Devil’s Music

Two days later, at dawn, JFK International Airport, New York

Geon Kim entered the airport entrance, sunglasses and hat on, face covered with a neck warmer, dragging a large suitcase behind him. Despite the early hour, the airport lobby was bustling with people. Geon spotted Professor Sharon sitting on an eight-seat bench next to the boarding pass exchange, absorbed in her phone, and hurried over with his suitcase. Sharon looked up as she felt someone approaching and waved at Geon.

"Over here."

"Professor!"

Geon placed his suitcase aside and sat next to Sharon, asking.

"You're early. What about Professor Price?"

Sharon showed her phone's message screen and said,

"Professor Corigliano is bringing her. He'll probably have to return right after dropping her off. Professor Corigliano has a schedule from this morning. What about Kiska?"

Geon shrugged.

"Gregory said he couldn't allow her to travel abroad, so I left her behind. She was so upset, I got in trouble for leaving her."

"Ha-ha, Kiska must really like Kay. It's like she's got a real older brother."

"Ha-ha, she does follow me around."

"But Professor Price will be disappointed. She was quite fond of her."

"Ah, I called her yesterday to tell her in advance. She should know."

"That's good. Did you bring your passport?"

Geon opened his bag, took out his passport, and waved it with a smile, to which Sharon nodded.

"Is this your first time going to Ireland?"

Geon nodded excitedly.

"Yes, it's a country I've always wanted to visit. I'm so grateful to Professor Price for including me in her trip."

"Ha-ha, wanted to see because of its beautiful natural scenery?"

Geon made a playful face.

"Ha-ha, actually, I wanted to see the locations where my favorite movie was filmed."

Sharon tilted her head, then remembered the movie and smiled.

"Once?"

"Yes, that's right. It was 2006, so I was very young. I didn't see the movie in theaters but at a friend's house on DVD. I was so hooked I saved up my allowance to buy the DVD and album."

"Ha-ha, I see. Since we're going to Dublin, Ireland, you'll be able to visit the locations from the movie."

"Can we also visit Slane Castle?"

"Slane Castle... where U2 performed live?"

"Yes, the live was outside, but they recorded an entire album inside the castle. It appeared briefly in the music video, and it was so beautiful."

"Hmm.. Since we're renting a car, moving around won't be a problem. Let's go."

"Ha-ha, I'm excited!"

Sharon playfully poked Geon in the ribs.

"This trip is to celebrate Professor Price's retirement, but it seems Kay is more excited?"

Geon scratched his head over his hat and laughed awkwardly.

"Ha-ha.. Is, is that so? Oh! There's the professor!"

As Geon spoke, Sharon stood up reflexively, and her eyes caught Professor Nora coming with a large, white suitcase. Nora's face, flushed with excitement from the rare trip, looked healthier than after her performances, and she wore designer sunglasses and a stylish scarf with dark purple droplets on a light purple background, waving and smiling broadly.

"The plane will be boarding soon! Come over here!"

Sharon and Geon quickly dragged their suitcases to her, exchanging greetings. Even though they had seen each other just two days ago, their greeting was warmly exchanged, and the three of them, holding their plane tickets, lined up to check in their luggage. Despite many people glancing at Geon, whose face was hidden behind sunglasses and a neck warmer, thankfully, no one seemed to recognize him. After waiting for a while, Sharon and Professor Price checked in their tickets and luggage and stepped aside, watching an airline employee open Geon's passport in astonishment. Unable to speak, the employee stared blankly at the photo and name in the passport, then quickly regained her composure, seeing Geon in front of her. Geon leaned forward and smiled after removing his sunglasses secretly, placing his index finger on his lips. The employee, momentarily lost in thought, quickly snapped back to her duties, assisting with the ticketing and luggage check-in.

With the most friendly tone and expression she could muster, the shy employee handed Geon a pen and paper, whispering,

"Could I have your autograph, Kay? My name is Margaret."

Geon grinned, signed the paper for her, and even wrote down her name, leaving the employee with a satisfied smile. She kindly directed them to the entrance. After a brief check of their luggage and tickets by a security officer, the three entered the duty-free shop at the airport. Sharon and Professor Price, despite their age,

couldn't resist shopping at the cosmetics corner, leaving Geon alone to guard the suitcase. He noticed a toy store not far away.

'Kiska must be mad. I should buy her a doll.'

Entering the toy store, Geon picked up a cute rabbit doll. Smiling at the doll that somehow resembled Kiska, he paid for it and exited the store, where Sharon greeted him with a smile.

"Is this a gift for Kiska?"

Geon took the rabbit doll out of the bag and shook it, laughing playfully.

"Doesn't it resemble Kiska?"

"Ha-ha, yes. It suits cute Kiska well."

"Phew, but why is this doll so expensive? When I was young, even the most expensive robot toys didn't cost more than $50. I don't understand why this doll costs $135. It's cute, though."

"Dolls are quite expensive these days. The doll Kay bought is from a known maker."

Chatting away, the trio headed to the gate and boarded the plane. Having woken up early to prepare, Geon plugged in his earphones to listen to music and quickly fell asleep. Thanks to Sharon booking first-class for Professor Price, Geon enjoyed a comfortable sleep until the plane landed in the Netherlands for a layover. Blending with the disembarking passengers, Geon removed his sunglasses to rub his sleepy eyes.

A young woman in her twenties, walking beside him and dragging a suitcase, caught his eye as she gasped in shock. Geon quickly put his sunglasses back on, but after confirming she recognized him, he approached her and whispered,

"Could you come over here for a moment?"

Geon led the stunned woman to a secluded spot, removing his sunglasses and smiling.

"I'll take a picture and sign an autograph for you, but please don't make a fuss."

The woman, feeling as if she had won the lottery, spent over ten minutes taking pictures and getting autographs. A tired Geon put his sunglasses back on and chased after Sharon and Professor Price, who had moved ahead. Not seeing them, Geon boarded the connecting flight alone and found the two professors already seated, chatting away, looking at them with discontent.

"Wow, how could you board before me?"

Professor Leontine Price covered her mouth with her hand, laughing.

"Ha-ha, I saw everything. You took a young lady to a corner. Thinking Kay found a woman he liked, we didn't want to interrupt and came ahead. You're not upset, are you?"

Geon pushed a small carry-on into the overhead compartment, chuckling.

"What are you talking about? I was just giving an autograph to a fan who recognized me after I took off my sunglasses."

Sharon waved her hand, laughing playfully.

"I won't tell Kiska, so be honest, Kay. Ha-ha."

Geon looked down at Sharon with a baffled expression.

"What? Why is Kiska coming up, Professor?"

"Ha-ha, was it not?"

Geon slumped into his seat, shaking his head.

"Professor, Kiska is only ten years old."

Sharon and Leontine Price looked at each other and said simultaneously.

"Who knows? Will Kiska think the same?"

"What? Hey, stop joking. I'm going to sleep."

Geon plugged in his earphones, pulled his hat down, and lay down as Leontine Price watched him for a while before whispering to Sharon.

"Does he not know?"

Sharon glanced at Geon's profile and nodded slightly.

"He might not know. From the side, it seemed Kay didn't know how to respond to the attention from women. And since Kiska is so young, he probably hasn't thought about it."

"Hmm... It would be bad if Kiska got hurt."

"Ha-ha, love affairs are unpredictable, Professor. Even if not now, things might change when Kiska grows up."

"Ha-ha-ha, this will be interesting to watch. Ha-ha-ha."

Unaware of the conversation between the two women, Geon surrendered to the music flowing through his earphones and drifted into sleep. After a short flight, they landed at Dublin Airport in Ireland, and Geon was mesmerized by the view of Dublin's low houses and nature. As Sharon, driving the rented car, pointed towards downtown Dublin in the distance,

"This is the heaven of busking. Dublin, Ireland. It's where bright, shining musicians first stand in front of an audience."

Excitement surged through Geon as he caught a glimpse of the Dublin cityscape he had seen in movies, unable to hide his exhilarated expression.

"Wow!! I can't wait to see it! I wonder what songs the Irish people will play, and what it will be like to see the places from the movie with my own eyes, Professor!"

"Ha-ha, enjoy to your heart's content."

Sharon raised her hand, flicking her

index finger.

"First, the hotel. Don't forget that Professor Price is of advanced age, Kay."

Looking at Professor Price's wrinkled hand, Geon calmed his excitement but remained glued to the window, captivated by the beautiful cityscape. The compact houses, closely packed yet harmoniously blending with the natural scenery, freed Geon's heart from any sense of confinement.

>

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