MDSW 9

Chapter : 09

The Incident Finally Breaks

“Ta-da! Author Rina has arrived.”

Yoo Rina suddenly announced her own entrance as she stood in front of the elementary school gate.

For some reason, the moment she stepped through, she placed her hands on her hips and struck a proud pose.

“Huh?! It’s Rina!”

“No way—move! I’m first today!”

Then suddenly—

a crowd of students rushed toward her and formed a line.

I had been walking her to school, but now I just stood there, completely confused.

“Author, how many today?”

Out of nowhere, a girl with black-rimmed glasses appeared beside Rina, acting like her assistant.

“Twenty. Make sure the notebooks come back by fifth period.”

Rina replied coolly, then pulled out a notebook from her bag.

That’s…

I knew exactly what it was.

Lately, she’d been using that notebook to practice drawing comics.

“Everyone line up properly! Only twenty people today!”

The “assistant” counted the students and cut the line off at exactly twenty.

“Aaah!! I was just next!”

“I really wanted to see it today!”

“Can’t you add just three more?!”

The rejected students groaned in disappointment.

But Rina firmly shook her head.

Her assistant efficiently pushed them away.

“…Rina? Can you explain what’s going on?”

I couldn’t make sense of it, so I asked directly.

“I’m currently serializing my comics at school. Honestly, business is too good—that’s the problem.”

“Business…? What do you mean?”

“Comic rental business.”

“…What are they paying you with?”

Clatter, clatter—

I turned at the sound.

The assistant girl handed Rina a stuffed indoor-shoes bag.

Rina checked inside and nodded with satisfaction.

What’s in there?

I peeked.

It was full of Pokémon stickers, trading cards, and toys.

…At least it’s not money.

I had been worried she might be charging cash, but it seemed like a barter system among kids.

Still… she’s really into comics these days.

She had been drawing nonstop lately.

Was she really serious about becoming a webtoon artist?

“Dad, I’m heading in now. I’ve got a deadline to meet this morning.”

“Deadline? Where did you even learn that word?”

“…Sigh. I can’t think of the plot for Dad Ranger Episode 5.”

This ten-year-old “author” sighed like a real creator struggling with writer’s block.

“Anyway, I’m going. You work hard too, Dad.”

“…Yeah, okay.”

She waved without turning back and walked off coolly.

I just blinked as I watched her leave.

Why do I suddenly feel distance from my own daughter…?

It almost felt like she was glowing.

That glow—the aura of someone overflowing with confidence.

It was so bright, I could barely look at her.

“Oh? Rina’s father?”

I was shielding my eyes from her “aura” when Teacher Chae-eun approached.

“…What are you doing?”

She looked startled at my strange pose.

“Ah—nothing at all.”

I quickly straightened up, awkwardly fixing my clothes.

“I’ve been seeing you often lately. You walk Rina to school almost every day, right?”

She smiled warmly.

“Maybe that’s why—Rina has been much brighter at school. I think she’s happy spending more time with you.”

“Really? I hadn’t noticed.”

“It’s true. Every morning she’s all smiles, and at the end of the day she rushes us, saying she needs to go home and play with her dad.”

Teacher Chae-eun chuckled softly.

I could easily imagine it—and found myself smiling too.

So it wasn’t just my imagination…

Lately, Rina really had seemed happier.

She no longer complained about going to school—in fact, she looked forward to it.

And when I came home, she greeted me with such a bright expression.

I had thought it was just her personality—

but knowing it was because of me made me feel deeply happy.

I was proud… and grateful.

“Oh, right—how was the art academy? Rina said it’s been about two weeks.”

She asked curiously.

Come to think of it, she was the one who recommended the academy—

and I hadn’t properly thanked her yet.

I quickly bowed my head.

“Thanks to you, she’s learning from a great teacher. I really appreciate it.”

“Oh, I just recommended it! But that’s wonderful! Her drawings are already improving so much—it’s noticeable every day!”

She smiled brightly, as if it were her own family.

Seeing her smile, I was reminded of Rina.

They really do look alike when they smile…

Kind, pure-hearted—just like my daughter.

“I always feel this, but I’m really grateful to you.”

“Huh? For what?”

“For helping Rina so much. She always talks about you—what you did together, what you taught her. Honestly, she might be this bright because of you.”

Embarrassed, she covered her mouth, cheeks flushed.

“Oh, no… I haven’t done much. But thank you for saying that.”

It might’ve been awkward, but I had wanted to say it for a long time.

“By the way, how’s work? I heard you joined a new program—must be busy?”

…That was a difficult question.

“Ah… yeah, a bit…”

“You don’t look so well. Is something wrong?”

“No, I’m fine!”

I forced a smile.

But inside, I flinched.

…That hit too close.

The truth was—

it was already mid-October.

The day I had been dreading had finally come.

The incident… had happened.

* * *

“Did you hear about Yoon Ra-hee last night?”

“Drunk driving? Her top-star career is over.”

“What about her variety show? It hasn’t even aired yet.”

“It’s done. Without her, the show had no appeal anyway.”

Whispers filled NBC as I walked through the halls.

Everyone was talking about it.

Yoon Ra-hee’s drunk driving scandal—

the very thing I had feared.

Damn it…

There was no way to stop it.

I didn’t know the exact date—

and I couldn’t follow her around every day warning her.

I had been living like I was holding a ticking bomb.

And now—

it had exploded.

I really don’t want to go in…

I stood outside our team’s meeting room, hesitating.

Even before opening the door, I could feel the gloom.

Creak—

The moment I stepped inside, it hit me harder.

The room felt like a funeral.

The main writer looked devastated.

Director Bong was practically crying.

The lead staff sat frozen.

Everyone else just watched silently.

“…Hello.”

No one responded.

They all sat in silence, as if under dark clouds.

I tiptoed to a corner seat.

“Everyone.”

Just as I was about to sit—

Director Bong spoke.

I froze mid-motion.

“I think we’re screwed. The department head… wants us upstairs.”

…I quietly stood back up.

Hands folded neatly in front—

I lowered my head like I was paying respects.

* * *

That evening, after work—

I checked the group chat.

As expected—

the program was canceled.

“Everyone, thank you for your hard work. Let’s meet again somewhere better…”

Even from the wording, I could tell—

Director Bong would be drowning in soju for a while.

But more importantly—

my future was uncertain.

I had only been on the team for a month—

and now I had to find another job.

I need to find something fast… Rina’s academy fees…

The only person I could think of was Hyung Gyeong-min—

but he had just become a main writer and was extremely busy.

Why is it that whenever I need someone, they’re unavailable?

Murphy’s Law really is real.

I stared at my contact list and sighed.

Who should I call?

What should I even say?

…Still, I have to. For my genius daughter.

Thinking of Rina, I forced a smile.

Even without money or a job—

just having her made me feel strong.

I scrolled again.

Who can I call right now—

Bzzzt!

My phone rang.

“…?”

I looked at the screen.

[Ham Joo-young]