Chapter 122


    Beep-


    The rm went off. The girl jumped out of bed and quickly turned it off.


    Reba! Get up quickly!


    Im up!


    [What do you need to make music?]


    Reba thought as she ate breakfast. A peaceful and ordinary day. Her dad was working on his phone while reading the newspaper, her mom was on the phone with someone.


    [Talent? Effort?]


    Dont miss the new violin lesson teacher whosing today. Hes a famous persons disciple, so you have to learn well. Do you know how much money it costs for one lesson?


    Yes-.


    [No, its money.]


    A boring narration flowed.


    Reba and her friend George met a boy in the park. A lonely ck-and-white boy in a colorful park that reeked of sadness.


    Is that Seo-jun? Even though they knew him, it took them a while to notice.


    The depressed boy looked nothing like Seo-jun. He was neither the prince of Seongnyeong nor Jin Natra. He was just Gray, nothing more.


    As they yed with Gray, he gradually brightened up.


    Everyone smiled at Grays face that bloomed like a flower. His expression that was colorless became colorful, making the people who saw him feel happy.


    It must be a healing story. The audience quickly forgot the annoying narration as they watched the childrenugh.


    They were proud of Grays violin skills that improved noticeably. They felt sorry for Gray who was already worried about money, but they smiled at Grays life with Swallow, the teacher his mom found for him.


    It was obvious that Gray liked his teacher. They read books together, watched videos of violinists, listened to music and shared their opinions.


    On days when he didnt have lessons, Gray practiced at home and waited for the lesson day. On days when he had lessons, he ran to the apartment next to the bridge with a brighter smile than ever. He was so beautiful that he made them cry.


    They thought, Hes a good teacher, Gray got a good teacher and looked forward to Grays performance that would soar like in the eighth week of busking.


    I have a teacher.


    Gray said shyly and Reba and George blushed. They smiled like parents as they praised his teacher. But that smile didntst long.


    Gray rested his chin on the violin. Rebas bright smile froze. The audience was puzzled. Why? Wasnt that a good posture?


    The reason was revealed soon. A terrible performance echoed through the speakers. Some of the audience were so surprised that they dropped the popcorn they were eating. Some almost got up from their seats. No, why!?


    Spring of Four Seasons, which he learned from Reba, was sloppy but improved. It was ruined.


    Reba shouted. Gray said. And a shback scene appeared.


    The hidden side of Swallow in the happy lessons. A scammer who didnt even know the b of violin was there.


    The audiences mouths opened wide at the shocking twist.


    Is that teacher a real violinist!?


    Grays despairing face and the audience screamed inside. He wasnt a good person!? They forgot to eat the food they were holding and got absorbed in the movie.


    Reba and George decided to go find Swallow with Gray. There must be some reason.


    They held onto a thin hope and headed to Downlock the next day. Georges brother agreed to go with them because their parents said they couldnt send the kids to Downlock alone. Downlock was that kind of ce.


    The rain fell and the truth was revealed. It was so painful that the audience clenched their mouths.


    They cried at the sight of Gray walking down the dark road. Gray and his mom sobbed.


    After that, Reba and Georges crying faces were shown in their rooms. Reba, who had turned the nket over her head, sobbed.


    [What do you need to make music?]


    It was a sincere and desperate voice, unlike the light tone at the beginning. The audience remembered the narration that had been on TV for weeks.


    [Talent? Effort?]


    Grays face that smiled brightly as he rested his chin on the violin was shown. Reba shed tears.


    [No, its money.]


    [If I had money, I could buy a violin that suited Gray! I could find a better teacher than that scammer! Money, if I had money!]


    Reba buried her face in the pillow and cried again, thinking of Grays lonely figure disappearing into the rain.


    [Gray didnt have to cry]


    Sob, sob. There were people crying in the audience too. Some cried because they felt sorry for Gray, some cried because they remembered their dreams that they had to give up because of money.


    There must be many Grays here. Imiyeon and Park Seong-ah also wiped their tears.


    The movie time kept flowing even though the audience was immersed in Grays emotions.


    They cried again at the staff paper and violin left in front of the door, and they were speechless at Grays genius that showed even in the despair of not being able to let go of music.


    Gray, who wasposing like crazy, suddenly lifted his head. A surprised expression appeared on his face full of tears.


    In two days! At the park!


    Two days! Gray left the door. He ran. He ran to the park.


    Its been two days already.


    It had been several days since then. He was afraid that his friends who said they would meet in two days wouldnt be there, that they would be disappointed because he didnt show up.


    But Gray ran. They were good friends. He didnt want it to end like this. He breathed heavily and headed to the ce where they met every day.


    He ran fast and found something, then slowly stopped.


    Over the Rainbow.


    Whats at the end of the rainbow?


    Gray!


    Yourete!


    His friends were there, smiling brightly. He was so happy that he burst into tears. He had been crying for days, but his tears didnt dry up. Reba and George started crying too at Grays cry.


    I thought you wouldnte.


    I was so scared because you didnte


    Im sorry Imte.


    They cried for a while and their eyes were swollen. Theyughed at their funny appearance and forgot that they had cried.


    Cheerfully and bravely. Theyughed as if they had blown away all the sadness.


    They cried andughed. The exhausted children ate the snacks George brought and replenished their energy.


    Ah, happy. Gray smiled. He felt that way because he was happy. He was scared that he would fail and be discouraged again, but everyone was cheering for him. He didnt want to give up.


    Reba.


    Hmm?


    Will you teach me violin again?


    Reba and George were surprised and shouted at Grays words.


    Really?


    Yeah. I want to learn again. It was a mess, but I can do it again, right?


    Of course! Youre a genius, so youll learn it properly soon!


    Reba smiled brightly, but George said coldly.


    Reba will run out of things to teach you soon.


    His voice and red eyes didnt match, but Reba and Gray nodded at his seriousness. It was something they had experienced before.


    I need a teacher.


    Yeah.


    Gray flinched at the word teacher, but nodded his head. George continued.


    And we need money.


    Money. It was hard for children to get, and hard for adults to have. It was the cause of everything. A heavy silence fell between the three children.


    So I looked it up, and what do you think about busking?


    Busking? We cant make much from busking, can we?


    Its not just busking, were also uploading the busking scenes to YouTube.


    YouTube.


    Reba and Gray tilted their heads.


    There are so many other videos on YouTube, who would want to watch Grays performance? He learns fast, but hes not as good as the other violinists on the videos.


    The YouTube videos are for something else.


    Something else?


    Georges eyes sparkled. He had studied even during the family trip, and he had researched diligently while waiting for Gray.


    Crowdfunding.


    Whats that?


    Its when people from all over the world support, donate, or invest in people and groups who post on the inte. So, were posting Grays story and getting support.


    Reba and Grays eyes shone at Georges words. Support.


    And not only that, were also creating a YouTube channel to show how were learning. Its more convincing to show them the videos than to just ask for support. More people might support us that way.


    As the children listened attentively, Georges excited words continued.


    Of course, the support wont be that great. There are many people who have harder stories than Gray. The YouTube videos are n B. I dont know if we can make any profit from them, though.


    It was uncertain. They might get hurt again. Reba and George looked at Gray.


    How about it, Gray? With crowdfunding, we might get some support, but your story might also get known to many people.


    George whispered the pros and cons he had learned from the inte. He was ready to help Gray with whatever decision he made. The friends eyes shone brightly as Gray smiled brightly.


    I want to do it. Lets try it, guys.


    He wanted to learn the violin. Thats what Gray thought.


    After that, the children started filming videos for the crowdfunding site and YouTube.


    Gray got rid of his bad habits and learned from Reba again from the beginning. He learned faster than before with his dazzling talent.


    Reba kept asking questions to her violin teacher and participated actively in the sses she had been cking off. George also looked for more ways to promote Gray.


    Today is the first performance, right?


    Thats how they decided on their first busking performance. They asked the park manager and found a spot where they could busk.


    It was Grays first time ying the violin in front of people. He recited the sheet music nervously.


    The busking was attended by his mother and Georges family, and Rebas family.


    The first performance was Vivaldis Spring.


    They hoped to wee a warm and lively spring. Everyone who knew Grays story had tears in their eyes at his clumsy but beautiful violin.


    Soon after, the three children uploaded the edited video to the crowdfunding site and receivedments.


    -I hope this helps, as a fellow violinist!


    -You should buy a violin first.


    -I dont have much, but I hope this helps


    A high school student watching on his phone, a young child watching with his mother, a patient watching the video on a hospitalputer, and an old man living in the same apartment as Gray, and a guy downstairs. They all donated their money.


    As the donations andments piled up, Gray suddenly had a thought.


    George. Can we see the records of the people who supported us?


    Yeah. For product funding, they send the products to the customers when they reach the amount.


    Then


    Gray spoke with shining eyes, like when he yed the violin.


    Later, I dont know when, but what if we invite them?


    Invite?


    George and Reba tilted their heads.


    Yeah. If I keep ying the violin, I might have a concert someday.


    Gray, who had been living day by day, suddenly dreamed of a distant future. A concert. Reba and George smiled broadly at his words.


    I want to invite the people who supported us. I want to invite them all and y for them.


    Thats awesome! Yeah. Lets do it!


    All of them? We dont know when that will be?


    George went to the crowdfunding site and checked the records of the supporters. The detailed address didnt show up, but the names of the countries and cities they lived in did.


    France, UK, Russia, Australia, Korea If we invite them all, itll be a world tour?


    He nced at the countries, and there were ten. It was too big a dream. It was unrealistic to think about it.


    But Gray, George, and Reba looked at the monitor screen with excited faces. So many people from so many countries were cheering for Gray.


    I want to do it. I really do.


    Grays eyes sparkled.


    They set a big goal. The children worked harder on the videos.


    They walked with Gray without giving up their school or their lives. The crowdfunding continued and was fairly sessful.


    They couldnt afford a good teachers lesson, but they could buy a decent violin.


    Can I try this next time we busk?


    What is it?


    A song Iposed.


    Reba and George nodded their heads at Grays words.


    Thats awesome! Everyone will be surprised!


    Hehehe.


    George moved quickly. He wanted to make his friends first original song performance in a bigger and better ce, where more people could hear it.


    Reba and Gray worked on the sheet music together. Reba made some suggestions to Grays questions, and Gray chose the answer from them.


    Reba had heard more songs than Gray, so the song was revised to a more refined feel.


    George prepared the performance venue at the widest ce in the park. There were many people and the ce was spacious.


    Gray looked around nervously as he stood at the ce where he would y. The park manager and friends he had met a few times, and the people who came to watch the busking often.


    And at the news of Grays performance, people who didnt go to the park often also appeared in the park.


    They wore shabby clothes, but they were clean and neat. Gray knew. Even among the people of Downlock, who had a hard time making a living, there were some who had supported him.


    Thump, thump. He heard a pleasant heartbeat.


    He was so happy.


    Gray rested his chin on the violin and held the bow.


    The bow came down on the strings of the violin. The melody flowed out. The things that Gray had gone through were conveyed to the audience through the violin.


    He was happy to meet his friends and enjoyed learning the violin. He was happy to meet his teacher and despaired at his teachers lies. At the end of the despair he couldnt escape, there was a rainbow, and beyond the rainbow, there was the happiness he had now.


    The audience who knew Grays story shivered at the emotion and melody that pierced them like thorns.


    They were happy with him, because his happiness was too raw. They despaired with him, because his despair was too vivid.


    And they struggled to grasp the thin hope in the despair. In the end, he became happy. The melody that seemed to shine brightly, contrary to the expectations of the audience, did not burst, but slowly subsided.


    When they thought it was over, the screen changed.


    As the melody faded, the screen followed Gray and swept over the trees and leaves, then gradually rose to the sun.


    The screen that shone brightly with the sunlight suddenly changed to lights. The camera slowly moved down.


    The camera that showed the full and apuding audience turned back and showed one person.


    He was wearing a ck tuxedo.


    It was Gray.


    [I want to invite them all and y for them.]


    He remembered his young vow and raised his bow to y the violin.


    The screen was fixed, as if watching a solo concert right in front of the movie theater.


    He became more refined and calm, but his vivid and lively Gray-like vitality developed further and Over the Rainbow came out.


    The audience in the movie theater was captivated by the excellent performance.


    As if it was really a solo concert, there was no narration or screen change from beginning to end until Over the Rainbow was over.


    The ongoing performance finally exploded in brilliance.


    Happiness.


    Joy.


    Praise.


    All kinds of happy emotions in the world flooded the audience like waves.


    Some of the audience closed their eyes and enjoyed the music. They felt like they knew how hard Gray had worked and how many people had helped him, just by the difference between the previous and the current performance.


    He met a true teacher and bought a better violin. He worked hard and dreamed.


    Even without watching the video, they could tell by listening to this violin performance.


    Thats how the child of Downlock became a violinist.


    Even though it was a very happy performance, he shed a tear. Imiyeon and Park Seong-ah wiped their eyes with a sob.


    The performance that he wanted to keep listening to ran to the end. Thest note echoed loudly in the concert hall as Grays bow stopped.


    As Gray bowed, the audience in the video stood up one by one and apuded.


    Meanwhile, the video was silent, without any background noise.


    As if watching Gray Vainy perform somewhere live, the movie theater audience was immersed in the movie.


    A person who looked like a staff member handed Gray a microphone. There was no editing in the meantime. The unedited video gave the audience a sense of reality.


    Gray brushed his hair neatly and smiled. His appearance hadnt changed much, but his confident expression and gentle smile showed how much he had grown.


    I didnt expect so many of you toe.


    Gray looked at the audience. His expression was full of gratitude.


    The people who had supported Gray Vainy with letters, they all had a body in front of Grays eyes.


    His mother, Reba, George, the old man upstairs, the guy downstairs, the librarian at Starfill, the sandwich shop owner, the young child who supported him with his mother, the people whomented that his music helped them while they were hospitalized.


    There were many people there.


    Gray quietly looked around the audience and looked at the camera. The movie theater audience thought they made eye contact with Gray, and Gray in the screen smiled.


    Thanks to your support, I was able to stand here. I sincerely thank you for your long support.


    p-!!


    The apuse sounded and the curtain fell on the stage. The apuse continued. The movie theater audience also pped their hands without knowing.


    How long did they p, the lights in the theater turned on, and the ending credits came up with a song.


    [Grays Violin Performance NO.1]


    It was a violin performance full of Grays gratitude and thanks. The audience was amazed by the performance that came out again.


    Imiyeon, who was pping, suddenly remembered something he had put in his bag before the movie started.


    A 3,000 won souvenir. Imiyeon took out the ticket envelope from his bag with trembling hands. Park Seong-ah saw such a friend.


    Imiyeon opened the ticket envelope and took out the ticket. He saw unusually glittering golden letters.


    [Imiyeon. Thank you for your long support.]


    [Violinist: Gray Vainy]