Mark, the Professional

Chapter 18 A Master Indeed

It wasn’t a famous song at all. Betty was shocked to hear it played. It wasn’t just a usual tune because it meant a lot to Betty.

It was the song that Betty grew up listening to, the song that her grandma used to sing to her to sleep. Her grandma passed away years ago and since then, she had not heard it anymore. It brought back sweet memories to Betty and it painted a nostalgic image with a feeling of sweetness in the audience.  

When Mark finished playing, Betty gestured at the waiter, whispered a few words to him and then, the waiter hurried up to the stage to speak to Mark.

Soon Mark came down from the stage and walked up to Betty.

“You played really well. I supposed you have practiced many years.” Betty said with a complimentary smile. She was truly impressed by how well Mark played. It wasn’t just his skills, but the way he played. More importantly, she was dying to find out how Mark knew the song.

Mark shook his head and said with a smile, “I haven’t. I only play for fun.”

The smile on Betty’s face turned into a disappointed frown. He’s an arrogant one. She thought. It takes time and consistent practice to get to this level. Surely he’s practiced hard.

Thinking that he had played the most special tune just now, Betty decided to bear with his arrogance. “It’s a beautiful song you played just now. I wonder if the original is a piano piece.” Betty asked tentatively.

“It’s not. It’s the bipa, a Chinese instrument.” Mark said casually. “I heard a local play at a park in China randomly when I visited a few years ago. I found the melody rather unique and remembered it.”

Betty watched Mark closely as she listened. He knows. She thought, surprised. However, she didn’t think that he could remember it just after hearing it once. Perhaps he has planned this. It can’t be a coincidence.

Betty grew cautious. “I see. Can you play the bipa then?” She asked.

“Yes, I can.” Mark nodded. Thanks to his master, Jack Jackson, Mark had the chance to travel around the world and learned all sorts of instruments as well as fighting skills.

“Impressive. It seems like you know a lot of instruments. I wonder which one you are best at.” Betty said with a hint of mockery, thinking that he was just boasting.

“Art is a great way to express one’s thoughts and emotions, so is music. The piano or bipa, or any other instrument, is just a tool. It’s more about how you express yourself rather than what instrument you use.” Mark said casually as he picked up three glasses on the table, placed them upside down, and put the other two on edge of the table. Then, he took a fork and was about to play a tune.

Betty pouted her lips and said, “Come on. This is an old trick. You know what, I will pay you 5000 pounds for the song…” 

Mark didn’t mind Betty’s interruption and started beating the five glasses. On hearing the melody, Betty stopped talking. She realized that it was Pachelbel’s Canon.

“How? How did you do it?” She asked in disbelief and picked up the glasses to check. They were just normal glasses.

Mark shrugged his shoulders. “Just like I said, music to me is a way of self-expression. Instruments are simply tools.”

“And you can really remember a song by just hearing it once?”

Mark nodded.

Betty found it unbelievable. “Alright, I would like to see. Come with me.” She stood up and gesture him to follow him.

Mark smiled and did as she said.

Betty took Mark to a piano shop that was just a few minute's drives away from the café. It was one of her investments. She would visit alone occasionally and compose when she felt inspired. As a real music lover, she considered herself rather talented in music and now that she had encountered possibly a real genius. She was intrigued to find out if he was telling the truth.

They went to Betty’s private music room. Betty sat down at the piano. “Alright, I’m going to play the part of a tune and you will play the same after me. Can you do that?” She looked up at Mark who was standing next to the piano.

“Sure,” Mark said casually.

He’s going to regret it soon. Betty thought. I haven’t met anyone as arrogant as him.

She took a deep breath and elegantly, she placed her hands on the keyboard. Her long and slim fingers moved and pressed delightfully on the keys, producing a tune wonderfully pleasant to one’s ears. Even those that did not understand music could tell that it was a very complicated song to play. One could not imagine remembering it all after just listening to it once, let alone playing it.

It went on for about three minutes. Betty stopped, stood up, and said, “Your turn.”

He’s probably practiced and remembered all those well-known classics. Betty thought and thus she played one of her own songs, one that only she herself knew and no one else had ever heard before.

Mark looked at Betty, smiled and sat down. To Betty’s surprise, he looked peaceful and relaxed. She listened very carefully.

He played every key right, and he played it so easily as if it was his own song.

Betty stared at him. “It’s impossible!” She exclaimed as Mark finished and looked up at her. “You played it perfectly! How did you do it? This is unbelievable.”