The Great Storyteller

Translated by: ShawnSuh

Edited by: SootyOwl

“Are they really coming?”

Having gotten her admission ticket, Amanda simply couldn’t hold back her excitement, which made her ask her friend the same question repeatedly on their way to the broadcasting station. Were Kelley Coin and Yun Woo really coming to the set? Would she really get to see the taping?

“That’s right,” Chris replied, also struggling to hold back a smile, much like all other audience members. His heart had been thumping even on the subway ride to the station. Having met online, Chris and Amanda would get together for concerts and various stage presentations at least once bimonthly. Upon discovering that they spoke similar languages and shared similar hobbies, they bonded quickly, and Chris harbored feelings for Amanda.

“You don’t think Coin will storm out in the middle, do you?”

“Maybe. Honestly, though, I think it’s worth seeing it at least once.”

“No! That means the taping will stop!”

“Well, what can we do? Nothing’s free in life,” Chris said, putting his hands in his pocket.

Then, elbowing him on the side, Amanda said, “What do you think Yun Woo will be like? Exemplary? Mature? Innocent?”

“Whatever he’ll be, he’ll be anything but boring. That’s for sure. At least, he was in the magazine, anyway. I wonder what he’ll be like in real life, though.”

“Do you think he’s nervous? He’s never been on TV in the States, and it’s his first TV appearance in a long time. On top of that, he’ll have Coin by his side.”

“It is remarkable, I’ll tell you that much,” Chris said. Although he initially wondered what it would be like to be in Yun Woo’s position, that didn’t last long as he was struck by a suffocating fear of being away in another country.

“It’s a scary thought, really,” she said. At which point, Chris felt somewhat validated by her.

“I don’t think it’d bother me at all,” Chris said proudly and confidently for no apparent reason.

However, looking indifferent, Amanda said, “You know what? I just can’t picture Yun Woo getting nervous. I’d love to see it one of these days though.”

“We’ll find out soon enough,” Chris replied, coughing awkwardly.

“I’m gonna scream from the top of my lungs as soon as they come out. What if we make eye contact?”

“Well, there go your virgin eyes.”

“I’m so anxious to meet Coin and Yun Woo!”

Since he was also looking forward to the occasion, Chris agreed with her silently, enjoying the fact that they were sharing that excitement together.

—

The audience erupted into cheers. Juho couldn’t remember the last time he had heard it. Perhaps, that was why he was so caught off guard. Meanwhile, looking impatiently at Juho, Coin walked ahead. Following him, Juho recognized the green sofa on the set, which he had only seen on TV.

“This is crazy.”

The audience was shouting from the top of their lungs as the two authors appeared on set. Then, the host, who had been preparing for the taping, walked toward them, pretending to be taken aback by the explosive cheers.

“People love you guys!” the host said to them. Of course, his voice was being buried by the thunderous applause from the audience. A man with well-defined facial features, there was no awkwardness between him and the two authors since they had met prior to the taping.

“This is normal,” Coin said arrogantly. The host smiled naturally, but there was something about his smile that gave off an exaggerated feel.

“I’m sure it is,” Juho said. To which, Coin replied, “I’ll make it a goal of mine to expose that mundane life of yours.”

“Mundane? I worked hard to get here.”

“Looking forward to it, you two,” the host said. Looking intently at the young author, who was talking to Coin, the audience was anxious to know what the three were talking about.

“Ready?”

Juho turned his head and looked toward the person to whom the voice belonged. It was the host, who had been hosting the show for over a decade. Juho recalled having seen him on TV, hosting a film festival.

“Good to go.”

“You don’t seem nervous, Mr. Woo.”

“It’s not like I’m alone.”

At that, the host narrowed his eyes and looked toward Coin, who was standing next to Juho. Coin’s presence wasn’t exactly the most comforting.

“What are you looking at?”

“Oh, nothing. I’m just really looking forward to this interview.”

“Is that so? I’m bored out of my mind already.”

“C’mon, Kelley. You have Mr. Woo here by your side.”

“It’s not like he can make the cameras in front of me disappear.”

“No. There would be even more cameras around with Mr. Woo on set. In fact, that’s exactly what happened.”

Juho listened to the quick exchange of words between Coin and the host, both of whom remained unfazed, as if they were talking casually. As time drew closer to the taping, the host looked toward the young author and said, “We should be starting soon. Break a leg.”

“Likewise.”

Then, the host started the show off with opening remarks in an adjacent set, and the audience responded enthusiastically. Meanwhile, sitting with his legs crossed, Coin looked toward the audience in a manner contrary to his usually defiant attitude. The host had to have known that Coin would still follow through despite his noncompliant demeanor, which explained how he was able to joke around with the author earlier. Picking up his mug, Juho drank the liquid that was in it. The lukewarm water going down his throat reminded him of how dry the set felt.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have two incredible guests joining us tonight!”

At that moment, the band started playing out of nowhere, and the lights started flashing. As the host walked over to the set where the two authors were sitting, the atmosphere changed to something that resembled a show. Then, when Juho and Coin appeared within the camera’s frame, the audience erupted into an even louder cheers. When the host covered his ears as if overwhelmed by the volume of audience’s shouts, the cheers started to die down.

“Kelley Coin and Yun Woo! The dynamic duo of the literary world! It’s a real pleasure to have you both!” the host said, staying true to the script. “Believe it or not, I’m actually a big fan of detective novels. So, I’ll make sure to find out everything there is to know between you two.”

“Good luck,” Coin said with narrowed lips.

Then, the host looked toward the young author and said, “Welcome, Mr. Woo. Thank you so much for joining us tonight. I have so many things I wanna ask that it’s not even funny.”

The audience responded. They would pipe down whenever the host signaled for them, but they also expressed their excitement to their hearts’ content when allowed. Looking toward his fans, who welcomed him, Juho smiled and said, “I’m privileged to be here with Coin as well.”

The host moved on to asking questions without hesitation: how the two came to hear about and meet each other, their pictures, their respective homes, Juho’s spontaneous phone interview, Juho sending Coin to the award ceremonies on his behalf, etc. Coin remained well behaved up to that point. While answering the questions, Juho was reminded of how the public looked at him.

“So, you didn’t experience anything unusual during childhood?”

“No. It was just as ordinary as the next person,” Juho replied.

The host nodded a few times, asking, “Who’s Kelley Coin to you?”

“He’s a good colleague.”

“Speaking of which, why don’t we talk about your relationship?” the host asked, looking at Coin, who crossed his legs in another direction and said, “I don’t find it necessary to make such a big deal out of a casual relationship.”

“When you say casual relationship, do you mean that your friendship with Yun Woo needs no description?”

“Now, where did you hear that nonsense?” Coin said calmly. At which point, the audience laughed at the funny look that appeared on the host’s face.

“OK, honestly, I find it really surprising that you two are still friends. You guys are just the opposite of each other in terms of personality and writing styles.”

Then, pointing toward Coin, the host said, “I consider myself a veteran, but whenever Coin comes out, I always make a reservation to a Thai massage parlor the day before we start shooting. I just get so tense, you know? It’s so bad that my neck looks like this.”

The host pulled his shoulders up, looking like a turtle. Then, he asked the young author, “Aren’t you scared of him?”

Meanwhile, Coin sat quietly as the host remained within the line which the producer and the author had agreed to prior to shooting. Looking toward Coin, Juho said, “If I were, I wouldn’t have thought twice about being here. Coin is actually pretty rational, so I don’t really feel like I’m facing a hungry lion or anything like that.”

“Have you two ever gotten into a fist fight?”

“I’ve known him since I was a teenager. He might be rough around the edges, but he would never go as far as swinging his fist at a minor,” Juho said, shaking his head.

At which point, the host smiled as if he had been joking and looked at Coin cautiously, yet playfully.

“Then, what’s he like as an author? People tend to compare themselves to other people in the same field. OK, you know what? Let’s stay on the positive side for now. What are your favorite books written by each other?”

At that, a mysterious smile appeared on Juho’s face. Meanwhile, Coin looked up into the air and rubbed his temple. Of course, being the seasoned show host that he was, the host didn’t miss the stark contrast in their reactions.

“Why don’t we start with Mr. Woo?” the host asked, glancing at his script. It being a question that he had previously been asked, Juho replied willingly, “I’m a fan of Coin’s debut title.”

“Out of all of his books? So, you’re referring to ‘Witch Hunt,’ right?” the host said, his eyes widened. Coin had written roughly forty full-length novels and two hundred short stories. ‘Witch Hunt’ was considered Coin’s worst book and was often mentioned by people when mocking the author. Looking and talking about the book, people frequently comforted themselves, reminding themselves that even Kelley Coin had to start somewhere before reaching the position he was in currently.

“Are you telling the truth, Mr. Woo?”

“I’m dead serious,” Juho replied. Unlike the popular perception, ‘Witch Hunt’ was Juho’s favorite book written by Coin to that day.

“Did you hear that, Kelley?” the host asked, looking toward Coin and genuinely observing his expression that time. It was an unspoken rule to never bring up ‘Witch Hunt’ in front of Coin. Considering that the book was often associated with his assault charge, it was a rather sensitive matter. Even interviewers tended to avoid mentioning that book at all costs. Yet, Yun Woo had broken that rule with great nonchalance in front of the cameras. ‘He’s done it!’ the host thought to himself, clenching his hand into a fist in secret while sensing imminent success.

“Haven’t heard of that book in a while,” Coin said indifferently. At which point, Juho chuckled and said, “It’s the story of a liar who makes up stories about Santa Claus and a grand journey. The protagonist understands how harmful words can be, so he does everything he can to avoid hurting others verbally. Personally, I thought it was interesting that people were hurling insults at that book.”

In Juho’s eyes, ‘Witch Hunt’ was a success.

“Prick.”

“So, it seems to me that you two have already talked about this before?” the host asked, interjecting. Looking at his vivid eyes, Juho nodded and replied, “Yes. We went to a bookstore together while he was visiting Korea. That’s when it came up.”

“Well, I’m happy to see that you’re still alive.”

“I was lucky.”

Then, the host took the opportunity to ask Coin, “Then, what’s your favorite Yun Woo book, Kelley?”

Coin wasn’t smiling when Juho locked eyes with him. He simply looked back at the young author, almost as if glaring. Juho waited for his answer patiently, but Coin seemed to already have an answer in mind.

“Well, anything?” the host asked, and Juho clasped his hands together anxiously.

“Don’t waste my time asking questions like that.”