Devil’s Music

Chapter 240: Begin Again

Geon's eyes caught a glimpse of another guitar leaning against a small amp next to the stage where he stood with his guitar strapped on. As Geon leaned over to inspect the guitar, the person beside him, whom we'll call the stage companion, asked,

"Can you play the guitar?"

Geon nodded with a smile, and the stage companion offered him the guitar, saying,

"Shall we play together?"

"Would it be alright if I played your guitar?"

"Of course, it's not that expensive. Feel free to play as much as you want."

Geon lifted the guitar and carefully examined its body. The guitar, with its elegant dreadnought body, appeared to be a very old handmade one. Turning to the stage companion, Geon began playing the intro to "If I could change the world." The stage companion watched silently and then joined in with the second guitar's part, visibly impressed by Geon's spirited performance. As the two men's impressive playing began, the audience started cheering, and more people gathered around to watch.

The stage companion was astounded by Geon's ability to seemingly play two guitars at once during the triple guitar part. The audience, too, seemed mesmerized by Geon's fast-moving hands, blurring as they moved up and down the fretboard. When the vocal line joined, Geon looked at his companion, who stepped back from the microphone, gesturing for Geon to step forward.

Geon sang,

(If I could change the world.)

Back in time, I'll be back then.

(If I could turn back time, I'd go back to that moment.)"

His voice filled Grafton Street, eliciting sharp screams from the women.

"Kyaaaah!!!!!"

"Mom, what do we do!! He sounds just like Kay!"

"Doesn't he sing better than Kay? Kay couldn't have done this well in a street busking performance!"

"Who is this guy? Is he a real singer?"

Surprised, the stage companion approached the amp to turn up the microphone volume, joining in,

"When I had to hide in a place where no one knew.

(When I had to hide in a place unknown to all,)

If you can go back then and save you.

(If I could go back and save you.)"

As the volume rose, even people standing at a distance turned their heads towards the busking scene. Captivated by Geon's voice, they moved closer to its source. Geon, slightly bowing his head and hiding his face under the brim of his hat, pulled down his scarf and approached the microphone,

"If I could be Your child even for a day.

(If only I could be your child, even just for a day,)

I'd take you as my queen.

(I would make you my queen.)

But for now I find.

(But now I've realized,)

It's only in my dreams.

(it was only a dream.)"

As more people gathered, the stage companion energetically began playing the guitar. Soon, it was time for a solo, and the companion stepped forward to take the lead, with Geon quietly laughing and taking over another part of the guitar ad-lib. Their perfect harmony had the audience waving their hands in the air, clapping to the beat. The clapping of the audience served as a drumbeat for the duo, whose fingers moved faster and faster.

The climax of their performance had the audience in awe, watching the rapid movements of their hands without clapping, completely mesmerized. The stage companion, sweating and eyes closed, wished the moment of his lifetime performance would last forever. Finally, after playing the climax section twice, Geon delivered the last lyrics,

"If I could change the world.

(If I could change the world,)

I would be the sunlight in your universe.

(I'd be the sunlight in your universe.)

Sweetheart, if I could change the world.

(My dear, if only I could change the world,)

And I Know there'll be no more tears in heaven. (And I know that there will be no more tears in heaven.)"

As the final notes echoed and the guitar resonated, the stage companion opened his eyes to see over three hundred people applauding and cheering in unison.

"Woah!!! Amazing!!"

"The best!!"

"Kyaaaah!! To see such a performance on the street!"

"Today's my lucky day!! Kyaaak!"

"Please, tell us your name! I'll definitely buy your album when it comes out!"

The stage companion, bewildered by the cheering crowd, had busked on Grafton Street four times before. Although about twenty fans had applauded each time, he had never experienced such an overwhelming response. Shivering for a moment under the crowd's cheers, he eventually looked up, saw Geon smiling beside him, and approached him with an outstretched hand,

"Thank you! It was the best performance, the best song! I

'm truly happy to have made such a wonderful memory!"

Geon shook his hand with a smile, and the stage companion lifted Geon's hand high, greeting the still-applauding audience.

"Kyaaaah~~~~~~"

The audience, still amazed, continued to shout and cheer.

"One more song, please!"

"Yeah! Just one more!"

"Please! If you sing one more song, I'll give you all the money in my wallet!"

People quickly searched their pockets and began throwing coins and bills into the open guitar hard case. Watching the money pile up quickly, the stage companion beamed at Geon, who nodded slightly and slung the guitar strap over his shoulder again.

Approaching the stage companion with the guitar, Geon explained,

"It might be a song you're unfamiliar with, but the chords aren't too difficult. It's just a repetition of C - F - C - F - Am - G - Am - G, and you can just use basic strumming. Can you do it?"

The stage companion, trying out the chords Geon had shown, asked,

"What about the tempo?"

"It's in 2/4 time."

"Okay, that doesn't sound too hard. What song is this?"

Geon grinned and took the microphone. As he did, the cheering crowd quieted down. Turning to the audience, Geon spoke into the microphone,

"This is a song I sang a while ago. Well, not exactly me, but someone I greatly admire. And it's written by someone I dearly love, with the music composed by another respectable individual. Today, on my first day in Ireland, I want to share this song with you all as a gift for this enjoyable night. Unfortunately, the song doesn't have a title. Haha."

As Geon nodded at the stage companion, who then began to play the chords slowly, Geon added an arpeggio guitar play to the same chords. Looking up at the moon, Geon sang with a mystical and somewhat lonely tone,

"Distant and lonely,

Black horse, big moon,

And raspberries on my saddle,

Into the plains, into the wind,

The black horse looks at the red moon."

The audience, surprised by Geon's lonely voice, watched as Berenice, pushing through the crowd, pointed at Geon, exclaiming,

"This, this is a song from the opera!"

People, initially annoyed by her outburst, soon remembered the words of the masked man,

"The lyrics were written by someone I deeply love, and the music was composed by another person I respect."

A middle-aged couple murmured among themselves,

"Could it be... not Kay, right?"

"Yeah, why would he be here? Nah, it can't be him."

As Geon continued to sing, focused on the performance, he didn't notice the audience's reaction. With his eyes closed, he delved deeper into the song,

"The dawn flowers have already opened,

The black horse snorts at the cold scent of the moon,

With white wings sprouting from its black back,

It flies into the sky."

Berenice, who had initially screamed, looked enchanted. Turning to her friend, she said,

"So this is how it feels when a man sings this song. It's really good, right?"

A redhead woman, touching her cheek, replied,

"Seriously, I think I might fall for him. What should I do?"

"But the song looks so lonely."

"It's from the opera, about a girl who walks alone to Juilliard through the mountains."

"Ah, so that's why it feels lonely."

"Yeah, I recorded it separately with a PC program when I watched it on PPV and rewatched it four times."

As Geon finished the song, the audience erupted in cheers once more. Receiving the applause, Geon raised his hand to greet them, while the stage companion, playing the guitar beside him, tried to give him a high-five. Distracted by greeting the audience, Geon turned towards the stage companion just as his hat was knocked off.

"Ah! I'm sorry, I was trying to give you a high-five... Oh?"

The stage companion, pointing at Geon's face, exclaimed,

"Ka, Ka, Ka, Kay!!!!"

"Kyaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"It's real!! It's really Kay!!"

"Aaaah!! Look! I told you it's Kay!"

"Uwaaah!! I'm seeing Kay in real life! To think Kay would come to Ireland!"

As the audience buzzed in excitement, Geon, hatless and with an awkward smile, noticed that people weren't coming too close and smiled, lowering his scarf.

"Ah!! He's even more handsome in person than on TV! What do we do!!"

"Pictures! Take a picture of me! Hurry up!"

"Me first, girl! Now, hand me the phone!"

As more people screamed, the crowd around the busking site swelled

to over five hundred. Geon, looking bemused at the stage companion, chuckled and then raised a hand to the microphone,

"Hello, Ireland? It's Kay."

"Kyaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!"

>

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