350 Bet On Coin And Yun Woo 5 (1/2)
Translated by: ShawnSuh
Edited by: SootyOwl
”Don't waste my time asking questions like that,” Coin said emphatically and with dazzling confidence. The host hesitated at the author's blatant refusal to answer the question. Then, a couple of audience members beat the host to it, yelling, ”C'mon!”
”Tell us!” a lady shouted from the audience. After which, a man who appeared to be her friend covered her mouth in a hurry. Although the host calmed them down with a smile, Coin remained completely unfazed.
”n.o.body can force me to answer a question. This is not a court.”
At that, Juho covered his mouth, resisting a chuckle. Although it was unfortunate that he wouldn't find out which one of his books Coin liked the most, Coin was also staying true to himself in the way he had answered.
”I don't have a favorite. He still has a ways to go until I can even consider which one of his books I like the most.”
”Is it because you like them all? Is that why you're having trouble deciding?”
”I never said that.”
While the host was looking at Coin, trying to think of an angle from which to approach him, Coin said added, ”But...”
”But?”
”... Since we're talking about our debut t.i.tles, I do have something to say in that regard.”
”What would that be?” Juho asked, puzzled.
”Whether people love it or hate it, authors tend to have certain elements that they carry from the very beginning of their writing careers. It doesn't matter what they do to cover it up. They're bound to show somehow. For example, I've written about lies a number of times, and it shows up in other stories that are about completely different things because it has found a way to infuse itself in other areas in my writing. But 'Trace of a Bird' is… How should I put it? It's unique.”
”What do you mean by that?” the host interjected. At which point, Coin looked at him as though he was asking an obvious question.
”You people rave about it all the time. Split personality this and that.”
People were referring to the different writing styles Juho possessed. However, Coin had noticed the difference long before everyone else. After some contemplation, an irritated look appeared on Coin's face.
”Does that mean you have questions for Yun Woo? From one author to another?”
”Not necessarily.”
”Then what?”
”Why don't we move on?”
To Juho, 'Trace of a Bird' was the connecting piece between his past and present. Whether when he had been homeless in the past or after remaining an author in the present, the book had kept its place. Juho looked at Coin, who was growing increasingly irritable. Soon, the interview moved on to another subject.
”Frankly, I can't really remember what things were like before Yun Woo anymore. That's how big of a presence he is in the literary world. You two are known for being prolific writers, but you, Mr. Woo, just came back from a two-year hiatus.”
”That's true.”
”I heard you kept writing even after you were discharged from the military?”
”Yes, I did,” Juho said.
”And I also heard that you were planning the sequel for quite some time?”
”I wouldn't go as far as calling it planning, but I did have a vague image in mind.”
”So, this was probably about six years ago.”
”Yes. I didn't actually start writing until I got to Germany.”
”You mean at the bookfair, right? Kelley was on the stage back then.”
”What happened back then was completely unexpected.”
”You signed a contract with Zara Jenkins, right? I remember jumping up and down when I found out that 'Language of G.o.d' was getting made into a movie. As far as I'm aware, you were pretty firm about not doing another film adaptation. What made you want to work with Zara Jenkins?”
At that, Juho answered according to the script. As the audience listened to him intently and with interest, the screen on the set showed the host dressed like one of the characters from the movie.
”So, I heard that the three of you got together at one point? As in Kelley, you, and Zara?” the host asked Coin, who proceeded to share a few things that had occurred while they had been in Germany.
”When Yun Woo was about to fly back to Korea, I ended up having to send him off somehow. At the same time, there was Jenkins, who was hungover like no other, throwing up left and right. Probably, at least six times on our way to the airport.”
”Do you think you could tell us more about that? Did you all drink together?”
”No, he drank on his own. I didn't wanna throw up in the plane. If I were to let everyone in on a secret, Mr. Jenkins has a peculiar drinking habit of wanting to squeeze himself into tight s.p.a.ces when drunk. Of course, that day wasn't any different, and he seemed to be really fond of the restroom that day. I remember being exhausted from trying to pull him out of there all day.”
Then, the host dug deeper into their time in Germany, from pubs to restaurants, bookstores, libraries, museums, and other tourist attractions. When the conversation started to feel like it was dragging on, the host asked, ”So, Kelley, how was it spending two years of your life without Yun Woo?”
To which, Coin replied without hesitation, ”It was very good.”
”Did it give you some room to breathe?”
”The world was my oyster back then, but that isn't to say that his absence affected my life in any way. Yun Woo didn't have any impact on my life.”
”But there had to be some… OK, I hear you. You wrote a book back then that did really well. I believe it was nonfiction? How did that make you feel, Mr. Woo? Did Coin's success make you anxious at all?”
After some contemplation, Juho replied, ”A little bit, but he was in a completely different situation from mine, and I wasn't exactly slacking off either. I did like that there were a lot of books around to read.”
”Great! Now, let's change things up a little, shall we?” the host said with a satisfied look on his face. Then, with a silly look on his face, he shoved himself under the desk and pulled out a box.
”In here, we have different topics that have been chosen by our amazing audience. But, I have to warn you, you might end up with something that makes you uncomfortable. Say, first love.”
Then, looking toward Juho, the host asked, ”Do you have a girlfriend at the moment, Mr. Woo?”
”No, I don't.”
”Why not? I'm sure there are plenty of ladies out there who want to date you. So, do you think you can let us in your private life a little bit?”
At that, Juho groaned and shook his head, saying, ”I don't know what you're thinking, but I'm pretty sure that it'll look nothing like the picture you have in mind.”
”How are they different?”
As Juho zipped his mouth, the host asked no further. Nabi was standing behind the cameras with her arms crossed and an intimidating look on her face.