Chapter 86: Continuation of Fate part 2

Shaun and Geon quickly bonded over beer and simple snacks after returning home. Despite a near twenty-year age gap, they talked late into the night, feeling strangely close, as if Geon were either Shaun's peer or even his older brother.

During their conversation, Geon suddenly asked about his mother, Yoko.

"Shaun, how is Mom doing these days? Is she still involved in performing arts?"

Shaun chuckled bitterly and shook his head.

"No, it's been about two years... She has dementia now and spends her days in a wheelchair."

Geon looked slightly surprised.

"Really? Are you taking care of her?"

"No, we hired a caregiver. I visit her occasionally."

Geon looked at Shaun with sympathetic eyes as Shaun continued.

"It's been tough, mainly because of people blaming her."

"Yeah, she had a hard time because of that her whole life. Everyone praised Dad while demonizing Mom as the ultimate villain. She was my beloved mother, you know."

Geon nodded, taking a sip of his beer.

"But luckily, Paul McCartney officially acknowledged that Mom wasn't to blame for the Beatles breakup."

Shaun took a gulp of his beer, grimacing.

"Ugh! Mom's real troubles weren't that. It was because she refused to give a penny of Dad's inheritance to Julian, her stepdaughter, after Dad passed away. That led to a lawsuit. And then there were Dad's belongings that Mom auctioned off."

Geon listened intently, and Shaun continued.

"In the end, Julian won some of the inheritance through the lawsuit, but Mom had to use it to buy back Dad's belongings she had sold. Because of that, she faced even more criticism. And now, our relationship isn't good either because Julian gave interviews badmouthing Mom."

As Geon stared at Shaun, lost in thought, Shaun shrugged.

"Yeah, it was Mom's fault. But even if the whole world blamed her, I shouldn't have joined in, right? She's still our mother. She's had enough criticism. I need to take care of her too."

Geon tapped the sofa's armrest, lost in his thoughts.

"I felt like Mom really loved Dad, though."

Shaun smiled.

"I'm not so sure. I found out later, but before Dad passed away, Mom was living with another young composer. Well, Dad was the same, though. Both of them were artists, so maybe that's just how they were when it came to love."

Geon nodded, raising an eyebrow.

"Love may not be eternal, but it's also a moment of truth. Your parents definitely loved each other and seemed so happy."

Shaun raised an eyebrow, staring at Geon. Geon was lost in his memories of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, not noticing Shaun's gaze.

"How can you say that so confidently? You've never even seen our parents at that age."

Geon snapped out of his thoughts, startled.

"Oh! No, I just researched various materials out of respect for your father. I inferred Mom's feelings from photos of her with Lennon. It's just a guess."

Shaun looked at Geon suspiciously but soon nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, there are plenty of public photos. They both looked so happy together."

Geon quickly changed the subject.

"Let's visit her together next time. I want to meet her too."

Shaun nodded.

"Yeah, let's go together next time. Mom always liked meeting my friends."

Shaun pointed to the sheet music on the table.

"You wrote the music by hand? Why bother when you could just print it out? It's not even your composition; it's my song. What's this? Did you write it after listening to the music? Did you copy the sheet music?"

Geon chuckled.

"Yeah, it's a kind of habit. It's a process of writing down each note to understand what you were thinking and feeling, creating the music."

Shaun looked at Geon for a moment before nodding.

"I see. Well, how should we arrange this?"

Geon asked, wearing a thoughtful expression.

"What emotions were you trying to express?"

Shaun sighed, crossing his arms.

"When I made this song, I had just broken up with a woman I loved. Instead of singing about the breakup, I wanted to capture the emotions of the time we spent together."

Geon looked at Shaun and said.

"So? Did it come out right?"

Shaun paused, lost in thought for a moment. With a slightly troubled expression, he finally said.

"No, in the end, I think I made a love song tinged with the sadness of parting."

Geon looked at Shaun deeply with a gaze that seemed to penetrate his soul. After a moment of silence, Shaun sighed.

"Yeah, that's right. That's how I feel. You made the right decision to come to me."

Shaun said, sinking deep into the sofa's backrest.

"Love, fear, and the pain of parting. I think this song expresses all three emotions."

Geon held up the sheet music, shaking it gently.

Now, let's translate the passage into English with precision and artistry, capturing the vivid imagery and emotional resonance of the original Korean text:

Shaun and Geon found an instant connection as they shared beer and simple snacks at home, quickly becoming friends despite their significant age difference. They conversed late into the night, feeling a strange familiarity, as if Geon were either Shaun's contemporary friend or perhaps even an older brother.

In the midst of their conversation, Geon suddenly inquired about his mother, Yoko.

"Shaun, how is Mother these days? Is she still involved in the performing arts?"

Shaun chuckled wryly and shook his head.

"No, it's been about two years... She has succumbed to dementia and now spends her days confined to a wheelchair."

Geon appeared slightly taken aback.

"Really? And are you looking after her?"

"No, we've hired a caregiver. I visit her from time to time."

Geon looked at Shaun with a mixture of sympathy and concern as Shaun continued to speak.

"It's been a struggle, largely due to the criticism she's faced."

"Yes, she endured a lifetime of hardship because of that. While the world praised Father, they condemned Mother as the ultimate villain. Yet to me, she was a beloved mother."

Geon nodded, taking a sip of his beer.

"Fortunately, Paul McCartney officially acknowledged that Mother wasn't to blame for the breakup of the Beatles."

Shaun grimaced as he took a swig of his beer.

"Ugh! But the true torment for Mother wasn't that. It was because she refused to give a penny of Father's inheritance to Julian, her stepdaughter, after Father passed away. That led to a lawsuit. And then there were the belongings of Father that Mother auctioned off."

Geon listened intently, prompting Shaun to continue.

"In the end, Julian won a portion of the inheritance through the lawsuit, but Mother had to use it to repurchase Father's belongings she had sold. This only brought her further criticism. And now, our relationship isn't great either because of Julian giving interviews vilifying Mother."

As Geon stared at Shaun, lost in thought, Shaun shrugged.

"Yes, it was Mother's fault. But even if the whole world blamed her, I shouldn't have joined in, right? She's

 still our mother. She's endured enough criticism. I need to take care of her too."

Geon tapped the armrest of the sofa, deep in thought.

"I always felt that Mother truly loved Father, though."

Shaun smiled.

"I'm not so sure. I found out later, but before Father passed away, Mother was living with another young composer. Well, Father was no different. Both of them were artists, so perhaps that's just how they approached love."

Geon nodded, raising an eyebrow.

"Love may not be eternal, but it's also a moment of truth. Your parents definitely loved each other and appeared so happy."

Shaun raised an eyebrow, studying Geon intently. Geon, lost in memories of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, didn't notice Shaun's gaze.

"How can you be so sure? You've never even seen our parents at that age."

Geon snapped out of his thoughts, startled.

"Oh! No, I simply researched various materials out of respect for your father. I inferred Mother's feelings from photos of her with Lennon. It's just a guess."

Shaun looked at Geon suspiciously but soon nodded in agreement.

"Yes, there are plenty of public photos. They both looked so happy together."

Geon quickly changed the subject.

"Let's visit her together next time. I want to meet her too."

Shaun nodded.

"Yes, let's go together next time. Mother always enjoyed meeting my friends."

Shaun pointed to the sheet music on the table.

"You wrote the music by hand? Why bother when you could just print it out? It's not even your composition; it's my song. What's this? Did you write it after listening to the music? Did you copy the sheet music?"

Geon chuckled.

"Yes, it's a sort of habit. It's a process of writing down each note to understand what you were thinking and feeling, creating the music."

Shaun studied Geon for a moment before nodding.

"I see. Well, how should we arrange this?"

Geon asked, wearing a thoughtful expression.

"What emotions were you trying to express?"

Shaun sighed, crossing his arms.

"When I made this song, I had just broken up with a woman I loved. Instead of singing about the breakup, I wanted to capture the emotions of the time we spent together."

Geon looked at Shaun and said.

"So? Did it come out right?"

Shaun paused, lost in thought for a moment. With a slightly troubled expression, he finally said.

"No, in the end, I think I made a love song tinged with the sadness of parting."

Geon looked at Shaun deeply with a gaze that seemed to penetrate his soul. After a moment of silence, Shaun sighed.

"Yeah, that's right. That's how I feel. You made the right decision to come to me."

Shaun said, sinking deep into the sofa's backrest.

"Love, fear, and the pain of parting. I think this song expresses all three emotions."

Geon held up the sheet music, shaking it gently.

"Wait, 'intense feelings of love,' 'vague fear of impending separation,' and finally, 'the extreme choice of death.'"

Shaun bolted upright from the sofa, his eyes widening.

"What? Death? This song I wrote! Have you forgotten?"

Geon rose, meeting Shaun's gaze calmly as he spoke.

"Shaun, artists sometimes unknowingly encapsulate the emotions latent within them at the time of creation. It's natural not to recognize that. It wasn't intentional."

Shaun wore a puzzled expression as he listened.

"One question. How would you describe 'Parachute,' evaluated not by yourself but by those who listen to it?"

After a moment of contemplation, Shaun settled back onto the sofa.

"Well... From what I've heard, it's said to be filled with a sense of melancholy. It surprised me because it differed from my intentions."

Geon smiled softly.

"Yes, my initial conclusion upon hearing 'Parachute' was also 'melancholy.' But why is that?"

Shaun, still puzzled, looked at Geon.

"I have no idea. Three completely different emotions? How do you blend excitement, beauty, and melancholy? Is that even possible?"

Geon raised a finger with a confident grin.

"It's possible in one genre."

Shaun, with a bewildered expression, listened as Geon continued.

"A genre that sings of hope and love amid dire reality. That's reggae."

Shaun exclaimed in surprise.

"Reggae? But this is a ballad, Geon. Can reggae be adapted? Or perhaps it could be incorporated into a collaboration with an orchestra?"

Arms crossed, Geon responded firmly.

"It must be made to fit. That's our task and duty to the creator."

With a hint of disbelief, Shaun asked,

"Venturing into new territory is welcome, but... I'm not familiar with reggae. Do you know about it?"

Geon chuckled.

"No, I'll have to learn too."

Shaun placed a hand on his waist.

"Does anyone you know have experience? Someone who could help?"

Geon gazed out the window at the darkening sky. Shaun followed his gaze, peering outside.

"The threads of scattered connections are converging. We don't know what awaits at the end, but perhaps it's predestined. Maybe Mr. Lennon and Ms. Marley will be able to settle some debts."

After a moment lost in thought, Geon turned to Shaun and said,

"A man born of music, a god who died as a saint. Bob Marley. There's a way to connect him with his son, Damian Marley."

Shaun looked slightly surprised.

"Damian Marley? The one who won a Grammy? How?"

Geon chuckled.

"Remember the incident in the hip-hop scene a while back? Nas, who once released a track featuring my music, is close friends with Damian Marley. Enough to collaborate on an album together."

Shaun exclaimed eagerly,

"Really? Could he help us?"

Geon shrugged.

"Maybe. We'll have to try. I'll call Dre to inquire."

"Dre? Dr. Dre, you mean?"

"Yeah, Dr. Dre."

Shaun whistled.

"You've got some serious connections. Knowing you've worked together is one thing, but asking for personal favors is quite impressive, Geon."

Geon simply smiled, raising his beer. Shaun, watching him quietly, joined in, and they continued their conversation late into the night.

Now, let's translate a passage from the Korean text into English with precision and artistry, ensuring clarity and fluidity while maintaining the vivid imagery and emotional resonance of the original:

"No, 'intensely loving sentiment,' 'vague apprehension of impending parting,' and finally, 'the ultimate choice of death.'"

Shaun sprang up from the sofa, his eyes widening in astonishment.

"What? Death? But this song, I wrote it! Have you forgotten?"

Geon rose calmly, meeting Shaun's gaze evenly as he spoke.

"Shaun, artists sometimes inadvertently encapsulate the emotions that lay dormant within them at the time of creation. It's natural not to recognize it. It wasn't intentional."

Shaun wore a puzzled expression as he listened.

"Let me ask you something. How would you describe 'Parachute,' not based on your own evaluation but on how listeners perceive it?"

After a moment of contemplation, Shaun settled back onto the sofa.

"Well... I've heard it's said to be suffused with a sense of melancholy. It caught me off guard because it diverged from my intentions."

Geon smiled gently.

"Yes, my initial impression upon hearing 'Parachute' was also one of 'melancholy.' But why is that?"

Shaun, still perplexed, looked to Geon for an explanation.

"I'm not sure. Three entirely different emotions? How can you blend excitement, beauty, and melancholy? Is that even possible?"

Geon raised a finger with a confident smile.

"It's possible within one genre."

Shaun, surprised, listened intently as Geon continued.

"A genre that sings of hope and love amidst the harshness of reality. That's reggae."

Shaun exclaimed in surprise.

"Reggae? But this is a ballad, Geon. Can reggae be adapted? Or perhaps it could be incorporated into a collaboration with an orchestra?"

Arms crossed, Geon responded resolutely.

"It must be made to fit. That's our task and respect to the creator."

With a hint of disbelief, Shaun asked,

"Venturing into new territory is welcome, but... I'm not familiar with reggae. Do you know about it?"

Geon chuckled.

"No, I'll need to learn as well."

Shaun placed a hand on his waist.

"Does anyone you know have experience? Someone who could help?"

Geon gazed out the window at the darkening sky. Shaun followed his gaze, peering outside.

"The threads of scattered connections are converging. We don't know what awaits at the end, but perhaps it's predestined. Maybe Mr. Lennon and Ms. Marley will be able to settle some debts."

After a moment lost in thought, Geon turned to Shaun and said,

"A man born of music, a saint who died as a god. Bob Marley. There's a way to connect him with his son, Damian Marley."

Shaun looked slightly surprised.

"Damian Marley? The one who won a Grammy? How?"

Geon chuckled.

"Remember the incident in the hip-hop scene a while back? Nas, who once released a track featuring my music, is close friends with Damian Marley. Enough to collaborate on an album together."

Shaun exclaimed eagerly,

"Really? Could he help us?"

Geon shrugged.

"Maybe. We'll have to try. I'll call Dre to inquire."

"Dre? Dr. Dre, you mean?"

"Yeah, Dr. Dre."

Shaun whistled.

"You've got some serious connections. Knowing you've worked together is one thing, but asking for personal favors is quite impressive, Geon."

Geon simply smiled, raising his beer. Shaun, watching him quietly, joined in, and they continued their conversation late into the night.