The silence in the tunnel is queer and incongruous.
It's broken softly by the sound of sucking lips.
Chang Seol, apparently forgetting about the situation that she is in, keeps licking, sucking, and smooching the warm lips that taste a little salty but plenty warm and sweet, and smells like cigarette's smell, fruity and musky. She inches closer to him as her moist tongue teases him by rubbing it against his teeth.
Mister stares at her, baffled and shocked beyond words. How could a giant mutant bird turn into his Chang Seol? That's not the only problem here. Why is she kissing him like this? This is not a peck. And… and… He peeks at her round erect twins. Squeezing his eyes shut, he opens his mouth. "Ch-Chang…"
Her tongue plunges into his mouth. Her tongue pauses for a moment before it flicks his tongue and rubs against it clumsily before she loses her interest and begins to suck his lips again.
"..." Sin Jeong-Hyuk is at a loss of words. Literally. His mouth is occupied. No, he can't do this. This isn't right. He pushes her away and yells at her in an aggrieved, exasperated, and yet reluctant tone, "Chang Seol!"
Chang Seol blinks her eyes, still in a daze. She scrutinizes his face whilst her lips part again. He stares at those small pale pink lips. This is more frustrating than he has expected it to be. Those darn lips need a punishment for being this delectable. He grabs her chin and says to her with a stern voice, "What do you think you are doing?"
"I…" Clarity seems to have returned in her eyes. Chang Seol looks down at her hands. Her cheeks inflame red when she realizes her nakedness. She avoids his questioning gaze, looking around, flustered and jittery. "I was just…"
"You were just what?" Sin Jeong-Hyuk has wanted to let her go but seeing her the ashamed and guilty look on her face probes him to teach her a lesson. "Do you think that you can kiss me like this because I have been letting you do whatever you want so far?"
Chicken covers her chest. Half of her face is partially hidden by her bangs after she lowers her head low. She rubs her arms, shivering. Her teeth clatter. The cold is nothing compared to the shame and embarrassment that she's going through.
"Kid," Sin Jeong-Hyuk utters as if it's a fact. He removes his coat and puts it over her shoulders. One by one, he buttons up the coat.
Chang Seol peers at him. There's nothing in his eyes except for a certain degree of care. He doesn't seem to be feeling anything. Is she the only one who feels this strange thing? Is she an alien? She closes her eyes. Not an alien but a freaky bird thing for sure.
"I am sorry." She bows her head deeply after he's done. "Mister, thank you for coming. I didn't know what was going on. So I… Please accept my apologies."
It's then he realizes that something isn't right about her. He looks for the giant serpent who is nowhere to be seen. He questions her with a deep frown on his face, "What's going on?"
"Actually…" She looks over her shoulder and widens her eyes. No Shi Won is gone. When did he leave? He must have been embarrassed to be here. Chang Seol gulps. Does she have to explain everything when she doesn't know everything anyway? "I don't know where to start."
They could sit here in the tunnel for all day and wonder where to start from. Sin Jeong-Hyuk exhales. Chicken is shivering in the cold. Her lips are turning purplish.
"Let's get you some proper clothes first." Sin Jeong-Hyuk helps her get up. "You aren't even wearing shoes."
"I-I-It's fine." She doesn't raise her head to meet his eyes and raises her arm to point ahead. "N-No… No Shi Won said that there's e-exit… exit ahead."
No Shi Won? Sin Jeong-Hyuk looks at the bright light at the end of the tunnel. Where did he hear that name? He furrows his brows, thinking hard. His forehead creases, forming deep lines. "Your ex-fiance?"
"That's him." She replies in a beat, "He's the one who helped me get out of the restroom in time."
His face turns dark and sour. Giving her a cold gaze, he inquires her through clenched teeth. "He saw you naked?"
"Why…" She pauses for a moment. No Shi Won could have seen her naked when she turned back to human suddenly. She can't care less now. Chang Seol mutters, feeling tired, "He said that I would get used to the nakedness."
"Get used to it, huh?" Sin Jeong-Hyuk smiles at her. "Chicken is bolder than I expected her to be."
"I can't help with it." Chang Seol turns her back to him and walks ahead, not waiting for him. She has already kissed him, has shown her naked body to him, and has turned from a giant bird to a human in front of him. If there's an apocalypse suddenly, she wouldn't mind it right now. She adds with an uncertain voice, "I also need answers."
There's a long silence. She doesn't bother breaking it. They reach the end of the tunnel. Chang Seol finds herself on a dirt road. There's a garbage truck parked on the other side of the road. Behind the truck, there's a black car.
The car window of the back seat slides down. No Shi Won's head emerges from the window.
"I thought that you wouldn't come out today." He scowls at her. "Get in the truck. I don't have all day."