The familiar roads welcome her again. She could see the familiar waves dancing on the shore. The sun is being eaten by the sea on the horizon. Her phone is full of missed calls from her parents.
Though she did send a text to her younger sister that she's visiting them with her 'husband', she has no courage to talk to her parents.
She's having second, third, fourth, and… Nth thoughts about this already. It sounds like a bad idea.
The reason is…
"Chicken, do I have to hold your hand?" Mister asks her teasingly. "Kiss you on your cheeks in front of your parents?"
"Nope!" She would rather jump in the sea than get kissed by this old man.
"Alright, I will pretend to be a man who keeps bedroom activities in the bedroom only." He squints at the road. "What should be our nicknames? Newly married always have nicknames. I already call you Chicken. Does it sound romantic?"
How can chicken sound romantic? "How about just using names?"
"Seol-ah?" He glances at her. "Eh… I like chicken more."
"..." He's the only one who likes it.
"You can call me Jeong-Hyuk." He says to her lazily, "It's better if you call me honey or darling."
"I thought that you didn't know how newlyweds act." She looks daggers at him. "I will call you Mister only."
"Chicken." He lets out a laugh. "I might make it sound romantic enough if I try hard."
"..." Can they go back?
There's no doubt that Mi-Young already told her parents. Now, she can't go back.
"Chicken, it's a little cold to go to the beach today." The car stops in front of a familiar house.
"This is your house, right?"
"How did you find out where I live?" She hasn't told him her address yet. "How did you find out?"
"Is that your house for real?" He widens his eyes, pretending to be shocked. "I guess I am being guided by the will of God."
Sneaky! She exhales. Why did she bother asking? "Did you do a background check on me?"
"Of course, a godfather must know about his goddaughter." Sin Jeong-Hyuk winks at her. "I remember the address from your ID card. You showed it to me, remember?"
She looks at the main door with mixed feelings.
When she was seven-year-old, her family lost everything in a bad business except for this house. Her grandfather cherished this place more than his life. He even asked her to protect this place after he was gone. If he really wanted her to do this, why did he make that promise to Mr No? Did he think that she could protect this house if she married a rich man's son?
If she doesn't go to this house and show her fake husband to Mr No who is waiting for her, Mr No might think that her father lied. Whether it's eloping with a man against her parents' wishes or making her father a liar if she doesn't go to this house with a man by her side, she already brought dishonour to her family.
"Mister, we can come another time. Let's go back."
"Are you getting cold feet?" He raises his brows.
***
There's no answer.
Jeong-Hyuk watches her with a solemn gaze. The struggles in her eyes are clear to him. However, he doesn't see any shame or guilt in those eyes. Rather, she's angry. Is she angry at herself or her family?
She isn't moving at all. There's a layer of sweat glistening on her skin. It must be difficult for her to go back to this place after what happened to her. But this child still has a home.
He could tell in a glance that she isn't twisted by the world yet. For her to turn out like this, she must have been raised by good parents.
"Chicken, your house is quite big." He comments in awe, "Are you rich?"
"Rich enough to feed ourselves." She replies sarcastically, "We only have this house."
He chuckles. Didn't he say similar words to her father? "Are you going or not?"
She looks at him and asks, "Mister, can you run if things go wrong?"
"Run?" He blinks his eyes. Is it that bad inside? "Why do we have to run?"
She opens her mouth to answer him. Just then...
"Unni!" A loud shrill cry makes them jump in the car. A young girl of around thirteen runs to them and slams her hands on the car's window. "Unni! It's you! Yes, it's you! You really came back!"
Is this her sister? The girl looks completely opposite of Chang Seol: around a foot taller than chicken, an oval face, upturned eyes, and a cheerful aura. Nope! They look nothing alike. Sin Jeong-Hyuk purses his lips and presses the button.
The car's door unlocks. The girl pulls it open and wraps her arms around Chang Seol. "Unni, I missed you so much."
"Mi-Young." Chang Seol pats her sister's back. "Have you been well?"
"No!" Mi-Young looks at Sin Jeong-Hyuk. "You married this guy? Unni, your eyesight is so bad. He's not better looking than No Shi Won."
"..." Sin Jeong-Hyuk is offended. Deeply.
"No Shi Won is back." Mi-Young squints her eyes on Sin Jeong-Hyuk. "Only if you weren't seduced by this old fella… I could have a handsome brother-in-law."
Her words cut deep. Sin Jeong-Hyuk meets her eyes. "I am better than No Shi Won."
"How?" Mi-Young scrunches her nose. "I heard from Father that you are a neet."
Didn't he say that he's taking a break from his career? How did he become a neet? "I am not a neet."
"It's alright." Chang Seol sighs. "You don't have to lie."
He stares at Chicken's face. Does she also believe that he's a neet? "What kind of neet owns a car?"
"The one who lives off his father's money." Mi-Young clicks her tongue. "No Shi Won is an heir to N Corporation. What about you?"
He has heard of N Corporation. "Why should I tell you?"
"Because you are my brother-in-law." Mi-Young snaps at him. "It's my right to know who my sister married."
"I apologize." Chang Seol gives a little apologetic bow to Sin Jeong-Hyuk. "She fell a lot when she was a baby. Her head might be cracked in some areas."
"Unni!" Mi-Young stomps on the ground. "Why did you marry a guy like him? I preferred No Shi Won over him."
"You marry him then." Chang Seol gets out of the car. She looks over her shoulder. "Mister, are you coming?"
"Mister?" Mi-Young glares at Sin Jeong-Hyuk. "How old are you?"
They are too different. Sin Jeong-Hyuk steps out of the car and locks the door. "I am old enough to be your sister's husband."
"I don't like him." Mi-Young points her finger at Sin Jeong-Hyuk. "Unni, change your husband. I can't accept him as my brother-in-law."
Chang Seol shrugs. "Sorry, you are stuck with him."
This is funny. Sin Jeong-Hyuk resists the urge to laugh. He keeps a stoic face. "Little Mi-Young, I heard about you from your sister. You must be in seventh grade."
"Eighth." Mi-Young scowls at him. "You are so tall. Not bad. I will give you one point in that area. Maybe you can help me get the books from the top shelf."
"..." Chicken's sister is another breed.