390 The Crow’s Whereabouts 3 (2/2)
From the sound of it, the two friends seemed well. When Juho asked them about their current projects, Seo Joong said, ”You know, young authors these days really know how to write. They have so much vigor and energy. It's nice.”
There was a sense of pride in his voice, as if he wasn't about to let the young bloods in the literary world surpass him. Dong Gil remained silent in that regard.
”That reminds me, you took some time away from writing, right, Dong Gil? I remember Seo Joong writing all these really strong books at the time.”
”Ah. Good times,” Dong Gil said. He preferred to infuse his personal experience into his writing. Because of that, he tended to emphasize how tangible an experience was and how much of it he was getting. During his eight-year hiatus, Dong Gil had traveled to various countries. At that time, Seo Joong had taken the opportunity to write stories that were vivid and full of life on a regular basis.
”I really showed those people who used to say my ups and downs were too drastic.”
Seo Joong was well aware of his reputation. At one point, his clubmates had even placed bets on how consistent the author's book releases would be. As Seo Joong thought back to the amount of money he had made during that time, Dong Gil said quietly, ”Dae Soo wanted to know when you were free.”
”Is she thinking about publishing another magazine?” Juho asked.
”It's about that time, don't you think? The last issue was five years ago.”
”I can't believe it's still going. I remember asking myself how long that would last.”
”Eh… I'm sure it'll stop when one of us drops dead,” Seo Joong said vigorously.
”I don't know… I have a deadline to meet. I'll do my best to make time, though,” Juho said, rubbing the back of his neck.
”Everyone else is busy too, so I understand if you can't. In any case, I'm sure we'll be able to release it by the end of this year. There's still time.”
”We need to go out for a meal one of these days,” Juho said.
”You're right.”
At that moment…
”That must be nice.”
… Crow interjected, and everyone fixed their eyes on the aspiring writer, which caught him by surprise.
”Well, I was just thinking that I wanted to be there too.”
”What makes you so special?” Seo Joong asked.
However, Crow didn't let up, saying, ”I'm sure I'll be able to one of these days, once I become Mr. Woo's pupil.”
”I told you, you don't have what it takes!”
At that, Crow tightened his lips. Locking eyes with him, Juho said calmly, ”I just don't understand you,” and put his cup down forcefully. While the two other authors remained silent, Crow was flabbergasted.
”I'm sorry?”
”I don't understand why you're so desperate to learn from me, which is why I can't think of a reason why I should take you in, let alone have a desire to do so.”
”If I were to tell you why, would you accept me as your pupil?”
”Try me.”
Then, Crow gave him an answer as to why he was still around, ”Because you're a genius.”
Unfortunately, it was less than convincing.
”How can I not cling to a genius and ask him to teach me when I see one sitting right in front of my eyes? I read your books growing up, Mr. Woo, and your books always resonated with my heart. They changed me. I wanna be just like you, Mr. Woo. I'm serious.”
”... A genius, huh? Haven't heard that in a while.”
”I doubt that's true. There's no one like you, even among geniuses.”
At that, Juho chuckled, and Crow chuckled along with him. However…
”You know, I still don't think I'll take you in.”
”But why!?” Crow asked in a hurry, realizing that he had blown his chance. ”Was it something I said or did?”
”I don't know,” Juho replied nonchalantly.
”What did I say?”
”Why are you asking me?”
After glancing over at Seo Joong to ask, Crow redirected his attention to Juho, who was already getting ready to leave.
”Please, Mr. Woo. Tell me,” Crow said desperately, rising from his seat.
”Tell you what?”
”Why you're not taking me in and why you can't understand me. Tell me what I must do. I know for a fact that you're not completely uninterested. I'm not stupid,” Crow said, glaring fiercely at Juho.
”I have no interest in teaching whatsoever,” Juho said calmly.
”No. I know for certain that you do.”
”Do you know why people die?” Juho asked, looking out the window and up at the cloudy sky. It seemed like it would rain at any moment.
”Because…”
”There is no reason. They just do.”
”... No, there has to be an answer somewhere...”
Without even bothering to wait for Crow to finish his sentence, Juho said, ”Personally, I don't think it's a bad thing that there is no reason for our death. If there were, then it'd make us wanna think, like death row inmates do: Is my death right or wrong?”
Ignoring the aspiring writer, Juho said goodbye to the two authors, ”I'll be going now.”
”Be safe.”
The two waved at Juho calmly as he left the store. After that, the place became silent again. Going back the way he came, Juho felt something well up from within him, and his palm started to itch.
”Am I upset?” Juho murmured as if sighing. 'I wanna show that Crow what I'm really capable of. I wanna bring that bird to its knees and make it admit that I'm great. A genius? You're gonna have to do better than that. What you should've called me was the Great Storyteller.'
Juho clenched his teeth, making a grinding sound. At that moment, a single drop of water fell from the sky.
”Sir!”
”I thought I told you not to call me that,” Juho said calmly, but coldly. Realizing that, Crow clung on to the author even more. Looking at him, Juho said, ”I have some writing to do.”
”... Very well, then,” Crow said.
Then, just as he was about to walk away, Juho turned around and asked, ”You said you wanted to see me write, right?”
When Juho looked at the aspiring writer, it was clear to him that Crow had been caught off guard by the author's question, which made him look even more like a rookie, something that Juho couldn't stand the sight of.
”Yes. I'm confident that I'll learn something from it,” Crow said confidently.
”Is that so?”
”Of course.”
Unfortunately, there was nothing obvious in this world.
”Why don't we make a bet? I bet that you won't learn a thing.”
”... And if I win?”
At that moment, Juho rubbed his nose. Another drop of water had fallen and landed on it.
”If I win, you give up writing,” Juho said, ignoring Crow's question.