I am Lisa Manoban, 25 years old, currently working as a professional novelist. Favorite things: writing novels, reading books and cats. Things that I hate: human beings. Yes, that's right, there is a person who really hates other humans, especially having any type of physical contact with them. I prefer the company of books and animals instead.
It might not help you understand this odd personality of mine, but I'll tell you a little bit about myself.
As I was growing up, I had a pretty normal family. My parents were kind and lively, I have no siblings so my parents always stuck close to me like a sticky rice cake.
Probably because of the warm and healthy environment I grew up in, when I was young, I used to have a very cheerful disposition and I had lots of friends. I enjoyed sports, dancing and being active more than studying. So far, it's a pretty common story, isn't it?
Then, when I was in my second year of middle school, I got into a car accident and my life changed. After almost a year of being in a coma the doctors had almost given up hope on my recovery. However, I suddenly opened my eyes and discovered that I had gained a very strange ability. Whenever I would touch someone, I could hear that person's thoughts. It might sound miraculous and amazing to anyone else, but for me this was nothing short of a curse. Because as soon as I knew what people around me were really thinking, I became disillusioned with the world. So many people fake their feelings, posing as something they are not, greedily trying to feign honesty. It disgusted me.
Therefore, I began withdrawing more and more into my own world. Family, friends... I isolated myself from everyone. I surrounded myself with books and, thus, I discovered the pleasure of reading. Soon, I wanted to create something myself and wrote my first short story. I was happy like that. The quietude and peace of mind that being alone gave me was undoubtedly a source of happiness for me.
It had been difficult to make people understand my reticence and antisocial behavior, especially the publishing company I began working with. But, luckily, they agreed to let me do it in my own way and accommodated me as much as possible. I would work at home, sending the drafts online, and whenever something needed reviewing or discussed personally, they would have an editor come to my house for a short meeting. A life with just books and my cat, Leo, that was bliss.
Everything had been going smoothly, until... Until she came along and smashed my perfect life into smithereens.
The she I am talking about is of course my new editor, Kim Jisoo, 27 years old and with a personality as that of a middle schooler. Whenever she comes over, she is always smiling and grinning like an idiot, or talking about something or other like we're best friends. Honestly, I can't seem to understand this person at all! How can she be so noisy and hyped all the time?! Doesn't she ever get tired?
She makes me so vexed that I often find myself imagining things like smashing a flower pot over her head, or tying her up and sending her to the south pole to freeze to death. Indeed, I am thankful for this thing called imagination. This way I can kill or hurt her however much I want in my head and get away with it.
But, to my frustration, my cat seems to tolerate her pretty well. Considering how it seemed to dislike humans (apart from me, of course!) as much as I do, you can imagine how astonished I was when I saw it so accepting of this big buffoon. The reason for this acceptance, though?
The first time Jisoo came to see me she had brought cat snacks. Apparently, the people at the company told her I own a cat and she came prepared. Yes, that's right! My usually stubborn, aloof and antisocial cat had been won over with such a bribe! Well, I guess the survival instinct is something natural, whether we are humans or animals, but still... Have some pride you shameful cat, will you! It's not like I've been starving you. Well, anyway, there is nothing I can do about it now.
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It's already been a month since we started working together, but I still remember that day when it all began as clearly as if it were yesterday.
I had been writing the entire night and that morning I was tired and in dire need of sleep. Just as I was about to meet the God of Sleep, my stupid phone began to ring like an alarm from hell. I groped around and finally managed to pick up the call, ready to yell my lungs out at the person who dared to disturb me at such an important time. But, before I got a chance to blow my top off, the person on the other side of the phone chirped loudly in my ears.
"Lisa-yah! Lisa-yah! Lalisa... How are you? I hope I am not disturbing you."
"Ha Yubin! If you're hoping for that, perhaps you shouldn't have called at 6 in the morning when you knew I had a deadline and had to work through the night." I grumbled, rubbing my eyes vigorously.
This obnoxious person, who has a bad habit of calling people too early in the morning, is Ha Yubin or I should call her Cheshir Ha, that's her favorite alias name. She is the Chief Editor at LF Publishing, and also someone who I call a friend... Barely. We were in the same major at college and, though she is three years my senior, she's the only person who stuck close to me even after we graduated. Mainly, she is the one considering me her friend. I only reluctantly allowed it.
Knowing that there was no way to get rid of this pest so easily, I sat up and got ready to talk business.
"So, why are you calling me so early in the morning?"
"You're so cold, Lalisa. Can't you be nicer to me~~~?"
"Ugh, how many times have I told you not to call me Lalisa? And stop with that girly tone. It's creeping me out." I stopped for a yawn. "Now tell me what business you have with me so I can go back to do my own."
"Oh? What were you doing? Writing? Reading? Playing with Leo? Or perhaps being in a daze imagining the entire world burning?"
"The only one I would imagine burning right now would be you, Che. Can't you just get down to business quickly so I can go back to sleep? I've written a hundred good pages last night, making up for more than half a manuscript, and I am really spent."
Cheshir scoffed.
"The God of Sleep. I'm sure you know Him as well. Now, talk quickly because He is waiting for me."
"Pffft, hahaha!" Cheshir chuckled. "You're so cute Lisa-ya. No worries, this God of yours has been waiting for thousands of years. I'm sure He can wait for a few minutes longer."
Hearing her derisive tone almost made me throw my phone in anger. Just as I was about to start expressing my overflowing killing intent, I heard Cheshir use a more serious tone.
"The reason I called for you this early is because I have big news for you."
"Big news?" I asked, letting go of my previous vexation. She rarely got so serious.
"Yes. My superiors said they liked the style of your latest story and they wished to promote it further. They have also received an offer to make it into a movie next year so they wanted me to ask for your opinion."
"A movie? But wouldn't the budget for such a movie be too much? It is a historical fiction after all, with lots of action scenes, fancy costumes and whatnot. What company can finance such a large production?"
"You don't need to worry about that. As the author of the original story, they want to know if they have your approval to discuss it further. Once the details have been established, you'll be asked to come for a meeting with that company's representatives."
"Alright. I don't like troublesome things, though, so I'll leave it in your care. As for a movie being made... You have my approval."
I tried to sound cool and disinterested but in reality, I was happily squealing inside. Having a movie made after a story I worked hard to bring to life is a wish come true for any novelist; or at least that was the case for me. The setting of the story is ancient Joseon so there are a lot of things to be taken into consideration when choosing the locations, backgrounds, venues used for indoor filming, as well as clothes and accessories. It is not easy bringing to life such a scenery, but I would really love to see my story on the big screen.
"If that's everything, then I'll excuse myself. Have a nice..." But before I managed to finish my sentence, Cheshir interrupted me in a flutter.
"Wait! Wait, Lisa-ya! I still have more to say. Uhm...you see... Something happened here at the company. Some... Changes..."
"Eh? Changes?"
I had a nagging feeling at the back of my mind that I wouldn't like Cheshir's next words. She only fumbled with her words like this when she had to say something unpleasant.
"Well... "
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