Into The Thrill

A few days passed. A call came from an unknown number. It was a member of HanKyung Symphony, the assistant principal violinist. He asked urgently without any introduction if Haewon had heard the news. It was strange for him to call after a year and bring up something like this out of nowhere. Haewon asked what happened, then hesitated.

― "Haven't you heard that Seungcheol hyung has been arrested? The conductor and the concertmaster were called in too."

Seungcheol was the name of Choi, the senior.

"What do you mean?"

― "He’s involved in embezzling funds from the arts foundation and the exam scandal at Cheongmyeong Music University last year. Seungcheol hyung's brother-in-law is the head of the student office there. All the students who took lessons from the professors Seungcheol hyung introduced got into Cheongmyeong. Now, even the parents are being summoned one by one."

The voice sounded somewhat excited, as though it had already been accepted as fact that the principal violinist would be kicked out. He spoke on and on, as if watching someone else’s misfortune without a care.

Haewon remembered Choi’s composed face. He imagined his face from the time he had stood awkwardly at the door of the officetel. Haewon, feeling emotionally drained, responded in a disinterested tone.

"I didn’t know he was involved in something like that."

― "So, about that, we’re short on violinists right now. We have the upcoming regular performance, and it's a big deal. We've already arranged for a conductor, but if you’re free..."

"I’m not doing it."

― "Don’t cut me off so abruptly."

"Hang up."