237 A Bug On His Forehead 5 (2/2)

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”Are you really not gonna take part in any contests?”

Because Juho was occupied with organizing his thoughts, Bom's question registered with him in a delay. Then, looking up, he asked, ”Wha?”

”The essay contest. We barely managed to get an OK from our teachers.”

”Oh, that.”

As juniors, it wasn't easy for the veteran club members to take part in an essay contest.

”If you have the time to compete in some contest, you should be putting that time into studying.”

That was the general opinion of most teachers. However, the juniors in the Literature Club weren't about to let the opportunity to take part in an essay contest slide any time soon, and after persuading their teachers persistently, their teachers finally gave them permission that very day. Unlike in previous years, Seo Kw.a.n.g was also willing to compete in a contest. According to his own words…

”When others tell me not to do something, it makes me wanna do it more.”

On top of that, with the addition of Bo Suk and the twins, the entire Literature Club was in the process of choosing a contest they wanted to compete in.

”I thought you would compete this year, too.”

Of course, that was with the exception of the young author. Then, Juho said with a shrug, ”There's a piece that I wanted to focus on.”

Although Bom was aware of it now, it had come to her as a ma.s.sive shock when she heard it for the first time.

”It's not like you're being chased by somebody. Relax. Take your time,” Bom said, but she was fully aware that Juho wasn't going to stop. Although she was taken aback when she was told that he was working on his next novel, she came to accept it soon after. After knowing him for three years, Juho was more than capable of doing something like that. Regardless of the circ.u.mstances, he wrote relentlessly and restlessly. He was truly an author.

”Are you nervous at all?” he asked Bom, looking at the pamphlet of the contest she had chosen to be part of in her hand.

”Of course, I am. This is a ma.s.sive contest.”

Taking place over the course of two days, it was a rather large contest. The contestants were mostly composed of students who were formally trained or had serious aspirations of becoming writers. Winning an award at that contest would make it significantly easier to get into a university, and because of that, many students competed in it.

”Are you aiming for first place?”

”Of course! Might as well aim for the stars while I'm at it,” Bom said confidently. ”I mean, what are the odds of competing with another person who has been writing with Yun Woo for three years?”

”I guess so.”

Bom stared intently at Juho as he nodded nonchalantly. She had always considered herself lucky. Sitting across from Yun Woo, let alone being part of the same club as Yun Woo. It was like having the luxury of listening to a world-renowned pianist performing right before her eyes on a daily basis. It was extravagant, and Bom would get to have a closer look at the pianist's techniques and their incredible performance in great detail. She would grow and mature just from watching, and that was the kind of presence Yun Woo had.

”I got kind of c.o.c.ky after winning first place last year,” Bom said with a bashful look. ”And that's when you went out and got yourself the Nebula Award.”

It was an award incomparable to that of some nameless essay contest. Knowing how serious he was about literature, Bom had genuinely congratulated the young author.

”I saw the video of Kelley Coin reading your speech after getting the award on your behalf. I gotta say, it was rather strange since you weren't even there, but it was still really cool!”

It was an award that she could only dream of winning. He looked all the more remarkable and admirable in her eyes. She had genuine respect for the young author. On the other hand, she couldn't help but regret not having competed or asking to compete in the same contest as him. Fortunately, it was still not too late. If she were to ask him, even now, he would be willing to grant her request. If she were to ask with enthusiasm, he wouldn't turn her down. However, Bom chose not to. She didn't deny her regret, which also felt like a relief at the same time. She had accepted that she didn't have what it took to become like Yun Woo, nor did she have the desire to become him. That was how she saw herself, and she didn't feel ashamed of it by any means. Being in the Literature Club, she came to learn that there was always room in this world for more writing, even for things written by somebody like her.

Meanwhile, Juho, too, was quietly staring at Bom, reading her thoughts.

”You're not all that different yourself.”

”What do you mean?”

”You won an award, too. The first, and the youngest winner to win first place in the club. I can hardly see the difference.”

”C'mon, now. Of course, there is a difference. I mean, just think about the scale.”

”It might be different in terms of scale, but if you think about it, there are more similarities than differences. They're both judged and evaluated by other people, then come the results, honor, congratulatory messages, which get recorded or exhibited somewhere.”

Just as Bom was about to deny it, Juho beat her to it.

”At the end of the day, an award is an award. What you really need to look at is your writing, not the award. I know for certain that there are readers out there who would prefer your writing over mine.”

At Juho's remark, Bom thought of someone by reflex, her mom. Then, seeing as though she was starting to agree, Juho smiled, making her blush.

”Oh, no. That's not…”

”That's about as encompa.s.sing as an award gets. Our hearts are much broader.”

She had never heard anything like that, and the fact that it was coming out of the mouth of a Nebula winner was even more astounding. Bom found herself getting impressed yet again. 'He really is inherently different. His posture, his heart, his skills. That's how he's able to write like that.'

Bom was well aware of how the world viewed the young author. Mysterious. Alien. Talented beyond comprehension. However, anybody would be able to come to terms with one thing if they met the young author in person: only Yun Woo could write those novels. Those were truly Yun Woo's work. His most recent work-in-progress had to be the same way. Then, she thought to herself once again, 'Might as well aim for the stars while I'm at it.'

”You know what, who cares about the award? I'll just focus on my writing.”

Juho smiled with satisfaction at Bom's confidence.