Chapter 11 (1/1)

IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA(Lee Chae-rin's P.O.V)Trrring Trrring Trrring~~" Huh? " I exclaimed.Trrring Trrring Trrring~~It was just my alarm. I groaned. I was too lazy to get up. I turned around, unable to reach the alarm clock. But on this side the dim light of the sun was streaming in. It was pretty much winter and wasn't so bright in the early morning.It was 5 am. My usual wake up time.I groaned and covered my head with my pillow.But the alarm just got louder. I screamed before kicking my blanket off myself only to pick it up again. It was freezing!!! I wrapped myself up tightly and in the mirror saw myself looking like an overgrown pink kimbap roll. I walked like a penguin with fluffy pink bedroom slippers to match the blanket around my shoulders.I plodded sleepily towards the alarm clock and turned it off before throwing it in the bin.I yawned in a very un-lady like manner. Who cared anyway? I was alone in a place far away from anyone I knew. With that thought I smiled. This could be the beggining of something new for me... (Shim Changmin's P.O.V)I shivered, unable to fall asleep at first. It was so cold I thought my teeth would fall out! I hadn't worn a jacket that was warm. Every hour seemed to be an eternity. All I could hope for was that the sun would come up soon. I could've just walked back to the main road and hitch-hiked, but it was too dark and I was too tired.I couldn't hear the sound of a single car engine.I put on a sweater and a couple of button up shirts over my jacket, not to mention covering myself in a bath robe and a towel from my suitcase.And so I rocked my freezing body hoping my body heat would warm the cold wooden bench.I don't know when, but I fell asleep. (Lee Chae-rin's P.O.V)I strolled down the stairs humming an abstract tune that I had conjured out of nowhere.The weather seemed pleasant outside so I decided to take a morning walk. Not particularly a habit, but I'd read that it was good for health. It was more or less the effect of that one magazine article. Although I had a sneaky suspicion that it was probably more influenced by the fact that I was too lazy to take my morning shower.I stood outside my house, at the doorstep just admiring the weather, the skies and the green bushes glistening with dew.All of a sudden, I remembered my pups.Lil Tyke and Raff-Raff! Where were they? Where was Maria? Why weren't they here?I knew they weren't here but I just had to search or I was going to go crazy!I scrambled around in my fluffy pink slippers and pink blanket running to the back of the house. The side that faced the lake. For a second I just stared at the water as it shone in the light that the thick forest cover behind it allowed to pass through the thick mess of branches, dried leaves and empty nests.Of course, returning to my panicked state in a matter of seconds.I turned to my left only to step back a little.There was a person, a boy or man perhaps sleeping on the bench behind my house." Excuse me, " I whispered.No response. Was he dead?!" Excuse me, sir, " I whispered.I walked closer to the body whose only motions were faint heavings of the chest. I felt a little relieved to know he was alive although it brought up possibilities of him being a stalker, a murderer, et cetera, et cetera.I picked up a heavy looking stick. Well the heaviest I could find. It looked like a wand from the Harry Potter movies.With my 'weapon' I prodded the stranger whose back was towards me." Hey! " I called out. " Hey you! "I received a low groan in response. He could hear me. I prodded him harder, trying to get him to get off the bench and get going. I didn't want strangers in my compound. And off the bench I got him, only not quite how I expected.The man fell off the bench. He hadn't moved a muscle though. He'd fallen as though he were a block that had been pushed off a ledge.He didn't move. That's when I began to panic." Sir? Sir? Are you alright? " I asked in a panicky way.No response. This time I couldn't even tell if he were breathing!I rushed to his side and pulled away the clothes he'd wrapped around his head and face.The fingers of my right hand were weaved into his knotted hair while my other hand held his face up. My breath caught as I took in the sight before me. Not only was he pale, ice-cold and almost lifeless...I recognised him...I knew him...I couldn't forget that face no matter what...Shim Changmin... Max.