Translated by: ShawnSuh Edited by: SootyOwl Juho replayed what he had just heard in his head: Its not selling . For those who set their triumph on how their book was selling, there was no clearer reason for quitting . Neither Yun Seo or Geun Woo criticized or urged him on . He hadnt done anything wrong . As long as there was a viable alternative, choosing a different path was his freedom . In order to lighten up the atmosphere, Yun Seo said cheerfully, Why dont we have a barbecue tonight? How does pork belly sound? Sounds great, Mrs . Baek! Should I go out and get some? Geun Woo agreed . Please . While the man dropped his head slightly, Juho smiled quietly . Today must be your lucky day, Juho . You get to stuff yourself with pork belly tonight . I must be blessed . Every one of Mrs . Baeks guests is blessed with food . Very true, said Geun Woo, preparing to go out . Juho eyed him to see if he should come along, but Geun Woo waved his hand in denial . Suddenly finding himself with nothing to do, Juho decided to borrow a laptop to work on revising his short story . As he plugged his flash drive into the laptop, he heard the sound of footsteps behind him . Looking back, the man and his hair came into view . Is there something you need? Oh, no . Since I met Yun Woo, I just thought I should try to strike a conversation while Im here . Juho looked at the laptop once and turned around . Sounds good . I was starting to get bored with Geun Woo gone . Im sorry about earlier, said the man, scratching his head bashfully . Juho waved his head in denial . Should we talk elsewhere? No, this is fine . Would you like to sit here? The man quietly shook his head . Unfortunately, there was only one chair in Geun Woos studio, forcing him to remain standing . Because the man gave his answer, Juho didnt force himself up from his seat . Leaning against a bookshelf, he looked at Juho intently, and Juho, too, turned the chair in his direction and faced him . Youre young, he said . Juho pretended to rise from his seat . Smiling, the man waved his hand, gesturing Juho to hear him out . I didnt mean it like that . Right . How is it? What do you mean? Where youre sitting? By reflex, Juhos eyes moved to the chair . He probably wasnt talking about the chair either . Hes probably asking about what its like to be Yun Woo, thought Juho . So-so . So-so? A person adapts to their place no matter where they are, said Juho . For that very reason, people tended to desire to move up to somewhere higher . I wish I could say the same, his hair moved about slightly . Do you think Ill adapt to where Im at? Not knowing the answer he was looking for, Juho smiled quietly . As if the man wasnt expecting an answer himself, he changed the subject . I enjoyed The Sound of Wailing . It made me realize what Yun Woo is capable of as an author . Thank you . For how long have you been writing? Juho hesitated for a moment . How long have I been writing? He wasnt sure how long he needed to go back . Do I include my past or only up to the time when I used to write like it was a habit? Maybe when started writing The Trace of a Bird? Im not sure, Juho said ambiguously . You wrote The Trace of a Bird at sixteen, so it must be… two to three years now? Probably . In that case, what the man said would be accurate . How about you? Juho asked . . He hesitated, but unlike him, Juho waited for his answer patiently . A lot longer than you have, he said timidly as if he barely managed to give the answer . Thats admirable . What is? That youve been writing a lot longer than I have . Writings no joke . . I agree . Its not, but I loved every bit of it… Well, what can I do? It wouldnt sell, he added, sounding dejected . It must be nice being in your place . You really solidified your place as an author with your most recent book, right? Theres not a single person in this country who doesnt know your name . Im not sure . I dont think there is such a thing as solidifying a place in this field . I need to keep going . I think you can relax a little bit . Everyones praising your work . At this rate, anything would sell as long as it has your name on it . Thank you for your kind words, said Juho, smiling . The mans hair moved along with his head, revealing his eyebrows . His forehead appeared to be furrowed . With a sigh, he said, Youre amazing… . But keep your eyes peeled, he added, somewhat maliciously . What should I be on the lookout for? Juho asked quietly . Ending up like me, the man answered with a calm voice . Juho thought about the meaning behind those words . Ending up like him . Is he talking about quitting or the book not selling? Maybe hes talking about being forgotten? It was somewhat humorous . Juho didnt even know his name . Besides, he had had experienced it all . Ignoring the mans warning, Juho tried to see things from the mans point of view . It was a small, small world . His hair hindered the view . He couldnt see anyone but himself . As Juho took his time before giving an answer, the mans brow furrowed again . Juho stared at him intently . Im back! a loud voice came from outside . It was Geun Woo, and Juhos eyes met the mans . Shall we? Yes . As if nothing had happened, they went out to greet Geun Woo and the pork belly he had brought back . --- On his way in from the watering the garden as per Yun Seos suggestion, Juho decided to visit the familiar sound of the barking dog in the distance . It lived not too far away . Bark! Low and resounding . It drooled and barked viciously . Next to it, were his empty food bowl and a doghouse made of blue plastic . Youre a lot dirtier than Id imagined . As if it understood him, the dog barked all the angrier . Juho plunked himself down in front of the dog and stared at it intently . It paced back and forth, moving its tail frantically . Soon, it too plunked down with its stomach facing the ground . The shadows were growing bigger and bigger . Though it was bright out, the ground was already preparing for night . A forest of buildings became visible in the distance . Because the dog looked like it had come from the countryside, the scenery made for an odd experience . Juho started to feel hungry . Arent you hungry? The dog didnt even bother to bark anymore . It simply moved its tail about lazily . I guess youre quick to adapt too, said Juho as he rose from his place . As he got closer to Yun Seos house, the intoxicating aroma of grilled meat tickled his nose . He hurried his steps . Where were you? asked Geun Woo from the wooden bench . I went to go see the dog . Oh, right, he said, nodding . You made it just in time for dinner . I could smell it all the way from where I was . Juho looked around as he sat on the wooden bench . The man was nowhere to be found . Hes probably still inside . He said he wanted to help prepare it, said Geun Woo . While youre chilling out here? asked Juho . Im being tactful . This is probably his last meal here . Last meal? Juhos puzzled look questioned Geun Woo . What do you mean? Its not like Mrs . Baek wouldnt let him visit or anything . Yeah, but it kind of turns out that way . People whove left willingly hardly ever come here to visit . Some people send her a text from time to time, but even then, it doesnt last long . Though it wasnt anything new, Juho couldnt help but feel bitter . Why do things have to be that way? Do people just naturally grow distant from one another when they stop talking or writing? So, try to visit often . Theres only so much we can do between Joon Soo and I . Of course . Silence . In contrast with the blue sky, the roof of the house was already in shadows . As he sat there enjoying the welcoming smell of Yun Seos cooking, Juho suddenly sprung up from his seat . Geun Woo looked at him with puzzled eyes . Whats the matter? I forgot something . At the doghouse? In your studio . Geun Woo waved his hand, gesturing him to make haste . Fetch me a cup of water on your way back, will ya? OK, OK . With Geun Woos permission, Juho rushed inside and opened the door to Geun Woos studio . Walking past the shelves filled with books and data, he made his way towards the desk . The laptop was still in place . Only, it was the only thing still on the desk . Huh…? Its gone . I couldve sworn Id plugged the flash drive in here! Juho searched around the desk, but to no avail . His flash drive was nowhere to be found . How is it not here? Did I leave it elsewhere? He tried to trace his memories, but the studio had been the first place hed thought of . Juho brushed his hand down the side of the laptop . Where could it be… His dry voice dissipated into air . Where are you, flash drive!? In it, was the first draft of Grains of Sand and a full-length novel he had just started writing . Once he realized that the flash drive was not in the room, he tried to remember the things that he had come in contact with . He pulled out the book he was looking at earlier and looked under the door . Nothing . He looked underneath the chair . Nothing . Hm… He reached into his pockets . Empty . He couldnt find it in the places he was certain he would . Thats bizarre… Juho couldnt do anything but murmur . Where could it be? He calmly retraced his steps . I bought some bread from the bakery, and then I got a call from Mrs . Baek . It was still in my pocket then . When I came here and talked to Mrs . Baek, it was still in my pocket . The only time I took it out was when I wanted to get some revision done on Grains of Sand, when Geun Woo went out to buy some meat . So it has to be after that… Standing in his place, Juho quietly looked around the studio . Nothing was out of place, except for his flash drive . I was wondering where you went . Youre still here? asked Geun Woo . He wiped his mouth as if he had already drank his water . What are you doing standing? You said you forgot something, didnt you? I did . You havent found it yet? Unfortunately, no, Juho said, chuckling . What did you forget? Juho brushed across his empty pocket . What if things get out of hand? a thought crossed his mind . With Yun Seos guest over, nothing good would come from blowing things out of proportion . Its nothing important . Tell me, so we can find it before dinner time . Dont regret it later . The word regret coming out of his mouth carried much more power than usual . So… Juho hesitated, scratching his head awkwardly . What is it? My flash drive… . Geun Woos expression grew darker by the seconds . You dont mean the flash drive you mentioned earlier, right? Hahaha… Where did you last see it? asked Geun Woo, wearing a serious expression . Right here, answered Juho, also looking serious . Geun walked around his studio once . Nothing was different from what he had seen earlier . If anything, it was cleaner . The chair was tucked under the desk with the laptop placed dead center on it . All the books were in their rightful places . It has to be when you wanted to use my laptop . Yes . But whered it go? Its a mystery . A secret room, perhaps? The door was never locked, so I doubt it . Involuntary manslaughter? But theres no body . Its been disposed of . So-to-speak . In that case, knowledge of the culprits ident.i.ty would be of urgent need . I have an alibi . Me too, if dogs could testify . With those words, they wrapped up their petty word play and started searching the studio thoroughly .