"Chicken, are you going to answer me or not?" Jeong-Hyuk glares at her. "Did you run away from home and eloped with someone?"
There are idiots. Then, there are idiots like Old Mister.
It's only been three days since she met this man. In the three days, she's sure that she lost three litres of blood because of this vexatious man. She closes her eyes and takes deep breaths. Though the taste of his blood is gone from her mouth, she is still bothered by her own actions. Why did she lose her temper? He's annoying, but she shouldn't stoop to that level. What did she gain by biting someone's nose? She's going to leave this place anyway.
While she's wondering how to answer him, all kinds of scenario pop up in Jeong-Hyuk's mind. Boo Bong-Su said something. What was the word? Legal Lolita… He did search the word on the internet earlier and read some horrifying stories.
He gasps in horror. Did some old weird man tempt this girl and abandon her after..? Otherwise, why would she come to the share-house alone? She lied to her parents about him. She did say something about circumstances. Is she hiding from that weird old paedophile?
His heart clenches in pain as tears fill his eyes. Grabbing her head, he asks her with a pained voice, "Chicken, tell me who did this to you. I will find that man and end his life."
"Huh?" Chang Seol furrows her brows. "Old Mister, are you crying?"
"At such a young age…" His nose hurts when he sniffles. "You went through something that nobody should go through."
Is this mister bipolar? A moment ago, he was threatening her and now, he's crying his eyes out. Chang Seol doesn't even want to know what's going inside this man's head.
"You can tell me anything, Chicken." He coils his one arm around her head and cries. "Tell me the name of that man. I will bring you justice, Kiddo. That paedophile might be going around and luring other little girls."
"Paedophile? Little girls?" She grabs the arm around her head. He's holding her tightly to his chest. She wrinkles her nose when she smells a strong scent of cigarette's smoke, alcohol, and something musky. She yells at him, "Old Mister, you stink! Did you even take a bath?"
"I bathed yesterday." He looks at her face. "Chicken, you shouldn't keep it inside your heart. Sharing is healing. Trust this old mister. I will keep you safe from all the paedophiles."
What does he mean? Why would paedophiles… He's calling her a kid. Though she hasn't figured out why people are attracted to each other that way, she knows well that she's repulsed by this man who is squeezing her head right now.
"Old Mister, it's not like that." Chang Seol tries to tell him, "I am not --"
"I know that it's traumatic for you, Kiddo." Jeong-Hyuk's heart feels pangs of sadness. What kind of demon would… this world has all kinds of evil. "Even if you married him, you shouldn't feel guilty or embarrassed. It's not your fault. You should talk to your parents. They will understand, Chicken. If you are scared, I will take you back to your home and talk to them."
"Old Mister!" She stomps on his foot. "Listen to me first."
"Chicken..." Jeong-Hyuk lets go of her and wipes his tears. His foot is hurting, but he is too sad to be angry at this chicken. "You are not alone. I am here for you."
Chang Seol knows that it's a bad idea to tell him everything. If she lets him continue to believe that she's married to a paedophile, he might call her parents and tell them this kind of story. Then, her life would be over. She stands on her toes and puts her palm on his lips. "Old Mister, I am not married."
"Then?" He frowns. Then, he widens his eyes. Then, she ran away with a paedophile and…? Holding the hand on his mouth, he sobs harder. "You are a brave girl, Chicken."
She doesn't know what to do. A grown man is crying in front of her. She pats his shoulders lightly. First, she should help him calm down.
This is her situation. She must be afraid of going back home. Jeong-Hyuk rubs his nose on her hand, wiping the mucous on her hand.
Her hand… is full of his mucous and tears. She wonders why she feels so exhausted.
"If your parents don't want you back, I will adopt you as my goddaughter." He pauses for a moment and shakes his head. "You are my goddaughter from this moment. I will take care of you like my daughter."
This mister needs to see a therapist.
"I will call my family and tell them about you." He takes a long glance at her. The rims of his eyes are red and swollen. Such a little girl has gone through… He hugs her and puts his chin on her head. "Chicken, my daughter…"
But she didn't even ask him to become her father. Chang Seol wreaks her brain. Since it is like this… and this mister told her that she can't lie. Then, she won't lie to him. "Old Mister, I can't let my parents know about this."
"I understand your feelings." Jeong-Hyuk pats her back. "I won't reveal it to your parents until you are ready."
"You can't reveal it to anyone." Who knew that this old mister has a soft heart? She doesn't want to take advantage of him, but he's kind of offering himself. "My parents think that you are my husband."
"I heard, I heard." Jeong-Hyuk wobbles his head. "I will explain it to them that it's a misunderstanding."
"Since you know about my situation, let's pretend that you are my husband." Chang Seol's voice trembles a little. "They will be upset if they find out that I am not married."
"That's true..." He frowns a bit. "But how long can we lie like that? Someday, they will find out the truth."
"Only for a while." Chang Seol smiles at him. If her father finds out that she's not married, he might talk to her grandfather's friend again. That grandfather's friend is in a hurry to get his grandson married. Until that grandson gets married, she should pretend that she's married for precaution.
"Chicken, since we are father and daughter, we are close, right?"
She gets goosebumps on her skin when she hears his saccharine voice. "Uh…"
"Then, there should be no secret between us." Jeong-Hyuk smiles at her. "We should support each other."
What is he getting at? She creases her forehead.
"Then, tell me who Daydream is." Jeong-Hyuk leans closer and bends down his head. "Help your godfather, Chicken."
This mister's heart is as black as the bottom of the kettle.