217 The Password Is 0108 7 (1/2)
Translated by: ShawnSuh
Edited by: SootyOwl
'Grains of Sand' was a short story. Though transcription is a time-consuming process that involves copying a book down to its last punctuation, the amount of work was manageable, considering that it was a short story. After setting a transcribing goal for himself for the day, Gong Pal wrote away deep in concentration just as the story was nearing its end. Reading each and every sentence thoroughly and attentively, he wrote with his hands what he had taken into his head, acquainting himself even more with the sentences written by the author.
Transcribing a book written by a junior who went to his school was a fascinating experience. Although Gong Pal couldn't put his finger on it, he was getting the impression that Juho was quite the writer, capable of writing stories that Gong Pal wouldn't be able to write even if he were to be born again. The more he transcribed and understood the depth of the short story, the more it dawned on the freshman just how incredibly talented Juho was. It was easy to picture him being an author.
”Ah, shoot!”
Then, Gong Pal found himself in need of an eraser, which he had lent to his twin sister.
”Yo! Number one!” he called out to her, but there was no answer no matter how many more times he repeated himself. In the end, Gong Pal walked out of his room irritated. When he went into his sister's room, she was lost in her transcription of Yun Woo's book.”
”Hey, I need that back.”
”Take it,” Gong Il said in a dry and indifferent tone, and Gong Pal retrieved his eraser from her.
Upon seeing his sister working busily, a question arose in his mind: 'Who would be a better writer? Juho or Yun Woo?' Considering the fame, popularity and his recent candidacy for a renowned literary award, it had to be Yun Woo. Besides, he was a professional author, while Juho was no more than a member of the Literature Club at some high school. Comparing the two was nothing short of mockery. Yet, Gong Pal couldn't help himself. 'Grains of Sand' was that great a piece of writing, so much so that it enabled its readers to imagine the junior rising above Yun Woo.
”How's the book?”
”Good.”
”How good?”
”Very.”
”Better than Juho's?”
”...” Without replying, Gong Il stopped writing, looked up, and started to contemplate the question with all seriousness. She, too, was a reader with a deep affection for 'Grains of Sand.'
”Well, what do you think?” in the end, rather than answer, what came out of her mouth was a question.
”... Juho's.”
… and before he could help himself, Gong Pal blurted Juho's name, admitting that a junior in some random Literature Club was a better writer than Yun Woo, the world-renowned author. Then, without saying much else, her nearly-identical twin murmured, ”I think I wanna see him write.”
As usual, they were thinking the same thing.
”When do you think he'll write?” she asked. Unfortunately, that was a question that only the author would know the answer to, and the author was elsewhere.
”Should we ask him tomorrow?” she suggested.
”OK. You ask.”
”... No, you ask.”
”Why me?”
”You're the one who wants to see him write. Besides, you're the one transcribing 'Grains of Sand.'”
”But you're number one. You ask him first.”
”What's the point in setting an order when we're asking a question we'll probably never ask again anyway? You do it.”
”No, you do it.”
In the end, the two only agreed to an order the following day.
---
Juho had stayed back reading while waiting for club activities. As Seo Kw.a.n.g's recommendations tended to be, it was a fun read. The book was closer to being a collection of reports written by a psychologist based on actual experiences rather than a novel. It outlined various patients whose cases had mostly to do with dreams. From people suffering from insomnia or nightmares to people having prophetic dreams or out-of-body experiences, there was a wide array of cases that were either realistic or hard to believe.
”h.e.l.lo,” the twins greeted Juho. When he looked up, the two nearly-identical faces came into view.
”Hey.”
”Where's everyone else?”
”They went to the cafeteria. Sun Hwa's on cleaning rotation today, so she's not here yet.”
Then, looking at the backpack next to him, the twins nodded.
”... What are you reading, there?” Gong Pal asked, and Juho showed the cover of the book he was reading to him willingly.
”Seo Kw.a.n.g's recommendation.”
Upon seeing the t.i.tle, the twins shook their heads, unfamiliar with the book, and Juho went back to reading. Then, rustling around briefly, they took their writing tools and transcription notebooks out of their backpacks. Nevertheless, the science room was quiet, and the faint sounds in the distance only accentuated the silence. Locking eyes with each other, Gong Il and Gong Pal began to nudge each other's arms.
”What's the matter?” Juho asked, noticing them quarreling silently.
As the junior looked intently at the twins who seemed like they had something to say, Gong Il spoke up, ”So, are you planning to write anytime soon?”
”Write?”
”Yeah, uh… I saw everyone else working on something.”
At that, after staring briefly at them, Juho said, ”I don't really have a reason to.”
”What was that?”
”It's just I haven't had a whole lot of time to read lately because I've been so occupied with writing. So, I got Mr. Moon's permission to read for a little while. Besides, reading can be good practice to help you become a better writer.”
At that, the twins caught on to Juho immediately and asked, ”So, when are you planning to start writing again?”
”I write every day.”
”Every day?”
”Yep. Even if I don't have any good ideas, I write at least five pages before I go to bed.”
”... That's quite a bit.”
”If you wanna be a better writer, then you gotta write a lot,” Juho said, stating the obvious.
Then, as he was about to direct his attention back to his book, 'Kong Pat' interjected, ”Then, when are you planning to write during club activities again?”