Bed bugs

"Ugh!" She flinches as she opens her eyes. Her head is throbbing with pain. She gags when the smell infiltrates her nose. She looks down at her clothes. It's still damped. Did she throw up yesterday?

Why is she on the bed with Mun Soyoon? When Chang Seol tries to recall what happened yesterday, her head throbs again. She holds her head and winces in pain. "Why do I keep getting sick?"

It's still early, but she can't fall asleep. She notices a small paper packet on the top of her coat. She checks the packet -- cold medicine. Who brought this? She glances at Mun Soyoon. Did Mun Soyoon bring this?

After taking a bath, she comes back to her room. She frowns when she looks at her reflection. "Huh?"

Her neck is full of bug bites. Even her lips are bitten. Does this room have bed bugs? She shrugs. She has one more reason to not stay here. She gets ready quickly and goes downstairs.

If she leaves now, she will reach the university by seven. The first lecture starts at nine. It's better than staying here.

"Oii, Duckling."

She halts on her tracks and lets out a frustrated sigh. Why is he always in the living room?

"Are you going to leave without any explanation?" Sin Jeong-Hyuk puts his hands on her shoulders. "Our last night conversation is pending."

She frowns at him. Did they talk last night? She has no memory of that.

"Did you forget?" Sin Jeong-Hyuk grimaces at her. How could she forget about that? "Kid, do you remember nothing at all?"

"I don't remember..." Chang Seol curls her fingers. This Mister's face is so scary right now. Her mother told her that some people are purely bad luck. She has a feeling that this mister is a piece of bad luck in her life.

He stares at the marks on her lips. Her mouth is small. Who would even think of doing this to a child? "Do you remember how you got your lips bitten?"

She creases her forehead. Why is he curious about that? "Bed bugs."

Bed bugs… He's feeling embarrassed on her behalf, covering his face with his hands. This idiot doesn't remember anything at all. Girls like her are easy targets. "You are not allowed to drink alcohol anymore."

"Who are you to stop me from drinking?" She scowls at him. "I can drink anything I want."

"As long as you are here, you can't drink. You can't stay out late. You need to stay away from boys." He tells her with an eerie voice, "You should never ever go to a male restroom."

"I have eyes. I would never go to a male restroom," She huffs. She's not blind. "Old Mister, who are you to scold me? The owner told me that we should mind our business. Then, why do you keep doing this?"

Why? If she had seen herself yesterday, would she ask this question? He grits his teeth. It's hard to stay angry when her cheeks are puffed up and she's glaring at like an angry chicken. Is this how a father feels when his daughter is going through a rebellious phase? "I promised your father that I will keep an eye on you."

She pinches her lips together. They glare at each other until Chang Seol breaks eye contact. "I am leaving."

"Wait." He grabs the back of her hoodie.

"Now what?" Chang Seol looks at him scornfully.

Well, she's sober now. He looks straight into her eyes. "Do you know who Daydream is?"

Her face becomes ghostly white. She lowers her eyes and touches her ear. "I don't know her."

She's lying for sure. However, he's relieved. This is a high stroke of luck. This girl knows who that person is. She's a little kid. If he treats her nicely, she will tell him for sure. "Kiddo, do you want to drink hot chocolate?"

"No." Chang Seol rubs her arms. The smile on Old Mister's face is raising the hairs on her arms and body. He looks like a creepy uncle. "I am late for the lecture."

"It's still early." He looks at the clock. He has been living with Yeon-Sik for a while. All the morning lectures start at nine. He looks at the spot. He can't see the kid anywhere. The door is open. Chang Seol's shoes are gone. "She escaped."

"Who escaped, Hyung?" A man in early twenties comes out the corner room. He stretches his arms and yawns. "Is it the new occupant?"

"Yeah." Sin Jeong-Hyuk sits down on the couch and turns on the TV.

"A girl?" Boo Bong-Su takes a seat beside him and looks at him with expectations.

"Don't even think about it." Sin Jeong-Hyuk warns him. "They are off-limits."

"But I am not off-limits." Boo Bong-Su grins. "Can anyone resist my looks?"

"A man should not rely on his face." Sin Jeong-Hyuk pats his arms. "Rely on your strengths."

"My looks are my strength, Hyung." Boo Bong-Su scrutinizes his face. "How long are you going to stay a hobo? Shave and cut your hair. We should offer full services to the girls. If you can't shave, let me do it."

"Bong Su, let me be." Sin Jeong-Hyuk shakes his head lightly. "I am fine the way I am."

"Hyung, I will make you look like a star." Boo Bong-Su puckers his lips with shining eyes. Jeong-Hyuk Hyung is in a good mood. He might get a chance to cut his hair today. He holds Jeong-Hyuk's face. "It will take only ten minutes."

"Bong-Su!" Jeong-Hyuk pushes him away. "If you talk about my hair or face again, I am going to beat you up."

"But he's right though," Mun Soyoon interrupts. She's been watching them for a while. "Oppa, you will look beautiful if you shorten your hair and get rid of that beard."

The men stop talking and glance at the girl standing at the end of the staircase. Boo Bong-Su gapes at the girl. So pretty...