Letters to Anonymous | MYG [Completed]

33. Keep going!

After appearing for multiple interviews, it had gradually become easier. However, today Ah-In is back to her nervous state before the interview. Though she's been mentally prepared and coached enough by RM to deal with what's coming next, nothing can remove that nervousness.

She takes few deep breaths before they start rolling!

"Ah-In, before we start let me congratulate you for both the nominations, how do you feel?"

"Thank you so much Joon-Woo ssi. Well, I feel honoured! I feel blessed!"

"What are your thoughts on getting international recognition? Very few Korean authors have been nominated for the Neustadt!"

"I'll be happy if I can bring this honour to our country. Of course, more than me, it would be a win for my country! I can't be happier than this!"

"Both you and author Dong-Hyun have been nominated for the Daesan Literary Award! However, he has not received international recognition alike you. Do you think it's less competition for you or you think your book was just more deserving?"

"Joon-Woo ssi, first of all Dong-Hyun ssi is an amazing writer. I have read all of his books and they have been written so well that they deserve all the love they have received from readers. Now, I'm not sure why I have been nominated for an international award or what are their criteria for nominations but one thing I know that even if Dong-Hyun isn't nominated, he is one of the best author of our country and internationally!"

"We have noticed that both of you have studied in same college, started working in same publishing house and have been involved in many common projects! How did that happen?"

"Coincidentally, both of us have travelled through same journey all too often..." Before Ah-In can complete her statement, she was cut by the interviewer.

"Is it only a coincidence?"

"Excuse me?" Ah-In wasn't sure where is this interviewer going with this.

"What we have heard from your peers is that during your college days, you were always together, participating in same activities, taking up same projects, same classes. You both were practically each other's shadows! And this continued even in your first jobs at L. P. Publishers, till you left the publishing house and joined Neobooks! Isn't that right Ah-In ssi?"

"We both have been passionate about literature from the beginning and we both always wanted to be part of the best projects. So, being in same college, we ended up participating in same projects and activities."

"Was the passion only for literature?"

"Joon-Woo ssi, what are you trying to say?"

"Our sources say that you two were dating during your college days and even after that! The reason you left L. P. Publishers was in fact your break up!"

What??? Ah-In didn't expect this line of questioning. She was not ready for this!

What this interviewer was insinuating was so far fetched and Ah-In was not sure how she can tell him that they rather hated each other's guts! And reason for leaving L. P. wasn't Dong-Hyun. She left because publishing house was stealing work of young authors and crediting them to seasoned authors with few changes!

Ah-In made use of her recent coaching and gave a very politically correct answer.

"Joon-Woo ssi, apart from our passion for literature, we have completely different personalities. We have always been in formal settings of education and work, we don't find anything else to connect on a personal level. I'm afraid you have been misinformed!"