Chapter 49 (1/2)

Chapter 49: Chapter 5 Wi GaHyun-6

It was then that the eyes of the two men met. That pale freak who looked like porridge, Dum thought while looking at Mad Hatter's beautiful ceramic face. Mad Hatter let SoYoon inside first then curled his lips upward as he spoke.

”The little kid may go home now.”

”Who are you calling a little…!”

The door slammed in his infuriated face. Dum glared at the door and tried to calm his boiling anger. This was the first time he had felt like this toward anyone, and it annoyed him in the extreme.

Dum's presence retreated behind the door. Mad Hatter snorted and went to the kitchen. He embraced SoYoon from behind and kissed her lightly while she was organizing the things she bought. Noticing her stiffening, he sighed.

”Why are you acting so surprised over a greeting? I need the touch of another person from time to time. Don't you?”

Even he thought that the lie was pretty pathetic. Another person's touch? Other than SoYoon, he hated even the thought of someone else touching him.

SoYoon, who had felt a similar calm when she was with Heart, believed the lie. He felt her stiff shoulders relax, and he smiled.

”Now, let's hurry and clean this up.”

SoYoon finished organizing the things she bought and was shuffled to the bed by Mad Hatter. He plopped onto the bed next to her and hugged her tightly.

”It's a request. Until I wake up, you will be true to your role as my foot warmer. What's that face? Do you have another request?”

”I don't.”

”Then that's that. What is the problem? You make money, and I can get some relief from my headaches. Isn't it a good deal? So be still.”

When she closed her mouth, Mad Hatter sighed and relaxed his arms. As he inhaled deeply, he smelled the familiar soap scent. He lowered his head a little, and a bit stiffly, he rubbed his cheeks into her white hair.

”Mad Hatter.”

”I didn't sleep at all last night. So don't interrupt my sleep. You can't keep moving either. Then my head will hurt.”

Although his voice was slightly cold, Mad Hatter closed his eyes with a peaceful expression. SoYoon looked up at him with an exasperated expression.

No one should compare their life to someone else's. You may think you are depressed or think that you are better than others, or you believe you understand everything, but all these thoughts, in the eyes of another, will be unrelatable and presumably unpleasant.

Being in the same space, however, feeling each other's warmth, and sharing similar experiences, she couldn't help but feel her frozen heart being dunked in hot water. But she also wanted to escape that feeling. She clenched her fists.

***

It had been a while since SoYoon had received a call from Heart, but at his request, she headed over to his house. She passed the front gate and was heading to the front door when she heard a noise that sounded out of place at Heart's house. Like a chirping bird, it was the sound of Alice's lovely laugh.

Thinking that she would like to see Alice, she headed in that direction, but remembering the last place they had met—Jack's lair, the unconscious girl, the blood on her cheeks—SoYoon stopped.

She was reminded of other things, too—the volcanic anger of Heart, his kiss that smelled of blood. She remembered the words Mad Hatter had whispered to her.

”There's no need to worry about such silly things.”

She shook her head to rid it of the conflicting thoughts, sighed, and began walking again.

Alice was with a person whose presence was familiar to SoYoon. As she approached them, her stomach squirmed as if bugs were gnawing at her insides.

Heart and Alice were sitting on the terrace that overlooked the garden. Heart, feeling her presence, turned his head. His lips were smiling benignly, but his eyes looked gloomy.

Alice followed his gaze and found SoYoon.

”White Rabbit!”

Her delicate laugh greeted her. SoYoon was thankful for the bangs and mask that covered her face. If she hadn't had that, her mixed feelings might have been reflected in her face.

”It's been such a long time!”

”Have you been well?”

”I've been well, thanks to Heart, of course. But what brings you here…?”

”White Rabbit.”

Heart called her in an expressionless tone. The nickname he called her felt out of place.

”Head up to the drawing room. I'll follow you soon.”