held the violin.

While filming the scene where Gray, Rebecca, and George had a conversation, Jason Moore, who visited the set every day, felt a sense of familiarity from Rebeccas appearance.

Thats

Doesnt it look like Professor Mortons teaching?

Jason Moores head turned to the side. Emily, the assistant director, said.

I guess the professors appearance left a deep impression on her during practice. He taught her kindly.

As Emily said, Catherine looked like Professor Benjamin. Studying the people around her and acting was also a common method, so Sara Roth, the director, proceeded with the filming without any comment.

With Rebeccas guidance, Gray drew the strings with the bow for the first time. He wasnt used to the delicate force control, so he pressed two strings of the violin with the bow at the same time.

Rebecca turned her head when she heard two sounds. George chuckled and watched the two of them.

Relax. Just stroke it gently like a puppy.

Ive never touched a puppy before

In Downlock, there were only big, ferocious stray dogs. Her mother wouldnt let her go near them because of the rumors that they were fighting dogs. Gray wilted. His bright color faded to black as Rebecca grew impatient.

We have a puppy at home! Do you want me to bring it? Its so cute.

Really?

Gray smiled widely as he imagined a cute puppy.

Cut! OK!

After the morning shoot, the kids chatted over lunch.

You made seven dollars?

With that performance?

Catherine and Paul looked at Seo-jun with surprised faces. They had already heard his performance in the practice room. Seo-jun nodded as he ate.

Da-ho hyung gave me about two dollars, but five dollars came from a stranger.

That performance could earn five dollars

Paul shivered as he recalled the ear-splitting performance. Catherine dipped her meat and said.

Are you going again this week?

Yeah.

I wonder what kind of promotional video it will be.

Catherine and Seo-jun nodded at Georges words.

The next shoot was Grays first time playing the violin.

Ready, action!

Rebecca said.

Dont worry about mistakes. Just play as much as you learned.

Im not good at it

Youll only know what to fix if you practice. Its an easy song. Try it.

The song was Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, a nursery rhyme familiar to everyone.

Gray tensed up as he rested his chin on Rebeccas violin. Georges camera pointed at Gray.

Gray remembered what Rebecca had taught him.

Straighten your back and keep your shoulders at the same height. Curve your left fingers that press the strings, and hold the bow with your right hand like youre holding an egg. Be careful not to lower the violin.

He drew the bow down.

Screech-

In the quiet park, a squeaky sound echoed. Rebecca and George, or rather, Catherine and Paul, couldnt help but stifle their laughter as they forgot their acting and pressed their lips together. Gray followed Rebecca and Georges words to the letter, so he didnt laugh and continued playing with a serious expression.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star that sounded like it came from hell.

The staff, Professor Benjamin, Jason, and Director Sarah, all waited for Seo-juns performance to end with their mouths shut.

When the performance ended at the part he had learned, Gray fidgeted. He knew it. It was a mess. But he was happy that he had played the violin himself. He looked at his friends with a shy face and opened his mouth.

How was it?

Ahahahaha!

Puhahaha!

Catherine and Paul laughed heartily, as the script had instructed them to.

Director Sarah shouted OK after filming Grays pouting lips, and laughter erupted among the staff.

Jun, youre amazing!

I would have laughed in the middle of playing if I were you.

Seo-jun also laughed at Catherine and Pauls words.

The shooting continued the next day.

Today, George and Rebecca brought a bag full of papers with staff lines instead of violins.

Composing?

Yeah. Its our homework for the break. Gray knows how to read music, so lets do it together.

Gray nodded at Georges words. He wanted to play the violin more, but he was happy to hold the pen as he enjoyed doing anything with his friends.

But how do you compose?

Just write down the music that comes to your mind. Dont think too hard. Think about what kind of emotion you want to express with your music.

Its okay to just think of a big outline.

The music he wanted to play. Gray blinked. Something flashed through his mind. It was a surprisingly clear violin sound.

While Rebecca and George, who had a teacher to check their homework, were struggling and groaning, Gray, who could compose as he pleased, brought his pen to the staff paper.

Hmm.

Seo-jun, who had become Gray, smirked inwardly. The music that came to his mind was not Professor Benjamin Mortons song, Over the Rainbow.

A dream fairy and a goblin violinist, and Gray met and created a simple but emotional song of their own.

This isnt bad either But Ill draw it and play it next time.

Seo-jun didnt forget that this was a movie shoot.

Grays hand moved. He awkwardly drew circles with a black pen to make notes. He looked like a child who was drawing music for the first time.

Professor Benjamin Morton couldnt help but think of Jason Moores childhood when he saw him.

He remembered Jasons back then, as he smiled brightly and composed with the kids, while he couldnt come today because of his solo recital preparation.

***

On Sunday, Choi Yoo-sung went to the park alone. He only had time on Sundays because of school. He sometimes thought of the violin boy.

Is he here?

He headed to the spot a little earlier than when he came with Natalie. Fortunately, the violin boy was there. He hadnt played a single song yet, as there was nothing in his violin case. Choi Yoo-sung put some money in the violin case.

Thank you.

Do you come here every day?

No. I come every Sunday.

The boy said in a small voice and picked up his violin. Choi Yoo-sung looked around at the spectators who were waiting for the boys performance.

There seemed to be about the same number of spectators as last week. There were some students who came out of concern for the boy, like Choi Yoo-sung, and some who had malicious faces that were curious about his job.

Then, Choi Yoo-sungs eyes caught a particularly blue whale picture.

Is that the new Brandon? It seems popular since I see it a lot, but its weird that Ive never seen it outside the park Theres something different

His thoughts were interrupted by the screeching violin sound.

Choi Yoo-sungs gaze turned to the boy. He still wore faded clothes and had a small, old violin. But the boy continued to play.

Choi Yoo-sung noticed several mistakes in the boys posture. He wanted to teach him, but he didnt want to be nosy. He sighed inwardly and listened to the squeaky violin sound again.

Seo-jun smiled happily and put the bills and coins he had earned into the transparent piggy bank he had bought on his way home. Today, he made ten dollars without Da-ho hyungs money.