Translated by: ShawnSuh
Edited by: SootyOwl
As time passed, the rumor about 'Yun Woo' spread widely. Countless people, regardless of their year, had been coming in and out of Class 7, and Yun Woo was always in the middle of a crowd. Everyone's attention was on her. Even in places where she wasn't physically present, there were always people talking of Yun Woo, and it was no different in Juho's class.
"I told my mom, but she wouldn't believe me. I told her that the entire school knows about it, but she just completely made a fool out of me."
"Really? My sister gave me her book to get it autographed. I got myself a fried chicken dinner out of that deal."
"Lucky! I was going to take a picture of her, but she said no."
"She wouldn't let you take a picture? I didn't turn in my phone so I could take a picture of her later."
"I don't know."
In some sense, that massive level of attention toward Yun Woo was a natural response. Yun Woo was an author who had the record of being both the youngest to win the publishing contest and debut into the literary world. Once an anonymous genius revealed his or her identity, people were bound to want to see them in person, even from afar. That girl was within a reachable proximity of her fans, who were also her fellow students. It made sense that she was receiving so much attention.
The hallway was busier than ever. Juho looked out and saw that Yun Woo was standing in the middle of it. There were enough students to keep them from passing through. Several students started complaining, but nobody was listening to them. That was not good.
"Yun! Please give me an autograph!"
A male student ran out into the hallway in the middle of chatting with his friends next to Juho. Everyone was trying to get an autograph from her. Some even pulled out their fresh, barely read copy of 'The Trace of a Bird.' It was obvious that they hadn't read the book. Those students were trying to get an autograph from the supposed author without having read the book themselves, which was also a common sight and type of student.
"Me too! Me too!"
Juho approached the crowd of people clogging up the hallway.
'How would this impostor handle my demand for an autograph? Would she actually sign it?'
As if she were mocking him, Yun Woo took out a pen from her pocket and asked another student, "Where do you want me to sign?"
"Here, next to the title."
"Name?"
Juho snickered. He must have been underestimating that fake Yun Woo.
"Haha! Oh, my."
He gave up on her shameless attitude. The hallway quickly turned into a signing event for the fans, and Juho started to get worried.
'What if she really believes herself to be the real Yun Woo?'
"Are you waiting for an autograph too?" Seo Kwang came up to him and asked.
Juho shook his head.
"I don't even own a copy. What about you? You own three!"
"Nah, there are just too many people."
To Juho, Seo Kwang wasn't somebody who would miss an opportunity like that for such a simple reason. He stared at his friend for a while and asked, "Are you doubting that she's real?"
Seo Kwang seemed uncomfortable with Juho's bluntness. Like Juho had said, he had doubts. That Yun Woo, now the center of attention, was beautiful and just like how he imagined her to be, but something wasn't right.
"Maybe. Something tells me that it's not her."
"What makes you say that?"
"That's why I'm keeping quiet!"
There was frustration in his tone, and seeing Juho smiling, Seo Kwang asked, "What do you think?"
"Oh! Hey, guys!"
The moment Seo Kwang asked him, the two heard a familiar voice calling for them. When they turned their heads, they saw Bom standing behind them. She had a book in her hand.
"You're getting it signed?" Juho asked with a surprised look, and Bom blinked rapidly from embarrassment.
"It's just that… I really enjoyed the book."
"Eh, there's nothing wrong with that," Juho moved aside as he responded light-heartedly.
However, instead of walking past them, Bom stopped and looked at Juho and Seo Kwang. Then she asked, "Are you guys not getting one?"
"Yeah, I don't own a copy."
"I don't think I can dare get through that crowd."
There was a wall of people in the direction where Seo Kwang had pointed. It was a wall that separated Juho from Yun Woo. Bom hesitated for a moment and soon shook her head.
"I don't think I can either. I'll pass."
"Huh?! Are you sure? I can help if you need it."
"It's OK. I'm not necessarily a fan of the author," Bom said as she embraced her book.
At her response, Seo Kwang approached her with a bright smile, "That's unexpected. I thought you wouldn't be into novels because you only read comic books with Sun Hwa. What are you reading? What genre? What did you read most recently? Do you have a favorite author? Do you prefer foreign novels or Korean novels?"
Bom was getting overwhelmed by the barrage of questions, but soon stammered her way through. Finding the sight amusing, Juho watched them. Because of her timid personality and the fact that she was mostly around Sun Hwa, there were hardly any opportunities to strike a direct conversation with her.
"Uh... I don't read a whole lot, but I do have a few that I really like."
"Aha! So you're the type who reads a book over and over once you get really into it. Hm, that's good too."
Seo Kwang nodded enthusiastically. He and Bom seemed to be talking casually at first, but now, he was pushing for his one-sided book suggestions. Seeing how Bom didn't seem annoyed by it, Juho didn't do anything to stop his friend. Seo Kwang had a tactful personality himself, so he would have stopped if Bom looked uncomfortable.
Juho redirected his attention to Yun Woo. A girl was asking for an autograph.
"Could you write something next to your signature too?"
"You want me to write something?"
"Yeah, like a special note. It would bump up the value of the book."
Yun Woo had been signing with a smile on her face so far, but for the first time, there was a change in her expression. It was subtle, but it was clearly noticeable to him. The girl who requested for a special note began to grow impatient and hurried Yun Woo.
Then, Yun Woo quickly changed her tone and responded angrily, "What's a book to you?!"
"Huh?"
"If the value of a book is determined by the signature of a celebrity author or a special note, then my writing has no purpose. A book is precious on its own."
The hallway grew quieter. There were sounds of people whispering. The girl who made the special request was flushing from being humiliated in front of the crowd, but Yun Woo pushed on, "You're planning on selling this on the internet, aren't you? I'm offended that you're asking for a special favor without even telling me your name."
"What are you talking about?!"
Although the girl was denying it, Yun Woo kept a stern look. As for the crowd who had been watching, it was obvious whose side they were going to take. Nobody wanted to be enemies with a person who had something to offer, especially when there was something to be gained from that person.
Besides, it was already suspicious enough that the girl wasn't giving her name. To Juho, however, there was little to no difference between those two girls.
'A purpose to write... Only a person who actually writes can make that statement convincing.'
Lunch time came, and everyone rushed toward the cafeteria. The sound of rumbling footsteps resounded in the hallway. Usually, Juho and Seo Kwang would head over to the cafeteria after the crowd had passed their classroom, but that day was different. There was a place to be.
Juho stood up from his seat.
Since he had already given Seo Kwang a notice, Seo Kwang went onto the cafeteria along all the other students. He had a skill of getting along with just about anyone. However, outside of a certain group, he didn't mention anything about books. Afterall, a book-loving high-school student was a rare find.
Juho opened the door and walked into Class 7. Just like he had done in the past, Yun Woo was sitting alone in the classroom. It had been the only time of the day that Juho had gotten to be alone.
"Are you alone?"
"Yes," Yun Woo replied gently.
Intentionally, Juho responded with a mean attitude, "Nothing's more important than food."
'No matter how big of a fan.' he thought.
"Why are you here?" she asked.
There was a subtle edge in her tone, and Juho stood next to her seat.
Yun Woo looked up to him and asked again, "Are you here to see me?"
Juho nodded lightly.
"I'm here to meet Yun Woo."
"Why?"
"I have something to give you."
"I guess Yun Woo came before food in your mind."
Juho responded camly, "I already ate, although it was bread instead of rice."
Yun Woo frowned at him and then changed the subject, "So, what is it that you wanted to give me?"
"Actually, I have something to tell you before that."
As if she had been expecting it, she looked intently at him, and Juho continued without hesitation, "I think you should be mindful of giving autographs in the hallway."
"What?" Yun Woo asked. It wasn't what she had expected.
"It makes it difficult for others to pass through if there's a crowd of people blocking the way. I think you need to be mindful of that."
Yun Woo spaced out for a moment, but she soon came to her senses and responded, "I see. You're right. I didn't think about that. I'll be careful from now on."
"Oh, this is something I heard from another person. Is it true that you're close to other famous authors?"
After circulating through the school for a while, the rumors she had started eventually reached him. One of them was that Yun Woo let her fans talk on the phone with other authors.
"Yes, it's true. Why, do you have an author you like?"
"Of course. As ordinary as I am, I'm part of the Literature Club."
"Ah, you're in the Literature Club. So who do you like?"
She appeared confident.
"If I tell you, would you let me talk to the author on the phone?"
"If I know the person. But being an author is an incredibly busy job, so I hope you know that they might not be able to answer."
'Of course,' Juho understood her attitude. It was such a cop out answer.
"That's fine then. I don't want to bother someone when they're busy either."
"Thanks for understanding."
He decided to ask her one more question before handing her what he had brought. He personally wanted to hear her answer while the real Yun Woo came face to face with the impostor. There could be something worth noting, so he listened carefully.
"How are you planning on writing the sequel?"
"A sequel?"
She seemed confused by the seemingly random question about a sequel. The book hadn't even been out that long. As usual, however, she gave an adequate answer, "I'm not sure yet. I do have a few ideas in mind."
"What are they?"
"That's it..."
Juho took the initiative before she had a chance to remain discreet, "I'll keep it a secret. So, just tell me."
"... What?"
She became flustered, unlike with her usual, shamelessly confident attitude. Juho was also caught by surprise by the unexpected reaction.
"You seem flustered."
"Well, it's just that you were asking so intently."
"I was?"
Juho had seen worse. She hadn't been flustered like that back then. Her reaction raised a question in his mind.
'Why is she so flustered? What is she flustered by?'
"Secret?"
"What?"
"The thing I asked you to tell me?"
"..."
While staring at her face, Juho replayed what he had just said to her.
'I'll keep it a secret.'
A secret. The meaning of the word was startling her. It tore down her shamelessness and shook her.
There was a rustling sound in Juho's pocket.
'Aha!'
"Did your friend say the same thing?"
"My friend?"
Juho took the paper out of his pocket.
"The friend who found this transcription."
Once she took the paper from him, her face turned pale.