155 Nothing Lasts Forever 2 (1/2)
Translated by: ShawnSuh
Edited by: SootyOwl
Because both parties were students, the meeting between Jang Mi, Juho and the young fan was set for that weekend, at an awkward time, slightly past lunchtime.
Following the path informed by Jang Mi ahead of time, Juho headed for the meeting spot. After walking through an alleyway in a residential area near the publishing district, he arrived at a cafe hidden halfway behind a raised surface. Although it was located on the ground level, the location made it look out of place.
Juho looked around as he stood in front of the cafe. The interior was shrouded in dim lighting, making it difficult to discern if the place was even open. Then, he quietly pushed the door that seemed much heavier than it was open and was greeted by the potent scent of coffee. There were no guests, and the host was dozing off behind the counter.
'This place is very quiet, even on weekends. Perfect,' he thought and greeted the owner as he locked eyes with her.
”Hello.”
As the owner gave him a nod in response, Juho walked toward the innermost table in the cafe and took a seat. Because Jang Mi had informed him that she would be coming to the cafe with the mysterious student, all Juho had to do was wait patiently. The dimly lit interior was filled with exotic looking chairs and furniture, and the table was decorated colorfully with what seemed like hand-knitted coasters.
First, Juho ordered a cup of coffee. Since meeting Kelley Coin in person, the brown liquid reminded Juho of the author's face. From what he was told, the eccentric author was furious to hear that the translated copy of 'Belongings' was already in print. First, he suspected that the early completion of thetranslation had to have come at the cost of its quality, and second, the word was that the translation was of excellent quality, contrary to what he thought would be subpar at best. He had to have been secretly hoping that the young author would find himself in a difficult situation, despairing after realizing the weight of his work.
After all, he was the infamous Kelley Coin. His ill-tempered nature was very much intact. It was unfortunate that he wouldn't be able to read the translation of his own book, but he would still hear from the reviewers in Korea, including their evaluations. Unlike usual, Juho hoped that he and the author would be on the same page in terms of evaluation. Only then, would he be able to rest assured that Coin wouldn't be making a vengeful trip to Korea.
At that moment, his phone vibrated. It was a text from Jang Mi saying that they were near. After writing back to let her know to take her time, Juho drank his coffee unhurriedly.
Soon, a series of footsteps sounded from outside, and as Juho looked toward the entrance, the door opened just as quietly as when he had first opened it. It was almost too quiet, to the point of it being out of place.
'Would've been nice to put up a piece of paper or something, at least,' Juho thought, and then his eyes locked with a girl's.
”Hello,” she greeted him in a soft voice. There was a small pimple on her pale face.
”Hello.”
As Juho greeted her back, the girl handed something over to Juho in an awkward motion. It was a box of energy drink* from the pharmacy, and he took it without making any comment. Upon taking their seats, Jang Mi and the girl each ordered a cup of tea, and soon, the two cups were placed on the cloth coasters. Sadly, the designs of the coasters didn't quite match the cup.
(Editor's Note: These are not your normal American energy drinks. You can say they are more like vitality drinks, and they usually say that there is some health benefit to them.)
After exchanging brief self-introductions with the girl, who was frozen in place, Juho asked her, ”Aren't you suspicious of whether or not I'm real?”
At that, the girl's eyes began to shake, and the ice broke.
”No,” she said, without trying to hide her flustered expression.
”What makes you so confident?”
”... The editor is here.”
”What if we were on the same side?”
”...”
Then, the girl glanced at Jang Mi, who wore a faint smile on her face without involving herself in the conversation. Finding herself at a loss, the girl clenched her lips tightly.
”So, you trust that I'm real, yet I noticed that you have yet to ask me about the ending of the book. That's why you made the call in the first place, right?” Juho asked.
The entire purpose of her calling Jang Mi had been to deliver the ending of the book to her brother. Then, her shoulders stiffened up, and...
”I apologize,”
… the girl bowed her head and apologized, her hair covering the colorful coaster on the table.
After staring at her quietly, Juho said, ”You should give your grandmother a call.”
”'Scuse me?”
”Call her and let her know that you apologized, and that you were forgiven. She's probably worried sick.”
”...”
”Better sooner than later.”
Then, studying the expressions on Juho's and Jang Mi's faces, she rose from her seat and went out of the cafe. The owner was still dozing off behind the bar in a comfortable position, and as Juho stared at her intently, Jang Mi asked, ”Like you said, it is kind of strange. I thought she would be just an immature girl who was selling the story of her brother just so she could meet you.”
”She doesn't seem all that happy to see me, does she? She doesn't seem all that satisfied either.”
Not only had the girl been polite, but her appearance was tidy and presentable. Although one couldn't judge a person solely on their appearance, she didn't seem like a child who would get a kick out of making prank calls.
”It's strange that she left her grandmother's actual phone number too,” Jang Mi said. She was just as baffled as Juho, and the mystery grew deeper as she met the girl in person. At that, Juho nodded gently in agreement.
”Well, let's find out.”
After the quick phone call, the girl came back into the cafe, and again, the door was as silent as ever.
”I called her,” she updated Juho and Jang Mi.
”What did your grandmother say?”
”She said that you were good people and to never do such a thing again.”
At that, Juho asked the girl, ”Why did you lie?”
As she remained silent, he approached the subject from another angle.
”Up to which point were you lying?”
Yet to understand his intention, the girl answered with a voice that had grown quiter, ”They were all… lies.”
WIthout trying to corner her, Juho took a sip of his coffee and asked calmly, ”You weren't actually at the hospital, were you?”
”No.”
”And what you said to be your parents' number was actually your grandmother's.”
”Yes.”
”What about the time running out?”
”That was a lie.”