370 An Elusive Moon 1 (1/2)
Translated by: ShawnSuh
Edited by: SootyOwl
Juho tried to put himself in a rational mindset, which proved to be harder than usual. After looking up at the painting above his head, he looked back down and let out a quick sigh.
In the silent room, the young author was fighting against the sound of the rain and the thunder roaring constantly. The image of Hyun Do writing kept lingering before his eyes, and within that was the crow.
Firmly believing that there would be peace in their life without the crow, the narrator fought the bird to the death. To them, the crow was the very essence of evil in the world they lived in.
Juho had been wrestling with what to do about the crow, debating about who should win the battle. Now that he had a better idea of the direction he wanted to take, Juho typed away on the keyboard of his laptop unhesitantly. As the sentences appeared on the screen, the pent up emotions within him also flowed out through his hands, being digested.
In the end, the crow met its demise in the hands of the narrator. At that moment, the narrator asked themselves if the death of the crow was what they had really wanted all along. However, it was simply too late for self-reflection by that point.
”The dead never return.”
Not only was that the truth, but it was also the law of nature. Being just and compliant with that law were the first steps for obtaining peace. Excited, Juho started to breathe faster, and his heart thumped. Anxious to put the stories welling up within him into writing, Juho bit down on his lower lip. The sounds from the keyboard grew louder and louder and in the end, as Juho rushed to wrap up the story.
”That's done… for now.”
Feeling satisfied, Juho leaned back on his chair. Then, upon checking the time, he rose from his seat in a hurry. It was well past lunchtime. Although it wouldn't have been a problem if he had been at his apartment, the young author was at Hyun Do's residence. When he rushed downstairs, he saw Hyun Do calmly drinking his tea. From the looks of it, it seemed like he had already eaten. Rubbing the back of his neck, Juho greeted Hyun Do, ”Good afternoon.”
”You're late.”
Juho chuckled awkwardly. However, with a nonchalant look on his face, Hyun Do asked, ”Do you always write like that?”
'Did he see me writing?' Juho wondered.
”Like that as in…?”
”Out of impulse.”
Then, Juho remembered he had given into his emotions just a moment ago.
”If I had been you, I wouldn't have lasted.”
”I doubt it.”
”That's what it's like to let your emotions take over. It's impossible to control.”
”I'm not sure if that's how I'd put it.”
”Would you bring me your manuscript?”
Then, Juho hesitated and said, ”On second thought, maybe you were right, Mr. Lim.”
”No? Do you not want to?”
Clenching his lips, Juho turned around. Then, he stopped halfway up the stairs and asked, ”When were you in my room?”
Instead of giving him an answer, Hyun Do lightly pat the young author on the shoulder. He had to have come up to tell Juho that lunch had been ready. Then, after going up to his room, Juho brought his laptop downstairs.
”Have some tea while I read,” Hyun Do said.
Even as he was boiling the water, Juho couldn't help but look toward Hyun Do, who was meticulously reading every single sentence. Awestruck, Juho found himself at a loss. Despite having stayed with Hyun Do for quite some time, he simply couldn't get used to that moment.
”Seems like you've forced your feelings into your words.”
”I'm sorry?”
”It's overflowing.”
Juho rubbed his eyebrows. After a brief moment of silence, Hyun Do asked, ”Are you the protagonist here?”
Juho couldn't answer readily. Lowering his head slightly, he said, ”I'm not exactly the violent type.”
”Then, are you the crow?”
”I'm not that grouchy either.”
Hyun Do chuckled quietly at the young author's response. He was well aware that Juho was telling the truth.
”Seems to me like the two characters share the same root. Am I right?”
Otherwise, Juho wouldn't have felt so exposed by Hyun Do's question. In the end, resisting the urge to sigh, Juho admitted, ”Yes, Mr. Lim.”
”We all have something that we wish weren't true.”
Then, Hyun Do's eyes skimmed across the sentences on the screen of Juho's laptop. Seeing as though he was moving his hands, Hyun Do seemed to be at the end of the story.
”The dead never return.”
”Do you think the narrator was foolish?”
”I don't think they were wise, that's for certain.”
”But, they become the hero of the village for driving out the crow.”
”That is true,” Hyun Do replied. Then, putting the laptop aside, he added, ”Though, it makes me wonder if all that pain makes it worth it.”
”But the narrator hates the crow, just like everyone else in the village,” Juho said.
Brushing his hair up, Hyun Do replied, ”That's what makes this such an interesting story, don't you think?”
At that unexpected response, Juho found himself at a loss for words, the corner of his mouth twitching in response.
”Well done,” Hyun Do said. As he rose from the seat unhurriedly, Juho asked by reflex, ”Are you gonna write, Mr. Lim?”
”Yes,” Hyun Do replied calmly. There was no longer a need to write at night. Juho followed Hyun Do to his writing space.
”Did you have something to say?” Hyun Do asked, raising his eyebrow. After a brief pause and a deep breath, the young author replied, ”I'd like to read it.”
”Read what?” Hyun Do asked knowingly.