MDSW 1

Chapter : 01

My Daughter Is a Star Writer

I Almost Died Pathetically

Prologue

Do you know what it feels like for a parent to die leaving their child behind?

Every moment of your life becomes stained with regret.

I should’ve hugged her just one more time.
I should’ve told her I loved her just one more time.
I should’ve simply looked at her a little longer.

The more indifferent the parent was, the heavier the regret becomes.

And that kind of parent…

…was me.

Cold. Pathetic.

That’s why I wished for it even more desperately—

A chance to apologize to my daughter after I died.

No… not just apologize.

To beg for forgiveness.

“…Where is this?”

I never imagined that I—who thought I had died—would open my eyes again on the bed in my room.

“Yurina?!”

Meeting my daughter again—whom I thought I would never see again—was clearly a blessing from God.

But God gave me one more blessing.

Wait… 2023? If it’s 2023… that’s three years ago?!

Not only had I come back to life—

I was given a chance to change the past that had been filled with regret.

* * ***

It was truly a pathetic death.

Twelve years ago, I gained a precious daughter—

…and lost my beloved wife at the same time.

As if she somehow knew what would happen, my wife named our unborn daughter Kang Yurina before entering the delivery room.

“Please… raise our Yurina well, okay? I love you.”

Those were the last words she ever said to me.

After that promise I made while sobbing uncontrollably…

I lived doing anything and everything.

TV variety show writer, web content filler writer, tutoring students for college entrance in literature—

I did every kind of writing job I could.

All for one reason:

To protect my daughter, Yurina.

That was the only purpose of my life.

But even I had a dream.

To become a screenwriter—

To see the film credits read: [Screenplay by Kang Sungwoon].

Of course, it was an impossible dream.

Raising a daughter alone meant I had to give up things like that.

But then one day…

I received an email.

“This… this can’t be real…”

It felt like something out of a fantasy.

A love call—from Korea’s star director, Hwang In-wook.

He said he read my script and was deeply impressed. After looking into me, he found that I had worked across many fields and wanted to collaborate.

Overwhelmed, I ran straight to his studio.

There was no reason to refuse.

From that day on, I began working on a film with him.

But that…

…was the beginning of a tragedy.

Because while the film brought me happiness—

…it brought Yurina misery.

“Mr. Yurina’s father, we didn’t receive confirmation for the school event.”

“Oh! I’ve been busy and forgot. I’m sorry. Her grandmother will go.”

“Will you not be attending? Yurina has three performances.”

“Three?! I… I’m sorry. I’m really busy. I’ll come next time.”

It may sound irresponsible…

But I let go of parenting.

Working with Director Hwang was perfect—

…and demanding.

There was no way I could properly raise a child alongside it.

To create something great, I had to give something up.

But I believed…

This was for Yurina.

Hwang In-wook was a director who made blockbuster hits every time.

If I succeeded with him, I could gain wealth and fame.

Then I could give Yurina a better life.

I wanted to be a great father.

Not a struggling freelancer—

…but a successful, respected one.

“Sir, can you not come to sports day? Yurina is eating alone… her grandmother didn’t come either.”

“I’m sorry. My mother is busy today. Could you… eat with her instead?”

“That’s not difficult, but… she was crying earlier…”

Pathetic.

I was truly pathetic.

Still… just endure for now.

If I endure, I can give Yurina something better.

With that thought, I kept focusing only on the film.

And just like that—

Three years passed.

The movie was about to premiere, and my heart felt like it would burst thinking about showing it to Yurina.

How will she react? Will she be amazed? Or shy?

I wanted to proudly show her—

To finally be a father she could be proud of.

I was confident.

I had done everything perfectly.

…But then—

“Yurina, did you bring the field trip form?”

“No. Why would I?”

“What do you mean why? Aren’t you coming to Dad’s movie premiere?”

“I don’t want to watch something like that. It’s only good for you.”

When I heard that…

…it felt like a massive rock crushed my chest.

It hurt more than words can describe.

I even felt a bit angry.

But the one who was truly at fault—

…was me.

Because the one who had been lonely for three years…

…was Yurina.

“Sir, you must come to the parent consultation tomorrow.”

“Yes, I cleared my schedule. Classroom 5-6, right?”

“…It’s 6-5. This is about her middle school admission.”

“…I’m sorry.”

That was when I first realized something was seriously wrong.

What kind of father doesn’t even know his daughter’s grade?

Everything felt like it was collapsing.

“Are you really not coming tomorrow?”

“No.”

“Yurina… if you’re upset with Dad—”

“It’s fine. When have you ever cared about me? Just do your work.”

In those three years…

Yurina had completely closed her heart.

And I realized it too late.

“Congratulations! The movie surpassed 10 million viewers!”

I achieved everything I wanted.

But I wasn’t happy.

Not at all.

Only emptiness remained.

Where did it all go wrong? How do I fix this…?

On my way home, deep in thought—

I saw Yurina.

She was walking with a group of boys in school uniforms.

Then one of them lit a cigarette.

“…!”

I couldn’t look away.

“Hey! Drinking party tonight! Let’s go all out!”

They turned into a motel alley.

And I lost control.

I ran out into the road—

Realizing everything.

This is my fault.
My neglect did this.
I chose wrong.

And then—

SCREECH—!! CRASH!!

A truck hit me.

As my body flew into the air—

I knew I was going to die.

Lying on the ground, bleeding…

My vision fading—

I regretted everything.

I shouldn’t have let go of her hand…
I shouldn’t have left her alone…
I should have kept my promise…

A pathetic death.

That’s what mine was.

Chasing my own desires—

Neglecting my daughter—

And dying before her.

I wanted to turn back time.

I cried like a child.

God… please… I can’t leave her…

Please… give me one more chance…

And then—

A blinding light.

It swallowed me whole.

In that moment, I understood—

God had heard me.

This chance felt like a scolding.

As if saying:

Even the afterlife has no place for a pathetic father like you.

Go back to where your sin began—and fix it.

* * ***

Tick… tick…

When I opened my eyes—

I was in my bedroom.

Alive.

No injuries.

“…Am I really alive?”

Then—

I saw her.

Yurina.

Sleeping beside me.

“…Yurina!”

But something was strange.

She looked…

smaller.

Much younger.

Then I saw the calendar.

September 2023.

“…Three years ago?!”

I had truly returned to the past.

“…Is this… my chance?”

I looked at the ceiling.

No answer came.

So I looked at Yurina.

Tears filled my eyes.

I almost lost her…

I walked toward her—

And knelt beside her.

She looked like an angel.

“My Yurina…”

I hugged her carefully.

Her warmth—

melted my heart.

“Thank you… thank you, God…”

I cried.

I swore—

I would never waste this chance.

Never again leave her alone.

“Mm…”

She woke up.

“Dad…?”

“Why are you crying?”

“…It’s nothing. Just dust in my eyes.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

She hugged me tightly.

“I hate you!!”

“…Huh?”

“You’re never home! You don’t play with me!”

My heart broke.

“I’m sorry… I won’t leave you anymore. I promise.”

“…Really?”

“Really.”

“Promise.”

We hooked pinkies.

“I promise.”

And I swore—

This life would be different.

Not for movies.

But for my daughter.

Episode 2 – The Surprise Presentation

That morning, I ate breakfast with Yurina.

Something I hadn’t done in years.

“Guess what I made?”

“Wow! Egg poop!”

I smiled.

She used to call scrambled eggs that.

“Eat slowly, it’s hot.”

“Okay!”

She laughed, joked, played—

Just happy to have my attention.

Was this all she needed…?

“Want me to walk you to school?”

“Really?!”

“Of course.”

On the way—

“Anything fun at school?”

“I’ve been drawing!”

“Drawing?”

“Teacher said I’m good!”

Then her teacher approached.

“Yurina’s father?!”

She was bright, kind—

And clearly cared about Yurina.

“Come watch today’s surprise presentation.”

Later—

“Everyone, Yurina’s father is here!”

Clap clap!

Kids performed talents.

Then—

“Next, Yurina.”

She stepped forward.

“I prepared a drawing.”

She showed it.

“…?!”

It was—

Incredible.

Not just good.

It was far beyond a child’s level.

A drawing of our family—

smiling together.

This isn’t just talent…

This is something else entirely.