It's still early in the morning when Chihoon woke up. He saw Shanelle sleeping peacefully at the bed. He just let her sleep and went directly to the CR to take a bath.
He decided to go out today and know more about himself. He knew that before he turned into dormancy, there's something happened to him. And there's someone who killed him. But he can't really recall it whatever try he make.
After he finished taking a bath and dressed, he went out of the house. He remembered going to his old house. Yes, there are pieces of his memory that he can recall, except for the events 100 years ago before he was killed. Yes, he was not an ordinary person. There are things he can do that a normal person can't, and one of it is being immortal.
The time he stepped his feet on the old place, he already felt a sense of familiarity.
"Here everybody. For the next exhibit we're going to visit this study room of the late Qing dynasty's manor. The owner of this manor liked to read during his time," Chihoon heard someone talked so he went near them. There are people who, he thinks we're here to see the old house which is now became an exhibit venue.
"Also, a considerable number of books are collected in the museum. In addition, the owner also liked photography. He was an early photography enthusiast. Come this way with me." The peoole went to the other direction, so he entered the house alone.
He saw inside a lot of antic materials. Old jars, old clock, and an old camera. It was like he is looking on the past. He looked around one more time then he decided to go home. I will start discovering the mystery of my death. Maybe that woman can help me, he thought.
The house was quiet when he arrived. Meaning Shanelle is still asleep. He decided to go to the kitchen to drink water. As he was drinking, he saw Shanelle walks at the stairs yawning and with half-opened eyes. As she steps on the next stair, she slips her feet. Her eyes widen and she screams as the realization strikes her that she was going to fall.
Like how fast the wind is, Chihoon runs ro her and before she falls down the ground, he caught her in his arms. Aside from nor dying, one of his extraordinary ability is to run fast as the wind.
Shanelle was in a sudden shocked moment, as she looked at the guy who saved her. His arms are in her back and she is grabbing his neck for support.
Wait...something's not right, Shanelle thought. She suddenly moves away and points a finger at him. " Y-you...how did you came to rescue me when in fact you were far from me a while back?! You can't possibly run fast as the wind---you did! You just ran fast as the wind!" She said with eyes widened.
Chihoon looks at her and slowly nod. "Yes. I can. I---I am not an ordinary human. You know I am---"
"You're a monster?!" Shanelle exclaimed and swallowed hard.
"No. I'm a human just like you. It's jut that...I am not ordinary," Chihoon calmly tries to explain to her in a way she will not panic.
Shanelle walks to the sofa as if her soul left her. Chihoon also sits down the sofa in front of her as he watched her ammusingly shocked face.
"Your current heart rate is over 120 bpm. I know you have many things to ask. I will try my best to answer it," he said.
Shanelle looks at him. "C-can you fly? What really are you? D-do you have magic or something like, you know Superman...Batman or Kingsman?"
"Pft. Kingsman? Nah, just think of me as having eaten the devil fruit. I was killed. And no, I can't fly but I can jump very high that you can even consider it flying. I can't remember what happened before I was killed. And in this modern world, there's only you whom I know. Don't worry, once I found the person I've been looking for, I will leave you then and won't bother you anymore. As to repay you for giving me life through your blood and for letting me stay here, I will guarantee your safety at all times."
Shanelle's upper lip moves up to what she heard. "Oh...safety? Isn't it that maybe you're more dangerous to me?"
Chihoon shakes his head in disagreement. "I don't think so. You really look like an unlucky person." Shanelle frowned at what he said. "I won't let you die while walking down the stairs or get bored in the middle of the night and fall to your death in the sewer. I was awakened by you, so basically, we are one at heart. When something bad happens to you, bad things might happen to me too."
Shanelle is just seriouly looking at him then then grabs her hair in annoyance and confusion. She doesn't understand that her unluckiness even woke up a monster. "Okay, okay. You can stay here. However, there are some problems that we need to go over. Like understanding each other's appeal thoroughly. Also, lifestyle habits and background information."
Chihoon nods his head. "Okay. Do you have other questions?"
"What species are you? Where did you came from?" Shanelle hurriedly asked.
"I am a seven-hundred-year-old human. Regarding how I acquired my abilities, I am still searching for it. I will go to the library to research."
Shanelle swallowed. "So, you're saying that y-you're immortal?"
"You can say that. Yesterday when I was buying my things, I encountered a laboratory room. There I acquired some information. It is about telomeres and telomerase."
"Telome...what?" Shanelle asked confusedly with eyebrows moving up.
"Telomeres and telomerase. Telomere is a part of our DNA that affects how our cells age. And telomerase is an enzyme used in the creation of new cells and a part of our RNA," Chihoon explained. "That might be one reason why I have a long life. Human aging is a very complicated study. I know the way your mind works, you might not understand." Chihoon heard Shanelle clearing her throat. He smiles at that innocent gesture of her. "To put it simply, my condition is most likely due to some genetic mutation."
"M-mutation? Then you are a mutant?!" Her eyes widened even more. How can this be possible? She is looking at a perfectly made monster mutant! She runs her finger on her hair. "So, can you eat solid foods? Or you're eating insects? Or blood?"
"I am not a vampire," his lips itched upward giving her an ammused smile. "I can't eat solid foods. My body prefers fluid of a human's normal diet like your favorite yoghurt," he said pointing at the cup of youghurt at the center table.
"You told me that...you have an enemy and he wanted to kill you. Do you have any idea of what kind of person is he?"
Chihoon tilts his head and opened his mouth to talk but then Shanelle shouts.
"Stop! D-don't tell me," she covered her eaes and then runs away. The lesser I know, the safer I am. I didn't hear anything. I didn't hear anything! She mumbled repeatedly on her mind.