Chapter Text
Kang Pio is everything you need to know about him. He comes from a wealthy family, is smart, plays piano (and actually talented about it), is a favorite of teachers, handsome even, everything. He seems to have all the aspects of a good student you know. He seems to have no flaws when you look at him. It's like he was sent down from heaven to be an apology for the cruelty of the world. But that's what everyone knows.
They don’t know what Pio has to go through, hear, and do to be known as Kang Piothey all knew. They don’t know how cruel it is to be at his home. He is surrounded by comments that he is not enough, that he is not good enough, and that music will never love him as much as he has loved music his whole life. He tried to be the person he wasn’t just to prove who he is. In music, in academics, even his personality, name it all. He stays out of trouble because he doesn’t want his family to say anything to him anymore, making him friends with Hong Jaein, the only person he can be friends with, the only person who understands him.
Pio just won the 27th Lake Erie International Junior Competition. As usual, he won the grand prize. This is nothing new to him. Don't get him wrong. He loves playing. He loves music. But for a musician who grew up in a home where recognition was more important, he no longer feels any satisfaction when he wins. Because it's as it should be. It's as expected of him. It's only as far as the possible goes, nothing else.
He was recognized by his school for bringing them pride after winning the competition. The school made an event just for him, but he prayed it would be over soon. He received the certificate with an indifferent face. He didn't know what he was feeling. He just thanked them and continued with his day as normal. This is not enough.
He stared at the certificate he was holding and eventually threw it in the trashbin. He just went to the cafeteria to eat and decide what concerto he would do next. He needs to decide early so he can practice right away. He needs to get better. He needs to be better.
He was eating peacefully when the very certificate he just threw just slammed in front of him. He scoffed. Seongje. He looked up and he was right. Seongje's smiling, goofy face appeared before him. He was about to ignore it when he laughed, teasingly.
“So you think you’re too good now, huh? You just tossed this certificate aside? Damn, you really do get cocky when you’ve got something to brag about,” Seongje said while waving the certificate in Pio’s face. He even pretended to look at Pio’s certificate as if in awe.
Choi Seongje. One of the notorious bullies at their school. But he's not just a bully who's good at insulting. He can fight you, literally and physically. There's not a day that goes by without this scary smile on his face, but you never know if he's the one who always starts fights or the one who always ends up in fights. Inside or outside of the school. Either way, he doesn't seem to care.
Seongje is dangerous. Not because he's a strong puncher, but because you never know how far he can go. He's not afraid of anyone and he doesn't care who he's up against. He can make anyone his victim. When he's in a fight, he's not the type to back down easily. It's even scarier when he suddenly goes silent.
And that smile of his? That's what those who know him fear the most.
It’s not the kind of smile that shows he’s happy. It’s the kind of smile that makes you wonder what he’s about to do next. The corners of his lips are slightly raised, teeth showing, while his eyes remain cold. He seems to be even happier when he sees the person in front of him nervous or scared. So when Seongje smiles in the middle of an argument, the people around him know it’s better to stay away.
He doesn't have to threaten. He doesn't have to yell. Sometimes, his smile is enough to let you know that you made a big mistake arguing with him.
Pio has no intention of engaging with people like him. He hates people like Seongje. He sees the trouble he causes every day, so he's usually the one who reports it to the faculty or the council. He doesn't want to get involved in trouble. He knows better that nothing good will happen to him if he mixes with people like Seongje. He doesn't want his family to see more of what's wrong with him, so he just continued eating. But Seongje didn't like it.
Seongje is the type that if he wants to play with you, he wants you to play with him until he's satisfied. He's had his eye on Pio for a long time. He's a popular student at their school, known by everyone. That's enough reason for Seongje to be curious about how Pio will play with him. But from his attitude, he wasn't happy.
He brought his face closer to Pio's with a silly smile, "so this is how you want to play?" Pio stopped eating and slowly looked up. He stared at him for a few seconds before lowering the hand holding the spoon to the tray.
“Is this your idea of fun?” he asked, his voice calm. “Bothering people until they pay attention to you?”
The smile on Seongje's face disappeared slightly.
That wasn't the answer he was expecting. Usually, when he approached students like Pio, his presence was enough to silence them. Some would look away, some would apologize immediately, and others would just walk away. But the one in front of him now seemed more interested in finishing his meal than talking to him.
“You're such a brave guy, aren't you?” Seongje's voice was low.
“No,” Pio replied quickly. “I just don’t want to waste my time.”
Seongje laughed, but there was no joy in the sound. He straightened his posture and bowed slightly so that their gazes were level.
Seongje smiled.
Usually, this was the part where people would start backing down. Some would apologize, others would leave. But Pio? He just went back to eating as if Seongje wasn't standing right in front of him.
That almost made him laugh.
"Seriously?" he muttered, watching Pio ignore him. “That's it?”
No answer. Seongje's smile widened. There was something amusing about watching someone try so hard to pretend he wasn't bothered. At least, unlike the others, Pio was making an effort to fight back.
"Interesting," he murmured.
He bowed slightly, enough to get back into Pio's line of sight. “Let's see how long you can keep ignoring me.”
Pio still ignored him, tightly griping his hand onto the spoon. For a moment, Seongje simply stared at him, the smile on his lips slowly turning into something more unsettling.
Then—
“Seongje.”
The voice came from behind him. Suddenly the smile on Seongje's face disappeared, it was immediately replaced by a bored look because the voice he heard was familiar to him. He put one hand in the pocket of the jacket he was wearing before slightly moving away from Pio, as if nothing had happened and he was not the reason why the surroundings suddenly became quiet.
They both turned to the source of the voice. At the entrance of the cafeteria, Jaein could be seen marching towards them, still holding the papers she had brought earlier. Seeing Pio, she hurried even more. She had already seen enough from across the room to know exactly what had happened, and the sight of Pio standing there with his lunch half-finished and Seongje beside him was more than enough to put her on alert.
Besides being Pio's friend, Jaein was also the council president of their school. She had spent most of the semester trying to keep Seongje under control, from reporting his misconduct to personally dragging him into disciplinary meetings whenever he crossed the line. The problem was that Seongje always found a way out of whatever punishment was handed to him. He had a talent for turning every situation into something that could somehow be explained away, leaving Jaein with nothing but another headache and another student who had been affected by his behavior. So as the president, she just did everything she could to protect the students from any mischief Seongje could think of.
He just didn't expect that this time, Pio himself would be the target.
"Pio, are you okay?" Jaein asked, immediately approaching her.
Pio nodded silently. He didn't want to prolong the conversation any longer. He slightly rearranged the things next to his tray and picked up his spoon again, trying to finish the rest of his food even though his appetite had disappeared. In truth, he just wanted to leave. He still had a piece to practice for his next performance, and he knew he would run out of time if he stayed here any longer.
Seongje noticed that. For a moment, he simply watched Pio in silence, studying the way the other boy deliberately avoided looking at him. Then, when he noticed Jaein was looking at him, he smiled slowly.
It wasn't a friendly smile. "We meet again, Ms. President."
Jaein's expression immediately hardened. "Unfortunately."
"Damn, so cold." Seongje straightened up, crossing his arms over his chest. "Aren't you happy to see me?"
"Not when you're involved in another complaint."
"Complaint?" He shook his head slightly as if genuinely confused. "That's fast. I haven't even done anything yet."
Jaein looked at him straight. "You were bothering Pio."
"I was talking to him."
"You know exactly what you were doing."
Seongje smirked. "And you always assume the worst of me."
"Because you keep giving me reasons to."
The surroundings fell silent for a moment. Pio didn't need to speak for Seongje to know that he was enjoying Jaein's annoyance. He looked almost entertained by the whole thing, as if getting under the council president's skin was simply another activity he had added to his daily routine.
"Relax, Ms. President," he said, bowing his head slightly. "I didn't hurt him."
Jaein glanced at Pio again, checking his face and the things on the table before looking back at Seongje. "That's not the point."
"Then what's the point?"
"The point is that you need to stop bothering people."
Seongje laughed quietly. "You say that every time."
"Because you never listen."
"Maybe you're just not convincing enough."
Pio finally placed his spoon down. He didn't bother looking at either of them. "I'm leaving."
Jaein turned to him. "Pio—"
"I'm fine."
He stood from his seat, picked up his bag, and slung it over one shoulder. He could already feel the weight of the piano pieces inside, along with the notebook filled with annotations he had been working on for the past few days. He didn't have the patience to sit there and listen to Jaein and Seongje argue again. He had a schedule to follow, and he was already behind.
As he walked past Seongje, the latter moved just enough to give him space. "See you around, Pio."
Pio did not answer and he simply kept walking.
Jaein watched him disappear through the cafeteria doors before turning back to Seongje. "Stay away from him."
Seongje's smile returned. "Why?"
"Because I said so."
"That's not really a reason."
"It is when I'm the council president."
He shrugged, clearly uninterested. "We'll see."
Then he walked away in the opposite direction, leaving Jaein staring after him with an expression that made it obvious she was already regretting the rest of her day.
When Pio arrived at the practice room, he immediately set his bag down beside the piano and carefully took out the music sheet. The room was quiet, just the way he liked it. There was no noise from students in the cafeteria, no laughter echoing in the hallway, and no one talking beside him. There was only the faint hum of the air conditioner and the familiar sight of the piano before him.
This was better. He sat down and adjusted his posture before placing his hands on the keys and beginning the piece he had chosen.
The opening notes were played with care. He didn't rush his finger movements, following the tempo indicated on the music sheet and mentally reviewing the sections he had already studied repeatedly. But before the first section was even finished, he missed a note.
He stopped immediately. He glanced at the music sheet again, then brought out the pencil from his bag. He began adding annotations as reminders to help him play the piece more effectively.
He started playing again from the beginning, keeping the annotations he had made in mind as he played.
It happened three more times. This time, he played the problematic section even more slowly. When he made a mistake again, he closed his eyes for a moment before starting over.
He's always like this. When there's a part he can't play well, he doesn't leave until he gets it right.
By the time Jaein found him, Pio had already been practicing for almost 3 hours.
She stood outside the practice room for a while, watching him through the small glass window on the door. His back remained straight despite how long he had been sitting there, his eyes fixed on the music sheet while his fingers moved over the keys with practiced precision. Every time he made a mistake, he would stop, identify the part that went wrong, and start over without giving himself much time to breathe.
Jaein sighed. She knew this. Pio had always been like this.
He could win a competition and still convince himself that there was something he could have done better. He could receive praise and immediately start thinking about how he could improve the next performance. For him, being good was never enough when he believed he could be better.
Jaein stood outside the practice room and watched him for a few seconds before knocking on the mirror. Pio didn't notice because he was so focused on playing. Sweat was already dripping from his forehead to his neck but he didn't care enough to stop.
Jaein knocked again, louder this time. Pio looked at him, as if he had broken free from the mirage created by the melodies his piano was making as he played.
Jaein opened the door. "You've been here for almost 3 hours."
Pio glanced at the clock. "I know."
"Did you even rest after the competition?"
"I rested."
“When?”
Pio only glanced back at the piano, his fingers still resting lightly against the keys. “Earlier.” Jaein stared at him for a moment, clearly unconvinced. “That’s not an answer, Kang Pio.”
“I’m fine, Jaein.” He turned his attention back to the piano as if that was enough to end the conversation, but Jaein knew him too well to let it go that easily. She walked further into the room and crossed her arms. "You always say that."
"Because I am." His answer came without hesitation, almost too casual for someone who had spent most of the day competing and was already back to practicing.
"You just won."
Pio shrugged, his eyes still fixed on the music sheet in front of him. "And then?"
“So you could at least celebrate for one day.” Jaein shook her head, watching him prepare himself to play again. “You don't have to immediately think about the next thing you have to accomplish.”
“I have another piece to prepare.”
“Pio.”
He paused at the sound of her voice. He already knew that tone. It was the same tone Jaein used whenever she was about to lecture him, and he immediately sighed before she could even say anything else.
“Don’t start.”
“I’m not starting anything,” she said, stepping closer to the piano. “I’m telling you to rest.”
“I’m resting right now.”
Jaein looked at him, then at the piano, then back at him again. “You’re literally practicing.”
Pio didn’t answer. Instead, he simply lowered his gaze to the music sheet and placed his fingers back on the keys, as if playing the next note would somehow prove his point. Jaein could only stare at him, already knowing that arguing with Pio when he had his mind set on something was going to be nearly impossible.
Jaein crossed her arms. "You know what? Fine. Practice. But don't come crying to me when you collapse from exhaustion."
"I won't."
"That's not comforting."
Pio simply returned his attention to the keys.
Jaein could only sigh and pull a chair from the corner of the room. If Pio wasn't going to stop, then the least she could do was stay and make sure he didn't push himself too far. So, she sat on a chair at the side of the room and watched Pio play again.
Hours passed, almost unnoticed by the two of them. It gradually grew dark outside the windows until only the light from the hallway was visible in the glass. Jaein had reminded him several times that they should go home, but each time, Pio would simply say "one more time" before placing his fingers on the piano again.
And it always turned out to be more than just one more time.
And neither of them noticed the figure standing at the end of the hallway. Seongje did.
He had no reason to be there. He had only been passing through when he heard the piano. Pio didn't know that there were times when Seongje noticed him from afar. At first, it didn't meant anything.
Then he heard a familiar rhythm, causing him to stop and look for its source. It was too familiar to ignore.
He would hear the piano playing in the practice room and glance over whenever he passed by the hallway. Over time, he noticed that Pio was always there—sometimes at midday, sometimes after class, and occasionally late into the night, still refusing to leave. Jaein was always inside with him, watching quietly.
Seongje watched for a few seconds before scoffing under his breath. Of course. Even after everything, Pio was still practicing. He couldn't quite understand why that annoyed him so much.
Maybe it was because Pio always looked so sure of himself when he played. Maybe because he could hear how skilled Pio was, even when the other boy didn't seem satisfied with his own performance. Or perhaps it was simply the fact that Pio had somehow become yet another person in his life who was impossible to ignore.
Whenever Seongje did something that disturbed the other students, there was always a chance Pio would step out and tell them to quiet down because he was practicing.
Once, Seongje and his friends were causing a commotion in the hallway near the practice rooms. They were shouting and laughing while playing a game they shouldn't have been playing inside the school.
Pio stepped out of the practice room. "Can you keep it down?"
Instead of backing down in fear, Pio stood his ground right in front of him, clearly annoyed. In the end, Seongje stepped back—not because he wanted to comply, but because he didn't want to show that he was affected. On another occasion, Seongje and his friends blocked the hallway. Many students were forced to squeeze past along the side just to get through.
When Pio arrived, he stopped and said, "Move."
Seongje turned around. "Excuse me?"
"You're blocking the hallway."
"How about a ‘please?’"
"Move."
That was when Seongje finally lost his patience. "You really don't know when to shut up, do you?" He was annoyed, noticing how frequently their paths were crossing. He would have been pleased if it were because Pio was about to become his next victim, but it seemed the tables had turned; Seongje couldn't do what he usually did because Pio was always there to stand in his way.
Weeks passed.
One night, Pio stayed at school longer than usual.
Jaein had left quite a while ago to attend to matters at the council office, but Pio remained in the practice room. He played the same piece over and over until he finally perfected the section that had been giving him trouble for days.
He only stopped once he had played it flawlessly.
He glanced at the clock. It was late. He quickly gathered his music sheet and tucked it into his bag before leaving the practice room.
The hallway was quiet. Most of the lights were off, and there were hardly any students around. As he walked toward the school gate, he could still feel the fatigue in his fingers, yet he felt lighter knowing he had finally mastered the piece.
It was only after he stepped out of the gate that he heard the voice.
"You're always the last one to leave."
Pio stopped upon hearing the familiar voice. Seongje was standing by the wall, leaning against it as he waited.
Pio’s expression shifted instantly. He rolled his eyes, too tired to engage with Seongje’s nonsense. "What do you want?"
"Nothing."
"Then move."
Seongje smiled. "You always say that." He was wearing his usual jacket, a lollipop in his mouth, looking as if he were actually enjoying the situation.
"I'm tired."
"I don't care."
"Then let me go, jerk."
Seongje took a step closer. Pio tried to move past him, but Seongje shifted to block his path. Pio stopped.
The surroundings were quiet. Behind them stood the nearly closed school building, while only the occasional vehicle passed by on the road. The area was quieter than usual, and since it was already night, there were no other students nearby.
"What is your problem?" Pio asked, clearly losing his patience. His brow was furrowed—a stark contrast to his usually expressionless face. He had no time to waste on Seongje, yet here he was, dealing with the other's nonsense.
"You."
"I don't even know you. We’re not even friends. Stop bothering me."
"Exactly."
Seongje suddenly reached for the strap of Pio’s bag and yanked it off his shoulder. Pio immediately tried to get hold of it. "What are you? A kid? Give it back."
Seongje didn't answer. He held onto the bag for a few seconds before letting go. It dropped to the floor. He carefully watched Pio’s expression and movements.
Pio quickly bent down to pick up the bag, checking to ensure the contents weren't damaged. But before he could fully stand up, he saw Seongje peering into the bag.
"You care about that thing more than anything, huh?"
Pio stood up. "Stay away from my things—I’m warning you, Choi Seongje."
"Or what?"
Pio didn't answer.
He wasn't weak; he knew that. He could defend himself if necessary. But compared to Seongje—who was stronger, more experienced in brawls, and, above all, seemed indifferent to the consequences of a fight—he was at a disadvantage.
"Leave me alone."
Seongje’s expression shifted. "You've been getting in my way for weeks, and now you’re telling me to leave you alone?"
"I've been telling you to stop bothering people."
"And?"
"You're annoying."
Seongje laughed, but there was no mirth in the sound. "You're really asking for it."
Before Pio could speak, Seongje stepped closer and grabbed the neckline of his uniform. Pio stumbled back until his back hit the wall. Pio was taller than Seongje, but when it came to strength, Seongje overpowered him. He could feel his back hurting because of the impact. His head hit the wall, too.
"Let go."
Seongje didn't let go. "You think you're better than me?"
“I know myself better than you do. Let me go."
"Then why do you keep acting like you are?"
"I'm not acting like anything."
"That's the problem."
Pio shoved him by the arm. "I said let go of me."
Instead of backing off, Seongje shoved him back even harder. Pio stumbled backward, and his bag fell to the ground. The zipper burst open, scattering sheets of paper across the concrete.
Pio’s gaze immediately darted to them. He saw his music sheet strewn across the ground. Seongje stepped toward the papers. Pio closed his eyes for a moment before speaking.
"Don't."
Seongje looked at him. "Don't what?"
"Touch them."
Seongje’s expression shifted when he realized this was the first time Pio had shown genuine anger. He slowly raised his foot toward one of the papers. But just before he could reach it—
"Seongje."
The voice came from behind. Seongje froze instantly. The smile vanished from his face, replaced by a look of annoyance.
Pio didn't move. He simply stood there, slightly hunched over, staring at the papers scattered on the ground. He hadn't yet seen who had spoken. All he could hear was the change in Seongje’s breathing and the sudden silence that enveloped the area.
He heard the voice again.
"What are you doing?"
Seongje slowly straightened up. For the first time, he didn't answer immediately.
Pio looked in the direction of the voice. Someone was standing a few steps away from them, but because the streetlights were behind the person, their face wasn't clear. Only a silhouette was clearly visible.
The person stepped closer.
"Let him go."
Pio remained silent. He didn't recognize the voice. But judging by the way Seongje stared at the person, he knew Seongje recognized the speaker. More than that, there was something unusual in Seongje’s expression—something Pio had never seen before.
It wasn't his usual mocking smile. Nor was it the look of annoyance he typically wore when someone opposed him. It was a mix of shock... and anger.
As the stranger slowly approached, Pio noticed that the man didn't even spare him more than a fleeting glance. Instead, his gaze remained fixed on Seongje, as if he had known the person standing before him for a long time.
"Seongje," the man repeated, his tone firmer this time. "I said, let him go."
And for the first time since Pio had met Seongje, he saw him back down.