244 The Double Crown 5 (1/2)

Translated by: ShawnSuh

Edited by: SootyOwl

”Huh. I read that book.”

”It's a good read.”

Juho looked at the screen. The authors who won the award in the short story category were running up to the stage from the dark. There were two winners sharing the prize, and both of them seemed to have paid close attention to their clothes. They were each dressed in a black, one in a suit and the other in a dress. The female author received her trophy first, and with the consent of her co-recipient, she gave her speech. Looking deeply moved, she spoke clearly, facing the audience. Meanwhile, the black trophy in her hand shone from the spotlight. She brought up the messages she had conveyed through her writing, as well as some of the realities she had faced while writing. At that moment, Juho felt a weight on his arm.

”This is it, Mr. Woo.”

Next, was the full-length novel category. There had been five novels that had been nominated for that category, including 'Language of G.o.d.' Meanwhile, feeling Nam Kyung's hand tightly grasping his wrist, Juho felt just how nervous the editor was. It was ice-cold, and the young author was fully aware that his hands were just as cold. Then, afraid that the editor would catch on to his faster-than-usual pulse, Juho move Nam Kyung's hand off his wrist, chuckling.

”Breathe, Mr. Park,” the young author said. Nam Kyung tried to look composed, but to no avail. Despite having taken no part in the book that had been nominated for the award, Nam Kyung was still on the edge of his seat. Having been reading Juho's writing in its rawest form, Nam Kyung was the strictest and most level-headed when it came to editing the young author's novels. Juho reminisced to his failures in his past life. He recalled Nam Kyung trying to talk him out of a decision that would lead him to tragedy, but Juho hadn't listened to him. As a result, their relations.h.i.+p had come to an end.

”Now, I'm getting all nervous,” Susan said, rubbing her hands together. She was enjoying the contagious thrill.

”I think you're gonna get that award, young man,” Susan said with her eyes fixed on the TV. The camera was showing the hall.

”What makes you think that?”

”Because n.o.body there is as riveting as you are, aside from my son,” Susan said, and Juho smiled. Seeing his own writing on the screen was quite the fascinating experience. And now, after causing a ruckus, it was chasing after an award.

”This must be how parents feel, wis.h.i.+ng that their child gets the award,” the young author said.

”Well, ain't that an interesting a.n.a.logy,” Susan said, laughing, but she soon disagreed with him.

”How are they different?”

”How often do parents go up on stage on behalf of their kid? If their kid did well, then the award will go to the kid, and what the parents end up with is the grat.i.tude of their kid, not their award.”

At that, Juho nodded in agreement. Coin had mentioned his mother's name frequently in his speeches at award ceremonies.

”But books don't thank their creators. Books don't get awards because they don't do jack.”

Then, thanking her parents in closing, the female author stepped down from the stage on the screen.

”The way I see it, my son's been getting those awards because he earned them himself.”

”Your love for your son is admirable.”

Laughing heartily at the young author's remark, Susan said, ”So, stay on your toes a little. After all, one gets nervous when one expects something, like your editor next to you.”

At that, Juho looked at Nam Kyung, whose legs were shaking uncontrollably still. He was genuinely hoping that Yun Woo would receive the award. Then, before Juho had time to say anything to him, the editor pointed toward the TV.

”All right, now, that brings us to the full-length category,” the presenter on TV said, holding an envelope that contained the name of the winner within it. The three fixed their eyes on the screen and watched the presenter open the envelope in his hand, slowly taking out the paper within it. Juho clasped his hands together. They were cold and damp, telling him just how nervous he was with expectation for the award.

”C'mon,” a voice murmured from the side. At that moment, the presenter on the screen moved his lips for a split second, announcing the winner. At that, Nam Kyung jumped from his seat, and Susan threw both of her hands in the air. The audience was exploding into applause, its loudness incomparable to that directed toward the previous winner.

”Yun Woo! Congratulations! Oh, right. Also known as Won Yi Young!” the presenter added in a hurry, but it got buried by the applauding audience.

At that moment, as Coin rose from his seat, a handful of the audience members let out a gasp in awe. Everyone there knew that the young author had set a new record in winning the two awards considered to be the highest honor in science fiction.

Then, the camera focused on Coin going up to the stage, wearing a seemingly sulking look on his face. The applause continued even as the presenter handed him the trophy and while Coin took a piece of paper out of his pocket. With both of his hands on his head, Nam Kyung was about to fall over backward, and Susan was getting a good laugh out of him. Meanwhile, Juho couldn't keep the corners of his mouth from turning up. Taking the hand that he had shared Nam Kyung's anxiety with, Juho covered his mouth and locked eyes with Coin on the screen.

”Mr. Woo!” Nam Kyung let out, charging toward the young author. His weight tipped the young author backward. Then, with his back on the floor, the young author burst into laughter at the sight of the ceiling.

---

”Starry night,” the young author let out, looking up at the sky outside. Although it was late, he was wide awake. Juho recalled seeing only two stars in the sky when he'd first asked Coin to be his representative. And now, the sky was full of them, more than he could count. Depending on where he was, the night sky also changed its appearance.

Since news had gotten out that Yun Woo had won the Hugo Award, Juho and Nam Kyung were getting flooded with phone calls. Nam Kyung, in particular, had to answer call after call, all the while trying to calm himself down. Meanwhile, Susan took them to a restaurant in order to celebrate the young author's victory. Although it wasn't exactly close, their food turned out to be worth the drive.

”It's so flat here,” the young author said as he looked around at the scenery. Although he had felt that way when he first arrived at Coin's house, the view was completely different from Manhattan. Unlike downtown, which was filled with skysc.r.a.pers, famous brands, and pedestrians, there was nothing around the house but flatland stretching endlessly into the horizon. Coin's house was built in the middle of nowhere. Juho recalled corn being the only thing he had seen on his car ride there. It was the countryside, and seeing the open field brought peace to the young author's heart. It made sense that Coin had decided to write there.

After a little while, Juho saw a pair of lights approaching from the distance. A car was coming. The house was just about the only thing around in the area, which meant that it was highly likely that the car was headed for the house. Juho stood straight as the car approached the house at a dangerous speed, stopping shortly after.

”Coin,” the young author let out as the driver came out of the car. Coin, too, was looking in Juho's direction, looking as crabby as ever.

”Why aren't you sleeping?”

”Because I can sleep when I want to.”

It didn't sound quite like a conversation between a guest and the person who invited him to the States. Then, as if he was having a similar thought, Coin, too, snickered. After that, taking something out of the car, he threw it at Juho, and the young author caught it by reflex. It was a trophy.

”Did you have to throw it? It would've shattered into pieces if I hadn't caught it.”

”That's a shame.”

Long and shaped like a rocket, the trophy had some weight to it. After feeling it and tapping on it, he asked his representative, ”Aren't you gonna congratulate me?”

”No.”

Of course.

”All right. I still have a ways to go until I get congratulations from Kelley Coin.”

”You should be showing off.”

”That's not necessary for a person who actually has something to show off.”

”Why? Because you're Yun Woo?”

”Well, you're not wrong.”

Then, after turning off the engine, Coin approached the young author.