03: GENIUS VS GENIUS

"If you want to be called a genius, then, just be mad. All geniuses are mad after all." 

- Ha Eun-bi pov

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

03: GENIUS VS GENIUS

Eun-bi pov:

I finished my outfit with a floral beret; taking my bag and the tablet in my hand, I checked how I looked in the mirror for one last time before leaving my pad.

I kept my eyes on the documents in my tab while waiting for the elevator.

'Joo Seok-kyung, Joo Seok-hoon, twins and children of the owner of Hera palace.'

'Seok-kyung has the highest power among the students, being the child of Joo dan tae, while Seok-hoon is the highest in men. He both has the brains, looks, and talent.'

They seem to be ruling Cheong-ah high because most students there also live here.

'That's odd considering Cheong-ah is our territory. Even if they own Hera palace in Cheong-ah, my sister should have been the center.'

'I guess I'll find out why soon.'

I never thought of going to that school. I was running away from that school,

Cheong-ah high.

A school that is also a doll house.

A place created for one person, and everything shiny in it is for the person who owns it.

'I already knew Min-hyuk.

Yoo Jenny is a new socialite. Her father worked for Joo Dan-tae, so I guess that was how her status got raised.'

I continued to read the files when the elevator came and opened.

"Eun-byeol ah."

I raised my head, nodding in recognition to Seok-kyung before entering the elevator.

"I like your new look."

"You don't look so bad either."

I smiled curtly before looking down the tab again, ignoring them while leaning on the other side of the elevator.

When the elevator opened, Min-hyuk and Jenny greeted us with good mornings.

I closed the tab and stared at Min-hyuk.

"Good morning."

"Likewise."

"I like your new look."

"I needed a little change."

"It suits you."

The kids looked back and forth from me to Min-hyuk while we talked.

"Since when did the two of you become so close?"

Min-hyuk smirked and looked away.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

All of us bid goodbye as we ride our own cars.

. . . .

Seok-hoon pov:

I keep thinking of Eun-byeol.

The way she handled herself today, her manner of speaking, even her expression.

I can't read her anymore.

"She's changed."

I turned to my sister, who seemed bothered by Eun-byeol's changes.

"I've noticed."

I looked out the window, watching things fade away as we drove.

'What's wrong with you, Ha Eun-byeol?'

"Should we play another prank on Eun-byeol?"

I turned to her and saw her playfully smirking at me.

"It's bothersome."

. . . .

Eun-bi pov:

COUGH.

COUGH.

COUGH.

She keeps coughing.

I turned to mom and saw her slight smile.

'Did you do this?'

'To make me sing?'

'Should I. . . . . . ?'

I smirked.

If I don't sing, that woman will definitely go mad.

'Should I not . . . . sing?'

COUGH.

COUGH.

COUGH.

"My my! Seok-kyung ah. . . . are you okay?"

"can you keep singing?"

COUGH.

COUGH.

"I'm sorry, I'm really not feeling well."

"Hmm. . . That's a big problem."

"We can't delay the practice any longer, so we'll have to pick a new center. Any volunteers."

"I will volunteer. . ."

I looked to the side and saw a girl I was unfamiliar with raise her hand immediately.

I turned to mom and smirked at her.

Her eyes darkened at me as I continued to keep silent.

"Is there no one else who wishes to volunteer?"

She tries again.

I raised my brow at her.

The others started looking at me, but I kept my eyes on mom, who was getting irritated by the second.

"I'll do it."

Everyone turned to me as I walked forward with the other volunteer.

We both glanced at each other. I smiled at her as we both competed for the position of the center.

She started first.

A powerful voice.

Stable and clean.

'She's good.'

'But. . . . . She's going too strong.'

This song is supposed to be heartfelt rather than powerful. A delicate balance was missing, and the emotions that should have poured in were lost.

'She's talented, alright.'

'But she's too competitive and eager.'

After she finished, she smiled at the applause she received.

I smiled at her when she turned to me.

'Fine, I'll humor you a bit.'

I was feeling a little competitive and mean, so I did the same song as hers. I started my piece in a different tone from hers.

I closed my eyes, imagining the story behind the song, releasing the song's emotions with each note.

I delivered a powerful and agonized tone at the climax, ending the song with shouts and cheers from our classmates.

"Good job, Eun-byeol!"

'Your praise is the last thing I wanted, though.'

"Thank you, Ms. Cheon."

I smiled at everyone. I turned to the other genius and saw her frown. We both smiled at each other, but you can see how she forced herself to smile.

'She doesn't have to worry too much, though, since I am not interested in being an opera singer, anyway.'

'I will do everything I can to repent for your sin Eun-byeol. So come home. Come home and choose the path you truly desire, whether it is medicine or music. . . . . Just come home. . . . I will help you do whatever it is you want to do.... .'

. . . . .

Seok-hoon pov:

The students clapped in awe as she sang.

It's not only her looks or vibe that has changed. Even her ability as a soprano has changed.

'How is it possible for her to be so good suddenly?'

She finished the song powerfully.

The other students clapped in awe at her while my sister frowned the entire time.

I bit my lip, worried for my sister.

'Dad will definitely not like this.'

'If she continues the way she is now, It's going to be harder for us to stay on top.'

. . .

Eun-bi pov:

I took an empty table and placed my tray on the table, twirling the spoon on my finger before taking a bite.

I was quietly eating when my sister's friends came over, grinning ear to ear.

I put my spoon down and looked at Jenny, brimming with a smile, and Min-hyuk, who only shrugged his shoulders.

"You've changed. What's your secret?"

"Hmmm. . ."

I smiled at Seok-kyung without giving her an answer.

"Secret? What secret?"

"Don't play dumb. You've suddenly become so much better at singing. Did your mother give you a special medicine to make you sing better?"

I laughed at her words loudly.

The students from other tables looked at us because of my loud laughter.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!"

"What? A drug that makes you sing better? Do something like that even exist. . . . HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

I placed my hand on my lips, covering it as I tried not to laugh anymore.

"Sorry, that was rude. . . . I'm very sorry. . ."

"Your diet changed as well."

Seok-kyung's eyes turned to my food.

"My diet?"

She looked back at me again, eyeing me without a single smile on her face.

'She's mad.'

"I eat what I want. . . . ."

Seok-kyung smirked at me, "Really? you do?"

I smirked back, only raising my brow at her.

Seok-kyung's demeanor changed. She pouted her lips and looked at me playfully.

"You're so mean! Aren't we friends? You should share your secret with us!"

I smiled at her and patted her head.

"Should I give it to you then?"

I smiled even more, "When you truly want it, I will tell you my secret."

"What did you say?"

"A time when you truly want to sing, enough to not give it up, no matter who tells you to..."

"I'll tell you the secret then."

I gave her the warm milk I had and smiled.

"Drink warm milk every morning from now on, no sugar, okay?"

. . . . .

Seok-kyung pov:

I threw the milk to the ground, splashing it on the floor.

I glared at the spilled milk on the floor while my body trembled angrily.

"Who does she think she is to tell me what to do!! She's so annoying!!"

I glared at my reflection, remembering the pats she gave me.

"Does she think of me like a dog or a pet of hers!!"

I turned to my brother, furious at Eun-byeol's sudden change.

"Oppa! We should teach her a lesson."

"Calm down, seok-kyung."

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

I screamed loudly, releasing the bubbling anger from inside me.

"A time when you truly want to sing, enough to not give it up, no matter who tells you to..."

"I'll tell you the secret then."

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!"

'Does she think I don't want to sing on stage?'

"Whose fault do you think this is!!!"

"How dare you, HA EUN-BYEOL!!!"

"I'm going to make you pay for this!!!"

"Seok-kyung-ah!"

"Oppa, if she doesn't remember her place, I'm going to end up killing her myself!!"

I saw him sighing deeply.

I hate her.

I hate how warm her eyes were.

She's changed alright.

Her eyes were different; her gaze was piercingly annoying, her touch was annoyingly warm, and she's annoyingly comforting today.

'If I can't have a normal life, you can't have one either, Ha Eun-Byeol.'

. . . .

Joo Seok-hoon pov:

My sister is still angry.

I remembered how she looked today. She's different now.

She gazed straight at my sister without fear. She smiled, and she said words she never would have before.

She faced all of us straight. It made me think that she's a different person.

"Should I avoid your sister for a while?"

I turned to Min-hyuk, who looked at me with a smile.

"Nothing. Did you find out anything about the woman we saw weeks ago?"

"No. That was the last time. Ahh. I found out who the new tenant is."

"Ha Eun-byeol."

"You already knew?"

"Her mother bought an entire floor for her daughter. Just how much does she love her daughter?"

"Enough to spend billion for her, I guess."

Min-hyuk left his seat and went to Jenny to play games with her while my sister tried calming herself by watching something on the television.

I lean back to the sofa as I think of her voice today.

Her voice lulled me to sleep as I thought of her and her soft singing earlier today.

'It won't be too bad to get close to her again.'

. . . .

Ha Eun-Bi pov:

I stayed in the practice room to change the music sheet, trying different ways to sing it and match the others that would sing with me.

They all have unique voices, especially Rona's.

"You were great earlier."

I turned around and saw Rona behind. She's hugging her notebook tight as she observes me, I guess.

"Hi."

"Can you help me with something?"

"Sure, I actually want to talk to you about something."

"Hmm. . ."

"I know this might sound off, but I think you're playing the song from a soloist perspective."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I know you want to sing the best you can, but you're throwing the balance of the entire song."

"Sorry."

"Don't worry. You're very talented, but since it's been decided that you will sing with the others, you need to pace your tune with them so that the harmony and balance will continue till the finale."

"You can sing solo soon, I know that."

"Do you think so?"

"You're very talented, Rona; if I were to comment on anything, you're too competitive. Singing isn't just about powerful voices and techniques; you also need to think about the delivery. The story behind each song, why was it made? Who made it? Who sang it first? Things like that. Deliver the emotions and the story of the songs you sing."

"I guess I was too competitive."

"Don't worry, you will have your solo. For now, let's think as a team and deliver a song that will be loved by our audience, okay?"

She nodded as I tried to comfort her more. She's going to be a great opera singer. I'm hoping at that time, we can all be friends and have some chat at times.

'It's okay if I act like myself more, right Eun-byeol?'

"Can we practice together?"

I smiled at her and nodded.

"Sure."

I reached for my phone and handed it to her.

"If you give me your number, I'll contact you when we can practice together."

Rona smiled widely as she typed her number.

"Thank you, Ha Eun-byeol."

"See you another time."

. . . . .

Joo Seok-hoon pov:

I watched them as they practiced together.

Eun-byeol laughed and smiled at Rona, and I found myself smiling as I looked at her.

I turned away, fixing my expression before turning to them again.

'Eun-byeol sharing?'

'What are you planning, Ha Eun-byeol?'

. . . . . .

TO BE CONTINUED . . .