Day 1

Jumin Han couldn't sleep. Aside from the fact that he missed Elizabeth the 3rd, the raging storm outside made it harder for him to relax. The room he was given was on the top floor of the villa and had a breathtaking view of the vineyard. But nobody ever told him the room wasn't soundproof.

Now it's 2:30am and he's wide awake, listening to the harsh pounding of the rain on the roof.

God, he wanted to go home.

He sighed and sat up, needing to distract himself. He's been told that one of his father's friends bought this land five years ago and turned it into the thriving vineyard that it was now. He did a good job of it too. The rooms have been renovated to look vintage but with modern touches -like the flat screen TV that hung on the wall in front of his bed. Jumin never liked watching TV though, so he didn't bother turning it on.

Maybe I should call V.

V would probably be sleeping at this time, but he grabbed his phone from the bedside table and tapped the screen anyway. He was desperate for some distraction, or maybe someone to yell at him to go to sleep so his brain would finally register that his body was tired.

Nothing happened.

He tapped the screen again before uttering a soft curse, realizing that he forgot to charge his phone. He leaned back against the headboard and closed his eyes, wishing sleep would take him.

All of a sudden, a loud clap of thunder ripped from the sky and Jumin opened his eyes just as the lights in his room started flickering.

And then the phone beside him rang.

It was an old Victorian phone that he assumed was fake; just a part of the decor in the house. Who would want to use such a troublesome phone?

But if it's ringing…

He reached out and gripped the receiver, thinking Assistant Kang might have found a way to reach him since his phone is dead.

He put the receiver to his ear.

"Hello?"

"Hello?"

A soft female voice greeted him at the same time and the young corporate heir tensed, the voice unfamiliar to him.

"Who is this?" Jumin asked suspiciously.

"What do you mean? You called me."

Jumin held the phone away from him and stared at the receiver. Was someone playing a trick on him? If so, he would like to have a word with them about how inappropriate it was to call someone at 2:30am just to play a prank.

"If you think you are being funny, you are mistaken. Please do not call me at such inappropriate hours again."

"Wait."

His finger hovered over the button that would cut the call, but he hesitated when he heard the girl's voice.

"I…I swear I didn't call you. But…is it alright if we talk for a while?"

Jumin didn't know why he stopped at the sound of her voice. Why should he talk to her? Why was he even considering this? What's one of the most fundamental rules that parents teach their children?

Don't talk to strangers.

Yet here he was, talking to a complete stranger on an old Victorian phone. Granted, Jumin Han was an adult now and was capable of handling himself.

But her voice sounded so…so sad. It was pleasant, but the girl sounded so…vulnerable. Perhaps he's just tired. Either way, Jumin sighed and pulled back his hand, settling back into his bed.

"Since I cannot sleep, I'll humor you."

He heard a soft chuckle from the other end of the line.

"I can't sleep either."

"Why don't you try counting sheep?" he said seriously.

Laughter. "That is a very odd thing to say."

"I'd suggest counting money, but I don't know your social status. I don't know you, for that matter."

"I don't know you either. But judging from the way you talk, you must come from a family with a notable background."

Jumin was quiet. What if this girl was dangerous? Maybe he shouldn't have been so rash in making his decision to talk to a complete stranger in the middle of the night.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I must sound like a stalker or something. I promise I'm not a bad person."

"What is your name?"

"My name is MC. What about you?"

Annoyance flashed across Jumin's face. How can this girl be so careless? Giving away personal information like that so easily?

"How can you be so reckless? You don't even know who I am."

Laughter again. "It doesn't matter." A pause. "What's your name?"

Jumin was silent. And then, "My name is Jumin."

"Nice to meet you, Jumin. You're pretty reckless yourself, giving your information to a woman you barely know."

"I don't intend to speak to you again after tonight, so I don't see what difference knowing my name would make."

Silence.

"That's…you're quite straightforward. But I understand. Let's make the most out of this fateful phone call then."

Something inside him stirred, but Jumin brushed it off, his interest piqued. Whoever this MC was, she sounded like a nice person.

"I don't believe in fate. I believe in taking matters into your own hands and paving your own path."

"Ah, a skeptic. But I think what you said is wonderful. The idea of having control over your own life…I wish things were that simple."

There it was again, that profound sadness behind her words.

"Why? Do you not have control over your life?" he asked, genuinely curious.

She laughed, but there was no mirth behind her laughter. "You could say I'm like a puppet."

"I don't understand."

"You don't have to. You don't owe me anything, Jumin. I'm just glad to be able to talk to someone…different. Someone who doesn't personally know me, you know?"

He did. It was refreshing, talking to someone who had no idea who you were. And even if she researched on him, how would she know she was talking to Jumin Han, C&R International's soon-to-be Executive Director?

Finally he relaxed and stretched out on bed, settling into a comfortable conversation with MC.

A few minutes had gone by and he had to admit, he was having fun talking to her. She was funny and she also loved cats. He spoke to her about Elizabeth the 3rd, surprised at himself for revealing information about his precious companion cat to someone he didn't know. But deep down, he felt that he could trust her.

They were talking about Elizabeth's beautiful fur when lightning flashed through his windows, followed by thunder.

"That was quite loud. Is it raining where you are, MC?"

Silence.

"Hello? MC?"

After a few heartbeats, he put down the phone, disappointed. He would have liked to talk to her more, but he didn't even ask for her number. Of course, he did say that he didn't intend to speak with her after that phone call.

Climbing under the blankets, Jumin closed his eyes and was finally able to sleep.