Brandy {Small Hiatus}

The Lake

Taemin wanted to go out today to visit the lake. It was a beautiful, enchanting lake. Nobody exactly knew what lived inside the lake but a few local fishers claimed to have seen monsters.

Thanks to this "myth" children didn't dare to go anywhere near the lake, which was a relief to Taemin. He could go there anytime in silence.

Whilst sliding his gaze over the lake, he thought about his life. Did everything go according to his plan?

Probably not.

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If there were strangers to walk by, they would've looked twice to realise he was in paradise.
Although a very weird paradise.

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Still covered in feathers, he gazed over the lake. Would it ever change? Maybe when the seasons changed. But still, would it?

He looked at the small pound where he and Onew used to play when they were small. The crooked tree, in which they used to climb, their favorite tree, next to the weeping willow.

They had pinki-promised that when they grew up, they would built a tree house in their favorite tree.

But today, Taemin felt a bit uneasy, he felt like he was being watched, like being spied on.

He shrugged it off, something else caught his attention.

It was a chirping sound, a very weak chirping sound.

Taemin jumped, first thought, what did that chicken do?
Second thought, did I take one of her chicks?
His third thought overpowered them all, someone or somebody is in need.

He looked if anything was unusual.

The stones were still the same gray, the grass was still green and the lake was still blue.

But if you would have followed Taemin's gaze, you would've seen what he saw.

A chestnut-backed chickadee.
It was one of his favorite birds.

Yet something was off, the bird's wing was in a weird position.

Taemin gasped and ran over to the bird. A twig snapped and they both were startled.

Taemin hadn't stepped on that twig.

He wanted to freeze but decided to grab the bird and ran back home. He wanted to take care of the bird.

His heart, pounding in his chest, went crazy. What was that, it must have been his imagination.

On his way, he passed everyone, them, turning around to look at their local bartender. The major, their gossip woman, Kibum, and-

Wait, Kibum..?
Taemin froze.

'I told you that I would talk to you later.' Kibum winked.

Taemin relaxed, 'Ahh Kibum, I wouldn't have expected you to be at our..' he paused and looked up, '... fabric store.' He added a smile.

'Well, first of all, it's a pleasure to meet you again. I was here to search for some fabrics for my new interior.' Kibum explained. 'A new interior, interesting. Are you renovating? For how long have you actually lived here?' Taemin mentally slapped himself for the straight-forwarded question.

'I recently moved here, don't worry. I'm redecorating the house, the past owners were a bit old-fashioned.' Kibum smiled. He must be living at the old McDonald's house. They recently moved away, to a better view, they said.

'How about you show me a little around? I haven't really had the time to go out.' Kibum asked.