388 The Crow’s Whereabouts 1 (2/2)
Juho looked toward her, wondering if she had the same concerns. However, he chose not to ask.
”I just feel so distracted lately. I want to focus on writing, but I just can't seem to make it happen,” Juho said.
”That happens. It would be nice if you had someone who inspired you,” Yun Seo replied.
”Tell me about it.”
”What if you take a few months off from it? You like to travel, don't you?”
”That's not a terrible idea.”
At that moment, the faint sound of a bird came from the distance. Although it was barely audible because of the cicadas, it definitely sounded like a bird to Juho.
”Did you hear that?” Juho asked.
”Hear what?”
”... Nevermind. Maybe I'm hearing things.”
”You could stay the night if you're tired.”
Then, Juho laughed out loud.
”Do you think you'd die in peace knowing that you're leaving a book unfinished?” Juho asked.
”No,” Yun Seo replied, sounding more confident than ever. ”But it did take a load off of me when I read what you did with Wol's story.”
”Why is that?”
”The idea of having another person finish my story on my behalf isn't offensive to me.”
After a brief pause, Juho said, ”I don't know if I feel the same way, Mrs. Baek.”
”And that's perfectly fine.”
”I'd do everything I could to make sure that I finish what I started before I died.”
As Yun Seo nodded quietly, a warm breeze blew into the room.
”I used to think that way before I started teaching. I thought I would never change.”
”Something tells me that the day I can understand that will never come,” Juho said. He had no intention of teaching anybody. At that moment, a series of knocks came from the front door, followed by the whimpers of the dogs living on the hill.
”I'm not expecting any guests,” Yun Seo said, tilting her head.
”I'll go check,” Juho replied as he rose from his seat. The knocking didn't stop even as he was walking toward the front door.
”Coming.”
As Juho opened the door, the sound of the outside world became vivid.
”Do I know you?” Juho asked as he saw the young man at the door, who was dark-skinned and dressed in ragged clothes.
”Yun Woo??” the man let out, his mouth agape, which made him look silly.
”Can I help you?”
”Uh… Right. Um....”
The man moved his lips desperately in order to fight the stutter and get the words out of his mouth.
”Is this Mrs. Baek's residence?”
”Yes, it is.”
Seeing how nervous the man was, it was clear that the man had shown up without prior notice. At that moment, the man shouted from the top of his lungs out of nowhere, ”I… I wanted to be taught by her!”
”She's not taking pupils anymore.”
”I know, but I just couldn't give up! I didn't know what to do with myself because I was so upset!”
”Upset?” Juho asked, furrowing his brow in confusion. At that moment...
”Come in,” Yun Seo said from behind him. Juho looked toward her with a concerned look. However, to his surprise, she was smiling while nodding at him to say that it was OK. At the sight of Yun Seo, the dark-skinned man took a deep breath.
”Where are you from?”
”Uh… I… found a place in the area nearby. If you're asking where I'm from…”
”Well, come on in for now.”
As Juho stepped aside to let the man through, the man bowed and shouted, ”Thank you, Mrs. Baek!”
The bark of a dog came from the distance along with a breeze, followed by a whiff of sweat. Seeing that the man was drenched in sweat, Yun Seo brought out a cup of cold water. Staring at his back, which was soaking wet from the sweat, Juho said, ”Well, I'm gonna get going.”
”Already?”
Then, as Juho tried to tactfully remove himself from the situation, Yun Seo narrowed her eyes and asked, ”You haven't even finished your tea yet. Besides, you haven't visited in such a long time… I'd be sad to see you leave so soon.”
”But you have a guest.”
”I insist,” she said emphatically. Although Juho wasn't sure about her intentions, saying no was clearly not an option. In the end, scratching his nose, Juho sat back down. Meanwhile, the man, frozen like a statue in his seat in the living room, kept glancing over in their direction. He was quite easy to read.
”I didn't think that you'd actually let me in. This is such an honor, Mrs. Baek.”
”You won't mind if I ask you to get comfortable, will you?”
”I… Yes, ma'am!”
'Maybe I can stick around for just a little longer,” Juho thought to himself.
”Now, let's hear your story.”
After hesitating for a little while, the man started talking timidly, as if aware that his story wasn't exactly the most relatable. However, he sounded genuine.
”I was bothered by the fact that there were authors who learned from you before me… I couldn't stand knowing that I missed out on the opportunity just because I was born a tad too late.”
”What!” Juho let out, chuckling. The man was clearly upset at the rest of the world.
”Seems like there are a lot of things about this world that upset you.”
”Yes. Yes, there are.”
”I can kind of see why you write.”
”Is it obvious?” the man asked with a serious look on his face. Studying him, Juho became curious as to what kind of stories he wrote. There were countless people missing out on countless opportunities solely because they were born too late.
”People fill their heads with should've beens and could've beens, be it being born under a wealthy family, being a gifted athlete, having courage, knowing the future, being a hero… The list goes on. It never ends. The reality, though, is that none of those are opportunities,” Juho said, drinking his tea, adding, ”They're delusions.”
”...”
There was no guarantee that the man would have learned under Yun Seo, even if he were to have been born earlier.
”I know that, but I just couldn't get over myself, which is why I'm here,” the man said, looking down.
Realizing that he might have come across a bit stronger than he had intended, Juho added, ”Of course, that isn't to say your feelings are a bad thing. To an extent, that dissatisfaction is necessary for every author.”
”Really?”
”As long as you can keep it under control so that it turns into imagination and not delusion,” Juho said, coughing and looking toward Yun Seo, signaling for her to take over. However, she seemed deep in thought.
'Maybe this guy will be her last pupil,' Juho thought to himself. Knowing her personality, Juho was certain that Yun Seo wouldn't send the man away empty-handed. If anything, she would at least send him to learn under Geun Woo.
”You're an aspiring writer, I assume?”
”Yes, ma'am.”
At that, a mischievous smile appeared on Yun Seo's face. When Juho locked eyes with her, she said, ”Have you ever thought about begging to Juho?”