GCSA CH 13

CHAPTER 13

“Perfect timing.”

I lifted my phone and showed it to her.

“Want to check together? Looks like the results are out.”

Moon Arin hesitated for a split second.

“…Right now?”

“Yeah. I’m nervous to look at it alone.”

“Okay. Even if it’s not what you hoped for, don’t be too upset.”

She forced a smile, but I could see her eyes waver.

We leaned our heads together over the phone.
When I opened the message, it said to check the results through the official website, with a link attached.

I tapped the link and entered my exam number.

“Ready?”

“…Yeah.”

Just as I was about to press confirm—

Bzzzz.

An unfamiliar number was calling.

The tension instantly broke.

“Ugh, who is it at a time like this?” Moon Arin teased.

There was no saved name. It didn’t seem like someone I knew.

“Are you going to answer?”

“…Yeah. I should.”

I accepted the call.

“Hello?”

—Is this Yoon Seol?

“Yes, it is.”

The voice sounded familiar. As I tilted my head in confusion, the caller introduced herself.

—This is Professor Baek Ga-hee. We met at the exam. You remember, right?

“…!”

Moon Arin clearly heard the name too. She flinched.

—Yoon Seol?

“Ah, yes, Professor. I remember.”

—First, I’d like to apologize for what happened that day. I was too hasty.

The apology was short and straightforward.
It didn’t feel forced.

She wasn’t warm, but she wasn’t arrogant either. She simply acknowledged her mistake.

—The results should be out today. Have you checked?

“No, not yet. I was just about to.”

—You don’t have to. You passed.

Her tone was firm. Almost certain.

Even though she wouldn’t know my other exam scores.

—Anyone with ears wouldn’t fail a student who performed a piece like that.

That was outright praise.

I was momentarily speechless.

As if it were nothing, she continued.

—I was worried you might avoid my class because of what happened. That’s why I called.

“I had no such intention.”

—That’s good. I’m looking forward to you taking my class.

Her voice was firm, yet subtly gentler than before.

—Then I’ll see you next semester.

Click.

She hung up before I could properly say goodbye.

It felt like I’d just been swept up in a sudden storm.

Before I could process it, the system window popped up again.

[ SYSTEM – MAIN QUEST ]

‘Transfer to Hankuk University’s Composition Department’ Complete!
Reward: Inspiration Acquisition (B)

‘I’ll check that later.’

When I looked up, Moon Arin was staring at me.

Shock. Disbelief. And something darker—an inferiority she couldn’t hide.

“That was really Professor Baek Ga-hee?”

“Yeah. I think so.”

“She called you? Directly? Why?”

Her voice trembled slightly.

“You heard what she said.”

“….”

“Maybe she liked what she heard.”

Moon Arin’s lips quivered.

Silence hung between us.

Then her true feelings slipped out.

“What exactly did you do in that exam? For her to call you herself?”

Her tone carried blame.

I shrugged.

“Nothing I can think of. I’m not sure either.”

Her fingertips trembled faintly.

‘So? What are you going to do now?’

I watched her carefully.

I wanted to see how she would react in an unexpected situation.

But when she lifted her head again, her expression had completely changed.

“Wow~ Our Seol is amazing! I knew you were talented!”

She looped her arm through mine, acting cute.

Her smile was bright. As if nothing had happened.

“You know how strict Professor Baek is, right? I told you so many times. Students come out of her lessons crying.”

I nodded, a little dazed by the sudden shift.

“But she recognized your talent! I’ve never seen her personally call someone like that!”

She sparkled with exaggerated excitement, as if genuinely celebrating my success.

A moment ago, jealousy clouded her eyes.

Now she seemed perfectly composed.

Which one was real?

‘Which one is the truth, Moon Arin?’

She kept talking, smiling brightly.

“Oh! Let’s register for classes together! It’ll be so fun if we take the same ones.”

“Yeah… sure.”

“Promise!”

She even hooked her finger with mine.

“It’ll be easier for you to adjust if we’re together. I’ll take good care of you.”

But her eyes weren’t smiling at all.

That was when I understood clearly.

There was no sincerity in those words.

‘Are you planning to isolate me again? Control me like before?’

Now I could see it clearly.

In high school. In college.

The reason I only ever had one friend.

I used to think it was because I wasn’t sociable enough.

But now I knew the truth.

‘It was you, Moon Arin.’

Whenever I started getting close to someone, she would subtly interfere.

If there was a group project, she would push her way in and act like my spokesperson.

To others, she looked like the kind friend taking care of the awkward girl.

But in reality, she pushed me further away from everyone else.

‘This time, I won’t let you control things.’

I forced a small smile.

“Yeah. I’ll count on you.”

Moon Arin smiled in satisfaction.

We were dreaming completely different dreams.

***

Click.

The door closed.

Silence filled the room.

Moon Arin had rushed out, saying she was late for her part-time job.

Only then did I finally breathe.

“Phew.”

As I let out a long sigh, Nuri came over and rubbed her head against me.

Nyaa—

“Yeah, Nuri.”

I crouched down to her eye level.

She purred softly.

Then—

[ SYSTEM – V1.0 ]

Your emotional fluctuation has exceeded the threshold!
Would you like to use ‘Inspiration Acquisition (B)’?
[ YES / NO ]

The glowing window blocked my view.

‘Right… that reward.’

I pressed on “Inspiration Acquisition (B).”

[ SYSTEM – V1.0 ]

Inspiration Acquisition (B): Gain inspiration from your emotional state or external stimuli.

‘Should I try it?’

Curious, I pressed YES.

At that moment—

Something sparked inside me.

And instantly, Moon Arin’s face appeared in my mind.

That forced smile.

Those layered eyes of suspicion and jealousy.

Then—

It felt like metal twisting inside my head.

My chest tightened painfully.

Melodies pierced through my mind.

“—!”

I gasped, clutching at my chest.

Nuri let out a small worried cry, but I barely heard it.

Dissonance.

Sharp, jarring tones that should have been unpleasant.

Like nails scraping a chalkboard.

I frowned instinctively.

But something was strange.

That dissonance wasn’t merely unpleasant.

It carried a chilling beauty.

I forgot to breathe as I listened inwardly.

‘This is… terrifying.’

Ugly, negative emotions—

Yet they were forming perfect music.

‘I have to write this down.’

Instinctively, I grabbed the nearest pen.

I began scribbling notes wildly onto blank sheet music.

My trembling fingers moved on their own.

“…Done.”

When I came back to my senses, the fractures of my emotions were fully written across the page.

Sheets were scattered everywhere.

In that moment, I knew.

‘…I just created something incredible.’