Devil’s Music

New York Metropolitan Museum's curator's office.

Abigail sat at her desk, staring blankly into space, when a pale hand suddenly appeared in front of her. Startled, Abigail looked up to see the owner of the hand.

"Oh, Senior Lucas! You're here?"

A middle-aged, overweight Caucasian man of about 190 cm in height stood with folded arms, wearing a displeased expression.

"Get yourself together, Abigail. Lately, it seems our curators have been losing focus, delegating internal affairs elsewhere. Moreover, you're supposed to handle that arrogant student from Juilliard, yet you seem to be losing track, making us look even more foolish."

Abigail found it amusing how the stout man stood with his arms crossed but quickly straightened up, apologizing.

"Sorry, I—"

With a furrowed brow, Lucas glanced at Abigail, then abruptly shuffled away. Kate, who had been standing nearby, spoke up after he left.

"Abigail, what's wrong?"

"Oh, it's nothing, Kate. Just had some thoughts for a moment."

Kate observed her reflection in the mirror, her neatly arranged black hair, and questioned Abigail further.

"What were you thinking? You've been absent-minded for a few days now."

Another sigh from Abigail prompted Kate to ask again.

"Huh? Is something really bothering you? Why? What's going on?"

Resting her head on her arms on the desk, Abigail replied.

"Kate, you know..."

Leaning in as if sharing a secret, Kate lowered her head closer to Abigail's.

"Yeah, yeah. Tell me. I'm so curious I'm getting dizzy."

Abigail tapped her desk with a finger, contemplating.

"Well... you know that student from Juilliard?"

Kate nodded in understanding.

"Yeah, the rumor's buzzing. The boss granted full access to the 19th-century European art collection? Just to a student."

Abigail placed both hands on the desk, crossing her arms and resting her chin.

"That's right."

Kate asked, intrigued.

"But why is that student causing trouble? Making things difficult?"

Abigail mumbled, burying her face in her arms.

"Rather wished it were a scandal. At least I could've felt some animosity."

Kate chuckled, asking.

"Huh? Really? Then why?"

Abigail blushed, raising her head.

"He's... really handsome. I've never seen anyone that good-looking in my life."

Kate was astonished.

"What? A student? Rumor has it he's not even twenty yet. You're swooning over such a young lad? You'll end up in jail for that. But seriously, how good-looking is he? I'm dying to know!"

Abigail buried her head in her arms again.

"It's not... He doesn't look like a fairytale prince, but there's something sexy and deadly about him, like a vampire prince. But every time I stand in front of him, I get flustered without knowing why, and I keep making mistakes. I must seem like a weirdo to him. Ugh..."

Kate laughed as if thoroughly entertained.

"Hehe, really? Abigail's got that side? I always thought you only cared about Japanese animations, never noticed real-life humans."

Abigail perked up, looking at Kate.

"Yeah, most people are no match for the toenail dirt of those animation protagonists. But he's different. If someone drew him in an anime, I might even fly to Japan just to buy the DVD."

Kate widened her eyes in amazement.

"What? That much? How does he look to make you say that? I'm curious! Do you have any interest in him? Any special behavior, like smiling at you often, making frequent eye contact?"

Abigail sighed deeply before burying her head in her arms again.

"No, nothing like that. He wanders the exhibition hall alone at 7 in the morning, just checking paintings with the inventory log. Occasionally asks me questions."

Kate laughed, raising her index finger.

"Hehe, really? So, I've got a chance too? Can I give it a shot?"

Abigail blushed and stood up abruptly.

"He's mine! Oh, uh, no, no, I mean..."

Kate covered her mouth, laughing.

"Hehe, teasing Abigail is the most fun thing in the world. So, did that student come by today?"

Abigail blushed furiously, glanced around, then sat back down, speaking softly.

"Yes, he said he'd come back at 5:30 this afternoon. Since it's Sunday, that's when operating hours end. I've also requested the necessary staff for today's work."

Kate looked curious.

"Work? What work? Isn't he the musician? Why would he need staff for that?"

Abigail shook her head nervously.

"He wants to rearrange the exhibited paintings."

Kate's voice hinted at surprise.

"What? Rearrange? Did Senior Lucas approve?"

Abigail looked in the direction where Lucas was eating donuts in the distance.

"No, Mister Weiss, the boss, gave his approval."

Kate's eyes widened.

"The boss did? Why would the boss personally approve for that student?"

Abigail shook her head, disbelieving.

"Instead of the damaged paintings, they hung up forgeries in their place in no time. The boss saw that and even allowed a change in the layout. From music to rearranging the whole setup, everything."

Kate said in amazement.

"Everything? So, did the rumor about handing over full authority spread? I'm curious, what kind of person is behind this."

Kate glanced at her wristwatch as she spoke.

"I'll be here in an hour, want to join? But you'll have to help with moving the paintings."

Kate hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

"Wait a second. I had plans to go to the club with Lilia today, but I'll cancel."

Abigail nodded as Kate got up to make a call. Abigail then pulled out a ledger she had placed on her desk, flipping through its pages. The ledger listed the names of paintings, artists, and alphanumeric management codes. Various colors of pencil checkmarks aligned the side of the list.

Abigail pondered over the checked sections in the ledger, thinking to herself.

'What do these marks even mean? I need to figure out their significance to be of any help. Today, I can't afford to appear clueless!'

With determination in her eyes, Abigail clenched her fist, vowing to herself.

For a while, Abigail examined the ledger intently, biting her nails and wearing a serious expression. Kate, who had been watching Abigail, suddenly slapped her on the back, laughing.

"Again, lost in thought, Abigail. It's ten minutes before our appointment."

Startled, Abigail checked the time on her wrist and hastily prepared, heading out with Kate.

At 5:20, the museum's speakers announced the closing time repeatedly. Visitors streamed out like a receding tide, guided by security personnel in groups. Abigail and Kate stood in the lobby, politely greeting the departing visitors, passing the time.

Shortly after, around twenty men clad in attire resembling radiation exposure suits entered through the inner doors. Fully covered in matching tops, hats, masks, and gloves, one of them approached Abigail and Kate, lowering his mask as he spoke.

"Abigail, Kate. We received your contact. I'm Christian from the facility management team."

Abigail nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

"Yes, I heard from Senior Lucas. You've come to assist today, right? Thank you."

Christian raised his mask again, smiling with his eyes.

"No, thank you. I heard someone from outside would be directing today's tasks, have they arrived yet?"

Abigail nodded in confirmation.

"Yes, they haven't arrived yet. They'll be here soon, please wait a moment."

After Christian nodded and rejoined his group, Kate took out her lipstick from her pocket, saying,

"Whoever this guy is, he must be quite handsome for Abigail to be this worked up. I've got to look presentable too."

As Kate adjusted her lipstick using a handheld mirror, Abigail yelled at her.

"Hey! Kate! Hand over the lipstick. What do you plan to do, looking all dolled up!"

Amidst their tussle for the lipstick, Abigail, trying to grab it from Kate's outstretched hand, momentarily staggered. Meanwhile, the lobby's main door opened, and Geon's face appeared. He glanced around, then, upon seeing Abigail, opened the door and stepped into the lobby.

Geon looked around for a moment, then spoke.

"Um... Abigail. I'm here."

Abigail froze with the lipstick in her hand.

Kate froze in the midst of their tussle.

The only sound in the now-silent lobby was the faint rolling of the lipstick as it fell from Abigail's hand.

Geon scratched the back of his head for a moment, alternating gazes between the two. Kate, regaining her composure first, nudged Abigail's shoulder and hurriedly said,

"Ugh! Uh, yes, Geon. Please come this way."

Kate grabbed Abigail's shoulder, trying to guide her as she spoke.

"Abigail! Aren't you going to introduce us?"

Abigail turned to Kate, then to Geon, stuttering.

"Uh... Geon. This is Kate Perry, who works with me as a curator here."

Geon nodded at Kate.

"Hello? I'm Geon Kim, temporarily working here at Juilliard."

Kate made a silly noise, seemingly starstruck.

"Wow~ Just as I've heard, you're an outrageously handsome guy! It's an honor!"

While Abigail, out of Geon's sight, discreetly pinched Kate's side behind her back, she hurriedly said to Geon,

"Geon! We have work to do! We need to finish by today, let's get moving. How should we rearrange? There are people here to assist with the work. Could you explain briefly?"

Geon looked around at the facility management staff gathering and laughed.

"Yes, all the exhibited paintings. Remove them all."

Abigail, engaged in a silent struggle with Kate, astonished by Geon's directive, asked,

"All of them?"

Geon chuckled as the scattered staff began to gather around him.

"Yes, all of them. Let's start fresh from scratch."

>

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