Want Some Chicken Before You Go? (3)

About half a year ago, Ppase went through something pretty absurd. It was around the time he was prepping new collab content. To avoid leaks, he'd secretly visited a female streamer's place without anyone knowing. Her handle was Mingryu. The main goal was a final check on her PC setup and streaming gear, after which they planned to grab food outside.

But for some reason, Mingryu suggested eating at her place and tried to force booze on him. She subtly loosened her clothes to draw his eyes—it was all part of the package. Sensing something off, Ppase turned down the drinks. He played along just enough, then headed home.

Days later, though, Mingryu started badmouthing him on stream, riding the wave to fame. The nasty rumors spread like wildfire through streamer communities, painting Ppase as trash overnight. Claims like he'd made sexual demands under the guise of "sponsoring" her. Or maybe it was all a ploy just to meet up. She spun tales from thin air, putting on a tearful show. Suddenly, Ppase was the one forced into a public apology.

Losing a fifth of his subscribers in just two days was par for the course. He streamed a clarification right away, but got flamed for not "apologizing sincerely enough." Eyes wide open, he'd walked into a total disadvantage.

But he wasn't some pushover idiot who'd just take it lying down.

Releasing the full recording of every seductive line Mingryu had thrown at him. Things flipped in an instant, cornering her. She begged Ppase for mercy, clinging desperately. No leniency there. Lawsuits flew at everyone who'd crossed the line with their abuse. No way the ringleader Mingryu was getting off.

On stream, Ppase was the fun, rowdy neighborhood bro. But in real life, Ha Se-gi was different. He valued courtesy and loyalty, cautious and deep-minded. And his grudges? Longer than you'd think. That's why he never collabed with female streamers again. Part of why he hoped Elpi wasn't a woman.

"Ah, no! Why are you taking your clothes off all of a sudden?!"

"I'm pissed off!!"

When Lena hurled off her hoodie, yeah, Mingryu crossed his mind. His hand had already drifted to his phone to start recording.

But calming down alone, he realized: Lena's actions weren't sexual at all. What woman seduces a guy by ripping off her outer layer like a superhero shredding his shirt? She got along great with her dad. Understood his love for Ren. But Tuhon fame had invaded her privacy too much. Plus, with the booze... she just needed to cool off.

He'd planned to wait it out, but it was time to head back. No memo pads in sight anywhere in the living room. Ppase didn't have Elpi or her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠daughter's numbers. Spotting the unopened chili sauce packet from the crispy chicken, his eyes lit up.

*

Russian words I'd never uttered flowed smoothly from my lips. Vodka I'd never tasted went down like water. All since becoming Ren.

I still spoke Korean fine, ate Korean food fine. But my tastes had shifted big time. Because I was Ren now.

Vodka was like the dew in my veins. One bottle just warmed me up—no real buzz. Soju three-and-a-half bottles equals one vodka in alcohol, maybe, but my body processed it different.

"Blyat (plyat). Booze all burned off."

So a quick lap like this sobers me right up. Gotta down two vodkas to feel it proper. Panting hard, knees on the ground by the front door, bent over forever before catching my breath and heading inside.

That punk Ppase must've been shocked. First time seeing someone chug booze then bolt pissed off.

All 'cause he brought up the finger tattoo outta nowhere. Heat built from then, exploded when Belial popped in my head.

Opening the door, apology first: "Sorry for ditching you. Heat just hit me sudden..."

"Heat about what?"

"...Uh."

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠guy I came with? Gone. And some girl on the first floor I didn't even know was there.

Ta-in held a fork; chicken box more empty than before.

"What? Where's the guy?"

"Ppase-nim?"

"You knew?!"

"He was on the first floor."

Oh yeah, Ta-in was a big Ppase stream sponsor, right? Sneaky waiting downstairs.

"If you'd come up, wouldn't that cause issues?"

"...Spot on, manager."

"Sounds familiar..."

Ta-in lifted the chicken box, showing words scrawled on the lid in chili sauce.

"Must've rushed off 'cause stream time hit."

"No helping that."

"Anyway, didn't see his face?"

"Wasn't planning to~."

"Why?"

"Donemise viewers spew every kinda crap... So face-to-face? Nah~."

Ta-in grinned sheepishly, twirling her hair. I got it. I'd lost it once and toured hell for it.

"But doesn't Ppase know you're Elpi?"

"Nope."

"So who does he think you are?"

"Elpi's daughter."

"Daughter?"

Ta-in blinked, setting down her fork.

"He never said anything weird so far?"

"About what."

"I mean... He loves Ren so much he only plays her, and his daughter looks just like her? Kinda heavy pervert vibes."

"........."

That pervert dad even asked his daughter for a finger tattoo. Image crash wasn't the word.

"He doesn't say much around me, though..."

"How's a dad badmouth himself to his kid."

"...Fair."

Image good or bad, I had to hold the reins. To keep the lies from unraveling, keep pushing him. Fix Elpi's rep a bit, show more doting dad. Amateur at fake dad life—tougher than expected.

"Dad suddenly giving daughter's number weird?"

"Hmm... Depends on timing?"

"Timing?"

"Like, if Ppase needs your number for convenience?"

"...?"

"If you two were dating..."

Dating? Who with who. Tilting my head, Ta-in backpedaled fast.

"Got it. Not dating."

"What bullshit. You think me and that punk?"

"Yeah."

Couldn't help the dumb imagine. Chills, goosebumps everywhere.

"Suka (suka)... Better date you instead."

Worst vs lesser evil, but Ta-in blushed, scratching her cheek. Off in her own world.

"I-I mean... Wish you were my little sis. Not like, g-girlfriend or..."

Bonked her head lightly with the empty vodka bottle.

"Cut the nonsense. Friends then?"

"Friends gotta swap numbers, duh."

"Right? That's normal?"

Ta-in's pitying look hit me.

"Lena... You really lived without knowing basics? No friends...?"

"Ridiculous. I had some—not like you with zero."

"Harsh!!"

Wait, did I say dad was home or not? Booze lap wiped my memory.

#

Heading down the hill home, Ppase suddenly remembered.

"Oh crap. Number."

Still no Lena number. Planned to lock in contacts today—fail.

Thinking of her replayed her weird antics, laughter bubbling up.

"What a weirdo."

Invites him home outta nowhere asking if something's up, blows vodka like never before, tosses her jacket when pissed. Stuff you'd do with a buddy of ten years, right? No pretense in actions or words. Wants to? Does. Doesn't? Nope. Straight-up honest.

And she trusted Ppase huge. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Showed it in actions. Even after months walling off women, made him think maybe Lena's fine.

Home, shed long padding quick, firing up stream—Discord pinged.

Ppase finally recalled: Lena said Elpi wouldn't be back soon. Wasn't thinking, but... maybe Elpi heard all the commotion from downstairs?

Ppase: Ah...

Cold sweat down his spine. Brought him home on purpose. If Ppase showed true colors alone, straight to Elpi interview. Lena tested him. To check if good guy.

Ppase ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spilled every detail honestly. Hoping sincerity landed.

Mutual trust hard to build fast. First to trust often loses. Ppase played the sucker on purpose. Made people drop masks. Even slick villains slip with easy marks. Like Mingryu trying to scam him.

But good people? Returned bigger trust, rewards.

Account shared, deposit alert pinged instant.

"...Huh?"

One million won. Thought misread—six zeros. Million for sure.

Even long-term, who tosses a million for meals?

Stream profits all saved for daughter obvious. Pure doting dad wanting her fed full, happy. Couldn't refuse.

Curious why Elpi hid so hard, but whatever. Recognized Ppase as precious daughter's friend, handed account and number no hesitation. Giving trust first, getting back—felt weird, but good.

Elpi and Lena. This father-daughter duo? Things'd work out. Felt it that night.

Reading Elpi's last messages, Ppase grinned wide—rare good mood.