Wearing a mask, on the stage called home

The author begins by describing the profound quiet experienced in a small studio apartment in Seoul, a stark contrast to the bustling environment of their childhood home where multiple generations lived together. This initial perception of the studio as a "heaven of quiet" was shattered by a realization that they were actively choosing to ignore the sounds emanating from neighboring apartments.

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I thought that in the studio apartment in Seoul, my room was a heaven of quiet. But the walls were like paper, and all sorts of sounds came in. But in a moderate disregard and respect, I learned 'peace.'

Initially, the author, a literature student fascinated by mythology, interpreted the sounds of the city as a "heavenly bird song" heard in a dream. However, upon waking, they realized the sound was an alarm from a Samsung Galaxy S3, playing "Walk in the Forest." This experience led to a reflection on how the mind can process or ignore sounds, especially in a space perceived as quiet.

Growing up in a household filled with the sounds of babies crying, elders starting their day early, and the general cacophony of a close-knit neighborhood, the author learned to exist within a constant hum of noise. The quiet of the Seoul studio, therefore, felt like a sanctuary. Yet, after living there for two years, the author heard groans from a neighboring apartment, which sounded familiar, leading to a startling realization.

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I realized that I was not objectively living in a quiet room. Simply put, I could turn off the sounds coming into this room, as if unplugging a virtual speaker. I did so without even knowing I was doing it.

The author understood that the perceived quiet was not objective but a result of their own conscious or subconscious decision to tune out the sounds of others. They realized they had been "ignoring" the sounds of music, loud voices, and even mundane noises like spoons clinking or rice cookers finishing, treating them as if they were not happening. This led to a deeper introspection about how one can exist in proximity to others without truly acknowledging their presence or lives, questioning the nature of connection and shared existence.

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I had to admit it. I was considering it as 'not having to hear.' Their lives were not connected to my life or included in it.