HEART STRINGS | 지훈

30

Jinhee sat on a chair near the piano, her acoustic guitar resting comfortably against her torso. The soft glow from her phone screen illuminated the tutorial video she was following, the instructor demonstrating how to play a simple yet emotional ballad. Her fingers hesitated over the strings as she tried to recall the chord transitions she'd learned months ago. It had been a while, and her muscle memory felt rusty.

Her first attempt at strumming came out awkward, the notes clashing in a dissonant tangle. Jinhee winced and paused the video, muttering under her breath, "I could've sworn it was supposed to sound better than this."

The door creaked open behind her, and a familiar voice filled the room, laced with a touch of amusement. "You're missing the rhythm."

Startled, Jinhee glanced over her shoulder to see Minwoo leaning casually against the doorframe, his usual confident smile tugging at his lips. "Oh," she said, straightening up. "Hey! Long time no see."

"Yeah, it's been a while," Minwoo replied, stepping into the room. His gaze fell on the guitar in her hands, and his smile shifted into something sly. "New guitar?"

Jinhee glanced at it briefly, running her fingers over the polished wood. "Yeah. Got it just recently, I guess."

Minwoo chuckled, closing the distance between them. "Well, it's a nice pick. But judging by what I just heard, you might need a refresher."

Jinhee narrowed her eyes playfully. "It's not that bad. I'm just... warming up."

"Right," Minwoo teased, pulling a chair closer and sitting down beside her. "Show me what you've got, then. Play the song."

Jinhee hesitated, feeling the weight of his gaze. She strummed the first few chords, trying to block out the slight edge of nervousness creeping in.

He raised an eyebrow, amused. "Didn't I teach you better than this? Come on, Jinhee, your posture's all wrong." He stood up from the chair, his smirk still in place. "Sit properly. Let me show you."

Before she could respond, Minwoo was already moving closer. He knelt beside her, his hands hovering over hers as if waiting for permission. Jinhee stiffened slightly but gave him a small nod, allowing him to guide her.

"Relax your shoulders," he said, his voice lower now. He adjusted the angle of her wrist gently, his fingers brushing against hers. "You're holding the neck too tight. You need to loosen up a bit or you'll never get a clean sound."

Jinhee swallowed, her focus divided between his instructions and the proximity. "Like this?" she asked, shifting her grip as he'd suggested.

Minwoo leaned in, his face close enough that she could feel his breath. "Almost," he murmured, his hand sliding to adjust the angle of the guitar. "See? Now try again."

She strummed the chord, and this time, it rang out more clearly. Minwoo nodded, satisfied. "Much better. You're a quick learner when you actually focus."

Just as Jinhee was about to respond, a voice cut through the room, smooth but tinged with an edge. "Didn't know you were still giving lessons, Minwoo. Thought you retired from the 'generous guy' routine."

Jinhee looked up, startled, to see Jihoon leaning against the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. His gaze flickered between the two of them, his tone casual but pointed.

Minwoo smirked, not missing a beat. "I make exceptions for certain people," he replied, leaning back with an air of nonchalance. "Besides, I didn't want Jinhee's guitar to suffer any more."

Jihoon pushed off the doorway and strolled into the room, his expression calm but his eyes sharp. "Funny. I thought her guitar was doing just fine without you."