Devil’s Music

Chapter 289: Fury

Carlos and José returned to the rehearsal room after more than three hours. They had not wanted to disturb Geon's hard training with Kevin, hoping for a call from him while they enjoyed a leisurely afternoon at an open café following a pleasant meal. However, with no contact from him, they decided to head back. Carlos, careful not to disturb, cracked open the door to the practice room and smiled broadly at the explosive bass solo coming from inside.

"Ha, it's a completely different performance after just three hours, isn't it, José?"

José, with a look of surprise, was watching Kevin's play and then grimaced, covering his face.

"Is it, is it my turn now?"

Carlos patted José's back with a laugh.

"Look at this! Ha, you could play like that too after three hours, aren't you excited?"

José swallowed dryly and peered inside the rehearsal room.

"That's true... but I saw Kevin's training earlier. I'd be lucky to keep up, but if I can't, it might just blow up."

"Haha, don't worry. He's not the kind to quit just because you can't keep up. Let's go in," chuckled Carlos.

Carlos and José entered and saw Kevin passionately playing in the recording booth across the window. Despite over three hours of training, Kevin looked more exhilarated than tired. Geon, sitting in front of him on a makeshift chair with his legs crossed, rhythmically shook a rolled-up sheet of music in his hand, looking significantly improved from the beginning.

"It's much better now," nodded Carlos.

José agreed, standing beside Carlos. "Yeah, definitely. The bass line melody is really groovy."

José, tense, glanced at the booth and caught Geon's eye. Geon waved them in, and a crestfallen José was reassured by Carlos's encouraging nod.

"Looks like it's your turn now. Go on in. Ha!"

"Okay, I'll be right back."

José entered the recording booth, and as he did, Geon's voice halted Kevin's playing.

"Carlos! You two practice enough today. How about coming back tomorrow morning?"

Seeing José's about-to-cry face turn to Carlos, Carlos laughed, unwrapping his arms.

"Haha, okay. Push hard! You both need lots of practice! See you tomorrow."

"Okay! Come on in!"

Carlos casually grabbed his guitar and left, while a hesitant José entered the booth. José glanced at a sweaty, sauna-like Kevin and sat at the drums.

"So, is it a baton pass now?"

Kevin, seeing Geon's sinister smile, stiffened up.

"No, the bass and drums are like a married couple. It's only natural for the bass to adjust during drum practice. Kevin will join you for your session."

Though Kevin's expression soured, it quickly returned to a smile.

"I'm still okay. Let's do this."

Geon smiled and stood up.

"Practice is practice, but let's take a 10-minute break. You haven't rested during the three hours either."

As Geon left the booth, José, looking dumbfounded, asked Kevin.

"Did you really not take a break for three hours?"

Kevin wiped his face with his shirt, smiling.

"Yes, I did."

"Wow... Aren't you tired? Will you push me that hard too?"

Kevin grinned widely.

"Probably? The practice with Carlos is nothing compared to this. Ha, but you've heard my playing, right? It's definitely improved, so just try to keep up."

José twirled his sticks and nodded.

"Right. But isn't it hard?"

Kevin, walking out of the booth, replied.

"It's tough. But you'll understand soon. The power of this song."

"The power of the song?"

"The more you play, the more liberating it feels. Sort of like a mental catharsis. Like shouting at the top of a mountain after cursing loudly? Something like that. And the feeling becomes clearer as the performance nears completion. That's why I end up wanting to practice more. I only got that feeling about 30 minutes ago, but you, having played drums longer, will feel it sooner. Ha, I'm gonna catch some cool air and dry off this sweat."

Confused, José stayed in the booth with a serious look.

"Mental catharsis? Makes you want to practice more?"

José's eyes sparkled as he reconsidered, then he put on headphones and began re-reading the music from the start.

**

The next day.

Prompted by Geon's request to come in the morning, Carlos, waking up early for a change, headed to the rehearsal room. Considering they all practiced late into the night, he brought tasty sandwiches and coffee. The first thing he saw upon opening the door was José and Kevin sprawled asleep on the sofa and makeshift bed. Carlos chuckled at how hard their practice had

been, unnoticed by a snoring Kevin and a grinding José.

Carlos quietly set the food and coffee on the table and looked toward the recording booth. Inside, he saw Geon alone, looking at some music. He fetched two cups of coffee and opened the booth door. Geon, absorbed, looked up.

"Ah, Carlos, you're here?"

Carlos, offering a cup, smiled.

"You've been working hard."

Geon, accepting the coffee with a smile, responded.

"Thanks, Carlos. I'll enjoy it."

Carlos, coffee in hand, sat down and glanced at the music Geon was viewing.

"Is there something you need to fix? What are you looking at so intently?"

Geon, after a sip of his steaming coffee, smiled and pushed the music aside.

"Oh, just some personal research. Nothing to fix."

"Really? With all this daily research, you're improving day by day. Honestly, I was surprised. Even at the Lollapalooza Festival, you weren't at this level. You were great then, too."

"Ha, don't exaggerate."

"Heh, it's not just flattery."

Carlos flipped through the set-aside music.

"But what about the lyrics? There's no lyrics or title written in the music."

Geon, about to speak, playfully asked.

"Want to guess the title?"

Carlos, incredulous, replied.

"Am I a fortune teller? How would I know the title of a song you made?"

"Hehe, you've played it, right? Just express the emotion you felt while playing in words."

Carlos, after a hard look at Geon, cautiously began.

"The emotion I felt was anger, rage, hatred, and also love-hate."

Geon twitched his eyebrows.

"Love-hate?"

"Yes, like hating but also loving the other at the same time? Though anger and rage were stronger emotions. Did I get close to any of the words you have for the title?"

Geon pondered for a moment, then nodded.

"Fury."

Carlos, pleased, laughed.

"Exactly, it was a song filled with real emotions!"

Geon, watching a happy Carlos, wore a complex expression.

'Love-hate? It's a complex human emotion where affection and hatred are intertwined. The emotions symbolized by red notes with a purple border mean love-hate... It's possible to encapsulate such complex emotions in a single note without changing the bars.'

As Geon sank into thought, Carlos, realizing that he was deepening his process like a true professional musician, quietly stood up with his coffee and exited the booth. Unaware of his departure, Geon stared at the floor seriously, which Carlos observed through the window. After sipping his coffee, Carlos sat on the sofa. He heard José, still asleep, grinding his teeth in his sleep.

"Uh... sorry, I'll start over..."

Beside him, Kevin, as if knocked out, turned over in his sleep.

"Uh, worse than Carlos... are you trying to kill me..."

Listening to their muttering, Carlos struggled to stifle his laughter but eventually giggled. Watching carefully lest he wake the exhausted pair, Carlos finally calmed down and leaned back on the sofa, sipping his coffee.

About an hour later, the two woke up. Kevin, not even washing his face, slapped his cheeks several times and brightly said.

"Carlos! Let me show you the effects of last night's practice! Come on in!"

As Kevin, confident, looked on, José handed a drumstick toward Carlos.

"Starting today, it's your turn to put in the most effort!"

Carlos, chuckling, joined the two in the recording booth. As Kevin, without adjusting the guitar from yesterday's settings, slung it over his shoulder and flicked his fingers, Carlos grinned.

"Looks like you've practiced enough. Confident, huh? Alright, shall we start?"

Carlos checked the distortion before strapping on his guitar. Geon stood up and brought a microphone stand to the center. Kevin, slightly hopeful, asked.

"Are you going to sing?"

Geon stopped and looked around at Carlos and José, then smiled.

"Yes, now that the playing's up to par, I need to practice too."

Kevin, excited, clenched his fists.

"Oh!!! Are we finally going to hear the lyrics!!"

Carlos, serious, looked at Geon, then nodded slightly. Geon, after staring silently ahead, deeply inhaled and placed his left hand on the microphone.

"Let's go. Fury!"

>

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