Cadence

Quasi una Fantasia

I arrived at the University, ready for whatever was heading my way. I dressed up in black casual long sleeves and white pants, black sandals and sunglasses. After all the thinking I did last night and some tears, the concealer may have done the trick but not completely.

And also, I wanted to look my best. First piano rehearsal with Maestro Hyun Bin. A one-on-one session and also the last rehearsal before the full orchestra rehearsal tomorrow. Not only did I want to dress up nicely, but I also wanted to play my best.

Coffee before rehearsal was a must for me so decided to meet up with my college batchmate, Ha Ji Min, our former concert master and now Orchestra manager. She took a break from performing to focus on teaching and the orchestra after marrying the famous tenor, Gu Seo-jin and having twin boys.

"So, he's still cold? Typical Bin." She asked she took a bite from her dark chocolate macadamia cookie, her favorite and still a sweet tooth after all these years.

"Ne. Cold as ice."

"Well to be fair, you guys did break up and you left after the concert and we all had to clean up after his broken heart, Yejin." She said.

"He broke up with me. He walked away and never looked back. We had to perform like that before I left. I mean I get and I understand that his appa's cancer diagnosis and eventual passing really changed him months before that, but I was there for him the whole time." I said. These memories over hot cup of coffee.

"He never really talked about that, Yejin. I mean occasionally he would join us for drinks but never opened up about it. Even after he finished his Piano Performance Masters Degree in Julliard, not a word. All work. And some ladies in between." She said. Always the ladies man, known for his charms.

"And he did kiss someone else before we broke up. I mean, why would he even do that? We were friends for the longest time, we were in a 4-year relationship and yet when I confronted him about it, he never even apologized for it. He just straight out admitted it before our general rehearsal. I mean, who does that?" I said while still stirring the coffee I ordered.

"Yejin you realize you haven't taken a sip and have been stirring that for minutes now right?" Ji-min said as she laughed at me.

"And the way he decided to just break up with me." I finally decide to sip my Venti iced white chocolate mocha, less ice, 2 shots of espresso, nonfat, caramel drizzle and sea salt topping. "Never even bothered to call me or message me, no email, nothing. 6 years of nothing, not even an apology."

"Would've been easier of you had just remembered your instagram or facebook password! I mean even your Facebook artist page is not updated!" She said still grinning at me from ear to ear. I remember having these SNS accounts but never using them. Waste of time, I think to myself.

"Yaa! You know I don't like those things. Too toxic! You know I'd rather practice and sleep rather than be on my phone." I scoff.

We talk some more to kill time before the piano rehearsal. I wanted to lose the jitters over coffee. She tells stories about how much she misses performing, which she does from time to time but not on a regular basis. How teaching occupies most of her time at work and that she barely has time to practice. How her organizational and management skills are always being put to the test being orchestra manager. How much she adores their twin boys who has so much of their father in them. One being the more serious and reserved one but the other one very outgoing and jolly. She shows me a picture, split image of their dad.

I buy another drink. I figured I would one wouldn't be enough to last the rehearsal later and as I ordered, Ji-min said, "Maybe you should buy Bin some hot coffee to warm him up. Wasn't it your ritual to always have coffee before our rehearsals?"