Translated by: ShawnSuh Edited by: SootyOwl It aint here . Its not here . Juho and Geun Woo said simultaneously . Though they searched the room together, neither of them found the flash drive . Unfortunately, it meant that it wasnt in the studio . Thankfully, it wasnt such a big room and it was rather organized, enabling them to search through the entire place quickly . What do we do? asked Geun Woo, looking concerned . He knew what was in the flash drive Juho had lost . The open drawers and sheets of data scattered around the room were proof of their desperate search . Nothing, I guess, said Juho, walking around the room once more . Youre not giving up now, are you? Juho wasnt giving up, but simply accepting the current situation . The reality was that his flash drive had gone missing, and like in most cases when belongings got lost, it resulted in jumbled up memories . Knowing that, Juho emptied his mind and focused on the barking dog in the distance . Its possible that the dog fetched it . Nows not the best time to write a novel, Juho, Geun Woo said sternly . Juho tried to organize his thoughts . He had tried to revise Grains of Sand . The flash drive had been stashed in his pocket, and the laptop happened to be in Geun Woos studio . Because he had had some down time, he had decided to put the two objects together . After that, he had left the house to go visit the dog . Are you sure this is the last place where you saw it? Most likely . Are you sure you didnt leave it at the doghouse? I doubt it . Thats weird… muttered Geun Woo, looking around his studio . It was definitely strange . When his memory didnt match up with reality, Juho felt something odd in most cases . Fortunately, breaking out of it wasnt all that difficult . All it took was to either summon a ghost or lure the dog into the house . As long as he a.s.sumed one of them to be the culprit, the mystery would have practically solved itself . What are you guys doing? While he was lost in thought, a voice sounded from behind them . It was the man with the bushy hair . Geun Woo answered before Juho had time to respond, Nothing . It doesnt seem to be that way, he said, walking around the messy studio . Whats with the mess? A dog was in here . A dog? Or a ghost . A ghost?? the man asked, studying Juho with a puzzled look . I dont think I can catch up to your colorful imagination, Mr . Woo, he said . His hair covered his face, making it difficult to make out his expression . As Juho stared at him intently, Geun Woo interjected, Did you see a flash drive, by any chance? The man tilted his head, and his hair moved with it . His entire body was communicating that he was clueless . What flash drive? We lost one, and were looking for it . Where could this thing be? At Geun Woos answer, the mans eyes rolled up toward the ceiling . He seemed like he was trying to think of something . You got me there . You have seen it, though, said Juho . Though calm, he sounded certain . Me? When? the man asked . We were talking here earlier . My flash drive was in the laptop then . Ah, thats what you meant . I didnt see it . Heck, with Yun Woo in front of my eyes, I wouldnt be looking at some flash drive . Besides, Im not even a writer anymore, so I dont even bother to look at my surroundings . Contrary to his answer, he had come into the room looking rather natural . One couldnt change their habit overnight, but Juho couldnt argue . He simply gave him a nod and said, Im getting hungry . Ha…! a dumbfounded laugh sounded from the floor . Juho looked down . Geun Woo was looking under the desk with his cheek to the floor . Youre hungry? In this situation? I know, right? All right . Well, its in the house somewhere for sure, so well keep looking . Unless the thing has a set of feet, itll come out sometime, somewhere, Geun Woo said, standing up . He was right . Juho hardly ever lost his belongings . To begin with, if he hadnt been in Yun Seos house, he would have never taken the flash drive out of his pocket . It was a safe place for him . Yet, his belonging had gone missing . Dinners ready . What are you all doing here? asked Yun Seo, standing behind the man who was standing by the entrance . Are you guys cleaning or something? she asked as she looked around the room . The man answered as he stood nearest to her, Apparently, Mr . Woo has lost something . What?? A flash drive . Not just an ordinary flash drive, but the one that holds his works . Despite the seemingly alarming news, Yun Seo remained calm . Maintaining her tranquility, she made a sound similar to her friend, Hyun Do Lim, Hm… Did you look thoroughly? Yes, Mrs . Baek . Every corner? Yes, Mrs . Baek, answered Geun Woo . He had looked around with his cheek against the floor, so he would have definitely looked in every corner . Ill look for it . Great! Shes a master at finding lost items, said Geun Woo as he moved aside for her . Yun Seo nodded in affirmation . At that moment, Juho stopped her . We should eat first . The foods getting cold . We can always reheat it . Would you all like to go on ahead and eat then? He couldnt possibly do that . Eventually, she began to search the desk . Since it had been in the nearest vicinity of the laptop, it was the most likely candidate . Though Geun Woo and Juho had looked multiple times, the flash drive had been nowhere to be found . Perhaps with Yun Seo looking, the search would yield a different result . A voice sounded from behind them, You should take care of your belongings . Ill help . Juho turned around, looked at him in the eyes and thought, If its not the dog or a ghost, then whos left? I know . I mustve been way too excited about dinner . Please dont feel like youre being a nuisance . It happens when youre young . Think of it as a lesson for the future . Ill keep that in mind . Of course, their efforts went in vain despite involving the master searcher . Seeing as how the search went on for a lot longer than antic.i.p.ated, Juho tried changing the atmosphere . This time, he went in a slightly different direction . Im getting pretty hungry . Could we go eat now? Yun Seo stopped in her tracks at the young authors voice . Of course! Geun Woo, would you mind lending me a hand in the kitchen? Yes, Mrs . Baek . Well keep looking, said the man with bushy hair walking toward the desk . He moved his hands about as if he was looking for something . Clattering sounds filled the room . Juho heard Yun Seo and Geun Woo in the distance . They were alone, and Juho called out to the man . What is it? he asked . How did you know? Know what? That my works were in the flash drive . . Juho had never brought up anything about what was in the flash drive to him . I heard you and Geun Woo talking from the hallway when I was coming to get you guys, the man said, chuckling . So, you did know about the flash drive . You sounded like you knew nothing about it . . Did I? Well, I havent seen it with my own eyes, so thats why I said it the way I did . I can see how theres room for misunderstanding though . Thats what makes words such a powerful thing . Im reminded of that often because of my occupation as an author . As a writer, he was well aware of the power of words . He also knew full well of how close truth and lie were from one another . Because words had no shape, people tended to let it leave their lips with ease, all too thoughtlessly . They hardly realized how ma.s.sive a power words could carry . Maybe it was for that reason that people often tried desperately to get rid of the evidence of having said certain things . Visible and tangible evidence . It had to have shape in order for it to be fully disposed of . Juho said, looking at the desk, Its strange . I couldve sworn I left it here . Its almost as if it got sucked into another dimension . Thats what its like to lose something . By the time you come to your senses, its already gone, no matter how secure you might have felt it was, the man said, turning around to look in Juhos direction . Its upsetting . Its aggravating . You want to blame others, but you cant do that either because its entirely your fault . Right? Dont be anxious . Well find it, he said in a rather friendly tone . Their eyes met . He was also looking at Juho . I appreciate your help . That should be enough . Youre not giving up, are you? Yes, I am, Juho answered immediately . Writing must not mean all that much to you, Mr . Woo, said the man with a furrowed brow . He seemed irritated by Juhos quick response . When did I say anything about writing? Youre an author . You should know the value of each and every one of your pieces, Juho said somewhat sharply . Well, its just that you didnt seem like you meant that . Im not an author anymore, said the man mockingly . It was subtle, but apparent . Not an author, huh, Juho said, smiling . Then you wouldnt mind if I suspect you of something, would you? Suspect me of what? Are you not aware of the reason why we havent used the word culprit still? He clenched his lips . Juho had given him a friendly reminder on how dangerous of a statement he had just made . An author cant steal another writers work . They know the meaning behind it all too well . Getting your hands on another writers work is to abandon your dignity as an author . Having given up on writing, the man was no longer an author . There are only authors here in this house . Including Yun Seo and Geun Woo, everyone in the house had been desperately holding onto that truth . Juho asked, But what was it that you said just now? He had said that he was no longer an author with his own lips . If its not the dog or a ghost, it has to be a person, thought Juho . Everyone in the house was an author, but there was exception . Juho looked at the man intently . . Words are powerful . You cant take them back once they leave you . It gets rather messy really quick . We all make mistakes, children and adults alike . The mans lips quivered, looking somewhat angry and anxious at the same time . Then, why arent you trying to find it? he asked in a slightly hoa.r.s.e sounding voice . His face became visible, and it was filled with malicious intent . He had the appearance of a person who wanted to bring someone down with him as he spiraled down himself . He desired for Juhos downfall and for his career to come cras.h.i.+ng down . He was blinded by his desires . His hair concealed his face once again . I have all my works saved up at home and my flash drive is pa.s.sword protected, so I dont have anything to worry about . n.o.body will be able to read whats in it, whether its a dog or a ghost . If the flash drive really is in this house still, itll be found eventually . Ill get it then, Juho said, smiling peacefully . The mans expression grew darker and darker . It was apparent that things were not turning the way he had hoped they would . Such a relief, right? said Juho . The mans face became more and more distorted with anger . He had the look of a victim . Yun Woo is amazing, he said, sarcastically . He had said something similar to Juho that day . Success after success . I suppose thats how youre able to look so peaceful while making a fool of an adult in front of you . Im not making a fool out of you . I was simply beating around the bush a little bit . Words are a powerful things . Though Juhos words may have been sincere, nothing could change the twisted mind of a twisted listener . See? Youll never know . Youll never learn what it feels like to be comforted by a kid . Juho stared at him quietly, infuriating the man all the more . Just be angry, why dont you? Why dont you just say that you know I stole it and ask me to hand it over? No, thanks, Juho said light-heartedly . I have to write . I dont want to waste my emotions with times like this . You make people miserable . No, Juho said firmly .