MDSW 01

Chapter 1

I Almost Died Pathetically

Prologue

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

Every moment you lived becomes stained with regret.

I should have hugged them one more time.
I should have told them I loved them one more time.
I should have looked at them just a little longer.

The more indifferent a parent was toward their child, the heavier that regret becomes.

And that kind of parent… was me.

Cold. Pathetic.

That was why I wished so desperately for one thing.

A chance—after death—to apologize to my daughter.
No, not just apologize… to beg for forgiveness.

“…Where am I?”

I had been certain I was dead.

So I never expected to open my eyes again on the bed in my own bedroom.

“Yurina?!”

Meeting my daughter again—the daughter 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, but I had also been given the chance to change the past that had been filled with regret.

That had definitely been a pathetic death.

Twelve years ago, I gained a daughter as precious as a jewel.

And at the same time, I lost my beloved wife.

As if she had somehow known the future, my wife named our soon-to-be-born daughter Kang Yurina, a beautiful Korean name, before she entered the delivery room.

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

Those were the last words I ever heard from my wife.

After making that promise through tears, I lived doing every job I possibly could.

I worked as a variety show writer at a broadcasting station, a fill-in writer for web content, and even gave college entrance exam tutoring for literature majors.

I did every kind of writing job imaginable.

All to protect my daughter, Yurina.

That was the only reason I lived.

But even someone like me had a dream.

To see “Screenplay by Kang Sung-woon” in a movie’s ending credits.

Of course, it was a dream I couldn’t dare pursue.

Raising my daughter with my clumsy hands meant I had to give up dreams like that.

But then one day, I received an email.

“N-No way…”

It was something straight out of a fantasy.

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

He said he had read my screenplay and was deeply impressed.
After looking me up, he realized I had worked in many different fields and was a versatile writer, which made him even more eager to work with me.

Overwhelmed with emotion, I rushed to Director Hwang’s studio immediately.

There was no reason to refuse.

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

But that was the beginning of the tragedy.

The movie was happiness for me.

But for Yurina… it was misery.

“Mr. Yurina’s father, we haven’t received your reply about attending the school talent show.”

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

“Won’t you be able to come? Yurina has three performances.”

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

It might sound irresponsible, but…

I practically abandoned parenting.

Working with Director Hwang was perfect and demanding.

It was an environment where I simply couldn’t properly balance childcare.

To make a great film, I had to give up something else.

But I believed I was doing this for Yurina too.

Director Hwang was a star director whose movies always became massive hits.

If I made a great film with him, maybe I could gain wealth and fame.

Then I could give Yurina a comfortable life.

I wanted to be a cool father for Yurina.

Not a struggling freelance writer barely paying the bills.

But a father who earned good money and had prestige.

“Mr. Yurina’s father, can you come to the sports day today? Yurina’s grandmother couldn’t come either, so she’s eating lunch alone right now.”

“I’m sorry. My mother also has something to do today. If it’s okay… could the teacher eat with her?”

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

What a pathetic man.

I was truly pathetic.

Still, I told myself to endure it for now.

If I endured just a little longer, I could give Yurina something better.

With that single thought, I devoted myself entirely to the movie.

Three whole years passed like that.

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

How will Yurina react?
Will she be amazed?
Or will she feel awkward and only tell other people instead of me?

I wanted to proudly show my movie to the world—and to Yurina.

I was confident.

I had prepared perfectly.

…But then.

“Yurina, did you get the field trip application form?”

“No. Why would I get that?”

“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, Dad.”

When I heard those words from Yurina, it felt like a huge rock had blocked my chest.

My heart hurt so much that the word hurt wasn’t enough to describe it.

After struggling for three years, it felt unfair.

I was even a little angry.

But the unfair one… was actually me.

Because Yurina had spent those three years alone.

“Mr. Yurina’s father, you must come to the parent consultation tomorrow.”

“Yes, I cleared my schedule. I should go to Class 5-6, right?”

“…It’s Class 6-5. Mr. Yurina’s father, this is a consultation about her entering middle school.”

“Ah… I’m sorry…”

That was probably when I first realized how serious things were.

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

Something was terribly wrong.

The realization crashed over me like waves.

“Are you really not coming to the premiere today?”

“No.”

“Yurina… if you’re upset with Dad about something—”

“Forget it. Since when have you cared about me? Just focus on your work.”

During those three years, Yurina’s heart had completely closed.

I realized that only when it was already too late.

“Congratulations! The movie has surpassed ten million viewers!”

Everyone applauded me.

I achieved everything I had wanted.

But I wasn’t happy at all.

Instead, my chest only felt suffocating.

Where did everything go wrong?
How can I win back Yurina’s heart…?

I was thinking about that while driving home.

Then suddenly, I saw Yurina walking with a group of people through the car window.

She was wearing her middle school uniform and walking with several boys.

One of them took out a cigarette.

Startled, I couldn’t take my eyes off them even after the traffic light changed.

“Hey! It’s been a while since we had a drinking party! Let’s drink till we drop!”

When I lowered the window, I heard one of them shout.

Then they turned the corner and headed into an alley filled with unmanned motels.

At that moment, my vision went red.

I threw open the car door in the middle of the road and ran toward them.

As I ran, thoughts flooded my mind.

My neglect made Yurina like this.

My belief that I was doing this for her… was wrong.

My choices created this situation.

But then—

Screech—! CRASH!

Suddenly, a truck speeding down the road hit me.

When my body was thrown into the air, I realized I was going to die.

“….”

I collapsed on the cement ground, blood pouring out.

As my vision blurred, regret filled my mind.

I shouldn’t have let go of Yurina’s hand…

I shouldn’t have left Yurina alone…

I should have kept my promise to my wife…

A pathetic death.

That was the only way to describe it.

I chased my own ambitions, neglected my daughter, and then died leaving her alone without a mother.

I wanted to turn back time.

I cried like a child, wishing I could return to the past and fix this horrible situation.

God, if you can hear my voice… please listen to me. I can’t leave that fragile child behind…

As my consciousness faded, I prayed desperately.

Even though I knew it was impossible.

Please… give me just one more chance!

I shouted with all my heart.

Imagining Yurina’s face.

Imagining my wife’s face.

And then—

Suddenly, a soft light flashed before my eyes.

“!”

The light quickly covered my entire body.

At that moment, I understood.

God had heard my prayer.

It felt like God’s rebuke.

As if a pathetic father didn’t even deserve a place in the afterlife.

As if telling me to return to the moment my sins began and try to fix them.

With my head bowed, I entrusted myself to the chance God had given me.

If I could just see Yurina again, I would accept anything.

***

Tick. Tock.

In the quiet room, I could hear the ticking of a clock.

Unlike the chaos of car horns and screams from moments before, everything around me was silent.

Where is this…

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was the ceiling.

When I came to my senses, I realized I was lying on the bed in my bedroom.

Confused, I touched my head.

There was no blood.

My chest and stomach didn’t hurt either.

…Did I really survive?

Startled, I sat up.

Then I felt a weight under the blanket.

When I turned my head, Yurina was sleeping peacefully beside the bed.

Yurina!

But something strange caught my eye.

For some reason, Yurina’s body looked much smaller.

“?!”

It was as if she had become younger.

I looked around the room in shock.

Not just Yurina—many things were different.

The furniture was different.

Even the blanket was one I had used years ago.

But most of all—

The calendar on the wall.

Above the word September, the biggest number read:

2023

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

Only then did I realize this wasn’t simply the time before my death.

Did I… really return to the past?!

Shocked, I walked to the wall to confirm the calendar.

Looking at the familiar yet strange 2023 calendar, I covered my mouth in disbelief.

Then the words I shouted before dying resurfaced in my mind.

Please give me just one more chance…!

That one sentence seemed to explain everything happening now.

It seemed that God hadn’t just saved my life.

He had turned back time.

On the calendar, one note caught my eye.

[First Draft Meeting Day]

It was the day I was supposed to discuss my screenplay draft with Director Hwang.

Yes.

This was when it all started.

When I began working with Director Hwang.

When I began neglecting Yurina.

Did you give me this chance… so I could choose again?

I looked up at the ceiling and asked.

But God didn’t answer.

“….”

I turned my head and looked at Yurina sleeping on the bed.

Tears welled up again.

Just seeing her filled my chest with emotion.

I almost left this child behind… this precious child…

My legs trembled as I slowly walked toward her.

The closer I got, the more my tears fell.

I knelt beside the bed and looked down at 10-year-old Yurina.

She looked like an angel while sleeping.

No—she really was an angel.

Her soft white cheeks like rice cakes and the brown bob haircut she inherited from her mother.

“…Yurina.”

Holding back tears, I knelt in front of her.

But the moment I saw her face, I couldn’t hold them back.

I bit my lip to keep from waking her and hugged her carefully.

The warmth of my daughter melted my heart.

God… thank you! Thank you so much!

I cried as I held her.

I thought I would never be able to hug her again.

Just being alive and seeing Yurina again filled me with gratitude.

I would never waste this chance God had given me.

Never again.

Never again would I leave Yurina alone.

“Mm…”

Maybe because my tears soaked her clothes, Yurina woke up and rubbed her eyes.

“Dad…?”

She widened her eyes when she saw me crying.

“Dad, why are you crying?”

Her childish voice sounded younger.

Even though she looked younger, I hid my surprise.

“Our puppy woke up? Dad’s not crying. There was just dust in my eye.”

“Really…?”

“Yeah, really.”

Relieved by my clumsy lie, Yurina suddenly puffed up her cheeks and hugged me tightly.

“I hate you, Dad!!”

“H-Huh?”

“When I wake up these days, you’re always gone! I hate you!”

My chest tightened painfully.

Even though she said she hated me, she still hugged me.

She was only ten years old at this time.

And I had been blinded by my own ambition and left this child alone.

“You never look at me! You don’t play with me! And you’re never home!!”

“Waaah!”

Her crying tore my heart apart.

If she weren’t in front of me, I would have punched myself.

What have I been doing all this time?!

I hated myself.

“I’m sorry, Yurina… Dad won’t leave you anymore! From today on, I’ll always stay by your side! I promise!”

I knelt and apologized desperately.

Yurina stopped crying and looked into my eyes.

“…Really?”

“Yes! Really!”

Then Yurina smiled brightly and held out her pinky finger.

“Promise.”

I hooked my pinky with her tiny one.

“I promise.”

“Yay!!”

Yurina shouted happily and bounced on the bed.

It had been so long since I saw her smile like that.

Such a beautiful child…

I shut my eyes tightly and clenched my fists.

Guilt for failing to protect Yurina.

Determination never to repeat that mistake.

Both burned inside me.

I will never make a mistake with my daughter again!!

I shouted in my heart again and again.

In this life, I would live differently.

Not for movies.

But for my daughter.