The Antagonist's Full Moon

26. Memory Necklace

"Dad's been dead since I was nine, in an accident. At that time, Father, Mother, me, and my sister Delia were going to the park.

Back then, Mom and Dad were letting us play by ourselves, while they greeted the neighbors who happened to be there too.

I played ball, without noticing that Delia was engrossed in seeing the toys peddled by traveling merchants. He even walked after the merchant." Dean glares, remembering the past.

The man sighed for a moment before continuing. "Dad realized that and immediately called out, but Delia did not hear it. Dad ran to my sister across the street. It happened so fast. Dad was struck by a car driving from the side."

"What is a 'car'?" ask Liv.

"A vehicle is like a lizardan train, but it uses a machine and it runs very fast."

"And this car won't stop when your father passes?"

"It's not that it won't, but it can't be if people passing by are too sudden like that. The driver at that time was also shocked to find out he had hit someone ... ."

Dean did not continue his sentence. The man stared at the dancing bonfire. He remembers the past, when the father was alive and often played together.

Not infrequently, Dean burned satay with him which is indeed the family's favorite food. The accident changed everything.

Dean cursed himself. Though his parents had asked to take care of Delia, but Dean did not do it because he was engrossed in playing alone. His father was rushed to the hospital with bleeding in the head. He died on the operating table.

After that, things were so chaotic. Mother slumped and locked herself in a room for days because of the loss of her beloved husband. At that time, Dean realized that he should be able to replace his mother and father as well as for Delia. Dean felt he needed to take responsibility for everything he did.

Dean takes care of the family needs, until his mother realizes that she must be able to get up soon for the sake of her two children. Dean's burden was slightly reduced as the mother became more receptive to reality.

Dean is trying to study hard and graduate school fast, so he can work soon. However, the world of work is not as smooth as what he often sees in soap operas. Even so, that was what led him to become a writer like he is today.

Liv is stunned to hear Dean's story. Losing a father since childhood, his story is similar to his mother hangs left behind. The difference is, Liv doesn't have any memories of her mother.

"So ... Your father's death was because of your sister?" ask Liv.

Dean squinted his eyes and raised an eyebrow towards Liv. Then, the man shook his head. "I wouldn't say such a thing. At the time, Delia was six years old. He doesn't understand anything."

"You don't blame your sister ...?" ask the elf girl again. He seemed to be in disbelief at Dean's attitude.

The human man sighed. "My father won't come back alive even if I blame the whole world."

Dean pulled out a necklace attached to his neck. The necklace was a large boxed pendant, half the size of a palm. The pocket can be opened and contains two photos. Dean asks Liv to sit down and look at the contents of the counter.

"This is a memory necklace. This photo is of my father, my mother, Delia, and me when we were kids." Dean showed me a photo embedded on one side of the counter. On the other hand, there is a photo of Dean himself who has grown up.

"Since I was a kid, I told him to always take care of my sister, no matter what. But, the accident happened. So, it's not Delia's fault, it's me."

"You're blaming yourself ...?" tany Liv's. Dean closed his necklace counter and put it back in his shirt.

"I'm the one who's responsible. I wish I wasn't playing football by myself. Had I taken care of Delia more at that time to stay near me, Dad would not have fared like that .. ", Dean said weakly.

"What about your mother?"

"He doesn't blame anyone. He said it was destiny. But even so, Mother was often pensive, looking at the picture of Dad in the room alone."

"... In that case, why did you make my father hate me ... ." Liv muttered, her eyes looking down at the ground. Dean looked at Liv. Dean knew that the girl must be blaming herself again for what she wrote.

"I'm sorry. For now, I can't do anything, other than promise to change your storyline for the better." For the umpteenth time, Dean apologizes for Liv's fate.

The elf girl raised her head, looking at Dean fixedly. "Say one thing, does my poor story benefit you?"

Dean nodded. "Since I wrote Haldir's love story, more and more people have read the novel "The Wasted Prince" especially among women. From there, a lot of money came in from the readers, which I could use for my sister's school fees. I can support my family with your story."

"Although it was ultimately disappointing?"

"Yes. His name is a work, some like it and not. Many love the love triangle story between you, Haldir, and Melian. Some are happy with Melian, but not a few also support you. They get upset when I write the end of your life like that. Someone cursed and insulted me!" dean's story while laughing.

"They did that to me, someone they only knew through imaginary writing?" Liv was quite surprised to hear that.

Dean nodded and said, "They even protested to me. So, you could say, that you have a lot of fans!"

A big smile was on Liv's lips. "Then I forgive you. At least I know, there are still people who like me, even though it's different in the world!"

"Yes, they like you a lot, and they hate me for writing a bad ending. They even planned to boycott my story if I didn't change the storyline" Dean said.

Liv was surprised to hear that. "But if you change it, then your other readers will not like your story, huh?"

Dean shrugged. "Eitherway. I'll think about it later. If I can't make your story happy, I'll at least write you can live a mediocre life. Not too bad or bad."

Liv smiled widely until her eyelids narrowed. "Anything is fine, just as long as I'm not shunned by people anymore! Thank you, yes!"

Again, Liv's smile stunned Dean. There was something tickling his heart when he saw such a cheerful Liv. He seemed to want to smile when he saw the girl happy.

Liv noticed Dean's eyes not coming out of her after half a minute. The girl shook her hands in front of Dean's face, resuscitating the man. "Hey, what's wrong with you? Dean!"

"Eh?! Ummm, there's nothing!" he said, then quickly threw away the view in the other direction. His heart was beating faster than usual.

What the hell! Tch! Dean did not understand what he was feeling and became upset at himself. Dean moved from his seat.

"Where are you going?" ask Liv.

Dean didn't look at him one bit. The man replied as he went to the riverbank. "You'll catch some more fish for breakfast tomorrow!"

"But it's late! How about tomorrow? Just keep watch for now!" liv said half-screaming.

Dean snorts. Sitting near you is not good for my heart health, Dean said in his heart.

Of course it was impossible for him to say it directly. Dean ignores Liv's words and begins to catch fish. He should be able to take his mind off the elf girl.

Dean stays away, leaving Liv sitting alone by the campfire. The elf girl clucked in annoyance. "Ih, shitty!"

***