The sudden success of the animated film ‘Guitar’ was truly an unexpected event.
However, the fame of the original author, Moon In, was even more unpredictable.
Who would have guessed that the rumor would set Japan abuzz?
Of course, the rumors about Moon In being Korean or Japanese were nothing more than cheap jokes mentioned in light-hearted drinking parties.
If it weren’t for the unique variety show atmosphere of Japanese broadcasting, this issue would never have made the news. In Korean terms, it would be more suitable as a morning show topic rather than a news item.
But even though the rumors were playful, the effect was not.
There are no jokes in business.
The rumor that Moon In might be a Korean of Japanese descent is not a fact. However, the fact that this news was broadcasted is a fact.
“Min-whatever? What does that mean?”
“Little sister. From now on, that’s your name.”
Fortunately, Min Hyo-min noticed my gaze and refrained from saying ‘fuck’. As expected of a top idol’s self-restraint.
Min Hyo-min awkwardly rolled her eyes, then brightened up when she spotted Gu Yu-na behind me and ran over.
I smiled for a moment watching this cheerful sibling pair.
Eventually, after briefly greeting Min Hyo-chan and Min Hyo-min’s parents and turning down their offer to treat me to a meal, I returned to my studio.
Being alone in the quiet studio after the noisy graduation ceremony made the presence of the serene silence feel all the more striking.
However, the warmth from the graduation ceremony lingered in my heart, brightening my mood.
It made me reflect on how I had grown close to the pink-haired idol who played Chinese otaku games in the corner of the clubroom, and I felt a bit regretful that I wouldn’t see that sight this year.
Come to think of it, if I advance to Baekhak Arts High School next year, I’ll meet Min Hyo-chan again, and I’ll also get to see Kim Byul at school after a long time. It seems like it will be quite an enjoyable time.
That thought lifted my spirits.
But that’s not how it should be.
What I need now is darkness.
I pulled out the dark things hidden deep in my heart.
– Hey, you fucking orphan bastard. Why do you always carry that fucking blanket around? To lessen the pain when you get hit?
– Moron, it must be true. Fucking hilarious…
– Huh? What are you looking at, you fucking bastard? Are you pissed?
– Hey, Seop-seop is pissed. So fucking scary, what should we do!
– I heard this bastard got a girlfriend? Don’t tell me that blanket is a gift from her?
– Let’s use it together, you son of a bitch. Hand it over. No, not the blanket, your…
My heart was stained with darkness.
I was ready to write.
Why do humans torment other humans?
Why do they stab and kill, kill with complaints, kill with terrorism, kill with their tongues, and even kill by typing on a keyboard, knowing that only ruin awaits at the end?
The world is nothing but darkness, and we are walking through that darkness.
It was time to write about the second murder.
「The weight of the sin of killing a person was not as heavy as expected. Perhaps it was because a child had committed the murder.
Some say that since the bullied killed the bully, it was the fault of the society that allowed the bullying.
Thus, they defended how painful it would be for an innocent child who made a momentary mistake to suffer for a lifetime.
My murder was not a mistake but a decision made by reason. Therefore, I am a beast that should not be forgiven.
But the world gave me the name ‘poor child’ despite my confession.
Thus, my time in the juvenile detention center was not long.
No, it wasn’t confinement, but a measure of protection.
It is a strange thing.
What are they protecting whom from?
Me from the world? The world from me?
Regardless of the outcome, those who defended me became famous, and the judge who sentenced me was recognized as a kind-hearted righteous man.
They are neither the ones who committed the crime nor the ones who suffered from it. They are just third parties who studied a bit better in their school days.
Yet, watching them arbitrarily evaluate, forgive, and gain honor from another’s crime was something I could not understand.
Anyway, I was thrown back into the world.
With the label of a criminal, amid looks of sympathy and disdain, wandering the world like Jean Valjean.
No one cared for me, looked after me, or gave me a job.
Ironically, it was thanks to the sibling of the one I killed that I managed to escape a life of wandering the streets.
The sibling of the one I killed sought me out, gave me money, provided me with shelter, and offered me a job. Thanks to them, I gained food, clothing, and a place to live.
He was like Jonathan helping David. He was someone who loved and assisted the family enemy.
“I have already forgiven this person. Isn’t it a sin committed during childhood? Jesus said to love your enemies, and this person is not even my enemy, so there is no reason to hate.”
The slight difference between him and Jonathan was that he bragged about this.
“As expected of our CEO.”
“I couldn’t even think of doing that. You are truly merciful…”
I killed the son of the doctor who had murdered the bluebird. Upon hearing of their son’s death, the doctor and his wife were furious.
However, I did not receive the punishment fitting my crime, and the enraged doctor and his wife soon died from a broken heart.
Then, the younger brother inherited all the family’s wealth.
This is why he didn’t hate me.
He was grateful that I had removed the thorn in his side, so I thought once again that the human world was close to hell on earth.
But since I lived off Jonathan’s money, I bowed my head and offered false gratitude, thanking him for his forgiveness like a true weakling.
I endured being dragged around and displayed like a trophy by him because that was the reason for the money I received.
However, this was also a torment for me because the brother’s actions were essentially no different from those of his sibling.
The brother who killed the bluebird wanted to become someone above me by tormenting me, gaining the admiration of everyone.
The brother who bragged about forgiving the one who killed his sibling sought admiration by treating me well, elevating himself above me.
Why do humans want to trample on other humans to rise above them?
At times, I wept late into the night, yearning to escape this pain.
There was a glimmer of salvation that soothed my pain, and she was Jonathan’s younger sister.