Chapter Text
Prologue
The Zeroth law of thermodynamics states that if two bodies are individually in equilibrium with a separate third body, then the first two bodies are also in thermal equilibrium with each other.
First law of thermodynamics, also known as the law of conservation of energy, states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but ...
Choi Nam Ra, class president of Hyosan High grade 2-5 is interrupted from her revision. She doesn't need to turn to know who would dare(or want) to disturb her, especially when she has her earphones on. There's only one person, Su-Hyeok.
Lee Su-Hyeok is her classmate and for the last 2 months, her study-partner.
Technically they started out as tutor-student when Su-Hyeok approached her to save him from failing Mr. Lee's science class. Not only he was a poor student, but because of his checkered past.
Sy hyeok used to hang out with the bully gang, as their undefeated fighter. While he himself didn't bully others, there were numerous instances where he let his 'friends' bully and torment others and turned a blind eye towards their actions, much to his shame. Until last year when all of a sudden he turned a new page and cut off all ties with them.
Mr. Lee's son was an outcast and was a regular victim of the gang. Even though they started picking on him after Su-Hyeok left the group, Mr. Lee treated Su-Hyeok much harsher than any other teacher or faculty. More strictly than he deserved.
When it became clear to him, that without help he will fail the class, hence he might have to repeat the year, he asked (begged) Nam Ra to help him study. Which she coldly refused, almost instantly.
But when he went over her head and went to Ms. Park, their English teacher (who unlike other teachers, never judged him for his past actions) who convinced Nam Ra to tutor Su-Hyeok and as an incentive let her drop out of the broadcast club, along with a promise of special service letter on her file.
At that time, Nam Ra thought dealing with one person for 2 hrs was much better than spending it with a bunch of people. Ofcourse that time she didn't know of this force of nature she agreed to tutor.
Before she knew it, Su-Hyeok became her friend, her confidant. That is until last week.
She removed her earphone and looked sideways. Just as she predicted, it's Su-Hyeok standing infront of her with his adorable, rakish grin.
"Earphones. They are bad for your ears." They haven't talked in a week and that's how he starts the conversation. Great going, Su-Hyeok, he thinks.
"I know." But she doesn't move away the way she would have months ago before getting to know him. He knows that she knows that he's persistant enough to keep bugging her until he gets her attention. She knows this from experience.
"Do you want to visit Hyeon-ju after school?", he asks. That was the only excuse he could come up with to get her to talk to him.
"Why?" Now he feels just like he did the first time he talked to her, trying and failing to convince her to tutor him.
"You are the class president." She scoffs at this. "You are the only one who thinks so because everyone knows my mother bribed the school to make me class president. When no one considers me as a real prez, why would I pretend to be one?"
This banter, him trying to be charming, her smacking down facts with snarky brattiness. He has missed this. He missed her.
"What?" She asks when a smile, (her favourite one, not that he knows that) comes to his face. She has missed his sunny smile.
"I'm happy. I didn't think we could have a casual normal conversation with more than 5 words." He chuckles out. Without her knowing, her eyes softens and she can't help the smile on her face. His smile always makes her want to smile.
A second passes, with Su-Hyeok admiring her rare smile, before it drops. She clears her throat, embarrased to be caught smiling. She turns, as if going to move away, but stops at the last second.
"I don't need to check on Hyeon-ju but if you want to talk about what happened when you... what happened last week, maybe we can talk after school, at our spot." Nam-Ra offers. Why did she offer this, she has no idea. She still hasn't wrapped her head around the incident. Let alone figured out what to tell him.
But the widest grin spreads on his face, with surprise. Clearly he thought he would have to make dozens of effort to get her to even acknowledge what happened. "Really? Great. I'll see you after school then. At our spot."
Then before she could take it all back, he sprints away with a skip on his steps. Nam-Ra just stares at his back, resisting the urge the smack her on the head.
Focus Nam-Ra, focus. Thermodynamics. Right. The first law ....
It is not uncommon for students around her to turn into complete animals and yell and scream and make all sorts of noises, especially during lunch break.
It is also not uncommon for Nam-Ra to completely ignore them and bury herself in her notes and the loud rock music blasting in her ears. Infact that's why she does this.
It is however extremely uncommon for anyone to disturb Nam-Ra while she is studying.
And it had to be a cold day in hell, the end of the world, the rule of apes over humans before it could happen twice within the matter of minutes. Let alone by the same person.
Maybe that's why she didn't react when a hand grabbed her arm and pulled her away in the opposite direction.
Or maybe it was the fact that it was Su-Hyeok who ran and pulled her along as if their life depended on it.
Maybe it was.
Because behind them was a fucking zombie.
It might not be snowing in hell, but atleast apocalypse is here. A zombie apocalypse.