Translated by: ShawnSuh Edited by: SootyOwl Juho had never been asked to come up with a t.i.tle for another persons work . What kind of photo does it take to put someone in such misery? Juho wondered . Do you think you can take a look at my photo? Of course . With that, the girl held her camera up and busily tapped its b.u.t.tons in order to search through the pictures stored in it . After a while, she handed the camera to Juho . A frog became visible in the tiny camera screen . A frog? Yep . I took it in spring . Because they were in a botanical garden, looking at the picture of a frog didnt feel out of place . A small, green frog was sitting on a leaf in a rather peculiar pose . It looks funny . Right? The frog was hanging perilously from a stem while its hind legs hung loosely beneath the leaf . It even has that staring-out-into-the-distant-mountains look! Doesnt it remind you of a middle-aged man? It looks like someone whos just given up on life too . In other words, the frog looked rather human-like . With its sad eyes, it seemed like it was looking into the future or reminiscing about its, perhaps regretful, past . While it looked like a child riding on a swing, it also looked like a middle-aged man in desperate need for a smoke . Its posture was quite different from how Juho remembered a frog . If he were to see a frog like that, he, too, would have stopped in his tracks . Are you looking for something funny for your t.i.tle? Like the frogs whimsical pose, perhaps? She denied it without hesitation . No . Then, something sad, maybe? No! Look at the frog . Itd make no sense! Juho nodded quietly at her objection . A sad t.i.tle wouldnt suit the photo . I saw quite a few pictures on your camera when you were flipping through them earlier . What made you decide on that picture in particular? Its kind of a long story . I have plenty of time . No, I mean theres no time . The festival is the day after tomorrow . Thats true . Unlike Juho, who spoke calmly, she didnt bother to hide her anxiety . I know Im not in the position to be rus.h.i.+ng you, but are you struggling because you need something sweet? Should I go get you something? I need information more than sugar, Juho said . Information? Regarding this photo . Im an author, someone who give his story a name . Story? But this is a photo . Stories can be found anywhere, just like how youre the protagonist of your life, Juho said . Does that mean I have all the clues I need to come up with a t.i.tle? Like a protagonist in a novel? she asked while wearing a serious expression . I guess you can say that, Juho affirmed, blinking twice . OK, fine . Ill tell you . What would you like to know? she asked, still looking serious . Anything, really . As long as its relevant to the photo . Her eyes moved busily and then stopped at the frog . I first met this frog this past spring . We met at a park, right around the time when insects were starting to crawl out of their holes . A background of time and s.p.a.ce . Juho listened to her story intently . I was in the middle of club activities . Our club comes out to this park to take pictures, and thats when I met this funny-looking frog . It was destiny . Juho nodded quietly . But I was just watching it since I didnt really feel like taking a picture of it . Yeah? Yeah . I wonder what moved her? Juho wondered . Thats when this grandma appeared . A new character . It was hard to make out her expression because of all the wrinkles on her face . She looked kinda scary with her back bending forward . Uh-huh . So, I moved aside, and the grandma just stood in front of the frog… The garden was quite warm throughout the year, regardless of the season . Her camera was exactly the same way . It contained her memory of the day when she met the frog . . and smiled brightly, enough to straighten her wrinkly face, she said as she looked into the distance, where the banana tree was standing . Eventually, she started cracking up, holding her sides . Thats when the frog looked really special all of a sudden, so I ended up taking a picture of it . She took a picture . What was once merely funny had become the recipient of affection . It had moved her . I wanted to give her my picture, but I never saw her again . I guess it makes sense considering how big the park is . When I first heard the news about the exhibition, I remembered her immediately . Anybody can come to the school festival, so I thought the grandma might be there, looking at my photo with that same bright smile . But, Im pretty sure she wont though, haha . Despite the fact that the elderly rarely visited the school festival, Juho added in order to encourage her, Who knows? She might come if she has a grandson or a granddaughter . You think so? Im sure she will . With that, Juho returned to thinking about the t.i.tle . What would be an appropriate name for that frog? Is it right for me to give someone elses work a name? Do you have anything? Im sure youve been thinking about this . I do have a few . What are they? She was hesitant to share them . Maybe she didnt really want to say them out loud . Theyre all kind of lame . It might be of help . With a sigh, she calmly listed the names she had come up with thus far . Mr . Frog, Frog Neighbor, Hilarious Frog, Odd Frog, Frog Looking into the Distant Mountains . Frog Playground, Frog Choir, Frog World, Frogs Point of View, Frogs are Cool, Frogs Resting Area, Take a Five with a Frog, Just Frog, Ribbit Ribbit Frog . There were simply too many frogs . She snapped, annoyed at Juhos silence, I told you they were lame! Im at loss for words because of your brilliance, thats all . Juho was sincere . They were not lame by any means . By putting feelings into words, she was simply trying to figure out a focus of her own . How about you? Were you able to think of anything? she asked with her eyes sparkling with antic.i.p.ation . Although Juho had a few ideas, he decided the photo had to be named by the photographer herself . After all, she had been the one to capture a story in the moment . OK, so, I just thought of this… OK, Im listening . I think you got this . What!? Juho calmly explained to the girl as she furrowed her forehead in annoyance . The t.i.tles that youve just listed show that you have talent . Its just that youre focusing on the frog too much . Is that supposed to be a compliment? A sincere one, at that . The displeasure became apparent in her expression . Wouldnt it be more rewarding if you named your own photo? he asked . I would if I could, but… She didnt seem confident . After a brief time pondering, she opened her mouth and said, I really liked the t.i.tle of your book, Grains of Sand . It felt like it wrapped everything up nicely . Really? Yeah . The sand isnt even the protagonist, but it still sounds like a t.i.tle . She looked at Juho intently . I want to name my photo something similar . It wasnt just the t.i.tle . Your story makes readers think . I thought about the lady all day . The story had already ended, but I found myself thinking about her repeatedly . It was almost like Yun Woos books . I know that its a different genre, but I want to take photos like that . Their eyes locked . Thats why I struck up a conversation with you . Juho thought that her dark, yet clear eyes looked like a pair of lenses . So, Ill do my best as long as youre willing to help . Thats more like it, Juho answered with a smile . But you dont have to try so hard . What? Youve already figured it out . I did?? When?? I told you . Grandma, smile, the reason you took and chose that picture . All of these things are outside of a cameras angle . She blinked curiously . Try stepping out of your angle . Out of my angle? Thats right . Out of your photo . Youre distracted by the funny looking frog . Thats not the only thing you meant to capture, right? So, thats why youre struggling to come up with a t.i.tle days before the school festival . But, this is about the frog… Juho brought the camera up to his eyes, and a small rectangular screen came into view . It was a tad too small to fit a tall banana tree . As he pulled away from the camera, he felt light rus.h.i.+ng into his eyes . So, since I dont know much about photography, I have to ask . Is there a rule that says that a picture of a frog has to have frog in its t.i.tle? No . Then, you can do whatever the heck you want, right? She remained quiet for a while . In the meantime, Juho took the camera and took a picture of her sitting in a daze . Unfortunately, he was simply not skilled enough to capture the distraught look on her face . The shutter sound echoed throughout the garden . The girl was immersed in thought, with her hands together . I got it, she said . What is it? The Grandma Smiled, she said with a bright smile . She was filled with confidence that time . Although there was nothing artistic about it, it was simple and honest . It was also a rather decent t.i.tle for a photo . I like that! The carps swam about as the water trickled out of the waterfall into the pond . Tall tropical plants surrounded the place, and the air was warm . The girl might have been looking for the old lady even to that day, but in the end, the person she had found was herself . Honestly, I kind of regretted not taking a picture of the grandma, she said, looking much more relieved . I should have included her in the shot with the frog at least . How come you only took a picture of the frog? Juho asked . I ask myself the same question, she answered . But, I think Im starting to understand why . Which is? She seemed confident, as if she had finally gotten her hands on an answer of her own . It was for the grandma . Because she had thought that she wanted to take a picture of the old lady, she took a picture of the frog instead . If the old lady were to see the photo, shed be able to smile throughout the four seasons . If I took a picture of that grandma, that picture wouldve stayed in my camera, sound asleep . Id be the only person looking at it . As she took the camera from Juhos hands, Juho willingly handed it back to her . Im sure I would have regretted it . You regretted it when you took a picture of the frog . More so than now . Id have regretted it even more . With that, she stood up from the bench . Thanks . Ill make sure to include your name next to the t.i.tle . That wont be necessary . You dont have to be polite . Its a gesture of grat.i.tude . Im not being polite . Im turning down your offer . Juhos muttering didnt reach her ears . OK, then, Im going to go and print out the t.i.tle . Im so glad things worked out! Ill be telling all of my friends about your book . Every single one of them! That, Ill gladly accept . OK, see ya! Juho watched her from behind as she ran vigorously . Would her photo be reunited with the old lady? Destiny, huh . Juho contemplated on whether or not to include that word in a story of his in the near future . --- School festival! Seo Kw.a.n.g exclaimed . He seemed rather excited when Juho ran into him on his way to school . Like he said, the day of the festival had finally come . Somebodys in a good mood today . Youre not planning on doing anything though . Cmon, now . Its a festival! Besides, the fact that we dont have cla.s.s today is enough to put a smile on my face . Thats true . It didnt take much to make those who had been relieved from duty smile . Though it was cold out, there was excitement in the air . Oh! Its Sun Hwa . Seo Kw.a.n.g, she said as she turned around . She was wearing a hefty backpack . She had said that her cla.s.s was having a bazaar, and her bag seemed filled with things to be sold that day . Seems like youve put in quite a bit of work . We were kind of ambitious, so we had to sacrifice our weekends to prepare for the festival . Arent you tired? Its still fun, Sun Hwa said briskly . Wheres Bom? Shes at school . She must have had more preparation left . Man, you guys are NOT messing around . Our cla.s.s is barely doing anything . But, youll get a lot of visitors . Everyone has their own way of having fun . Make sure to stop by our cla.s.s . Help us out a little . So, were just revenue? I cant say that youre not . The three went their separate ways as they reached the first floor .