ICTV - Chapter 100

ICTV - Chapter 100

I change The Villain

Violet asked, still holding Rose's hand tightly.

"Are you going to listen?"

Rose nodded. She was as indifferent and calm as always.

"Of course."

Rose also clasped Violet's fingers.

"I told you. I'm not that kind."

"I'm curious about how my family was ruined, and I want to know how hard it was for you all this time."

Rose continued speaking while making eye contact with Violet.

"Tell me everything. What you want to say."

"... I knew you would say that."

Violet, or rather, smiled brightly.

***

From a young age, Da-seo grew up in an environment where she had no choice but to become familiar with books.

His father, a famous novelist, and his mother, a professor of Korean literature, considered reading to be the greatest joy, and as soon as she could read, she naturally began reading alongside her parents.

Her parents were proud of Da-seo. In her later years, a small study was created for her. The space was a beautiful room filled with only her favorite books.

Da-seo came into contact with various worlds and characters in the study, and as time passed, Da-seo's vocabulary and expressiveness became richer.

Then one day, Daseo declared in front of her parents.

"I want to become a novelist like my dad."

"Do you already have something you want to do? Oh my gosh, my daughter is amazing."

The parents hugged Daseo and spun her around. And then they looked at each other and said. 

"My daughter respects you so much that she wants to be like you." 

"This is all because you praised me so much to Da-seo." 

Da-seo looked up at her friendly parents with happy faces. Her parents saved her before Da-seo even told them what she wanted to do and what she needed, and she gave them appropriate advice whenever something bad happened.

Da-seo's parents were extremely idealistic parents who never made a loud noise in front of their children and never had a fight.

But Da-seo didn't think her parents were special. She rather thought that this is how parents should be.

So, when she read a work that depicted a realistic and miserable protagonist due to his family environment, it did not resonate with her. She also paid attention to news stories about domestic violence. Because it was like a story from another world that had nothing to do with Da-seo.

But it wasn't Ji-hye.

"What are you looking at?"

Da-seo asked, resting his chin on Ji-hye's shoulder. Ji-hye said, reflexively putting down her cell phone.

"No, just a little."

"Can I take a look too?"

"Yes, look."

Da-seo scrolled down the phone Ji-hye held out to her. As expected, it was an article about domestic violence. 

Da-seo thought unconsciously.

He also read articles with a brighter tone. If she keeps looking for things like this, she will only become depressed.

Da-seo continued to scroll but then paused. Even though it was recently posted, there were several long comments. It tells them to cut ties with parents like that or report them to the police.

Da-seo was more interested in the comments than the text. Ji-hye asked.

"What's the matter?" 

"Hmm, a bit like that."

"What?"

Da-seo returned her cell phone.

"It's true that you should take some time, but isn't it true that you shouldn't look at it at all?"

 

"What do you mean?"

"But they are our parents. They gave birth to us and raised us."

"..."

"Sometimes people forget that their parents are just people too. It's the first time parents are raising children, so they might make a mistake or two, right?"

Ji-hye, who stood silently for a moment, nodded.

"I see You think so."

"Your parents probably have their own thoughts." 

Yes. Da-seo was this kind of kid. As Edgar thought, she belonged to the category of hurting others by saying only idealistic and correct things without considering their position at all.

"I think the author and his parents were both so excited that they couldn't make a proper decision. He'll live without looking at their face until it calms down, and then he'll go in later... Oh, it's Ye-ji!"

After entering third grade, Ye-ji, who was in a different class, was running across the hallway. Da-seo quickly unwrapped her arms with Ji-Hye and ran to Ye-ji. 

"Yeji, where are you going?" 

"Go to the canteen. So why don't you go too? I got a lot of pocket money yesterday. I can buy you some juice."

Ye-ji took out her wallet from her hoodie pocket and waved it up and down as if showing off. Da-seo cheered at her.

"You finally bought a new wallet!"

"That's right. Isn't it really pretty? My grandmother gave me pocket money, so I went with the design you recommended last time. I heard you really have a great eye." 

Ye-ji's eyes turned to Ji-Hye, who was standing quietly behind her.

"She writes exceptionally well, unlike anyone else." 

"Ye-ji."

When Da-seo held out her hand, calling Ye-ji's name reproachfully, Ye-ji quickly shut her mouth and handed Da-seo her wallet. Daseo accepted Ye-ji's wallet with a happy face.

"You did as I said and bought this, right? I saw it at the department store and thought it was yours."

"I think it was a really good buy."

Ji-hye, who instantly became air, looked out the window in a familiar manner. Da-seo felt like it was too late and quickly looked back at Ji-Hye.

"Ji-hye, isn't your wallet old too? I'll pick one for you."

"I'm done. It's still usable."

"Ah. I see."

Da-seo felt a little embarrassed by the overly firm tone. So she quickly changed the topic.

"Break time is over. Let's go to the canteen quickly. Do you want to go too?"

"It's okay. I'll go to class first."

"... Okay. I'll see you in class then."

Da-seo refused without a moment of hesitation and stared at Ji-hye's back as she returned to her class.

There was no trace of regret on Ji-hye's face as she refused. Sometimes, Da-seo doubted whether Ji-hye and she were friends. Could it be that she's just being one-sided? 

Ji-hye doesn't want to go alone, so she just goes with her. That was the moment when Da-seo thought so.

"I really don't know why you hang out with him."

Ye-ji said, crossing her arms around Daseo as if she had been waiting.

"Others said she was split in half with the girl she was with. Isn't that why she has no choice but to go with you?"

Da-seo was shocked when Ye-ji repeated exactly what she had just thought. Still, she didn't want to admit it.

"Ji-hye is not that kind of person."

"Then what is it? Does she even think of you as a friend?" 

Didn't Ye-ji really learn mind reading? Da-seo looked somewhere else for no reason.

"Don't say things like that to Ji-hye. How bad is it to compare?"

"But it's true that Ji-hye is worse at writing than you."

"It's just a different writing style. The charm of Ji-hye's writings is that they are calm and emotional."

 

"Still."

Da-seo folded her arms and looked at Ye-ji with a straight face. 

"You really don't say that again."

"Okay, sorry."

Da-seo, who was always smiling brightly, looked so sad that Ye-ji immediately lowered her voice, probably because she was scared. Ye-ji wrapped her arms around Da-seo again.

'I'm really sorry. I was just jealous and upset because it seemed like you were only taking care of her these days."

"..."

"Ji-hye may really think of you as a friend, but since you are so good to her...Okay, I'll be really careful from now on. Please let go of your anger."

It was just as Ye-seo said. Da-seo really liked Ji-hye. They say that in any relationship, the one you like more loses. That was true. But Da-seo really liked Ye-ji. She valued both of them equally, to the point where she couldn't easily answer when asked which of the two she liked better.

But at least for now.

"It's okay. We won't be able to do that in the future." 

Foresight was better. As they have known each other for longer than Ji-hye, Ye-ji revealed her feelings without hesitation. She also found it cute to see her jealous that she had another friend.

"Do you want to go to a cafe together this week?" 

More than anything, Ye-ji liked meeting herself outside. Unlike Ji-hye, who only finds herself at school even after death. 

"While we're meeting, let's check out some shoes at a nearby store. I heard something really pretty came out this time."

"I saw it too. There are so many pretty sneakers these days." 

"If you have money later, why don't we get some sneakers together? Huh?" 

Ye-ji was a charming and honest child in front of herself. So Da-seo didn't even know in her dreams. She had no idea that Ye-ji would be verbally abusing her in her absence.

"Ji-hye. Would you like to go to a study cafe together? Ye-ji is already okay."

"Sorry, I don't like that kind of thing."

Another rejection today. However, Da-seo did not give up and asked. 

"Don't do that. There's a new place. Let's go together. The interior and atmosphere are really nice."

"What is the name of that study cafe?"

 "XX Study Cafe.

"..."

Ji-hye lowered her head, then took out her cell phone and searched for that cafe. Ji-Hye said while looking at the price list.

"Are other study cafes like this?" 

"Of course."

"... I see."

Ji-hye refused once more.

"I'm really done. I do well when I study alone." 

"... Yes? Then what about the movie? You can at least watch a movie, right? Let's finish studying quickly this weekend and go see a movie. The thing I wanted to see was released... Can we see you next week instead of this week? This week is a b it close."

Ji-hye put her cell phone away.

"I miss you this week, why? Have you spent all your pocket money?"

"..."

And Ji-hye didn't say anything. Da-seo knew that Ji-hye was quiet and obedient to her parents, but she couldn't help but feel frustrated whenever things like this happened.

Ji-hye's monthly allowance was very small. However, Ji-hye managed to buy books and play with herself with that money. She was able to live because her relatives sometimes gave her money without her parents' knowledge.

Wouldn't it be okay to negotiate with your parents to increase your allowance? 

Depending on grades or something like that. Daseo frowned without realizing it.

Does she not have that much will and courage? She just needs to say one thing to her parents. 'I'll do better in the future, so please raise my allowance.'

Then, her parents will see what she does and give her a raise in allowance. But Da-seo didn't bother to say it out loud. Even if she says it dozens of times, she knows Ji-hye won't do it. Instead, she said.

"Then I'll take care of the movie tickets. I have the movie tickets I got last time."

"How come? It's okay." 

"You can buy it next time. Take it easy." 

"No, it's really okay. Go see it with someone else." 

Da-seo thought with his hands in the pockets of her gym uniform. Why doesn't she know that it's meaningless without her? 

Da-seo wanted to have fun with Ji-hye somewhere other than school. But if she says she wants to go to a place that doesn't cost money, will she go? That wasn't it either. 

Da-seo thought for a moment and then asked.

"Then can I go to your house? Let's study together." 

"No. My brother's friends are coming this weekend." 

"We just have to study in your room."

"I don't think that will work either. My family is going on a trip soon, so I'll make sure to invite you then."

I'm getting frustrated again. Da-seo glared at Ji-hye sullenly. Other kids, even if their parents are the same, are merciless towards their younger brother, but she doesn't know why Ji-hye is so weak towards her younger brother.

"Hey, I'm sorry I kept saying no."

".."

Is she really saying sorry? Or is she just saying it?

Da-seo wanted to ask that question, but she tried to swallow it down. The reason her relationship with Ji-hye became awkward was because she didn't want to die.

Previous            Next