268 That Authors Home 3 (1/2)
Translated by: ShawnSuh
Edited by: SootyOwl
”I was told that they prefer that you're in the middle of moving.”
Juho stopped packing upon hearing the news from Nabi. As he held his phone, which he had had between his face and his shoulder, more securely in his hand, he beheld the untidy state of the room.
”As long as you're OK with it, they want to have photoshoot session while you're still moving. What would you like to do?”
Having a.s.sumed that the interview wouldn't take place until after he had moved into his new place, Juho asked, perplexed, ”Do they have a thing for messy rooms or something?”
Then, chuckling quietly, Nabi explained, ”They like things as is. They're probably going for the dynamic feel of somebody still moving into a place rather than the calm and organized feel of a home that's been settled in already, which would make things a lot less interesting.”
”Interesting logic.”
Just like she had said, the magazine often tended to include photos of untidy desks or unmade beds, while revealing authors' favorite baseball teams, favorite drinks, or the pens or pencils they use to write, providing the opportunity to get a better look at the authors' everyday lives.
”They seem to understand the benefit of visiting authors at their homes,” Nabi said, adding that she was fond of their style. However, Juho couldn't help but feel hesitant. Seeing as it was going to be one of the things that would determine how the rest of the world viewed him, this interview was crucial, and Juho felt the need to be really mindful of what he was showing.
”Can I really show them the place? With the boxes and all?” Juho asked.
”Like I said, Mr. Woo, they would prefer that,” Nabi said and added, ”Tell you what, why don't we take the opportunity and do something about the doubters out there once and for all? I think you're just in the right place and time for that.”
Then, in order to rea.s.sure the young author, she told him everything she had heard up to that point. As long as Yun Woo gave the OK, where he lived was hardly an issue.
”The untidiness can give the background some character, Mr. Woo. From what I've heard, they've interviewed authors in rooms that looked borderline like garbage dumps. I was told that they want something original, and they also asked me to ask for your forgiveness for interviewing you when you're in the middle of moving.”
Hearing Nabi's explanation, it occurred to Juho that not all authors lived in neat and organized rooms, and the coffee stains in Coin's room were a good example of that. While the authors revealed themselves, they took photos of them and their living s.p.a.ces. Then, after some contemplation, Juho made up his mind, ”All right. Let's do it.”
At that, with a more cheerful voice, Nabi gave him a brief explanation about how things would progress from then on.
”You just gotta act according to the plan. That's all you gotta do. By the way, is everything going OK with the move?” she asked, and at the sight of the books and ma.n.u.scripts scattered about the floor, Juho hesitated and said, ”Uh… It's going all right, I suppose.”
”You're not getting sick or anything, are you?”
”So far, so good.”
”You're not gonna be under the weather during the interview, right?” she asked. Although she sounded playful, there was a subtle warning behind her question, made to remind the young author to take care of himself until the interview.
”No, I'll take good care of myself,” Juho said, and after hanging up, Juho decided to follow Nabi's advice and take a short break, slowly rolling his stiff wrists. Then, he rose from his seat and picked up his sungla.s.ses. 'I'm goin' for a walk.'
---
It wasn't until he arrived at the park that Juho took his hat and sungla.s.ses off, which often got in the way of his view. There was n.o.body around. n.o.body who would shout his name when they saw him. Although there had been a handful of people who'd given him suspicious looks, Juho hadn't minded it all that much. As long as he didn't say it himself, there was no chance that people would catch him, and because of that, he was able to arrive at the park more easily than he had antic.i.p.ated.
As he walked into the botanical garden, he was greeted by the warm, damp air that he was well acquainted with by that point. Further into the garden, was a tree that looked a lot like a banana tree, and even further in, was an old door that was rusting from the humidity in the air. Because the leaves were covering the boundary between the doorpost and the wall, the door was difficult to spot, and the door handle was rusty and discolored, enough to make anyone hesitant to touch it. However, in reality, it was just a plain ol' door handle that left no trace on the hand whatsoever.
”Why, if it isn't our beloved writer.”
As Juho stepped in, an unexpected visitor greeted him. It was the custodian, who had explained the history and purpose of the room when the young author had first discovered it. He had described the s.p.a.ce as abandoned, although there were no signs of it being off limits. With that, the young author walked to where the custodian was sitting. Like Juho, he was wearing a hat. He also had a cup of Job's Tears tea in his hand.
”Long time no see.”
”Our schedules are different.”
It was rare for custodians to be in a resting area at that hour, and unlike Juho, most of them either had breakfast before work or a cup of tea during or after work.
”You have no idea of how shocked I was when I saw you on TV.”
From his response when Juho had first walked in, the custodian seemed to know about Juho's ident.i.ty.
”Would you like an autograph?” Juho asked as he put his sungla.s.ses down, and the custodian burst out into hearty laughter. After buying himself a cup of tea from the vending machine, the young author sat across from him. On a shelf that had probably been filled with works of pottery once, were various tools for people, and all that being behind a custodian made for a different sight.
”I saw you in a different light when I found out that you are an author.”
”Really?” Juho asked, holding the warm paper cup with both of his hands, while the custodian fidgeted with his. There was something about him that was more awkward than usual.
”So, there's something I've been wanting to know.”
Perhaps, he wasn't used to seeing Juho as Yun Woo just yet.
”What is it?” Juho asked, pretending not to show the bitterness on his face. ”Ask away,” he said.
As soon as the young author gave the custodian permission to ask, the custodian lowered his head, covered his mouth with one hand, and whispered to him, ”You had meetings here, didn't you?”
”... I'm sorry?”