Chapter 24

AFTERWORD The first thing we did before we wrote the afterword was argue if we should write it in the polite form or in the informal form. Sing liked the polite writing form, but Song felt embarrassed about writing in it. Our opinions differed. Sing won in the end. Our decision was based on the conclusion that being polite was more important than our embarrassment. The problem is, Song is being forced to write the first draft. It’s unfair. But that’s fine. Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint was written with that mindset. One erases a sentence that the other person has thought about for a long time. One fills in a blank space the other person has left empty on purpose. Every time we wondered what it means for two people to write one story, we considered the versions of Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint that might be being written in different parallel universes. Dokja, Junghyeok, Suyeong, Sangah…and all the other characters could talk and act differently in each version of Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint. The part being erased in our story might be written into a story in a different universe, and the part being erased in a different universe might be written into our story. It’s better to think some stories are written this way. I sometimes take the time to reread the script I had to write in a rush. And I finally understand the other author who has written this story with me. I realize that a brick they took away didn’t destroy the pillar I erected. And at that moment, Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint becomes a totally different story from what I’d thought it was. There are things we can only see when we encroach on each other, much in the way a puzzle is completed when the concave and convex pieces are put together. Surprisingly, the process enables us to say this. “If it’s you, I’m okay with it, even though it’s a bit unfair to me.” It seems that rewriting and rereading aren’t so different. The difference between author and reader is not so significant, just as a new story is born whenever readers read Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint. The coolest thing people can do together is create a story. singNsong’s Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint and the readers’ Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint may not be the same story. We vaguely guess at the shape of another person’s story pieces with our own story pieces in mind. It’s all good. It would be great if this story which we and you share can be a comfort to you on a lonely day. We really appreciate all the people who choose to get involved with this story, out of the many other stories out there. From singNsong, November 2021