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LEE HYOLYN IS THE TWIN SISTER OF LEE CHEONG SAN AND THE BEST FRIEND TO NAM ON JO

SHE IS COMMONLY DESCRIBED AS A COLD AND BLUNT PERSON.

SHE HAS BEEN KEEPING A SECRET FROM HER BROTHER, BUT NOW IN THE MIDST OF THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE, IT MIGHT JUST BE REVEALED...

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HE WAS ALWAYS HANGING AROUND all the places that I was. Whenever I was at the chicken shop, our apartment, at school, he was everywhere I turned. I guess that it made sense because my twin brother Cheong San and Su Hyeok were best friends. I felt a light slap against the back of my head as I turned to glare at the person next to me. On Jo gave me a mischievous smile before placing her hand on my sweater and lightly tugging it. I took the hint and scooched closer to her as she took a couple of deep breaths preparing to tell me something. I waited expectantly as she cupped her hands around my ear.

"I like Su Hyeok" She whispered

I tried to keep a straight facial expression as she removed her hands from around my ear and shuffled back into her seat. She was looking at me, waiting for my reaction, as she eyed the two boys sitting in front of us. I slowly turned toward her while holding up a subtle thumbs up underneath the table. On Jo let an immediate smile grace her face as she turned back toward the chicken in front of her. I bit my lip as I turned back toward my own plate trying to put on a smile for my best friend. This was absolutely going to kill Cheong San.

"What are you two girls gossiping about?"

The two of us looked up from our plates as Su Hyeok pointed at the two of us accusingly. On Jo let out a small giggle as she tried to hide her smile behind the chicken in her hand. I couldn't help but wince at her reaction before looking straight in front of me at my brother. He seemed to not notice her exaggerated reactions to Su Hyeok's words as he stared at her in a trance. I knew how much my brother liked On Jo, he had been crushing on her since they were 6 years old. I quickly looked away from my brother before diverting my attention to the plate in front of me. Note to self, tell mom that this chicken is way too salty. The chicken was clearly untouched on my plate compared to everyone else's. Although I tried to divert my attention away from the news that I had just received, my mind kept wandering back to how my brother was going to feel.

I looked up from my plate when I felt someone lightly kick my leg from underneath the table. My eyes had immediately met Su Hyeok's as he stared at me in concern. His eyebrows were lightly scrunched as he tried his best to hide his concern from his best friend sitting next to him. Su Hyeok and I had been as close as Cheong San and On Jo for the last year. Although all four of us had been friends for a long time, he and I had only grown this close in the past year. Cheong San didn't like it whenever any boy, especially Su Hyeok, got too close to me so he and I kept our newfound closeness to ourselves.

I gave him a small smile before shaking my head, trying to let him know that everything was fine, before picking up my cup. I took a sip of my cold coke as I watched the three of them joking and laughing amongst themselves. I didn't miss the small looks that Su Hyeok gave me, noticing that I wasn't participating in the conversation, before returning to laugh. As I placed my coke down I realized that this news shouldn't affect me as much as it had been.

"I'm getting tired. Do you guys want to head home?" I said

My three friends immediately stopped their conversation to look at me before looking at each other. Cheong San was one of the first to send me a signal that he wanted to stay behind longer, and then came On Jo. I nodded my head at their silent replies before pushing my chair back and standing up. I was quick to pick up my backpack that had been placed next to the table before pushing my chair back in. As my hands left the back of the chair, I had noticed that someone had stood up on the opposite side of the table.

"I'll walk her home" Su Hyeok had said

Cheong San immediately shook his head before placing a firm grip on Su Hyeok's wrist. The two boys stared at each other before Su Hyeok bent over to whisper into my brother's ear. On Jo looked at Su Hyeok before turning to look at me. She then let a happy smile on her face as she once again tugged on my sleeve. I rolled my eyes at her before crouching in front of her, placing my hands on my knees.

"Isn't Su Hyeok such a gentleman?" She said dreamily

I turned my head toward her before lifting my hand and flicking her forehead. She gave me a frown before lifting her hand to her now red forehead as she began rubbing it. I only gave her a small smile in return before standing back up. Su Hyeok had now picked up his backpack and was waiting for me by the entrance of the restaurant. I looked at him in confusion before turning back toward my brother who sighed in defeat.

"It's safer if he walks you home first. I'll see you later. Su Hyeok, remember you crash in my room, not hers! ," Cheong San said

I nodded at his words before turning around and walking toward the door, purposefully avoiding Su Hyeok's stare.

"See you tomorrow On Jo!" I called out to behind me

I only heard a small grunt in response as I quickly walked out of the door and into the night air. I heard Su Hyeok's footsteps behind me as he kept his distance, close but not too close. I let myself inhale the fresh air as I kept my head tilted upward. I felt myself beginning to suffocate in the restaurant and needed to get out. As I turned the corner with Su Hyeok behind me I suddenly stopped. We were now standing in the middle of a back alley as I kept my eyes open staring up at the starry sky. It was such a beautiful sight, the stars blending in with the dark night sky. It was hard to believe that such a beautiful thing could exist in our current world.

I heard a pair of footsteps walk closer to me before Su Hyeok pivoted and stood right in front of me. I slowly lowered my head from its tilted position, our eyes meeting, as he took a deep breath. I couldn't help but stare down at my feet as I kicked around stray pebbles out of nervousness. Su Hyeok slowly lifted his hand before putting it on the side of my face, gently lifting my face and bringing it closer to his. I felt my heart beginning to beat faster as I stared at his emotion-filled face. I didn't move as his lips came closer and closer to mine before eventually pressing against my own. His lips were warm and soft as he closed his eyes to enjoy the moment.

I like Su Hyeok.

I brought my hands up to his chest before gently applying pressure and pushing him backward. Su Hyeok dropped his hand from my face as he stared at me with a confused expression.

"What's wrong?" He asked

"We promised that this wouldn't happen again, especially after last time," I responded

He looked at me with sadness before quickly covering it up with a joking expression and walking back toward me. I felt bad about having to remind him but I knew that it was something the both of us were just pretending to forget. I watched him cautiously before he threw an arm over my shoulders as I nestled into his chest. The feeling of being held against him was almost automatic at this point as I inhaled the familiar scent. Contrary to popular belief the lack of socks did not affect his smell.

"Okay, okay. I understand. Now, let's get you home," He said

I nodded against his chest as he gently pulled me closer and began walking toward my apartment complex. Our footsteps matched up in sync as he let out a sigh of contentment at our peaceful walk back toward my apartment. This was slowly becoming our new routine as On Jo and Cheong San typically stayed out later than I did, and Su Hyeok always left with me. It worked out because Su Hyeok typically crashed in Cheong San's room, except for that once. We had fallen into a comfortable silence as we let the unspoken pass between the two of us.

I watched his face as he stared at the scenery in front of us. His face held a serious yet content expression as he protectively and comfortingly kept his arm around me. I could tell that he was thinking about what I had said before. I knew that I needed to get his mind off of it and had a lightbulb moment. I bit my lip to try and hide my mischievous smile before gripping his hand with my own. He looked down at me with a smile which I returned before I removed his hand from my arm. I gripped it tightly as I twirled underneath his arm, successfully twisting it behind his back.

"Come on? WHY? " He yelled out

I let out a loud laugh as I released his arm before lightly kicking his backpack, watching him stumble forward before catching himself. He stood up at his full height before turning back around and staring at me with a murderous expression. He pointed at me before sending me a warning stare. Before he could retaliate I ran up to him gripping his arm and sending him an apologetic smile. He looked down at me, his chest rising and falling at a rapid pace as he debated on what to do. He let out one final sigh before admitting defeat and once again throwing his arm around my shoulders. As we continued walking back toward the apartment he finally realized why I had attacked him all of a sudden. I felt him slowly lean down before pressing a gentle kiss to the top of my head before retracting his lips, going back to normal.

Sometimes a selfish part of me wished we hadn't made the deal, that we had just lived for us while ignoring the rest of the world.

But, I knew that we had a deal, and there were far too many people that would get hurt if we broke it.

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I SNUGGLED DEEPER INTO MY WARM BED before waking up to a series of loud knocks. I let out a loud groan as I kept my eyes closed, my hand reaching out for a pillow. Once I had found one, I placed a strong grip on it before flinging it at my bedroom door. I heard a loud laugh come from behind it before the person that was bothering me ran off to get ready. I slowly blinked the sleep out of my eyes as the sight of my room slowly became clearer. There were posters lazily hung up on my walls and books thrown around my room. I slowly shifted my weight as I sat upwards in my bed, my head spinning from my lack of sleep. I let out a deep breath before swinging my legs off my bed and standing up on the wooden floor. I lifted my arms up into the air as I tried to stretch them out. The clock hung up on my wall immediately caught my attention as I realized that I was running 10 minutes late. I stood in place, my arms still in the air, as I stared at the clock praying that the time was being read wrong. I blinked once. twice. Shit.

When I realized that the time wasn't going to change I quickly ran toward my bedroom door. I felt my foot lightly kick a book but I tried to pay no attention, trying to focus on getting to the bathroom and getting ready. I felt my hand reach out for the cold doorknob before I took one step out of my room. My hands immediately went out in front of me as I tried to brace for the impact but the person in front of me was quick to place their hands around my waist. I kept my hands on their chest as I took a couple of deep breaths. I was still disoriented from our near collision as I stood in the same place. When I had finally managed to gather myself I slowly lifted my head. Su Hyeok was staring down at me with an amused expression as he kept his hands firmly gripped around my waist. I felt my blood beginning to rush to my cheeks as I slowly lowered my gaze to my hands that were positioned on his chest.

When my brain managed to begin working again I quickly removed my hands from his chest. I moved one of my hands to his own before aggressively pulling his wrist toward me. I let out a string of curses as I saw the time and dropped his hand. I didn't have time to look back at him but managed to give him a small pat on the shoulder before continuing toward the bathroom. I didn't hesitate before practically ripping the door off its hinges and shutting it behind me. I frantically looked around as I grabbed everything that I needed to get ready. I was quick to wash my face, brush my teeth, brush my hair, and throw on my uniform. I took one last look at myself in the mirror as I tried to straighten out a wrinkle in my uniform. When I felt satisfied enough with my look, I opened the bathroom door and took a deep breath. I walked down the hallway, hearing the laughter and conversation coming from the dining area. As I entered the small kitchen space I saw that Su Hyeok, Cheong San, and my mother were all engaged in a discussion. The first person to notice my sudden appearance was my mother. She gave me a small smile before standing up from her seat and placing her hands on my shoulders. I turned my head to the side as I stared at her hands before looking back at her.

"Were you up late?" She asked me with a slight undertone of concern.

I turned my head to the side as I tried to hide my dark circles before shaking my head. I am sure that it looked like a big blob of hair shaking itself from my mother's perspective. I heard her let out a small sigh before placing one hand underneath my chin and turning my head back toward her face. She brought her lips to my forehead as she gave me a small kiss before removing her hands from my shoulders. I watched as she turned back toward the two boys and pointed at them.

"All of you should get going or else you're going to end up being late again," She said.

The two boys grunted in response as they finished up their food. I could only roll my eyes at my brother's barbaric eating habits before he stood up from his seat. I saw him subtly check his watch before rushing past me, practically knocking me over. I yelled out to him but he only gave me a mumble in apology as he rushed to put on his shoes. Su Hyeok slowly got up from his seat before gently walking past me and going to put on his shoes. I turned to follow the two boys but felt my feet turn back toward my mom. I put my arms around her as I gave her a hug, letting her familiar scent comfort me. She stumbled for a second, visibly confused, before placing her hands around me and giving me a small pat on the back. I slowly pulled back my arms as I stared at her.

"What was that for?" She asked.

"I'm not sure. I just wanted to let you know how much I love you," I said.

She gave me a small smile before affectionately pushing a strand of hair out of my face. She stared at my face with an expression filled with love and pride as she let out a small sigh.

"Get good rest. I know that your exams are coming up but I want you to know that your health comes first," She said softly.

I looked at her before nodding in response. She looked into my eyes one last time before giving my shoulder a soft pat, letting me know that I should really get going. I felt something tug at my heart but knew that I had to go to school right now, or else I would have to face the wrath of being late. I quickly ran toward the front door, slipping my socks on, before throwing on my shoes and opening the door. I felt a rush of fresh air hit my face as I slipped out of the door, the sounds of people yelling instantly greeting me. I let myself slow down as I closed the door behind me. I nearly jumped into the air as I saw Su Hyeok leaning against the wall next to the front door. I put a hand to my heart as I took a couple of breaths, staring at him annoyed.

"You scared me," I said.

He only let out a little laugh before putting on a cheeky smile. He pushed himself off the wall with his shoulder before pointing at me.

"You're such a scaredy-cat, how would you ever survive a zombie apocalypse?" He said mockingly.

I lifted my hand before slapping down his pointed finger. I placed my hands on the straps of my heavy backpack as I began walking toward my brother and On Jo. I could see that they were currently in the middle of a game of rock paper scissors. While many may not have noticed but I could see the way my brother subtly smiled toward On Jo as she let out another frustrated groan. I heard Su Hyeok's footsteps coming from behind me, eventually falling into pace with. my own as he walked next to me.

"Simple. You'd protect me," I said with a small smile.

He didn't respond to my words but instead lightly hit my shoulder with his own as the two of us continued walking toward the two teens in front of us. I rolled my eyes at the two of them as Su Hyeok and I brushed past them, walking toward the elevator. I shouldered my backpack as Su Hyeok reached out to press the elevator button. Right on time, I watched as On Jo began sprinting in our direction waving her hand in the air. Su Hyeok and I calmly watched as the elevator doors slowly opened before standing inside. On Jo sprinted in after us, her chest rising and falling, as she placed her hands on her knees. I heard someone's footsteps running toward the elevator as they shot their hand out, stopping the doors from closing. My brother stood in the middle of the entrance with an annoyed expression. As he pointed his finger toward On Jo, probably about to complain, I brushed past her lightly kicking my brother backward. I watched as he stared at me with an offended expression.

"You're holding the elevator up," I said while giving him a shrug.

He began yelling but before he could get any actual words in, the doors had closed. The three of us stood in uncomfortable silence as On Jo struggled to catch her breath. I watched as she faced my direction trying to hide her face from Su Hyeok. I couldn't tell if her face was red from the running or from the close proximity that she was in with Su Hyeok. I kept my gaze focused on the ground as I kicked around an old water bottle sticker. It felt like it had been years before I heard the ding of the elevator. As the doors slowly opened the three of us were now looking at an annoyed Cheong San.

"You cheated!" He yelled out before gently grabbing On Jo's arm and pulling her out of the elevator.

I, once again, paid them no attention as Su Hyeok and I walked around the scene in front of us. From what it looked like Cheong San was probably trying to get On Jo to hold his backpack. I turned my gaze away from the two of them as I saw someone holding something out next to me. I looked down at Su Hyeok's hand before staring back up at him in confusion. He tried to hide his shy face as he stared in the other direction before shaking his hand once more. I let a small smile onto my face as I cautiously reached out. I gently gripped the granola bar in my hand as I turned back to him. I gently bumped his shoulder with my own as he turned his gaze toward my own.

"Who knew Lee Su Hyeok was such a gentleman?" I teased as I carefully placed the granola bar into my pocket.

He gave me a small smile before the both of us stopped in our tracks watching Cheong San and On Jo sprint after each other. They nearly knocked both of us over as they continued yelling at each other down the street. Su Hyeok's smile turned into a smirk as he carefully placed one hand around my arm as he pulled me into his side. I rolled my eyes at his antics before lightly pushing him away, watching him let out a laugh. I once again shouldered my backpack, the weight slowly digging into my shoulders. I tried to make it unnoticeable but Su Hyeok immediately noticed this action. He didn't say anything as he reached behind me and lightly gripped the top of the backpack. I suddenly felt my backpack get increasingly lighter and turned my head in confusion. I saw that he was holding my backpack up as the two of us walked together. I focused back on the street while trying to hide the small smile crawling up to my face. I knew that he was being this affectionate because Cheong San was far in front of us and couldn't turn around to yell at him. I watched his intense gaze as he stared out at the street in front of us. I lightly elbowed his ribs as I watched him turn back toward me, a confused expression on his face.

"You're overthinking again," I told him.

"I know. Thanks for pulling me out of it," He said casually.

I nodded in response before staring out at the empty alley.

"So, what were you and On Jo whispering about yesterday?" Su Hyeok asked.

I felt the air get knocked out of my lungs as I remembered what she had told me yesterday. How could I have forgotten? Yesterday she had told me that she had a crush on Su Hyeok. I couldn't tell him what she had told me. No matter how I felt toward the situation or the fact that Su Hyeok was my best friend, it wasn't my place to share her secret. Instead, I bit my lip as I thought of how to respond to his question. What I happened to miss was that his gaze was already focused on my face.

"You don't have to tell me. It must be something important if you're trying to come up with a lie." He said.

I snapped my head up in surprise as I tried to think of reasons for how he would have known.

"How did you...?" I asked.

"You always bite your lip when you're coming up with a lie, and I would never want to pressure you into telling me something you didn't want to." He responded.

I gave him an appreciative smile as we fell into a comfortable silence. As much as I was itching to tell Su Hyeok the truth, I knew that I couldn't. Instead, I opted on taking a couple of deep breaths and focusing on the rough road in front of us. Su Hyeok kept a firm grip on my backpack as he used his grip to expertly pull me closer to him. I could feel the warmth radiating off is his own body as he smirked down at me. I gave him a flirty smile before lifting my hand to his chest and gently sliding it down. Once it had reached his ribs I lifted it off, creating a pointed finger before poking it into his side. He flinched at the contact before turning to glare at me. I let out a small laugh at his upset reaction as he turned his annoyed gaze back toward the alley. I tried to contain my laughter as I sent him a small pout. I placed my arms around his waist as I stared up at his face, the pout never leaving my face. He rolled his eyes before looking down at me and staring back at the street. He clenched his jaw as he tried to maintain his annoyed expression but ultimately failed, a small smile taking its place. He mumbled something under his breath as he watched me remove my arms, laughing with him as we continued walking toward the school.

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I FELT MY FEET HITTING THE PAVEMENT as the rush of students continued following me. I didn't have time to turn around and search for Su Hyeok as I kept my eyes focused on the gates that were in front of me. I suddenly came to a halt, my lungs burning, as I brought a hand up to my sweaty forehead. We all watched the red light, staying on our toes, as the shouts of the teachers could be heard from across the street. I bit my lip in anxiety as I began tapping my foot against the pavement, impatient. I suddenly felt someone slip their hand into my own. My head turned around as I saw Su Hyeok staring at the light, his chest rising and falling. I let a small smile onto my face as I turned back toward the light. I watched in slow motion as the color changed and all the students rushed forward. I didn't even have time to slow down as shoulders pushed against me, and the sound of footsteps thundered in my ears. I sprinted through the gates slowly letting go of Su Hyeok's hand as I tried to catch my breath. I watched in amusement as he let out a small wheeze, leaning over with his hands on his knees. I took a second to look behind me where I saw the teachers had eventually cut off the flow of students, taking down their names. I scanned the crowd for my brother but could only find On Jo held up by a teacher, an annoyed expression on her face. As I turned my head around to look back at Su Hyeok I saw that my brother was indeed inside the gates, talking to Ji-won? I looked at the two of them in curiosity as I watched my best friend laugh at something he said. When did the two of them get so close?

I frowned at the two of them, but before I could say anything I felt someone tug on my sleeve. I turned around, rolling my eyes at Su Hyeok who was now gripping at my arm. He was still in the middle of dramatically catching his breath before standing up and putting his arm around my shoulders. I watched him carefully as he took a deep breath before turning to me and giving me a small smirk. I pointed in the direction of my brother before turning back around and facing Su Hyeok. He only gave me a small shrug, keeping the smirk on his face, before gripping my shoulders tighter underneath his arm. Speaking of Cheong San, I turned back around expecting to see Ji-won and Cheong San talking to each other, but the only thing I saw was On Jo and Cheong San walking toward me. The two of them had unreadable facial expressions as they approached us. Cheong San didn't hesitate before walking toward Su Hyeok and slapping his hand off my shoulder. I rolled my eyes at the two of them before falling into pace next to On Jo, offering her a small smile. She only grimaced before hiding it with a smile and falling back into pace next to me. I gently reached out with my hand, giving her a small pat on the shoulder, before dropping it back next to me.

She turned toward me with an appreciative expression before turning her gaze back toward Su Hyeok. I couldn't help but try and distract myself from her obvious crush by stopping and turning my head to try and find Ji-won, but she must have already gone inside. By the time that I turn back around I had noticed that all three of them had disappeared. I let out a sigh of frustration at the realization that the three of them must have left while I was looking for Ji-won. I looked down at my shoes but before I could start moving again I heard a loud scream coming from a building under construction. I took a deep breath as I looked around me trying to find someone who could have heard what I did, but nobody seemed to be fazed as they all made their way toward their classes. I took a shaky step forward as I tried to ignore the small scream, but then came the next, and the next, and the next. I clenched my fists as I stopped in my tracks, fuck. I turned around full speed, sprinting toward the construction building while coming to a slow jog as I approached it. The building seemed to be in the middle of being built, concrete surrounding extra cracks. Why couldn't I ever mind my own business? I slowly entered the building before looking around, my breathing becoming slightly uneven.

"What the fuck are you looking at?" Someone suddenly screamed.

I bit my tongue as I held a hand to my heart, visibly shocked by the sudden yelling. This time it had been very clear that the screaming was coming from the second floor of the building. I looked toward the staircase before turning my head and looking back at the entrance. My head was spinning with thoughts but when I heard another scream, I knew what I had to do. I tried to empty my thoughts as I began sprinting up the stairs, two at a time, holding my breath. The scene in front of me was enough to make my blood boil. There was a boy, probably my age, holding a phone as his hands shook. That wasn't what angered me though. In front of him were two guys visibly trying to undress a girl. She was screaming and crying as one of them quickly clamped his hand over her mouth, trying to keep her quiet. It seemed that the first person to notice my presence had been Yoon Gwi-nam. He held his hand up in the air, his gaze fixed on me. Everyone seemed to stop what they were doing, looking at him in confusion before turning their stares towards me. The two bullied teens seemed to be the only ones not looking at me, as they both kept their gazes toward the floor. Gwi-nam slowly rose from where he had been sitting, his footsteps echoing in my ears. As he slowly approached me he held a finger up in the air before pointing it at me. I tried not to flinch as he brought his face close to mine, lifting his finger toward my face. I didn't hesitate before lifting my own hand and slapping his finger out of the air, getting it away from my face. It seemed that everyone in the building had gone quiet as they watched the interaction between the two of us.

"How are you doing today, Lee Hyolyn?" He asked mockingly.

"I was having a decent day until I walked into this shit show," I responded, my voice laced with anger.

Gwi-nam watched me with curiosity before clearing his throat and standing back up. I didn't hesitate before taking a couple of steps back, keeping some distance between the two of us. He watched my disgusted expression before letting out a small laugh. His laugh echoed and bounced off the walls of the construction building as he pointed a finger in the direction of the girl.

"I promised the boys a show, if not her, then who will give it to them?" He asked.

I turned my head to the side watching the young girl cowering in fear as she stared at all the boys surrounding her. I took a deep breath before turning my gaze away and staring at Gwi-nam, my eyes lighting up with frustration.

"I will," I said in a determined tone.

Gwi-nam looked at me in surprise before clearing his throat. His face grew nervous and tense as he began tapping his foot against the ground. He subtly turned his head to the side trying to get a feeling for how his crew was reacting to this scene. It seemed that none of them objected which led to Gwi-nam getting even more irritated. He rolled his eyes before pointing at the staircase and turning back around.

"Get out and mind your own business Hyolyn," He said, his voice firm and upset.

I only shook my head in disbelief at his actions. I dropped my backpack on the floor, the loud sound once again attracting his attention, before walking over to the young girl. I ripped the hands of the two other boys off of her as she shook in my arms. I looked down at her tear-stained face as she continued staring down at the floor. I turned my head to look at the two boys behind me before looking at Gwi-nam.

"You want a show, fine. I'll do it, but you let her go," I said.

Gwi-nam bit his lip in frustration before taking a deep breath, trying to think of something to say. Before he could respond, Myung Hwan had beat him to it, his face holding a disgusting smile as he stared at me.

"Fine with me. But... she stays on the side," He said.

I looked at him in disgust before hesitantly letting the girl go. I watched as she took a couple of cautious steps before standing to the side, her back against the wall. I was now standing in the middle of the four boys as they all stared at me. I took a deep breath before lifting a shaky hand and placing it on the bottom of my sweater. I brought my head up and made eye contact with Gwi-nam as I slowly brought the sweater over my head. The three other boys began hollering in my direction as I watched the sweater slowly fall down to the ground. I felt my heart pounding in my ears as I slowly reached my hands toward the back of my skirt.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Someone yelled out.

I quickly dropped my hands back down to my sides as I stared at the staircase. A new person emerged from the shadows, his jaw clenched as he approached the scene in front of him. Su Hyeok quickly looked over me before turning back toward Gwi-nam and Myung Hwan. Myung Hwan gave him a look of disbelief before letting out an annoyed groan.

"We didn't ask her to do anything, she came in here volunteering to do so," He responded.

Su Hyeok walked up to him, his eyes alight with anger, before lifting his hand and punching him. I held back a gasp as I watched Myung Hwan fall over, his body hitting the concrete. Su Hyeok stood over his body, his chest rising and falling from frustration. I clenched my fist in nervousness as I watched Myung Hwan scramble to his feet. He held an accusing hand out as he pointed at Su Hyeok.

"Don't act all righteous, you used to be just like us!" He yelled out.

I felt all reasonable thoughts go out the window as I walked toward the two of them. I didn't hesitate before clenching my fist and swinging it, hitting Myung Hwan in the face. I watched in satisfaction as he went back down, bringing a hand to his face.

"Su Hyeok is nothing like you," I said.

I didn't get to watch his reaction because Su Hyeok had quickly grabbed my hand dragging me back toward the entrance. As the two of us stood by the top of the staircase I turned around, slowly reaching out my hand to grab the other girl, but another voice quickly cut my action short.

"Su Hyeok, if you take Hyolyn out of here, you won't be able to save the other one!" Gwi-nam yelled out.

Su Hyeok clenched his jaw in anger before turning his head in my direction and nodding at my hand. I looked back at him in confusion before slowly dropping my hand and putting it back at my side. I had realized that this wasn't even a dilemma for Su Hyeok, in his mind, I was the only one who mattered. I looked back at the helpless girl before turning my gaze to Gwi-nam.

"Fuck you," I said with as much hatred and malice that I could muster.

Gwi-nam didn't respond as he turned his head away from me. Su Hyeok didn't wait an extra second before picking up my sweater from the ground before reaching down with his free hand and picking up my backpack. The two of us stumbled down the stairs, stuck in a haze of shock and anger, as we walked back out into the fresh air. Su Hyeok brought a hand to his hair as he pushed it back in a frustrated manner. He took a deep breath as he tried to calm himself, his rage slowly rising through his expressions. I watched as he slowly turned around to me, pointing a finger in my direction. I didn't move as he approached me with his finger pointed before he dropped it, throwing both of his arms around me. I inhaled his scent as I let myself finally breathe normally. He drew back from our hug but kept both of his arms around my shoulders as he examined my face.

"What were you think-, are you okay?" Su Hyeok opted on asking me.

I nodded my head at him before taking a deep breath, inhaling the fresh air. I pointed at the sweater in his hand.

"Could I have my sweater back?" I asked him.

He gave me a slight nod before bunching up the sweater by its collar and placing it above me. I raised my hands in the air as I let him put it on my neck and loop it through my arms. When he was finished he gently let go of me before taking a step back.

"Thanks for coming in to help me," I said.

Su Hyeok only nodded but his mind seemed to be clearly elsewhere. I slowly brought a hand to his arm as I gently shook him. He looked down at me as he gave me a sad smile.

"Don't think about what those assholes said. You're nothing like them," I said gently

.

"I was, especially when I was hangi-"

"No. You never did what they do. You were the one that tried to stop it back then. Don't keep beating yourself up for something that you didn't do," I said.

He looked down at me before slinging his arm around my shoulders. He took his other arm and swung my backpack onto his own, now carrying both of ours. I gave him a small smile as I leaned into his chest walking toward the school building.

"Hey, if we go in now we should be able to make it on time," I said to him.

"That is true, but if we don't go at all we could spend the day together," He said jokingly.

"What and miss the opportunity to see you get laughed at for not wearing socks? Never." I said.

He let out an offended gasp as he placed his free hand to his heart. I rolled my eyes at him before gently elbowing his chest, continuing our

Chapter Text

I QUICKLY MADE MY WAY INTO THE building as Su Hyeok stumbled, trying to catch up behind me.

"Why are you walking so fast?" Su Hyeok whispered.

I didn't turn around but only carelessly waved my hand behind me as I continued speed walking down the halls. As I rounded the corner I felt myself slowing down, turning back to look at Su Hyeok. His chest was slowly rising and falling as he held his hand out, trying to tell me to wait for him. I rolled my eyes at him before reaching over and putting my hand out in front of him. He reached up with his own hand before slowly placing it in my own. I stared down at our two hands in disbelief before looking back up at him.

"I meant that I would carry my backpack," I said.

He looked down at our hands before using his free hand to shake off my backpack from his shoulder. He swiftly held it out in his hand, allowing me to carefully grab it before swinging it over my shoulder. I let his hand go, but he kept his fingers firmly clasped around my own. I let out a sigh in defeat before turning back around and heading up the stairs. He had a smile on his face as he tried to hide it, before following me up the stairs. The sound of someone's footsteps thundered in my ears as I whipped my head around. I saw On Jo rounding the corner behind us, so I quickly let go of Su Hyeok's hand. He looked up at me in confusion but as he opened his mouth to say something On Jo quickly yelled out to us.

"Hi," She said while smiling.

I smiled back at her giving her a small wave. She returned my smile before turning her full attention to Su Hyeok. He looked up at me in confusion before turning back toward On Jo, his expression morphing into a polite smile. On Jo slowly lifted her hand to her hair as she cleared her throat, her face turning slightly red. I watched as she slowly lifted her head, nodding it toward the top of the staircase, before turning back toward Su Hyeok. I stood there trying to decipher what she was trying to tell me, before getting the message. I reached out toward Su Hyeok before lightly tapping his shoulder. He turned his body toward me.

"I'm gonna head to class first, I'll catch you two later," I said.

He opened his mouth to argue something back, but I sent him a stern look, quickly silencing him. He slowly nodded his head as he watched me shoulder my backpack before turning back toward the top of the stairs and walking away. I didn't eavesdrop as I continued walking down the halls, my pace slower than a turtle. I tuned out the world as I focused on the shiny floor beneath me, reflecting my tired face back up at me. I didn't look back up until I had heard the sound of someone running past me. I was quick to recognize the person from their sneakers, as they didn't look back, sprinting as fast as they could. My feet came to a slow stop as I watched her in confusion before turning back and seeing Su Hyeok slowly walking up to me. He came to a slow stop beside me before letting out a sigh. I watched as his eyebrows scrunched in confusion, his hands gripping his backpack.

"Why do you look so distressed?" I asked him.

He suddenly snapped his attention towards me, as if he had just realized that I had been standing next to him. He raised a hand to his hair as he pushed it back, closing his eyes to think, before opening them and staring down the hall.

"I don't know," He said honestly.

"Why did she just run down the hallway like she saw a zombie?" I said.

I didn't hold an accusing tone, although I had my suspicions about what had happened. It was up to him to tell me, and if he didn't want to, I wouldn't pressure him into a confession.

"She told me to meet her on the rooftop during lunch, but it wasn't for a fight," He said in a confused manner.

I looked down at the floor as I tried to process his words. On Jo told him to meet her on the rooftop during lunch. Alone. That could only mean one thing, and that was something that I already knew. I looked up at him before settling a comforting hand on his shoulder. He turned his gaze toward me, instinctively softening it, before leaning into my hand.

"I'm not going to say anything, but when you meet her, please be nice," I said.

I tried to be as vague as possible with what I was saying because although this situation had made me uncomfortable, On Jo was still a friend of mine, and I didn't want her to get hurt. I honestly didn't know what Su Hyeok was going to say to her, but I just hoped that whatever it be, the two of them leave without any sour feelings. He nodded at my words, still confused but not questioning them, as I slowly removed my hand from his shoulder. I took a deep breath, composing myself, before continuing down the hall. I looked down at my watch before letting out a gasp. I heard Su Hyeok quickly run over to me, looking over me for injuries, but I only slapped his arm while pointing at my watch. He lifted my wrist as he read the time, his facial expression nonchalant as he gave me a shrug. I slapped his arm once more before I began sprinting down the hallway. I could hear his sigh as he began running behind me, trying to catch up.

I was quick to read over each of the classroom numbers as I tried finding ours. I slowed down, letting myself catch my breath, as I stared at our classroom door. The noise coming from inside was so loud that I could hear it from outside the door. I let out a sigh of relief at the realization that it meant that our teacher hadn't arrived yet. I placed my hand on the door as I slowly slid it to the side. The artificial lighting blinded my eyes as I took my first step inside. The first thing that I had noticed was the overall rowdiness of the entire class. There were girls subtly changing into their clothes in the back, and boys laughing in the front.

I took a deep breath as I scanned the crowd for my seat. I easily found my desk with On Jo waving her hands in the air, trying to catch my attention. I gave her a small smile as I shouldered my backpack, which I had snatched from Su Hyeok, before walking toward our desks. She and I had decided to be deskmates during the first year of high school and haven't changed since. As I sat down in my seat, settling my backpack to the side, I could see Su Hyeok slowly joining his friends at the front, his arm going around my brother's shoulders. I subtly turned around before making eye contact with a pale-faced On Jo. She was clasping her hands in her lap as she stared at me with a nervous expression.

"What's wrong?" I asked her worriedly.

She only shook her head as she began mumbling to herself. I couldn't pick up on any of her words as she continued talking to herself. Her face slowly started to get its color back.

"Did something happen to you?" I asked her.

She took a deep breath while closing her eyes before opening them and turning toward me. She had unclasped her hands as she let them rest against the sides of her chair.

"Nothing. Nothing happened," She said with a smile.

I gave her a wary smile in return but didn't press on the subject as I turned back around. I unzipped my backpack as I reached inside to pull out my cellphone, knowing that it would soon be taken. As I sat back up in my chair I saw On Jo's gaze locked on something in front of her. I watched as she stared at Su Hyeok, his laughter echoing around the room. I turned my gaze away from her before catching Cheong San whispering something to Su Hyeok. I watched in curiosity as he slowly slipped out from Su Hyeok's arm and ducked out of the classroom. That was strange. I watched from the small window on the door as he looked around the hallways before disappearing around the corner. Something felt off. It felt like he was hiding something from me. My curiosity was quickly cut short as I watched Na Yeon stomp into the room, her gaze locked on Gyeong Soo. I held my breath as she ripped her backpack off of her desk, telling him that he was dirtying it. I rolled my eyes at their interaction as I looked down at my phone, trying to tune it out. I watched as the screen lit up, a new message from Ji-won having been recieved. I subtly clicked on it before swiping up and seeing the text.

From: Ji-won <3

What's up?

I looked down at the text before inching my fingers towards the keyboard, but before I could respond the door opened once again and my brother walked in with the teacher. He quickly found his seat, dodging the suspicious looks from his friends, before facing the front of the classroom. I tuned the teacher out as I stared out the window, the view of our soccer field consuming my vision, as I tried to stay awake. I really did need to get some more sleep. I would have to talk to mom about this once I got home. On Jo subtly tapped my arm as I turned my head back around toward the classroom. I saw the teacher holding her hand out as she pointed at the collection of phones in front of her.

I let out a sigh before pushing my chair back and walking to the front of the classroom before handing her my phone. I kept my head up as I walked back toward my desk, trying not to look at Su Hyeok. I settled myself back in my seat, placing my hands in my lap, as the class continued to snicker at the remaining students that had tried to cheat their way out of handing their phones in, On Jo included. I kept my eyes on the board as I waited for our science teacher to enter the room. The laughter continued around us as the students resumed their conversations. I watched in frustration as Gwi-nam bothered the girl in front of him. I focused on the face of the girl and widened my eyes when I had noticed that it had been the same girl from beforehand. How had I not noticed her in my class? I clenched my fist at the sight of all the boys clearly messing with her, as she bit back the tears that were threatening to fall down her face.

I reluctantly turned my head towards the door when I heard it shakily slide open, revealing our disheveled science teacher. I cautiously watched as he walked toward the board, his hands shaking at his sides. I looked at On Jo, hoping that she would see his weird behavior, but she seemed distracted staring at Su Hyeok. I turned back toward the board, watching as our science teacher began writing different equations. I let out a sigh assuming that I had been overreacting and that today would be a normal class after all. I looked down at my notebook and then back up at the board. It wasn't difficult to follow the first couple of equations as they were simple and basic ones.

Suddenly, the science teacher's writing got more aggressive as his handwriting became sloppier and sloppier. He pressed down on the chalk as the excess dust flew up into the air, coating the top of the chalkboard. I jumped in my seat when he slammed the chalk down onto the board. He slowly dropped his hand as he began breathing heavily, his eyes alive and wild. The class went absolutely silent as he ran out, slamming the door to the side, his footsteps echoing throughout the hallway. I clenched my shaking hands as I turned toward On Jo, my face had gone slightly pale. Everyone then began talking, as they looked at each other with confused facial expressions.

"What just happened, is class done?" Someone asked.

I seemed to be the only one taking his entrance and exit seriously as everyone continued talking amongst themselves. My stomach began doing flips as I looked around the classroom. Something felt very off. I felt someone place their hand on my arm and snapped my head in their direction. I saw On Jo staring at me with a look of concern as she finally noticed my chalky lips and pale face. I shook my head in her direction, offering her a small smile, hoping that would be enough. She reluctantly shook her head before turning back toward her other friend, continuing their conversation. I brought my hands to the side of my desk as I continued staring up at the board, my heart pounding in my ears. Something was about to happen.

Chapter Text

I SHOOK OFF THE WEIRD FEELING AS I tried focusing my attention back on the board. I clicked my pen open, the sound echoing through my ears, as I placed my pen onto my notebook. My hand continued to shake as I tried to take down my notes, trying to get my breathing steady. I gently dropped my pen back onto the table as I closed my eyes, the frustration consuming me. I tried reassuring myself that I was okay and that nothing weird was happening around me. I swear my paranoia was going to be the death of me. I slowly opened my eyes before looking back up at the board. I could hear Nam-ra saying something but I had been so preoccupied with calming down that I had managed to miss everything that she said. I tried to keep a neutral facial expression as the teacher began scanning the crowd to call on someone, probably to repeat what Nam-ra said. I watched as her head suddenly stopped moving, focusing on someone in the back. I subtly turned around in my seat as my eyes met Su Hyeok's. His eyes widened in surprise before he looked away from me and up at the teacher.

"Can you repeat what Nam-ra said?" Ms. Park asked in a knowing tone.

I let out a small sigh before watching him stand up from his seat, his movements unsteady and conscious. He cleared his throat as he looked around the classroom for someone to help him out. I watched as he stared at me, his eyes wide while practically begging me to help him out. I let out a small snicker as I rolled my eyes at him and turned back around in my chair. He would have to figure this one out by himself since I didn't even hear what Nam-ra had ended up saying. He cleared his throat once more before facing the front of the classroom, his gaze focused on the teacher.

"She was absolutely correct, a hundred percent!" He said enthusiastically.

I turned back around while trying to hide my face. The second-hand embarrassment was practically consuming me.

"What was her absolutely correct answer?" Ms. Park asked, trying to push him further.

His eyes looked down at the ground as he tried to think of an acceptable answer. She had cornered him and wasn't going to let him get away that easily. I sunk further into my chair as I heard him mumbling, trying to come up with the right words. I brought my hand up to my face as I shielded my eyes. Suddenly, I heard Su Hyeok gasp in confusion as the rest of the class let out their own gasps. I was quick to sit back up in my chair, looking at the entrance. I felt myself slowly stand up in my chair as I watched the teen girl stumble into the classroom, blood coating her face. I felt my heart pounding in my ears as the rest of the class burst into a mixture of shouts and screams. Ms. Park quickly rushed forward, catching the young girl as she fell over, her eyes rolling into the back of her head. I stood frozen as I watched Ms. Park gently shake her before holding her face and asking her if she was okay. It seemed like everything was moving in slow motion as the rest of the students began rushing to the front of the classroom. I felt my feet moving as I pushed my desk away, walking toward the scene. I brought a hand up to cover my gasp as I had finally recognized the face of the girl. Hyeon-Ju. I observed as her mouth began moving, but no sound came out. I watched in frustration as the sounds of the yells and accusations of the students masked Hyeon-Ju's voice.

"Shut the fuck up!" I yelled while holding my hands out.

Everyone stopped their conversation as they watched me in shock. I rolled my eyes at their reactions before looking at the girl in front of me. Her breathing was uneven as she began shaking in the arms of Ms. Park. I felt my own breathing growing uneven at the sight of her in such a state. I tried calming myself down as I clenched my fist at my side, taking a few deep breaths. I felt someone's warm hand come over my own as they gripped my fist. They moved my arm so that it was subtly hidden between us, hiding it from the rest of the class. They slowly spread it apart with their own fingers before linking our hands together. I immediately knew who it had been from the scent of his cologne. He stood behind me in a protective stance as the rest of the students had already focused on what she was saying.

"The science teacher grabbed me and locked me up... Mr. Byeong-chan," She whispered.

I took a couple of unsure steps back as I felt the full impact of her words wash over me. Someone who had been in this room with us had done this. I was now leaning against Su Hyeok's chest as I stared at the girl, my eyes widened. I turned my body so I was no longer looking at her as I felt Su Hyeok's arm come around me, pulling me against his chest. I closed my eyes, trying to get the image of her out of my mind, but even when I closed them... I could see her frail bloodied body. I let out a deep breath.

"I knew something was wrong," I mumbled into Su Hyeok's chest.

He didn't respond but opted on tapping my back in a comforting manner before tightening his grip around my shoulders. I suddenly heard everyone burst into a frenzy. I hesitantly turned around, Su Hyeok's arm now moving down to my waist, as we stood side by side. I watched as Hyeon-Ju slowly grew unconscious, her eyes getting heavier. Ms. Park looked up at all of us, her eyes scanning the crowd before going down to the young girl in her arms.

"Can someone take her to the infirmary?" She asked in a calm tone.

I felt Su Hyeok shift behind me before removing his arm from around me, stepping out into the front of the crowd.

"I'll take her," He said without hesitating.

I stepped forward, crouching down to the floor as I helped pick up the young girl throwing her arms around Su Hyeok's shoulders. Her head lolled forward as she rested against his back. Su Hyeok's eyes looked at the teacher before giving her a small nod.

"Can anyone help him?" Ms. Park asked.

I took a hesitant step forward as I watched the scene unfolding in front of me. I wanted to help Su Hyeok but something about the sight of the girl made me so uneasy. I felt my stomach sink as I watched On Jo take a big step forward as she moved toward Su Hyeok. She placed a hand on his shoulder as she turned toward the teacher.

"I'll help him," She offered.

I watched as Su Hyeok's eyes widened before he looked at me. Before Ms. Park could answer Su Hyeok was quick to interject.

"I'll take Lyn," He said before turning around and waiting for me to open the door.

The entire class was now looking at me as they all watched the scene unfold in front of them. I took a deep breath before running forward, not wasting any more time. I passed On Jo who gave me a frustrated look before I slid open the doors. I felt the wood splinter underneath my hands as I gripped them as hard as I could. I watched as Su Hyeok sprinted down the hall, his footsteps falling into sync with my own. I took a couple more deep breaths as I tried to slow down my heart rate. We were quick to round the corner before approaching the nurse's office. I sprinted a little faster than him, my legs burning, as I opened the door. He quickly followed behind me as he placed Hyeon-ju down on an empty bed. The two of us looked at each other, our chests rising and falling, as he gave me a look of concern. I knew that the main reason he had asked for me to come with him was so that I could leave the classroom, try and calm down. I gave him an appreciative smile as he slowly walked toward me, before standing next to me. We both stood still, staring at the girl in front of us until she started flailing around. I rushed forward, grabbing one of her legs before Su Hyeok went on the other side and held down her other. She began spasming as she let out bared her teeth at us. I widened my eyes in surprise as I stared down at the disoriented girl. Suddenly, I heard someone's footsteps entering the room as they sprinted over to the scene in front of us. The nurse and some other teachers were struggling to hold Hyeon-ju down as she tried biting at whatever went near her. I tried taking a deep breath as I felt myself going frozen with fear. My grasp must have loosened on her leg because suddenly it broke free of my grip, heading straight toward my face. I watched in shock as someone's hand suddenly grabbed her leg, pinning it back down to the bed.

I looked next to me and saw Ji-won grasping onto Hyeon-ju's leg with all her strength possible. My eyes widened in surprise as I reached back out, helping her hold down her leg.

"What are you doing here?" I asked her.

"Saving your pretty face from an unnecessary black eye," She responded with a small smirk.

I rolled my eyes at her before sending her an appreciative smile. The two of us held down Hyeon-ju's leg so hard that our knuckles were beginning to turn white. I looked up and saw Su Hyeok staring at me with a concerned facial expression, as my face was slowly going pale from fear and exertion. I only shook my head in his direction before nodding toward the nurse who was currently sedating Hyeon-ju. I let out a sigh of relief as I practically stumbled backward, watching her now still body on the bed. Su Hyeok slowly made his way toward me before he placed his arms around my shoulder, pulling me close to him. My gaze was practically glued to the bloody girl in front of me, but Su Hyeok gently moved my head so that my eyes were pressed against his chest. I let out a few shaky breaths as I tried calming myself down.

Ms. Park slowly turned toward the two of us before giving us an appreciative smile. I slowly moved my gaze toward her as I kept my arms firmly around Su Hyeok's waist.

"Can we go now?" I asked her.

"Of course, thank you," She said with a small smile.

I tried sending her a smile of my own but opted on nodding at her words. I slowly removed myself from Su Hyeok as I turned toward Ji-won, who was still standing behind me. She looked out the door with an anxious expression before snapping her gaze back toward me. I watched as she reached out with a pointed finger before gently tapping my nose.

"You should be more careful, you could have gotten hurt," She said with a concerned frown.

"I will, thank you for being here. I'll see you at lunch," I said.

She looked at me with a smile before looking at Su Hyeok behind me and sending me a small wink. Ji-won walked out of the room before disappearing around the corner where she had been staring beforehand. I wonder if someone had been waiting for her all this time. I shook the thoughts out of my head as I turned back toward Su Hyeok.

"Let's get going," I told him.

He sent me a small nod before the two of us slowly made our way toward the entrance of the nurse's office. I slowly slid open the door as someone jumped out from around the corner. I let out a gasp as I turned around, hiding my face back in Su Hyeok's chest. The person who had been standing outside looked at me with a confused expression. I let out a shaky sigh as I turned back around to face On Jo.

"Not funny," I said to her.

She sent me an apologetic smile before clasping her hands behind her back. I slowly walked outside of the nurse's office, Su Hyeok and On Jo following behind me. I tried not to think about the bloodied girl and the way she had been contorting her body in the nurse's office but whenever I blinked, it was as if I was reliving the moment. Something was unnatural about everything that had just happened. I shook my head as I tried to focus on the moment. I slowly walked up the stairs, gripping the railing next to me before turning around to face Su Hyeok and On Jo. I hadn't even realized that I had been walking so fast that I was now a full flight of stairs above them. I watched as she hesitantly reached into her pocket before pulling out her name tag. Su Hyeok stared at the name tag in shock before subtly looking up and meeting my gaze. I tore my eyes away from the scene below me, realizing that it was none of my business, before continuing up the stairs. I looked around the empty hallway in front of me as I tried to take a few deep breaths. Today was going to be a normal day, that just happened to be a freaky start to the day. I continued walking toward my classroom before stumbling across a conversation happening between Ji-won and my brother. I looked at them in confusion but didn't manage to see much as he left sprinting down the stairs. I frowned at the sight but let it go as I continued walking back toward the classroom. Just a freaky start to a normal day. At least I'd hoped.