Songwriter.
Among songwriters, those who create pop music aren’t exactly common.
Because of this, I often get asked why I chose this path.
Some people might naturally develop an interest in composing after being exposed to instruments from a young age.
Others might find joy in creating songs as a hobby through apps on their phones and eventually grow to love it.
As for me, I’ve responded to that question like this:
“Because I wanted Baek Ye-rin to sing the songs I create.”
That’s it.
Pure and simple.
It was really all there was to it.
On the other hand, when I think about it, her presence must have been pretty special to me.
In my past life, there were two moments I truly couldn’t forget. One of them was when I first heard Baek Ye-rin sing.
And the second was…
“Baek Ye-rin! Baek Ye-rin!”
“Big sister! I’m dying!”
“I love you! Baek! Ye! Rin!”
National younger sister, and a singer beloved across generations.
It was the first time I attended one of Baek Ye-rin’s concerts.
Her concerts were known for being consistently amazing.
To the extent that it was described as, “A concert you must see in your lifetime,” or “If you haven’t been, you must go, because those who’ve been once always come back.”
At first, I thought maybe it was exaggerated.
…Until I actually saw her concert.
That day she was in such good form that the encore stretched into a “double encore,” making the concert last five hours and thirty minutes.
But what hit me even more deeply than the generous show time was her live performance—beyond what any studio version could replicate.
Most people would agree that live performances often outshine studio recordings.
This might be natural. After all, studio tracks can’t adjust to the audience’s reaction, whereas performers can sing a song differently to elicit the best immediate responses.
In this sense, live performances have a power that surpasses studio recordings, and Baek Ye-rin’s was extraordinary.
I truly felt that her live act was in a league of its own.
It was my first concert ever, but I couldn’t help thinking that no other singer could measure up to her.
Could someone really this good even exist?
“There’s no way she could.”
If there were, someone other than her must’ve wanted to sing my songs, right?
But thinking about it now, maybe my obsession has reached an extreme level.
Even now, her smile from the stage keeps coming to mind, and her charming voice from that fleeting moment of my otherwise ordinary life lingers faintly in my ears.
So.
“Mom, I want to pursue music.”
Having confidently cut school and returned home, I solemnly declared my intentions to my mom.
As expected, she looked a bit startled by my announcement.
Of course, her reaction was understandable.
How could any parent not be surprised when their child, who’s never formally studied music, suddenly wants to make it their career?
But I knew her surprise wouldn’t last long.
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah.”
“Why the sudden decision?”
Mom asked seriously.
Looking at her, memories from my past life flashed back.
Back then, Mom had also asked me why I wanted to pursue music.
And I clearly remember how I responded.
Not with light-heartedness but with promises.
“I won’t hurt our family finances. I’ll definitely prove myself.”
Excuses.
At the time, instead of a proper explanation, I had rambled off excuses.
Honestly, when I first told my parents I wanted to pursue music, I was scared.
Very scared, in fact.
The truth is, the path of a songwriter is not an easy one.
It’s risky, the future uncertain. In such a situation, how could anyone clearly articulate their reasons?
So I guess the excuses automatically poured out.
But.
“Alright. Give it a shot. If you succeed, it’ll be amazing; even if you fail, it’ll be a valuable experience for you.”
Surprisingly, my parents fully supported my dreams.
Back then, I thought they were just exceptionally understanding.
I didn’t know there was a deeper reason.
In any case, I have complete faith that my parents will always support my dreams.
Given that I know this, I already know the answer I must give them.
“Mom, I will definitely succeed. So please, trust me just once and close your eyes.”
I smiled and spoke those words.
In reality, the exact reasons, past and present, can’t be disclosed.
I want to create songs for a girl who hasn’t even debuted yet!
If I said that out loud, it would sound insane, even to myself.
So now, all I could do was exude confidence.
Not that confidence was something I could lack.
I have insights into the future of music trends.
Though my career reset when I came back to the past, I had previously achieved an incredible record—hitting the top of the music charts in just two days.
And I have the talent to be called a “prodigy songwriter” by the world.
A person with these abilities starting music again at junior high level—how could I not have confidence? That’d be a sham.
“Hmm… we should revisit this conversation when Dad gets home later, but even so, as a mom, I do want to support you.”
As expected, my mom readily agreed to let me pursue music.
Dad, who came home after work, was initially surprised but, after seeing my serious face, also gave his approval.
With this, I could now dedicate myself to music freely without worrying about my parents’ disapproval…
“You were serious about doing music?”
“Uh-huh. More specifically, I want to study composition.”
After hearing my cheerful reply, the woman standing in front of me sighed deeply.
Come to think of it, there was one more hurdle to overcome.
My older sister, Ryu Se-ah.
After dinner, I was immediately cornered by my sister.
For reference, she was a year older than me, and unlike me, she’d been studying music since she was young.
The piano, the most renowned instrument in the world, to be precise.
She was even talented enough to be called a piano prodigy and had won international competitions.
Even though she’d stopped playing the piano for certain reasons now, her talent was undeniable.
My parents’ easy support for my dream was probably influenced by her to some extent.
Then she said:
“Hmm… As someone who’s experienced it, I must say, you should reconsider this path.”
Even this conversation was a repeat from my last life.
“Why? You think I don’t have any musical talent?”
“Unfortunately, that’s true. Especially with music, there are areas no amount of effort can overcome.”
It’s technically correct, but irrelevant to me now.
“To start, in composition, you usually have to skillfully handle most instruments. Can you name any instrument you know how to play properly?”
“Yeah, of course, I do.”
“Look at that. You’re trying to learn too many things at a time… Wait. What did you just say?”
“I said I do. I know how to play an instrument properly.”
My casual answer shocked my sister for the first time.
Of course, at this point in time, I didn’t actually know how to play any instrument well.
My sister, who’d been with me since birth, had no reason but to know this fact.
Which is why she wouldn’t believe me.
“Stop lying. Who do you think you can fool, me or God?”
“I mean it, stop with the God and all that, I really can.”
“Hmf… Alright, fine. Let’s at least hear what you have to say. What instrument do you know how to play?”
“Piano.”
A single word, strong and resonant.
To confidently declare piano in front of my sister, who was once called a piano prodigy, carried significant meaning.
Of course, she was curious.
It’s natural to wonder why someone who’s never properly played piano before would suddenly claim they’re good at it.
“Hmph, prove it then.”
“With your piano?”
My sister immediately nodded in agreement.
So I found myself entering her room like a suspect taken to the police station, and I stood in front of her grand piano after quite a while.
…
Lightly pressing a key, a beautiful sound filled the room.
Unfortunately, unlike my sister, who trained for competitions, I didn’t specialize in piano playing.
It seems I didn’t really have plans to learn it either.
Because I thought that one didn’t need to play the piano well to be a good composer.
And indeed, there are other examples of successful composers who couldn’t play well.
Though…
“Oi! Ryu Won! Do you really want to end up failing? With that laid-back mindset, you plan to create great songs? If you’re serious, you should learn everything properly!”
Thanks to a certain person sternly glaring at me now, I quickly abandoned that mindset.
“Just play something simple, something you’re good at.”
“Hmm… How about I give you a preview of the accompaniment from a song I wrote secretly?”
“You’ve already written a song?”
“It’s obvious if I’m serious, right? Besides, I’ve been practicing piano little by little by watching you.”
My sister looked quite skeptical.
But I knew her expression would change quickly.
After all…
“Who did I study piano from?”
In my past life, the one who taught me piano was none other than my sister, the so-called piano prodigy.
“Ah- Reflecting on it now, those were some tough days.”
My sister was as much a perfectionist about piano as her reputation suggested.
And that perfectionism was applied to me too.
As a result, every time I messed up my fingers, a merciless backhand landed, and if I missed a single beat, I would have to keep practicing until bedtime under her watch.
Thanks to that, somewhere along the way, the familiar piano melodies became the cornerstone of my compositions.
Same goes for the first song I created after mastering my instrument, “<Cantabile>.”
By the way, I intended to play the accompaniment of “<Cantabile>” for my sister.
It might sound cheesy, but it was a piece I wrote to express gratitude to the sister who taught me piano.
…
“How was it? Pretty decent, right?”
“…”
“Sister?”
My sister remained frozen in place after the piece ended.
It was clear from her dazed expression that she was impressed by my piano skills and the song I’d composed.
Hmm. With that kind of reaction, it seemed unlikely she’d oppose me anymore.
Initially, she probably just wanted to confirm whether my declaration was genuine. She likely didn’t intend to strongly oppose it.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have personally taught me piano in my last life.
…But.
“Sis.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“Was the piece… by any chance fully completed?”
The moment I saw her suddenly sparkly eyes, I instinctively knew something had gone awry.
