As Youngju brings over snacks, she pulls a chair next to and sits down.
"Tell more about Irina. What did you have for dinner?"
"Tripe."
"Wow, you went to a tripe restaurant with a Polish pianist?"
"It was Monica's idea; she insisted on it."
"Does Monica really like tripe that much?"
"Don't even start, she's now into tripe's lining too."
"Wow. What about Irina? Did she not throw up after eating it?"
I chuckle and reply.
"She even scraped clean the fried rice with kimchi. I heard Polish people eat offal dishes too?"
"Wow! How did the tripe look when eaten by a goddess? Did it shine or transform into snowflakes or sothing?"
"Are you crazy?"
"No, why?"
Are you seriously asking that, or just kidding?
"Irina is a pianist, not an alchemist, right? She just ate well and left."
"Did she seem to enjoy it?"
"Yeah, she ate quietly, not saying a word."
"That's exactly her image."
"It was uncomfortable being with her, so quiet. It would have been really awkward without Monica."
"That's Irina for you. She's always been like that."
"But why does she only play Chopin?"
"Don't you know?"
"Hey, I only learned her na because of you."
"An ignorant beast you are."
"Just explain it to ."
Youngju pauses for a mont, then speaks with a serious look in her eyes.
"Irina is an orphan."
What? Really?
Isn't it true that to beco a world-class pianist, you need early specialized education and expensive lessons from a young age? She looks so noble, like she cos from an aristocratic family. Was she really an orphan? Is that even possible?
Honestly, it's hard to say this, but art requires money.
Being a star in popular culture, where one can beco an overnight sensation, is different from pure art. It takes a lot of ti and a trendous amount of money to start earning from actual art. It's a harsh truth, but art cos from capital.
Orphans don't have money.
Therefore, it's tough to survive in the pure arts industry, especially music. Classical instrunts are expensive, and so are lesson fees, which are beyond imagination.
Seeing my surprise, Youngju gives a thumbs up, as if she expected it.
"That's why Irina is remarkable, isn't she? She's the hope for all the poor in the world."
If that's true, that alone makes her a person worthy of respect.
Complaining about her being a bit aloof and cold seems like a petty thing to do.
Suddenly, I see Irina in a new light. If I had known this from the start, I would have treated her more kindly.
Regretting today's event, I ask.
"But how did she start playing the piano? And what does being an orphan have to do with only playing Chopin's music?"
Youngju snaps her fingers and says.
"Irina has been living in an orphanage attached to a church since she was a baby. She had this dream when she was four."
A dream? Maybe because it's sothing we have in common, I suddenly beco curious.
"What kind of dream?"
Youngju's eyes lose focus as if she's dreaming herself.
"A very dark night. The sound of a piano echoing in the church. A girl in pajamas drawn by the piano sound on a night when everyone is asleep, going to the church. The sound of Chopin's music filling the empty chapel."
That's kind of scary, isn't it?
"Poltergeist?"
Youngju's expression suddenly turns sour.
"A horror movie?"
"Well, you said there was piano music in an empty chapel. Isn't that like objects moving on their own?"
"Shut up, you mood-killer."
"Then what is it?"
Youngju looks almost offended, like a believer whose faith has been insulted, and says,
"It's from an interview with the German music magazine Klassick in 2015. Irina said this at that ti."
Youngju puts her hands together as if praying and recites Irina's interview.
The windows of the church.
The moonlight through the mosaic coloring countless lights,
The starlight projecting the shapes of heaven,
Mixing majestically and mysteriously at night.
Soone called to the chapel.
It wasn't in any language,
But I clearly felt it.
He was calling .
His call was calm, radiant, and beautiful.
His call was calm, bright, and beautiful.
Looking back, that was the mory
Of the piano sounds the priest played on days without mass.
It seed to be that.
A baby in pajamas, toddling through the too vast and desolate church corridor.
When I opened the door to the chapel.
I found the salvation I'd longed for all my life.
Not a cross, but salvation through music.
And soon after, I realized.
The one who called in the darkness was Chopin.
The one who extended a hand of salvation to .
Youngju exhales as if she's just had a drink of soju.
"Wow, isn't that amazing?"
Yeah, even I think thats a pretty cool story.
"So she only performs Chopin?"
Youngju shakes her head.
"You can't say Irina only performs Chopin."
"What do you an?"
"She doesnt just play Chopin; through the piano, she sends her lifelong admiration and praise for him."
Sending lifelong admiration and praise to the one who saved her from hopelessness. That's why Irina only performs concerts with Chopins music.
Just like soone spends their lifeti praying to God,
She sends her lifeti of prayers and praises to her savior.
"Hmm, that's kind of cool?"
Youngju gives a thumbs-up and gestures with her eyes.
"Welco to the Church of Irina, comrade!"
Forget that, put it away.
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