ICTV - Chapter 103

ICTV - Chapter 103

I change The Villain

"Domestic violence? Oh, that's okay too. Domestic violence is one of the most serious social problems. I'll tell other writers too."

"Yes, please."

Da-seo hung up the phone and ran home. Fortunately, other writers also accepted Da-seo's opinion positively.

"I too was a victim of domestic violence. For some reason, this topic feels familiar."

"And the suspect?"

"Huh. My parents still don't acknowledge what they did to me as abuse."

"..."

"Still, I'm a fortunate case. Even though my parents didn't know, I, the victim, recognized it as abuse. So I was able to cut ties with my parents and move out of the house." 

"...What if you don't recognize it as abuse?"

"It's obvious. I can never leave the house. That's my friend's condition right now. Even when I told him to leave the house because his mouth hurt, he just kept saying, But they're a parent. I knew then. Nothing will ever change unless you realize it."

Da-seo thought for a moment. Could it be that Ji-hye didn't tell her, not because she didn't trust her, but because she didn't know that it was abuse?

No, that won't be it. Ji-hye read articles about domestic violence whenever she could. Rather, she was the one who didn't know it was abuse.

Da-seo fell into self-destruction again. But she wasn't as helpless as before. Even when she was eating and when she was sleeping, she wrote. Although she could not write a single word of other writing, she was able to write with concentration when it came to writing about Ji-hye.

Da-seo wanted to let people know as soon as possible how terrible the atrocities committed by Ji-hye's family were. Because Da-seo couldn't sleep properly, she was taken to the hospital.

Every time, Da-seo's parents looked at her with pride, saying that one cannot fake a writer's blood. She thought about it when she couldn't write much.

Ji-hye. She couldn't save that kid. She thinks she can at least save other kids who are similar to Ji-hye. 

When Da-seo thought about that, she was able to write. Other writers were also stimulated by Da-seo's story and appearance, so they gathered together for meetings from time to time and paid more attention to the manuscript than ever before. 

The short story collection published in that why quickly ranked #1 on the weekly bestseller list. Several articles also appeared. 

And Da-seo received a call from Ji-hye's family. As soon as she answered the phone, they started swearing, but she didn't panic and pressed the record button.

The entire time Da-seo was on the phone with those people, she just pretended like she didn't know anything. She said she was just describing the domestic violence that commonly occurs around them, but why is she doing this? 

Later, they even cried, saying that they were scared if Da-seo kept doing this. 

Ji-hye's family said everything, such as saying they would take legal action and make it public, but they knew they couldn't do that. This is because Da-seo has already reviewed everything before publishing to see if there are any legal issues.

The writing that Da-seo wrote was something that only those who really knew could understand. But why are they running wild? 

It is not for nothing that thieves are said to be paralyzed. They were already very sensitive because of that incident, and it was only natural that a book was published detailing what they had done, and it was being praised as the best book of the year. 

When Ji-hye's family found out that they couldn't legally take action, they started crying and complaining.

Ji-hye's family said that they too were having a hard time. If she forgets, someone always mentions the older sister in the comments and says that her younger brother is a waste of money. The equipment she bought for broadcasting was already sold as used.

She said that if more books are sold in the future, it will be more difficult for his younger brother, but shouldn't the person who bought it survive?

Da-seo was dumbfounded by those words. No matter how difficult it was, she thought it must have been as difficult as Ji-Hye. It's all their fault that something like this happened in the first place, and it's their karma. It's not worth listening to anymore.

Da-seo answered in a mechanical tone.

"I don't know why you're telling me that."

With those words, Da-seo blocked Ji-hye's family. Once the book went viral, it started selling faster and in greater numbers. Other writers' works were also well received, but the part written by Da-seo was the most popular. 

They said it was the most realistic and dealt with the discrimination and abuse that commonly occur around them.

The publisher asked Da-seo if she had any thoughts on her next work, but with that book as her last book, Da-seo could no longer write. Writers who publish short story collections together have already published their next works, such as web novels or essays.

Consulting with her father or other writers yielded little benefit. 

"When I can't write. I take a good rest.  After all, isn't that the only answer?"

"If you take a break, there will come a time when you just want to write. Honestly, you worked too hard. Even when I was a teenager, I was busy competing in writing competitions." 

"... I don't think that's why I can't use it." 

"Then?"

"..."

"Is it still because of that friend?" 

Da-seo didn't say anything. Although she did not have to worry about living expenses, it was a great pain to Da-seo not to be able to write the articles she always took for granted 

Tears welled up in the eyes of her grandmother, who often came to fill the refrigerator.

"There is no need to take after your parents. Come on, hold on just a little longer. It is not for nothing that they say that time is medicine." 

The grandmother stroked Da-seo's hair and prepared her a meal. 

"No matter how difficult it is now, your eyes will be drawn to other things. So, until then, eat well and Iive hard. Understand?" 

"... Yes." 

"Don't forget to eat and take herbal medicine. I heard that your body seems weak these days, so I brought it to you from a wealthy house."

Da-seo didn't want to worry her family, so she did as her grandmother told her. But she kept missing Ji-hye. The child who always listened to her stories silently and stayed by her side.

"I had many times more comfortable moments thanks to her than boring moments."

Why does she focus on the bad moments... 

Da-seo buried her face in her knees. What the grandmother said was wrong this time. 

As time passed, her condition only worsened. She later found it annoying even her grandmother who frequently asked her how she was doing.

"Maybe send her abroad. Does it make sense to leave a child like that?"

"No, mother. You know her personality well. Once she's hooked, she has to let herself fall in love with it until it cools off."

Da-seo stood in front of the door and silently overheard the phone conversation between her grandmother and her mother.

"But isn't it time for things to get better? That kid has been dead for quite some time."

"How cruel it is to make people notice that they are sad. Mother, please leave her alone. I know my children best."

"How dare you, the child you know so well, not be here when she needs her parents the most?" 

"Mother."

"No matter how important your work activities are, are they more important than your children?" 

The grandmother became more and more fussy. Da-seo closed her eyes tightly.

"No matter how good you are on a daily basis, what can you do? Okay, stop! It's my baby, but it's really gross!"

In the end, today's phone call ended with a shouting match.

"Da-seo, it looks like your mom and dad aren't planning on coming this week either!"

"Yes. It's an important time."

In addition to her father, her mother also started working again this year. But unlike her father, she only has time on weekends because her mother is also a professor. The less time there is, the more obsessed writers become with their work.

Da-seo fully understood her mother.

"Aren't you sad?"

"Because my parents are usually good to me. I'm not very disappointed."

"No, no matter what! How could it be at a time like this?!" 

"What's strange about that?"

"... What?"

Da-seo liked everything about her grandma, but she didn't like this, Da-seo said in a slightly annoyed tone. 

"If something really important comes to mind, you should just look a tit and run for it."

"..."

"Grandma, I'm really fine. So don't do that to my mom. What can I do if you don't understand this between parents and children?" 

After saying those words, Da-seo lay down on the bed again. No, she was going to lie down.

"Then you too."

"Yes?" 

The grandmother's body was shaking. 

"... Would you do the same when your baby was in this situation?" 

"I'm not going to get married."

"Can you even imagine having a baby of your own?"

“Ah, yes."

In cases like this, it's better to just quietly accept it. When Da-seo answered silently, her grandmother asked the question again. 

"Are you going to leave when your baby is having a hard time because that work is more important?"

"Grandma. Both I and my parents have experienced it so we all know. This kind of thing...."

"Don't talk back, just answer what's asked!"

"..."

Da-seo remained silent for a moment and then answered honestly. 

"I think it depends on how important the work is." 

"... You really look like your parents to no avail."

The grandmother was truly disgusted and roughly stuffed her phone into her bag.

"Grandma, why are you doing this?"

"Your family doesn't feel like family. If you're a family, your priority must be each other! How can the first place be that damn article?"

"Grandma!" 

"I wish you were different from your parents! It's truly terrible!"

Bang. 

The door was closed. Da-seo groaned as she looked at the closed door.

She never said that writing was more important than family. Writing is just as important as family. 

Da-seo knows full well that if someone asks her whether she would choose her family or write, she will never be able to answer. And the fact that her parents, rather than being disappointed about that fact, would think it was okay. That's how important writing was to Da-seo's family.

Why does her grandmother have to talk like that? She said she didn't need any medicine or food in the first place, but they forced her to provide it.

Da-seo suddenly stood up after pounding on the cushion with her fist. She's so sad that she wants to tell someone.

But Daseo knew. If her grandmother was that disgusted, she knew that other people would do more to her than her grandmother, and she would never react any less. 

Da-seo inadvertently thought of Ji-hye again. If it was Jihye, she would never have reacted like her grandmother. There was an overwhelmingly high probability that Ji-hye would just do whatever she wanted. 

Da-seo, who had inadvertently imagined talking to Ji-hye, just rubbed her sad face.

"..."

She lost the friend she wanted to spend her whole life with, and the things that were as important as her family were no longer possible. It would be difficult to lose just one of them but to lose them both at the same time...

Da-seo just looked up at the ceiling and then got up. 

"Let's go for a walk."

If she stays still, only bad thoughts will increase. Da-seo left the house wearing only her outer clothes. She doesn't know if she's been out for the first time in a few days. 

Da-seo, who was walking while blocking the sunlight with her palm, entered a large bookstore nearby.

Meanwhile, a lot of new books were coming out. Da-seo, who was wandering in front of the bookshelf like a ghost, found a book. 

< Do you know your flower>

This book. Ji-hye was recommended because it was fun. However, at that time, she was so obsessed with modern fantasy that she had no time to be interested in other genres.

Da-seo put the book on the counter. She hopes that after reading this book, she will feel motivated again and start writing whatever comes to mind. 

While making that wish, Da-seo left the bookstore...

"But the best thing is... I will meet Ji-hye again, right?"

That was the moment when Da-seo thought so.

Bwaang!!!

A motorcycle suddenly came out from the corner of the alley.

***

"After that, it was obvious. When I opened my eyes, I found myself in this woman's body. At first, I was confused. Wow, as expected, theory and practice are different."

She's getting thirsty because she keeps talking. Violet poured tea directly into the empty teacup and took a shot.

"The setting, which is so common in fantasy novels that you might get tired of it, was incredibly refreshing when I became a party to it. The stories the people here said and every item they had were fresh materials. It's been a long time since I've been itching to write."

"..."

"And writing about it definitely makes the pain of losing you lessen. I stayed in my room like that and continued writing until I signed a contract with a publishing company. You may have already read it too. It's hard to say it myself, but the book I wrote is quite famous. That's the title...."

Rose raised her hand. Violet became curious.

"What's the matter?"

"Excuse me. Wait for a second."

Rose asked with a serious face. 

"So what about <Do You Know Your Flower>?"

"Huh?"

"Did you end up not reading that book?"

"I didn't have time to read. Because I had an accident like that when I was returning from buying that book."

Violet shook the empty teapot lightly.

"Damn, that guy on the motorcycle. I don't know what would have happened to him. I can't believe he's speeding like that on a road with so many people. That guy must have been a high school student because he was wearing a school uniform. Still, I think it's really nice to be able to write again. Oh, should we ask for a refill of our tea first? I want to chat with you more...." 

Rose still had a serious look on her face. Violet had no choice but to ask.

"Hey, what's wrong?" 

"No. I think I know why you hung out with Edgar." 

"Huh??"

Rose taught Violet, who still did not understand, the truth.

"This is the world in the book."

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