274 That Authors Home 9 (1/2)
Translated by: ShawnSuh
Edited by: SootyOwl
As the interview came to an end, the photographer, who had been taking pictures throughout the interview, approached the young author and asked him to pose in various ways, most involved him sitting naturally. In order to create different scenes, the photographer moved the boxes around or angled them in different ways.
”You seem to be used to doing this, Mr. Woo,” the photographer said.
”Is that right?”
”I don't even have to ask you to loosen up or anything.”
Most people tended to tense up in front of a camera, and when they were stiff, the picture was bound to turn out awkward no matter what clothes they were wearing or where they were. Being aware of that already, Juho was trying to appear as relaxed as possible.
”I've been photographed often,” Juho said playfully, and the photographer chuckled as if he understood where the young author was coming from. From then on. They took tens of more photos around the house. After inspecting through the photos thoroughly, the photographer finally ended the session, and the crew briefly applauded for an unknown reason.
”Would you mind taking one more?” the photographer said as he came into the frame of the camera. As the young author gave him permission to do so, a number of other staff members also pulled into the frame.
”I loved your book, Mr. Woo.”
”I'm a big fan.”
The staff members said in turn, and Juho expressed his grat.i.tude by shaking the hand of each and everyone of them.
”You did great Mr. Woo.”
A voice said in Korean, giving the young author the illusion that he hadn't heard the language in a while. It was coming from Nabi.
”I understand why Mr. Park was so nervous,” she said, and Juho looked at the editor, who was talking to the interviewer in the distance to invite the crew to an after party.
”You think so?”
”Oh, yes. Your answers were putting us on our toes.”
”I don't think I said anything problematic, did I?”
”Not really, aside from that bomb that you dropped knowingly.”
”It's all true though,” Juho said with a shrug.
”Exactly,” Nabi said. People were just starting to view the young author in a positive light. At the end of the day, Yun Woo was also human, an ordinary human rather than an alien or a wonder of the world. The moment one realized that, Yun Woo's accomplishments would s.h.i.+ne all the more.
”That was a great interview, Mr. Woo,” Nabi said with a satisfied smile, and after looking at her face for a brief moment, Juho asked, ”What do you think people will think of me?”
Once the interview was published and distributed throughout the world, Yun Woo fans would be sharing that knowledge, his answers, with the young author. When that happened, what would people think of him?
”Don't worry, Mr. Woo. People will still think of you as an excellent writer. Besides, you shared a lot about the new novel in this interview.”
Although it was coming from a good place, it wasn't exactly the answer Juho was hoping to hear. In other words, her answer could also mean that the young author was yet to have obtained what he wanted. Then, stretching his arms up to the ceiling, Juho asked, ”What should I write about next?”
”Are you thinking about writing another book, Mr. Woo? But we just got done with the interview!” Nabi said, chuckling, and Juho, too, chuckled quietly as he enjoyed the subtle responses from those around him.
---
Upon returning to the States, the filming crew got to work without delay. While organizing the transcription of the interview, they also edited the videos. The photos that would end up in the magazine also needed to be chosen carefully and under strict guidelines, especially the one that would serve as the cover photo of that issue. Meanwhile, by the time the interviewer finished putting together the first portion of the interview, he received a call from an unwelcome individual.
”How was the interview?”
It was his recently wed coworker, who had cried out about the red hat in a fit of alcohol-fueled despair. After receiving his coworker's call, the interviewer went downstairs, to the cafe near the office. Needless to say, the coworker was asking about the recent interview with Yun Woo.
”It was good,” the interviewer said clearly, looking at his coworker, who was in his T-s.h.i.+rt instead of a tuxedo.
”I know you wanted to come along.”
”I was hoping I could take advantage of my connections,” the coworker said.
”It's never that simple.”
Aside from the filming crew and their acquaintances, there were countless other people who wanted to meet the young author. On top of that, an interview was not a spectacle. When the interviewer expressed that, the coworker blurted out irritably, ”Which is exactly why I didn't tag along!”
”And you came to me instead. What is it that you want?”
”... You know what I want,” the coworker said, staring intently at the interviewer without saying a word. At that, the interviewer threw both of his hands in the air. ”I wanted to ask you to arrange a meeting with Yun Woo for me,” the coworker said
”Then, book a flight to Korea.”
”I'm not looking to get lost in a country so far away from home, thank you very much.”
”What were you expecting from me?” the interviewer asked.
”Simple. Show me the transcript of the interview.”
The coworker was quite predictable in his answers. Leaning back on to the backrest of his seat, the interviewer said, ”Then, go to the bookstore. Oh, wait! It's not out yet. I guess you gotta wait til it comes out.”
”C'mon now. We're friends, aren't we?” the coworker said.
”I'll just take a quick peek right here, right now, and you'll get it right back. You won't even have to worry about the thing leaking. C'mon. We're coworkers, for goodness sake! I have no intention of becoming a paparazzo, either. Remember when I gave you some information about Yun Woo's upcoming novel? I even told you about the scandals, from what I remember.”
”That's different. You don't think you're the first person to ask for the transcript, do you?”
”That... I figured as much. I know what kind of situation you're in. But you know what? I have a special edge.”
”And remind me what makes you so special again?” the interviewer asked with a mocking smile.
”I made a promise with Yun Woo.”
Despite having understood the first time, the interviewer asked, ”What promise?”
”That we'd meet again.”
”Well, you got what you asked for. It's been quite a while since Yun Woo revealed himself.”
”That's not what I meant. I said it as an implication that we'd meet in person.”
”I said this once and I'll say it again: book a flight.”
”Like I said, I don't wanna get lost there.”
From then on, the conversation went around in circles, and in the end, the coworker let up.
”All right. Fine. You don't even have to show me the whole thing. Just one page then.”
”If I were you, I'd just wait. I'll send a copy over your direction when it's released.”
”C'mon, even just one question?”
The two were longtime friends, and frankly, showing the transcript wouldn't have caused any issues. The coworker had no reason to leak such important information unless he was prepared to be ostracized by the industry. On top of that, the interviewer had an agreement with the young author. Finding a common theme during an after party was quite normal, and needless to say, there had been talks of the recently-wed coworker. The interviewer recalled expressing concern about this to the young author.
”What if he asks me to show him the transcript?”
”Show him,” Yun Woo had said. The young author was also coming from a place of wanting to see how people would respond to the interview. Then, hiding the fact that he had already made up his mind, the interviewer asked his coworker, ”I don't know, man. You become somewhat of a blabbermouth when you're drunk.”
”I'll quit. Cold-turkey.”