Devil’s Music - Chapter 1

Editor: Walker, Ruby

(Note from Imagine: A new novel! I hope you guys enjoy it 😀 )

Oncheon-dong, Dongrae-gu, Busan

Although it was cheap-looking and small, the newly built Oncheon apartment building stood out amid the crumbling neighborhood that was still being refurbished.

Tae-woo and Yeong-ha had married after being together for five years and lived a happy life just like any other newlyweds. They lived in a tiny rented apartment, where their child who meant the world to them grew into a curious, ugly four-year old.

“Mom! Mom! What’s happening?”

“Mom! Mom! What is this called?”

“Mom! Mom! Can I go out to play? So much rain fell that everything turned into one big swimming pool!!”

The mischievous child called after his mother all day with his irresistibly cute smile. Just like any curious little boy, he asked questions about everything.

Yeong-ha turned around and shrieked, wooden spoon in hand;

“Kim Geon!!! I told you to stay quiet while I’m cooking! Don’t touch that! No! There’s a flood outside, where are you going, you?!! You aren’t taking the pool float down, are you!!?”

Geon, holding the pool float under his arm, let go of the doorknob and turned back sullenly. Although he saw his mother’s angered eyes, he still couldn’t give up hope and leaned out the window. From the eighth floor of the twelve-story apartment building, he could see that more than half of the first floor was submerged in water and random objects were floating around.

“It looked like it would be fun to play with the float…”

There were cows and pigs squealing for help on the first floor, but all that the clueless Geon could think about was swimming and playing with them.

Clack clack. As soon as Geon heard the sound of keys in the door, he rushed to open it.

“Who’s there?”

There was no way a stranger could come in with a key, so Geon waited excitedly for the door to open.

“Dad!!”

It was Tae-woo, Geon’s father. Luckily, he only got caught in the rain for a short while. He was wearing a blue raincoat, shorts and slippers. He took the raincoat off and looked down at the tiny Geon.

“Geon-ie. You’re like a puppy, welcoming me so eagerly even though I just went to take out the trash ”, Tae-woo laughed, as he picked up the child clinging to his leg and hugged him.

“It’s raining, isn’t it? We can play inside today, how about that?”

“With you? Play what?”

“We haven’t played video games in a long time. Have you gotten better at Space Invaders?”

“All right. But you have to buy me ice cream if I win!” – Geon said, smiling broadly.

Tae-woo took Geon in his arms and turned on the console.

“Hah! Okay, but If I win, you’ll have to massage my legs for half an hour.”

“Deal!”

They connected their consoles to the 22-inch TV and quickly immersed themselves in the game.

Tae-woo was a wine glass merchant. He made a living driving a truck around the country selling wine glasses. Although he was penniless when he got married, Yeon-ha was a tough woman and helped him save up enough to hope for a better future.

Tae-woo didn’t drink or gamble. He did smoke a lot, but apart from that the only recreational activity he allowed himself was going to the arcade. On Geon’s third birthday, Tae-woo had just returned from a business trip, and he immediately turned on a game. He gifted Geon a brand new console. Of course, it was only an excuse for him to be able to use it too. Regardless of the intentions, Geon was simply happy to be able to play with his father, since he spent so much time away from home. He especially liked rainy days, because when it rained his father could rest at home and play with him. Tae-woo, still immersed in the game, suddenly turned his head and called Yeong-ha.

“Honey, is Si-hwa sleeping?”

Yeong-ha smiled at the sight of the father and son playing a game side by side.

“Yes, she slept a bit earlier. She had a slight fever last night so I’m relieved it got better today.”

Geon sprang up, putting his console down for a moment, and ran to the room. Tiptoeing in as quietly as possible, he saw his two-year old sister Si-hwa covered by an animal print blanket. Although the two didn’t resemble each other at all, his sister was precious to him.

“Why are you sick… You kicked the blanket off again.. Sleeping on your stomach?”

Whispering so she wouldn’t wake up, Geon carefully readjusted the blanket.

“Geon! I’ll have to go out a bit later, and then you owe me a foot massage!”, Tae-woo laughed.

Geon hurried back to the living room.

“Dad! Where are you going? It’s raining a lot outside.”

“Aish, look outside. It stopped a while ago.”

Geon climbed up on the windowsill and opened the window. Although it was still cloudy, it had clearly stopped raining. Still, the flood had not stopped and the people on the ground had water up to their knees. As he rested his chin on the windowsill, he could see Tae-woo treading in the water. Looking at the disappearing figure of his father, he yelled to Yeong-ha:

“Mom!! Dad’s going to the arcade again!!!”