How to Survive the Horror Novel I Wrote
Chapter 28
I looked back, trying my best to pretend nothing was wrong. The anxiety densely blanketing my chest rustled and swayed.
A typhoon sweeping me away without anyone knowing, a disaster I had summoned, an abyss that had come to swallow my life whole—spoke from the darkness.
“I think I love you too much.”
Those words crashed over me like a tsunami, sweeping away every thought that had filled my head. Nothing remained. I froze in place, blankly staring back at Ugeum.
Ugeum added in a subdued voice.
“Even more than I thought.”
That was Ugeum’s judgment.
I realized the hidden meaning behind his words.
I’ll let you fool me.
It also meant this:
So you can relax now.
And in that moment, the tension I hadn’t let go of for a single second since grabbing Ugeum by the collar in the dark living room last night snapped, and the dense anxiety shrouding my heart crumbled away.
The fear receded, replaced by a surge of emotion. It wasn’t something I should have been moved by. Even though it was none other than Ugeum who had been strangling me, I couldn’t help feeling impossibly grateful to him for loosening his grip on my throat.
“Haa…….”
A sigh of relief spilled from my lips.
Because this single breath was so precious.
Because I could finally breathe.
Because I was so glad.
As if possessed, I stepped toward Ugeum and threw my arms around him.
Ugeum stiffened in slight surprise, then wrapped his arms around my back with a tender, cautious touch.
You probably have no idea. How helplessly your kindness tears me apart.
I whispered in a choked voice.
“Me too…….”
This was a lie, too. Words I didn’t mean in the slightest. Yet somehow, I felt as if I were falling for my own lie.
Hearing my words, Ugeum leaned down and pulled me into a deep embrace. I rested my cheek against his shoulder, surrendering myself to his arms.
It was strange.
To me, Ju Ugeum was the most dangerous person in the world, so why did he feel like the safest place in the world right now?
* * *
For the first time in a long while, I slept deeply without dreaming. My mind was calm, thanks to the tension, nerves, and anxiety that had plagued me since yesterday vanishing without a trace.
<I think I love you too much. Even more than I thought.>
Ugeum was right. The Ju Ugeum I created was someone who might pretend to be fooled, but never someone who would let himself be deceived on purpose.
Yet going this far meant he truly loved me. Even more than I thought.
Suddenly, my thoughts drifted to the Cursed Manuscript. A memoir of my life whose genre had yet to be determined. I could definitely turn this into a romance. If I was right.
I opened the Cursed Manuscript to check Ugeum’s true feelings. But all I could confirm was the fact that this text was a novel.
[“I think I love you too much.”
Ugeum quietly added toward the blankly frozen Ji-an.
“Even more than I thought.”
]
After that, only my inner thoughts trailed on and on. There was not a trace of Ugeum’s inner monologue. This rotten keyboard had hidden the male lead’s point of view. The reason was obvious: because it was more entertaining that way. It truly read like a novel.
It was utterly infuriating. Who was it trying to entertain by hiding it? Nobody else could even read this anyway. I was the only reader, and I wasn’t having fun in the slightest.
“Hey. Give me Ju Ugeum’s POV. Ju Ugeum’s POV. Ju Ugeum’s POV!”
Enraged, I slammed on the keyboard. The keyboard remained dead silent.
Suppressing the urge to chuck it into the trash can, I shoved the keyboard into my bag. The one in need had no choice but to endure. I couldn’t afford another disaster like the day before yesterday, where Ugeum roamed around and I couldn’t see the manuscript.
Because this damn keyboard only flew to me when Ugeum started moving. And while he was active, it wouldn’t budge from that spot. So the desperate one simply had to bear it.
I took On-dam and left the house earlier than usual. Since Ugeum had picked me up yesterday, I had left my car at school and needed to take the bus.
However, the keyboard began typing while we were in the elevator.
I clicked my tongue internally. How diligent. It seemed Ugeum was already searching for someone again first thing in the morning. Someone who had never existed.
But that wasn’t it. Ugeum had parked his car in front of the apartment entrance and was waiting for us. His face, rolling down the window to wave with a smile, was radiant.
I didn’t even need to ask what brought him here. He had come to give us a ride.
Shaking my head, I got into the passenger seat with a smile. On-dam, who got into the back seat right after, spoke in a playful tone.
“Looks like you two made up nicely yesterday.”
“You catch on quick.”
Replying smoothly, Ugeum winked at me.
He didn’t scare me anymore.
* * *
When I went down to the parking lot after work, Ugeum was waiting once again. I couldn’t hide my reluctant expression.
Was he really insisting on coming along? To his own grave?
Seeing my face, Ugeum gave a wry smile and said,
“Don’t make that face. I’ll just drop you off in front of the police station. Having me wait outside will be much more reassuring for you than going all by yourself, won’t it?”
If only he knew.
However, refusing any further risked raising suspicion. Reluctantly, I got into Ugeum’s car, leaving behind my own car, which had been merely taking up space in the school parking lot for two days now.
Ugeum kept his word. Leaving him in the car, I headed into the police station alone.
In all my life, I never dreamed I would step foot into a police station on my own again. Strictly speaking, where I had gone back then was a police substation, though.
In truth, I didn’t trust the police. Because trusting them had burned me before.
It happened twenty years ago already. When I was nine years old. Around the time my stepfather’s violent abuse was growing worse by the day.
One day, after being beaten by my stepfather like usual, unlike usual, I ran away from home and went to the police substation. Alone, crying, my hair a tangled mess.
<Please save me! Uwaaah. Please save me.>
At the time, there were only three uniformed police officers in the substation. When a crying child barged in and begged them to save her out of the blue, they rushed over in a fluster of confusion.
Surrounded by them, I bawled loudly enough to bring the station down.
The oldest officer among them squatted down in front of me. Meeting my eye level, he asked with a worried face,
<Little girl, why are you crying? What brought you here?>
<T-To report. Hic. I came to report someone. Sob.>
Crying, I told him everything. That my stepfather beat me every day. That Mom didn’t even try to stop him. That it hurt so much and I was terrified.
At that, he held me and comforted me.
<Don’t be scared. This police officer will protect you.>
<Really?>
<Of course.>
<Will you promise?>
<I promise.>
He hooked his pinky with mine and promised. We even pressed our thumbs together to seal the stamp.
He patted my head and said,
<It’ll be okay now.>
His warm touch reminded me of my late dad. Although my memories were already fading back then, the police officer’s face seemed to resemble my beloved father.
So I truly believed everything would be okay. That was why I answered without hesitation when he asked for our home phone number. Because he had promised to protect me.
Before long, Mom and Stepfather arrived at the substation. Terrified, I hid behind the officer.
There was no affection in Mom’s gaze as she glanced at me. No vitality, either.
With eyes like a dead fish, Mom lied. She said this was the first time Stepfather had ever hit me.
<It’s not the first time! He beats me every day! Mom, why are you lying!>
I screamed out of pure indignation, but nobody listened to me.
Stepfather apologized to the police with uncharacteristic politeness, saying he was sorry for causing trouble. And the excuse he offered was utterly preposterous.
<I was just trying to fix her manners and went a bit too far.>
What was even more appalling was the police officer’s reaction.
<Ah, I understand. Kids sometimes need a spanking to listen. I have children of my own, so how could I not get it? Still, sir, times have changed. You should discipline in moderation. Look, you made the child come all the way to the police station.>
What did this mean? It was hard for my young mind to comprehend. But one thing was crystal clear: something was terribly wrong. It felt as if the officer had turned into a completely different person. His two-faced attitude left me dumbfounded.
<I am sorry, truly sorry.>
Stepfather, who lorded over the house like a king, bowed and scraped like a fly before public authority. I had never seen him like that before.
I realized the police officer was far stronger than Stepfather. This officer could protect me. Just as he had promised.
And yet.
<Come on now, time to go home.>
He ruthlessly peeled me away from behind his back and pushed me forward. His touch was firm and coldhearted.
I couldn’t believe it. He said he would protect me. He said everything would be okay now.
Staring up at him in shock, I dug my heels in and resisted with all my might. But there was no matching the strength of an adult. I was swiftly shoved toward Stepfather. It felt like being pushed off the edge of the world.
<Your dad says he’s sorry, too.>
He lied right to my face. Stepfather had never apologized to me. He had only apologized to them.
<Ha Jian. Stop bothering the police officer and come here.>
Stepfather strode over, seized my wrist with a hand as huge as an iron lid, and dragged me out. Even though his manner was exceedingly violent, not a single soul stopped him.
Being dragged out of the substation, I looked back at the police officer. He was smiling and waving his hand.
Only then did I realize that his promise to protect me was a lie. I should never have trusted someone like the police. There wasn’t a single person in this world to trust.
Shuddering at the painful memory, I headed toward the Detective Division office. Looking for Detective Ji Eunpal, who had called me yesterday.
Yet the moment I stepped into the office, someone collapsed right in front of me with the dull thud of tearing leather.
“Gasp.”
Startled, I gasped and took a step back.
The person sprawled on the floor was a large man with tattoos covering his arms. Pushing his upper body up abruptly, he glared up at someone and shouted in fury,
“A cop hitting a civilian?! I’m gonna sue you!”
Involuntarily, I followed his gaze and turned my head. There stood a man even more massive than the one on the floor. It was like looking at a bear stuffed into a dress shirt. He looked as if he could beat a tiger to death with his bare hands.
The bear-like middle-aged man sneered with a fierce smirk.
“Go ahead and sue, sue all you want. We can meet at the station and see each other in court.”
Then, sensing my gaze, he looked toward me. The sneer hanging around his mouth vanished without a trace, replaced by a gentle, benevolent expression.
“How can I help you?”