No More Thug Life, I’m Playing Music

Chapter 51: Give and Take (1)

The Heart of Summer in the City

Walking along the scorching concrete, heated by the blazing sun.
The oppressive heat is accompanied by a cacophony of noises from all sides—engine rumbles, honking horns, shouting voices, and laughter.
Among all these, only the sound of the wind brings any comfort.

“Seojoon, did you arrive safely?”
The voice of Professor Han came through the phone.

“Yes, Professor.”

“I’m really sorry to ask this favor of you. That person is very particular, and you’re the only one I can trust to handle this.”

“It’s no problem at all. Please feel free to ask me anytime.”

“As expected of you, Seojoon. You’re the best. By the way, have you practiced?”

“Yes, I visited the place you mentioned yesterday.”

“How was it? A day isn’t enough, is it?”

“No, it was sufficient.”

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the call ended.

“So hot…”

It had already been two weeks since returning from camp.
After lounging in front of the air conditioner for days, it seemed the heat was affecting him more than usual.

Bzz—
A notification alert from KakaoTalk interrupted the silence.

Among dozens of unread messages, Seojoon opened the one at the very top.
The sender was Choo Minji.

– Amazing! Already thirty thousand views!

As expected, the message was about the video of .
For days now, Minji had been excitedly skipping around the house, thrilled by the sudden increase in subscribers.

“Is it really that great?”

Scrolling through the screen, Seojoon skimmed through the piled-up messages.
Most were from students he had met at camp—pointless greetings or questions about meeting up.
How they had gotten his KakaoTalk ID remained a mystery.

Ignoring them all, he replied only to Baek Junsoo.

– The fourth one is worth listening to.
– Really? Did you listen to them all?
– Yeah. That song’s the best. I liked the piano sampling, just like you said.
– Knew it! They’re my favorite group! With our Lord Baek filming them, they’re bound to go viral again! I’ll show you the video when you get home!

“This guy… He’s obsessed with this girl group instead of exercising.”

Every day, Junsoo hummed their songs, completely engrossed.

“Is this a phase?”

Putting the phone away, Seojoon looked up to see a massive, imposing church.
Suspended between two towering spires was a grand, ornate glass cross. This was one of Korea’s most prominent churches.
Seojoon had visited a few times before, back when Baek Jinseong had business here.

Crossing the marble fountain, he approached the entrance.
The area buzzed with people exchanging warm greetings.
Among the crowd, Seojoon spotted a few familiar faces—celebrities or people he’d met through work.

Focusing on them brought snippets of formal greetings and light requests to his ears.
Ignoring them, Seojoon made his way into the church.

The interior was vast and spacious, reminiscent of the lobby of an arts center.
Wading through the dense crowd, Seojoon spotted a woman in a white gown—the attire of the choir.
Assuming she was involved with the music, he approached her.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes?”

The woman turned around, revealing her long, straight hair.
Her cool, clear-cut features and fresh, makeup-free appearance gave her a pure and innocent look.
Her wide, startled eyes reminded Seojoon of a hungry puppy.

“Wh-who are you?”

Her expression conveyed a mix of emotions—anticipation or perhaps confusion.
Fearing a misunderstanding, Seojoon quickly explained.

“I’m here to accompany on the organ.”

“Oh! I see.”

She scanned him up and down.
Though she smiled, her expression seemed to ask, “You?”
There was no malice in her gaze, so Seojoon wasn’t offended.

“This way, please.”

Following her lead, Seojoon was taken down a path away from the bustling crowd.
A narrow staircase appeared, and after climbing for a while, they arrived at two doors.
One was marked with a “No Entry” sign, while the other was labeled “Waiting Room.”

Entering the waiting room revealed a small space furnished with a vanity table, a sofa, and a coffee table.
The woman gestured to a sheet music book placed on the table.

“You’ll play these in order. Someone else will provide detailed instructions shortly.”

“Understood.”

“The gown is hanging by the vanity. Um…”

She hesitated as if she had more to say, nervously chewing on her lips.

“Go ahead.”

“Is it really true you can play the pipe or—oh, never mind.”

After bowing politely, she left the room.

Watching her disappear, Seojoon furrowed his brow.

“Hmm, her voice sounds familiar…”

Probably just his imagination.
Shaking off the thought, Seojoon turned his attention to the coffee table.
On it lay an ornate hand mirror of unknown purpose and a thick book of sheet music.

Opening the sheet music revealed various hymns.
Since it was accompaniment for the choir, the arrangements were relatively simple.

“So, no rehearsal… Hmm?”

Flipping to the last page revealed a noticeably thicker sheet of music.

“Why Bach all of a sudden?”

It was an unfamiliar arrangement, with not two but three staves in the score.
Who needed three hands to play?

“Toccata and Fugue…”

The unfamiliar name prompted Seojoon to pull out his earbuds and search for it on YouTube.

“Ah—”

It was a familiar melody.

And then:

“They expect me to play this? Here?”

****

The massive sanctuary was as grand on the inside as its exterior.
Though the event hadn’t started yet, the air was filled with the hum of conversation.

“Ah, Mr. Park!”

A man with a protruding belly waved energetically as he entered the sanctuary.
Conductor Park Myunghoon greeted him warmly, walking over with a smile.

“Thanks for coming all this way.”

“No need to thank me! When Mr. Park calls, I have to show up.”

The two exchanged a few pleasantries as they walked toward the front.

“Wow… This is just as impressive as I’d heard.”

The man gawked, looking around in awe.
From the walls to the floors, everything had a modern design.
Yet, the ceiling was distinctly European in classical style, adorned with ornate paintings that made one feel transported to another era when looking up.

“This place even won an architecture award.”

“That explains it!”

His gaze landed on the stage.
He craned his neck to look at the front wall, where a massive cross hung prominently.
On either side, long and short gold pipes were arranged in a geometric, orderly fashion.

“And those are…?”

“Our church’s pride—the pipe organ.”

“It’s as amazing as they say. Looks like a sculpture made of metal.”

As the man continued to marvel, Park Myunghoon eagerly began explaining.

“Those pipes there are eleven meters tall…”

“Wow…”

“They weigh forty tons…”

“Impressive…”

“There are six thousand pipes in total. Until recently, it was the largest pipe organ in Asia.”

“Incredible. Is it hard to play?”

“Of course. People often mistake it for a piano, but unlike a piano, which strikes strings with hammers, the organ uses air and is closer to a wind instrument. Particularly, a grand pipe organ like this requires an understanding of its unique sound characteristics. Not just anyone can play it. You also have to work multiple pedals constantly, so footwork is as important as handwork—”

Park Myunghoon suddenly sighed heavily.

“Unfortunately, our church organist injured their wrist.”

“Oh no. Does that mean we won’t hear the pipe organ today?”

“Don’t worry. A friend of mine promised to send a capable organist.”

“Ah…”

The man nodded, looking around again.

“But where is the organ?”

“There.”

Park Myunghoon pointed to a small balcony slightly protruding from the wall near the cross. The space was recessed, blending seamlessly with the surrounding walls.
From the stage, only the edge of the organ was visible, and even then, only faintly.
Even if someone were seated there, you might only see their back.

“Huh… You wouldn’t be able to see much from up there either.”

“Exactly. Playing the organ here requires sharp instincts. You’d have to rely on side glances to catch the conductor’s cues. Our organist even carries a handheld mirror to manage it.”

“Impressive…”

The man nodded again, absently rubbing his protruding belly.
Park Myunghoon smiled subtly. He recognized the gesture as his friend’s habit when deeply inspired. It was part of why he had invited him here.

“Elder, it’s time to prepare,” said a woman in a choir gown as she approached Park Myunghoon.

“Already?”

Checking the time, Park Myunghoon nodded, rising from his seat. Leaving his contemplative friend behind, he followed the choir member backstage.

“Is the organist here?”

“Yes, but… Ji-soo says he looks very young.”

“What?”

Park Myunghoon frowned, glancing toward the small door near the organ.

“Did Han Gwangsook send a student?”

****

Amen.

The pastor’s brief sermon concluded.
The lights dimmed gradually, and footsteps echoed from the stage at the front.

Moments later, bright spotlights illuminated the stage.
Fifty choir members, all clad in white gowns, stood in three neat rows.
At the forefront, Park Myunghoon stood with his baton, eyes closed.

“Whew…”

Opening his eyes, Park Myunghoon scanned the choir.
Except for one, every member was a celebrated vocalist. He had no doubt they would deliver a flawless performance today.

He had also invited his childhood friend, currently in a slump, to this event. Hoping divine intervention might inspire him, he was determined to deliver exceptional music.

However…

Park Myunghoon looked up.
A man wearing a white gown, just like the choir members, was barely visible on the organ balcony.
This was the stand-in organist sent by Han Gwangsook.

A year ago, Park Myunghoon had granted Han Gwangsook a favor—letting one of her students perform at a hospital concert.
Though he had reluctantly agreed at the time, the outcome had exceeded expectations.
To repay the favor, he had asked her two days ago to send a pianist capable of playing the pipe organ.

And she had sent this young man.

While Park Myunghoon trusted Han Gwangsook, the mention of his youth lingered in his mind.
To his knowledge, no young pianist was adept at fully mastering the pipe organ.

Though he had intended to meet the organist before the performance, he had been too busy fielding greetings and requests. Before he knew it, it was time to begin.

“Hmm…”

There wasn’t anything particularly difficult about the sheet music.
And since this was someone recommended by the famously meticulous Han Gwangsook, Park Myunghoon decided to trust them and raised his baton.

Still, he couldn’t shake a nagging feeling.
Clicking his tongue, he lifted the baton higher.

Thousands of eyes focused on its tip.
When the baton swung downward, a single sound filled the air.

Swoosh—

At that moment:

[Da-dan— Da—]

The majestic, resonant sound of the pipes filled the sanctuary, enveloping it completely.

“I knew it!”

A grin spread across Park Myunghoon’s face.
Moments ago, he had doubted Han Gwangsook, but now he wanted to sing her praises.

Simultaneously, he remembered a young pianist he had met at the hospital concert.

“Han Gwangsook sure knows how to pick students.”

A twinge of envy arose in his heart.

[Da-ra— Da-da—]

As the baton in Park Myunghoon’s hand resumed its movement, fifty voices harmonized beautifully.

[A Mighty Fortress is Our God—]

The solemn hymn echoed through the sanctuary.

[Our refuge and strength amidst great trials—]

Fifty accomplished vocalists blended seamlessly with the heavenly tones of the pipe organ.
The congregation closed their eyes, losing themselves in the music. At this moment, the sanctuary felt like the sacred dwelling of Yahweh.

[Ah—men— Amen—]

After about thirty minutes, the prepared hymns came to an end.
Lowering his baton, Park Myunghoon signaled the choir to stop.
An elderly pastor seated to the side rose and made his way to the center of the stage for the concluding sermon.

Park Myunghoon let out a contented sigh. His work was done.
Relieved, he glanced at the choir before looking up to the balcony where the organist sat.
Though he couldn’t see whether the organist was looking down, he nodded in approval and gestured toward him with his baton.

Just as the pastor began speaking—

[Ti-ro-ri—]

A playful melody spilled out from the wall of pipes.

“What—what’s going on?”

“What is this?”

Startled, the congregation, which had been focused on the pastor with reverence, gasped audibly.

The melody was familiar to everyone—it had been used countless times in media as a sound effect.
Often played in moments of despair, it could evoke laughter. Yet, the unique sound of the organ imbued it with an eerie undertone.

[Ta-da— Da-da-da— Da—]

But only the brief opening notes were familiar.
What followed was grand and majestic.

The sound of the pipe organ, hailed as the queen of instruments, reverberated through the sanctuary.

“Where is that coming from?”
“Where’s the organ?”

The lights illuminated only the stage, leaving the organ’s location a mystery.
It wasn’t until the congregation noticed the choir and conductor looking up that they too raised their eyes.

The lighting director, startled, finally moved the spotlight toward the organ balcony.

[Ta-ra— Ta-ta— Da-da—]

There, above the massive cross, amidst the golden pipes resembling a grand architectural structure, sat a man fervently playing the organ.
His face wasn’t visible, but the rhythmic sway of his hair and the vigor of his movements conveyed his passion for the performance.

“Wow…”

The congregation murmured in amazement.
Every movement of the organist produced vibrations that no speaker system could replicate, resonating deep in their chests.

“What in the world…”

Park Myunghoon swallowed hard, his face filled with astonishment.

The piece now flowing through the sanctuary was Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor”—the most famous work in the organ repertoire.
Renowned for its intricate techniques and the rich resonance unique to the pipe organ, it was both dazzling and profound.

Yet its overuse in media had diluted its gravitas, sometimes rendering it comedic, other times eerie.

Thus, it seemed ill-suited for a sacred setting like this.

However, in this moment, Park Myunghoon’s perception changed.

The young organist’s performance was far from what he expected.
Whatever interpretation the organist had infused into the piece, it was nothing short of solemn.

It revealed the true grandeur of the pipe organ, often called the voice of angels.

[Da-dan— Da-da-dan—]

A commanding reverence swept through the sanctuary, wrapping itself around the congregation.

Silence fell.

Was it the softly glowing cross?
The ornate paintings adorning the ceiling?
Or perhaps the organist’s flowing hair and pristine white gown?

For a fleeting moment, the congregation felt an indescribable presence descend upon them.

Amen.