The Great Storyteller

Translated by: ShawnSuh

Edited by: SootyOwl

“I guess we all failed,” Seo Kwang said with a sigh. It had been exactly a week since Juho had made the bet with Baron. That meant that the tug-o-war between Baron and the first-years would come to an by the end of that day.

“There’s still some time left.”

“It’s already over at this point,” Seo Kwang announced, resting his chin on his hand on Juho’s desk. Juho looked around. There were students on cleaning duty cleaning the classroom. It was time for club activities. There was no hope.

Despite involving the entire club in that situation, Juho sat peacefully, and Seo Kwang stared at him.

“What were you thinking when you made that bet?”

“It was half on impulse.”

Juho knew that Baron was interested in ‘Sponge-Cake Girl.’ From afar, she was alone. She was also introverted, yet ordinary. When Juho talked to her for the first time, he had simply been thinking out loud. Seo Kwang looked at him in disbelief.

“So, you’re telling me that this mischief of yours was on impulse? In the future, don’t ever get yourself into gambling.”

“What do you mean ‘mischief?’”

“That’s exactly what this is. You put your fate in the hands of a second-year whose name you don’t even know. On top of that, you got everyone else in the club involved.”

“I suppose it is my bad that I didn’t discuss this with others.”

Seo Kwang smacked his lips at Juho’s apology. Then, he shook his head.

“Well, there wasn’t going to be another chance if you failed anyway. He doesn’t come across as the type who would give into somebody pestering him, especially after already saying ‘No.’”

“I agree. That’s why I went all in.”

“You’re shameless.”

Juho laughed light-heartedly at Seo Kwang’s criticism, and Seo Kwang stared at him for a while and asked quite seriously, “What would you do if it didn’t work out?”

If Juho’s plan failed, then bridging the gap between Baron and the rest of the club members would be much more difficult. Mr. Moon had blatantly given them a chance to connect. If they didn’t seize that blatant chance, than what followed would be blatant failure.

“Things would be even more awkward between him and the rest of us.”

“That’s what I’m saying. You couldn’t have jumped in blindfolded. ”

Juho felt bad for Seo Kwang, but he hadn’t planned for the possible failure. That was what it looked like to be impulsive. At Juho’s silence, Seo Kwang’s expression grew darker. ‘What to do?’

Juho had experienced countless failures up to the point of being homeless. He was sick of failing at something and he had no intention of reliving such a life. That was the reason why he was pushing ahead with his impulse.

“You can’t do anything if you’re afraid of the results.”

There is no way to know the result of something until it reveals itself. That was especially true when it came to changing a person’s heart. No matter how much one measured and calculated, they would never reach the answer. That was what made waiting such a nerve-racking event. Nothing was certain.

“I can think of a plan after I fail.”

Juho was certain that there was going to be a way. There was nothing to get out of worrying from that point on. The plan hadn’t failed yet. Besides, he had a good feeling about it. ‘It’ll work out,’ he kept repeating to himself.

Seo Kwang sneered at him, “Whatever. You owe me bread from the canteen if you fail.”

“I’ll buy you a loaf of sponge cake.”

The two stood up from their seats to headed over to the science room. As they were on their way out through the back door, they found Baron standing in front of it.

“Come out for a second.”

At his deep, resounding voice, the students on cleaning duty stopped what they were doing. It wasn’t common for Baron to be seen on the first-year’s floor. He had never come down voluntarily to see a first-year, until now. Seo Kwang pushed Juho from behind. It seemed like he wanted Juho to find out what was going on.

“What brings you here?”

“Why else would I be here aside from that one thing?”

Baron was referring to the bet.

“I’m guessing the result is out?”

“How’d it go? Who won?” Seo Kwang asked, but Baron didn’t answer. It seemed like he needed to discuss it privately, so Juho sent Seo Kwang ahead to the science room.

“Take your time.”

“OK.”

Seo Kwang waved, and then Baron went out to the hallway with Juho following him. They remained silent until sitting under the same tree from the day before.

Baron asked calmly, “How did you know?”

It was somewhat of a random question, but Juho understood the gist of what he was trying to ask. ‘I had a good feeling about it,’ thought Juho.

Then, he exclaimed with a smile, “The sponge-cake girl must have made a friend?!”

“I asked how did you know.”

Baron thought about what had happened three days before. The sponge-cake girl had been talking with a group of people. The next day, and the following day, she was surrounded by people. She seemed happy, laughing and chattering with her friends.

It took less than a week. Just as Juho had said, she had moved on from solitude. Then, there was Baron himself, remaining unfazed by it all.

“You knew it was going to happen too, Baron.” Baron didn’t say a word, and Juho continued, “I saw her holding a book when I saw her on the second floor hallway: ‘The Trace of a Bird.’ It’s a recent best-seller,”

Baron hesitated at the familiar title.

“Sponge-Cake Girl has a very introverted personality. Talking to someone first is not an easy task for her. In that case, somebody needs to approach her and talk to her. She had things to talk about all along. It was in her hand.”

Juho thought of the sponge cake he had eaten on the same spot where he was sitting. She had come to show gratitude to a first-year who she hardly knew, even with a small gift. Usually, one would think of a reason to move on:

‘I appreciate the help, but I don’t know his class.’

‘I don’t know his name.’

‘He’s in a different grade, so I probably won’t ever run into him again.’

It was a connection that could have been easily neglected. On top of that, she was an introvert. It couldn’t have been easy to talk to someone who she didn’t know.

Despite it all, she had brought Juho the sponge cake. It wasn’t likely that a person like that would be left alone. Besides, she had been involved in the drama that had attracted the attention of an entire class and proven innocent. It wouldn’t have been weird to be approached by at least one person.

“What she needs is something to talk about.”

Then, there was silence, and Baron let out a smirk.

“That was disappointing.”

There was emptiness in his tone. It was an emptiness that came from acknowledgement. Baron, too, had been keeping his eyes on Sponge-Cake Girl. He must have known better than any other person that being a loner didn’t suit her.

He seemed like he was thinking of someone when Juho said, “If you’re alive, you can make it out.”

That’s what being alone was like. A person couldn’t live on his own. As long as he was alive, somebody was bound to come by.

At that moment, they saw the Sponge-Cake Girl coming out of the school building with three other girls. Juho called her as he waved, “The cake was delicious!”

“Right!”

She was smiling brightly and actually responding to him talking to her. She had come looking for him after he helped her, and now she wasn’t alone.

“I should’ve tried to talk to her,” said Baron. “I wish I had said something to that average Joe. He might have been able to last just a little longer.”

A person couldn’t survive on his own. Baron bit his lips.

“It’s not your fault, Baron,” Juho whispered.

By the time Juho and Baron were the only people left in the yard, the bell rang throughout the entire school.

They headed to the science room. Baron still gave off a brusque impression, but he looked a bit more comfortable. Without saying anything to each other, the two walked up the stairs and went into the science room.

“Baron!”

“What?” Baron answered tiredly.

Ignoring his exhaustion, Sun Hwa continued, “I forfeit!”

“What?”

‘What is she saying?’ Baron seemed dumbfounded. Next to him, Juho also tilted his head in confusion. It wasn’t like Sun Hwa to bring up forfeiting.

Juho thought about explaining the situation to her, but Sun Hwa seemed like she still had things to say. She picked up a comic book. It was the same comic book she had been desperately trying to get Baron to read.

She pointed to Baron with the comic book and said, “It’s too late to ask if you can borrow it. Even if you’re desperate to write a report on it, it’s not going to work.”

“I’m not interested,” at Baron’s blunt answer, she stepped aside. There was a pile of comic books that were hidden behind her. “What is all this?”

With a satisfied smile on her face, she presented her collection. As she explained each of her comic books with excitement, Baron asked her again, “So what?”

“Let’s read them together.”

“I thought you said you forfeit?”

She shook her head at his response.

“These are only suggestions. I want to share this passion of mine.”

Baron hesitated. He couldn’t think straight. Recognizing his hesitation, Juho replied. “I want to read them too.”

Her eyes lit up, and she smile brightly.

“I knew you’d understand. Comic books are even better when you read it with other people.”

“Then, count me in,” Seo Kwang chimed in.

“Not a chance,” she replied ruthlessly.

“That’s not nice. Then, what about that one? You don’t need it anymore.”

While Seo Kwang and Sun Hwa quarreled over a comic book, Juho took a book from the top of the pike and handed it to Baron.

At Juho’s gesture, Baron couldn’t help but smile. Then, he pulled out the black plastic bag, full of snacks.

“Here, have a snack.”

“Oh, wow! You really know how to impress us. This bag looks familiar though.”

“Somebody left it on my desk.”

While Bom sat nervously, Baron opened up several packs of snacks and spread them out onto the desk. It was a party. Everyone held a comic book in their hands while munching on the snacks. Reading comic books and snickering together was truly a fun experience.

“I didn’t know this was the comic book club.”

“Mr. Moon!”

Mr.Moon came in and looked around the room. The Literature Club had turned into a comic book store. Then, he snatched one of the snacks from the desk and put it in his mouth.

“Hand me a comic book, will you?”

Eventually, the entire club was immersed in comic books.

*

“Yo, you missed a spot.”

As Juho leaned forward in his seat, a voice sounded above his head. It was obvious who the voice belonged to.

“You mean here?”

Pretending not to understand, Juho took a broom and swept across Seo Kwang’s feet. There were chunks of hair and dust stuck on the end of the broom. It clearly wasn’t well-maintained. Seo Kwang jumped up and stepped back.

Juho was in the middle of cleaning the classroom. The cleaning rotation was based on the call number. There were three others on duty aside from him. Two of them swept the classroom with him, and the other was mopping the hallway. After sweeping for some time, Juho straightened his back. There was no painful groan. It was a blessing to have a young body.

After checking for dust on his shoes, Seo Kwang leaned against a desk. Naturally, he opened the book in his hand and started reading. He had a habit of reading whenever there was a chance to. Juho himself was an avid reader, but it was nothing like Seo Kwang. ‘He’s an interesting fellow.’ he thought.

<The Sole Artist in a Literature Club (3)> The End