How to Survive the Horror Novel I Wrote
Chapter 18
<You're all I have.>
All throughout lunch sitting across from Ugeum, I chewed over the words I had heard in the car. The words saying he had only me.
It was not sweet talk. It was a fact. Ugeum had no family and no friends. He did not even have an accomplice.
Had my own loneliness been reflected in the character without me realizing it? When Ugeum was just text on a page, I had not felt guilty at all, but seeing him as a living, breathing person eating and drinking in front of me made my heart ache with sympathy.
Ugeum was utterly alone. Every human relationship he had was a fake connection forged solely out of necessity for the hunt.
I was the one who made him that way. Because Ugeum was the incarnation of terror. Because he had to be a frightening existence. Rather than an ordinary person with family and friends, I wanted to create a ghost who appeared without a sound and dragged the wicked down to hell.
Ugeum was right. To him, I was the only person in the world. The first one to form a genuine bond with him. Even if it was fabricated.
A heavy, dry guilt made the grains of rice in my mouth feel as rough as sand.
After finishing the meal, Ugeum drove me back to school.
“Thanks for the ride,” I said in a brief farewell, and just as I was about to get out of the car, Ugeum called out to stop me.
“Jian-ah.”
Pausing, I turned around, and Ugeum spoke with a serious look on his face.
“If anything is troubling you, tell me.”
“……”
For a moment, I was at a loss for words. Lately, my life had been nothing but trouble, and Ugeum, who was saying this, was the very source of all my hardships.
Still, I was grateful for his concern, so I asked with an awkward, self-conscious smile,
“If I tell you… will you solve it for me?”
Ugeum replied without a trace of a smile.
“Whatever is within my power.”
The faint smile on my lips instantly evaporated along with his. It was because only the worst things Ugeum was capable of doing came to mind: kidnapping, murder, secret burial.
“I appreciate the thought. See you later.”
I got out of the car.
Leaving Ugeum’s car behind, I walked back toward the school, my steps growing heavier with every stride. I really, truly, desperately did not want to go back. What kind of cold treatment and contempt awaited me this time?
My chest felt suffocated, and breathing was difficult. Letting out sigh after sigh, I stepped into the school. Lunchtime was over, so the hallway was quiet.
I did not have a fifth-period class, but I could not help feeling self-conscious. Bracing myself for the stinging glares that would shower down on me, I entered the Teachers’ Room.
Yet no one glared at me. Instead, whenever our eyes met, they gave me an apologetic nod.
What on earth happened? Ever since my falling out with Mo Yeyeon, most of the teachers had radiated ice whenever they looked at me, but now it felt as if a warm breeze was blowing from somewhere.
Dazed, I returned to my desk and sat down. Colleagues who had always gotten along well with me before turning cold recently approached with embarrassed expressions to talk.
“Teacher Jian, did you have a nice lunch with your boyfriend?”
What was their angle? Were they being sarcastic?
My guard bristled like thorns.
“……Yes.”
“You know… we realize we’ve hurt your feelings all this time. We’re really sorry.”
The sudden apology took the wind right out of my sails. As I stared at them in bewilderment, the other teachers began speaking up one after another.
“We totally misunderstood you, Teacher Jian.”
“I didn’t think Teacher Ye-yeon was that kind of person, but she’s so sly. Framing you like that, Teacher Jian.”
“Exactly. A thief thinks everyone steals.”
They immediately launched into badmouthing Mo Yeyeon. Watching them did not sit well with me. Up until this morning, they were probably talking behind my back in this exact same way.
So why the sudden flip-flop to my side?
“Um…”
Unable to hold back, I interrupted the conversation.
“Did something happen while I was gone?”
[After Jian left the Teachers’ Room led by Ugeum’s hand, the teachers who had taken Mo Yeyeon’s side and criticized Jian surrounded Mo Yeyeon.
“Teacher Ye-yeon, what’s going on? You said Teacher Jian asked for a blind date first.”
Mo Yeyeon’s face flushed crimson. She knew it, too. Her lie had been exposed.
On the faces of the teachers encircling her was not suspicion questioning if it were really true, but a deep certainty that there was no way it could be.
This was all because of Ugeum. Mo Yeyeon had not known. That Ha Jian’s boyfriend would be so incredibly handsome and capable. That he would come all the way to the school. If she had known beforehand, she would not have piled on the lie that Ha Jian was the one who asked for a blind date.
But it was already too late. Spilled water could not be gathered back, and time could not be rewound. In times like this, feigning ignorance was the best option.
“So what?”
“Teacher Ye-yeon, are you blind? You saw Teacher Jian’s boyfriend. Who would ask for a set-up with another guy when they have a boyfriend like that?”
Yet Mo Yeyeon retorted stubbornly.
“We don’t know what Teacher Jian’s personal taste is.”
Disbelieving scoffs erupted here and there. Every teacher listening to Mo Yeyeon wore a look of pure exasperation.
Amidst the commotion, the quiet Math Teacher chimed in calmly.
“I heard it. Teacher Mo asking Teacher Ha for a blind date.”
“Don’t lie! Then why are you only speaking up now?”
When Mo Yeyeon snapped viciously, he replied nonchalantly.
“Because I was afraid Teacher Mo would throw sparks at me like this.”
Past Mo Yeyeon, who was frozen in speechless shock, rushed glances of betrayal, sneering faces, snorts, scoffing chuckles, and the clicking of tongues.
Left all alone in the deserted Teachers’ Room, Mo Yeyeon trembled with clenched fists amidst the chilly silence.
She knew all too well that this was merely the beginning.]
Even after coming home from work and reading through the Cursed Manuscript, I sat blankly in front of the computer. It was a strange feeling. The fact that the entire situation was resolved just by Ugeum showing his face…
Come to think of it, this had all started because of Ugeum in the first place. If I had not had to walk on eggshells around Ju Ugeum and ditch that damn blind date, I would not have gotten on Mo Yeyeon’s bad side.
All my troubles started because of Ugeum, and they were resolved thanks to Ugeum. It felt like I was dancing in the palm of Ju Ugeum’s hand. And yet, I had not realized it. Oblivious to it all… I had liked it.
When Ugeum showed up in that Teachers’ Room where not a single person was on my side, when he looked at me and called my name, when he walked over and took my hand—honestly, he felt like a savior. When I heard him say he had no one but me, I was purely happy.
Looking back, goosebumps rose on my skin. Just because he was a little nice to me, I had fallen completely for it and let my guard down. I might as well have lost my mind. If I get caught like this, it could mean death. Whether what gets exposed is my feelings or my true identity, the outcome would be the exact same.
Clack-clack, clack-clack.
Suddenly, the Cursed Keyboard began to type on its own. Ugeum was making a move.
In an instant, the back of my neck stiffened. Wondering if he was coming to me.
But when I checked the manuscript, Ugeum was at home writing an email.
An email? What kind of email?
The moment I furrowed my brow, a chime rang out. A pop-up window appeared on my phone screen resting beside the computer. It was an email notification, and it was for the Mun Seongwon account, which I only used for sending manuscripts.
My blood ran cold. Even before opening the email, I was certain it was Ugeum.
Swallowing dry spit, I opened the email.
From: Anonymous
To: Mun Seongwon
Hello, Author.
I am a reader who was deeply impressed by the Night Series you penned.
How do you write with such vivid realism?
The entire process of Ju Ugeum tracking down and punishing the narrator, who deserved to die, unfolded so clearly before my eyes that it felt as if I were executing the punishment myself.
However, there is one thing I am curious about.
The events and characters in the story bear an uncanny resemblance to what I know, yet there was no mention of it being based on a true story.
If you are open to it, I would like to meet in person to hear about how you conceived the characters and events when writing the Night Series, and if there was a motif, where and how you found it, as well as stories about the overall writing process.
I will look forward to a positive response.
Though disguised as a fan letter, this was a trap. A trap to lure out Mun Seongwon.
How on earth did he find this email address? Aside from sending manuscripts to my editor once every few months, I never used it.
As expected of Ju Ugeum… Truly worthy of an all-powerful character who gets whatever he wants, wherever and however, without fail. He was exactly the same in reality.
But now was not the time to be admiring him. It felt like only a matter of time before Ugeum uncovered my identity.
Along with the snowballing anxiety, the sound of my heartbeat grew louder. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. My whole body resonated, and my entire mind rattled.
The only reason Ugeum was attentive and sweet to me was because he did not know.
Because he did not know that I did not love him, did not know that I was Mun Seongwon, and did not know that I had manipulated the situation to become his lover.
If Ugeum found out the whole truth, what would he do to me?
The tongue that lied to Ugeum.
The ten fingers that toyed with Ugeum.
The heart that deceived Ugeum’s love.
As Mun Seongwon, the author of the Night Series, I could guarantee with utter certainty that I would lose those three things.
I would be murdered without a chance to escape. When love is flipped, it turns to hatred. Is that not the most frequent regular in crime reports? A crime of passion.
No. I could not just sit here and wait for death. Before Ugeum finds me, I have to turn him into a romance male lead. I must, if I want to survive.
I rushed to call Ugeum, but hesitated. If I called him right after he sent the email to Mun Seongwon, it might arouse suspicion.
It would be better to wait until tomorrow.
—Yes, Jian-ah.
Ugeum answered the call in a tender voice.
I got straight to the point.
“Do you want to go on a date with me today?”
—I’m sorry, I can’t today.
I thought he would say yes without hesitation, but Ugeum said he had something to do and asked if tomorrow would be okay instead.
What Ugeum had to do was obvious. Either hunting or tracking. He was probably picking someone to kill or scouring around for Mun Seongwon.
“I can’t do tomorrow.”
Now, I did not even hesitate to lie. Even though Ugeum was a man who could not understand lies and never forgave betrayal. Breaking his trust was vastly better than losing my life.
—Then it can’t be helped. Let’s meet on Monday.
Without making my lie even remotely worthwhile, Ugeum stepped back coolly.
Somehow, I felt aggrieved. He claimed he loved me. Did this jerk lie to me?
While I was watching the Cursed Manuscript to see what Ugeum was up to, a chime rang out. It was a new email.
What is it this time?
Chewing on my thumb out of habit, I opened the email.
I thought it was Ugeum, but this time it was Oh Haejun. It was practically spam. After an endless stream of praise directed at the Night Series and Mun Seongwon, there was an attached plea begging to meet.
Right, this guy existed too.
It was a headache. Pressing firmly on my throbbing temples, I closed the email page and returned to the manuscript.
In the manuscript, Ugeum was on a call. But the person on the other end was someone I knew very well.
[—I would like to visit today.
“As I mentioned, that would be difficult. We take weekends off, too.”
—The person answering the phone is at the office, isn’t he?
“I’m the only one here. And I plan to leave as soon as I finish up what I’m working on right now.”
At Ugeum’s persistence, Haejun expressed reluctance while tilting his head.
‘Wait, this voice… where have I heard it before?’]
Oh Haejun. Why is this guy popping up here?
I could easily guess why Ugeum’s voice sounded familiar to Oh Haejun. He must have heard it through the room door when he was hiding in my bedroom.
An imaginary scene flashed through my mind: Oh Haejun recalling Ugeum’s voice and gasping in astonishment, “Author Mun Seongwon?”
Yet before my heart could prematurely burst from worry, Ugeum crushed it first.
[—Would it still be difficult even if I am an acquaintance of Author Mun Seongwon?
Ugeum asked again.]
It felt like a bomb exploded inside my chest. Boom, boom, boom. My whole body was shaken by the sound of my bursting heart.
Did he find out?
No. That could not be. If he had found out, he would have come to me. Not the publishing company.
That is a lie. It was an obvious scheme to use Mun Seongwon’s name to get into the publisher.
[“Oh my, you should have said so from the start! I’ll be waiting.”
—I’ll head over right now.]
I sprang up from my seat. I could never let the two of them meet.
Ugeum’s target was Mun Seongwon, and even if Oh Haejun did not know Mun Seongwon’s true identity, he knew the address.
If Oh Haejun gave in to Ugeum’s request and handed over my home address, today would mark the anniversary of my death.
I immediately found Oh Haejun’s business card and dialed his number.
—Hello?
“Hello, Assistant Manager Oh Haejun. I’m Author Mun Seongwon’s wife.”
—Ah, yes! Ma’am.
“Could I meet with you right now?”
—Uh, that might be a bit difficult. I came into work today. I’m at the office right now.
“It’s urgent.”
—What kind of matter is it?
“……”
Words suddenly caught in my throat. What was I supposed to say? That my life was on the line? My mind went completely blank, and not a single excuse came to mind.
—I’m sorry, but a guest is scheduled to come by shortly, so I can’t leave my desk.
I wanted to scream that it was precisely because of that guest that I needed to meet him.
—Ma’am? Hello?
It’s no use. Oh Haejun is not going to step out.
“I understand.”
—Ma’am, once I get off work later, I can head over to your place—
I hung up the phone, grabbed my car keys, and sprinted for the front door. No matter what happened, I had to arrive at the publishing company before Ugeum.
