...◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...
...⚡ ᴛʜᴇ sᴇɴɪᴏʀs (Tops)...
...◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...
...ＫＩＭ...
...ＴＡＥ-ＨＹＵＮＧ...
...The athletic "Superman" of the group. He is brave, a bit "brainless" when it comes to riddles, but deeply devoted to JEON JUNG-KOOK....
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...ＫＩＭ...
...ＮＡＭ-ＪＯＯＮ...
...The sharp-witted strategist. He is sassy, intelligent, and uses his logic to protect those he loves, especially KIM SEOK-JIN....
...◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...
...ＭＩＮ...
...ＹＯＯＮ-ＧＩ...
...The protective "big brother" figure. He acts tough and teased his friends for being "lovey-dovey" until he finally fell for PARK JIM-IN....
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...ＬＥＥ...
...ＪＯＮＧ-ＳＵＫ...
...The bold romantic. He isn't afraid of public displays of affection and is the first to turn a crisis into a marriage proposal....
...◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...
...ＷＡＮＧ...
...ＪＡＣＫ-ＳＯＮ...
...The composed and committed leader. He stays calm under pressure and is fiercely loyal to his partner, JUNG HO-SEOK....
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...ＳＯＮＧ...
...ＪＯＯＮＧ-ＫＩ...
...The realist. He focuses on logic and survival but softens completely when it comes to JEON YEO-BEEN....
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...ＰＡＲＫ...
...ＨＹＵＮＧ-ＳＩＫ...
...The nurturing protector. He is a "worry-wart" who focuses entirely on the safety and health of his partner....
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...◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...
...🌟 ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴜɴɪᴏʀs (Bottoms)...
...◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...
...ＪＥＯＮ...
...ＪＵＮＧ-ＫＯＯＫ...
...The "Sassy Queen" with a hidden soft side. He struggles with past trauma but is the most vocal about his love for KIM TAE-HYUNG....
...◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...
...ＫＩＭ...
...ＳＥＯＫ-ＪＩＮ...
...The emotional anchor. He may seem vulnerable and "cries easily," but he provides the quiet strength his seniors need....
...◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...
...ＰＡＲＫ...
...ＪＩＭ-ＩＮ...
...The playful trickster. He is small and cute but knows exactly how to tease MIN YOON-GI into admitting his feelings....
...◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...
...ＬＥＥ...
...ＪＩ-ＥＵＮ...
...The fiery spirit. She is quick to stand up for what is right and wasn't expecting a public proposal mid-apocalypse....
...◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...
...ＪＵＮＧ...
...ＨＯ-ＳＥＯＫ...
...The sweet soul. He is the "priority" for the group and brings a sense of peace to the chaotic world....
...◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...
...ＪＥＯＮ...
...ＹＥＯ-ＢＥＥＮ...
...The mediator. She stays caught between her friends and her boyfriend, always trying to keep the peace....
...◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...
...ＰＡＲＫ...
...ＢＯ-ＹＯＵＮＧ...
...The resilient fighter. Even when injured, she keeps a sense of humor and loves to tease her "worried" senior, PARK HYUNG-SIK....
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...🐥 ᴛʜᴇ sɪᴅᴇ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀs...
...◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...
...ＯＦＦＩＣＥＲ...
...ＫＩＭ...
...ＨＹＥ-ＲＩＮ...
...The brilliant, retired scientist with a mysterious past. She carried the weight of the city's survival on her shoulders and chose a hero's end to ensure the cure could be completed....
...◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...
...ＰＡＲＫ...
...ＳＯ-ＹＥＯＮ...
...The steady, tactical leader of the rescue team. She is the bridge between the law and the students, providing the protection and transport they needed to reach the temple....
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...🐍 ᴛʜᴇ ᴠɪʟʟᴀɪɴ...
...◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...
...ＢＩＯＬＯＧＩＳＴ...
...ＬＥＥ...
...ＭＩＮ-ＨＯ...
...The catalyst of the story. His initial involvement (or the events surrounding him) set the entire survival mission in motion, representing the high stakes the others had to fight for....
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This story is also available in Wattpad. I'm using AI to copy and paste it here, so if there's any mistake... pardon me.
Support me in Wattpad if you're on that app. And, I've written a lott of taekook and BL stories there too, so do check my Wattpad account once.
Happy Reading!
...◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...
...🄰🅄🅃🄷🄾🅁...
...◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...
The sun rose over a picture-perfect Seoul, casting a golden hue over the bustling metropolis.
As usual, the morning was a symphony of urban chaos—a cacophony of blaring horns and the relentless drone of heavy traffic.
This pervasive noise pollution was merely the daily soundtrack for the city's inhabitants, including those at the prestigious and sprawling international school that stood as a landmark of the district.
The school bell chimed abruptly, a sharp command that sent students from various faculties and courses scrambling toward their respective classrooms.
Within a minute, the sprawling corridors fell silent, the habitual bickering of teenagers fading into the distance.
The lingering echoes of a few stragglers' footsteps were the only sounds remaining in the hollowed halls.
"You bastard, Jack! I'll kill you if the teacher punishes me again!"
Clad in a crisp white shirt and black slacks, a student sprinted down the hall, his bag bouncing against his shoulder.
He and his companions pushed themselves to their limits, their frantic pace fueled by the realization that they were dreadfully late.
The marathon came to a grinding halt when a second bell rang.
The group stopped in their tracks, huffing and clutching their sides.
"I told you all—never trust Jack," the same young man panted, glaring at his friend.
"You're right, Tae-Hyung. He tricked us," another student added, siding with Tae-Hyung.
"But what do we do now? We're late, and the first lecture is with Ms. Hong. Hyung-Sik, say something!" Tae-Hyung turned to his friend, his voice laced with desperation.
"Let's just accept the punishment; that's all we can do now," Hyung-Sik replied with a resigned sigh.
He then looked toward their other companion. "And you, Nam-Joon... you're her favorite. Give her an excuse. She'll only believe you."
Nam-Joon looked at them skeptically. "I can try, but what if she doesn't buy it?"
"Then what? As usual, we spend the day outside the classroom," Tae-Hyung joked, prompting the trio to break into reluctant laughter.
The three walked slowly toward their classroom, where they were promptly reprimanded by Ms. Hong for their tardiness.
Fortunately, Nam-Joon's status as a star pupil worked in their favor; the teacher accepted his fabricated story about a missed bus with a sympathetic nod.
They settled into their seats, though not before casting a dangerous glare at Jack-Son.
Jack-Son, for his part, was struggling to suppress a triumphant smirk as he watched his friends take the heat for his prank.
Tae-Hyung and Hyung-Sik took their places behind Jack-Son and Yoon-Gi, while Nam-Joon sat with Jong-Suk and Joong-Ki behind them.
As the lecture commenced, the group paid no real attention to the teacher, who was simply reciting passages from the textbook.
Everyone maintained a facade of focus, staring blankly at the board without absorbing a single word.
Finally, the lunch bell rang, signaling a temporary reprieve.
The moment the teacher exited, the real drama began.
Tae-Hyung, Hyung-Sik, and Nam-Joon stood in unison, lunging for Jack-Son.
Nam-Joon grabbed Jack-Son by the collar and hauled him to the floor. Tae-Hyung pinned him down, sitting firmly on his stomach, while Hyung-Sik gritted his teeth, looming over the trapped Jack-Son.
Their other friends simply watched the spectacle unfold with amused detachment.
"Sorry, guys! I honestly forgot to call you three this morning—Hoby was at my place!" Jack-Son tried to justify his betrayal, but Tae-Hyung silenced him with a sharp blow to the jaw.
Jack-Son winced.
"Tae, you asshole, let me explain!" Jack-Son gripped Tae-Hyung's wrist to prevent a follow—up strike.
"What is there to explain? Huh? What does Hoby being over have to do with a simple phone call? Is a single dial too heavy a task for you?" Tae-Hyung growled with mock fury.
"And even after you knew we were late, you didn't bother to inform us. You're a piece of work," Nam-Joon added, his voice low and threatening.
"V, get my revenge too," Hyung-Sik encouraged.
"Add mine to the tab," Nam-Joon chimed in.
"Fine. It's been a while since I beat someone to death," Tae-Hyung joked, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Congratulations, Jack—I didn't expect my best friend to be the volunteer." He landed another playful punch.
"Hyung...!"
A sharp voice echoed through the now—empty classroom.
The scuffle ceased instantly at the sound of the newcomer.
"Ho-Seok?" Nam-Joon muttered, spotting Ho-Seok standing at the entrance with a group of friends.
"Get off, V Hyung!" Ho-Seok rushed over and shoved Tae-Hyung away from Jack-Son.
He helped Jack-Son to his feet, checking him over with genuine concern. "Oh, why did you hit him?"
"Ask your boyfriend yourself," Tae-Hyung groaned, still radiating feigned annoyance.
"Hoby, we're just playing around, don't worry," Jack-Son explained quickly.
Despite the roughhousing, they remained inseparable; being "beaten" by one's friends was a standard rite of passage in their circle.
"Playing? You call hitting someone playing?" Ho-Seok glared at Jack-Son.
"C'mon, Hoby, they're just messing about. You know they're always like this," another voice intervened.
The speaker's eyes, however, were fixed elsewhere—specifically on Nam-Joon.
"Jin, I didn't hit h—"
"Enough, Joon Hyung. You still didn't stop him, did you?" Seok-Jin cut Nam-Joon off before he could finish his defense.
"I'm lucky I'm single," Tae-Hyung remarked, though he was immediately met with mocking expressions from the entire group. "Okay, okay! I mean, I'm not in a formal relationship like you guys. In fact, I'm still 'in progress'," he corrected himself.
"Yeah, yeah. Just because Jung-Kook hasn't accepted you yet doesn't mean you aren't head-over-heels," Seok-Jin stated sassily.
Nam-Joon tried to move closer to him, but Seok-Jin playfully shoved him away. "We all know how obsessed you are with anything Kook has even looked at."
"Kook-ah, let's go," a voice called out as another student entered alongside Jung-Kook.
"Oh, Bo-Young." Hyung-Sik stepped forward to greet his crush.
"MinMin Oppa, what's going on here? Oh, Jack Oppa, are you alright?" Bo-Young asked, looking between Jack-Son and Hyung-Sik.
"Nothing, Boya. We were just having a bit of fun," Hyung-Sik said casually.
"Is that so? Jack Oppa, are you sure you're okay?" Bo-Young pressed.
"Jack is perfectly fine. Let's head out, everyone. Yoon-Gi, Jong-Suk, Joong-Ki—let's move!" Hyung-Sik commanded, gathering the group for lunch.
As they exited, Tae-Hyung found himself walking beside Jung-Kook.
He tried to catch Jung-Kook's eye, but Jung-Kook looked away, a shy flush creeping up his neck.
They made their way to the canteen together.
"Kook-ah, where is Ji-Eun?" Jong-Suk inquired.
"IU Noona went to the restroom with Yeo-Been," Jung-Kook informed him.
"Fine. What's the plan for food today?" Jong-Suk asked the group.
"I just want a sandwich," Ho-Seok decided.
"Why just a sandwich, Hoby?" Jack-Son asked.
"I'm just craving one," Ho-Seok replied simply.
"We'll all have sandwiches, then," Seok-Jin declared, and Bo-Young nodded in agreement.
Tae-Hyung headed to the counter to order, and Jung-Kook followed, standing close by.
"C'mon, Kook, stand here with me," Tae-Hyung said, gently grabbing Jung-Kook's shoulders and pulling him to the front of the line.
Tae-Hyung stood directly behind him, the proximity making his heart race.
"So... have you thought about me?" Tae-Hyung finally broke the silence.
Jung-Kook smiled, glancing back into Tae-Hyung's eyes. "What about you?" he teased.
To his surprise, the usually confident Tae-Hyung looked genuinely flustered. "About... me. I mean... my proposal,"
Tae-Hyung stammered.
Jung-Kook watched as Tae-Hyung nodded hopefully, looking like an expectant child.
Jung-Kook couldn't contain his amusement and let out a bright laugh.
Tae-Hyung couldn't help but smile at the sight. "I'll tell you later," Jung-Kook promised.
"Ah, no... tell me now, please?"
Tae-Hyung whined, which only made Jung-Kook laugh harder.
To Jung-Kook, Tae-Hyung was like an adorable, oversized child.
He had admired Tae-Hyung since the start of high school, but he had been stunned when Tae-Hyung confessed his feelings a year ago.
Jung-Kook hadn't given an answer yet; he wanted to be certain.
He had spent months observing Tae-Hyung—his behavior, his attitude, everything.
He had been over the moon to discover that Tae-Hyung hadn't approached anyone else since Jung-Kook caught his eye.
He felt incredibly lucky to have earned such a true, gentlemanly devotion.
"Please, Kook! Otherwise, I'll have graduated before I get an answer," Tae-Hyung pleaded.
"Okay, okay. Just a few more days," Jung-Kook said, catching his breath.
"A few more days? Kook, have mercy on me," Tae-Hyung whined further.
Jung-Kook found the pouty expression irresistible.
He reached up, cupping Tae-Hyung's jaw with his hands. "You're cute, V Hyung."
Tae-Hyung's cheeks turned a brilliant shade of crimson.
It was the first time Jung-Kook had initiated such an affectionate touch, and the physical contact left them both momentarily breathless.
"If you two are quite finished, some of us are hungry, V Hyung," Seok-Jin interrupted, eager for his meal.
The pair pulled apart, blushing furiously, as the line moved forward.
Tae-Hyung paid for the order, and Jung-Kook helped distribute the food to the table.
In the meantime, Ji-Eun and Yeo-Been joined them.
Yeo-Been had been struggling with a stomach ache, so they had detoured to the pharmacy for some antacids.
Once the medicine kicked in, Yeo-Been felt much better, though Joong-Ki kept a protective hand on hers throughout lunch.
The group ate together, the air filled with teasing and laughter.
For them, every day spent together was a good day.
The established couples—Nam-Joon and Seok-Jin, Jack-Son and Ho-Seok, Joong-Ki and Yeo-Been—were openly affectionate, while the "singles" like Tae-Hyung, Jung-Kook, Hyung-Sik, Bo-Young, and the others shared meaningful glances and playful banter.
...◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...
"Boss, is this the correct chemical?" a woman in lab attire asked, turning to the man standing beside her.
"Yes. Pour the entire vial," the man replied, his voice unnervingly high—pitched.
He stripped off his gloves and goggles, watching intently as the woman mixed the solution.
As the chemicals merged, the liquid began to boil violently, emitting a foul, dizzying odor that forced them both to immediately don their respirators.
The woman carefully lifted the steaming bowl and carried it into an adjacent room.
The room was clinical and stark, filled with beds occupied by motionless human forms.
The woman set the bowl aside and approached a specific bed, peeling back the sheet to reveal the body beneath.
She checked the tag: Serial Number 91.
"Confirm the number. It's 91, correct?" the man asked, entering the room with his heavy—duty mask secured.
"Roger that, Boss," the lady nodded, adjusting her own mask.
The devices were specialized, designed to filter out the toxic vapors and provide a steady stream of purified oxygen. The masks were bulky, held in place by thick straps to ensure a perfect seal.
The woman gave a final nod to her superior, who smirked behind his mask, anticipating the scene about to unfold.
It was a cold, calculated expression of triumph over the horrific experiment he had orchestrated.
"Ahh~!"
A harrowing cry echoed through the laboratory.
The "body" on the bed was alive—a man, now screaming in agony as the chemicals took hold.
His body was being subjected to a level of pain that defied description.
He endured the torment for several agonizing minutes before his voice finally failed and he drifted into unconsciousness.
The woman checked his vitals. "He's still alive. I believe we have achieved success, Boss," she said, removing her mask with an expression of cold pride.
"It would seem so. Finish up, secure him, and let's see what he transforms into," the man commanded before exiting.
The woman took one last look at the unconscious subject.
"I don't think humans are going to be around much longer," she whispered with a dark chuckle. "Soon, there will only be zombies."
...◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...
The friends returned to their classes as the afternoon lectures droned on.
When the final bell finally rang, the group of seniors :: Tae-Hyung, Hyung-Sik, Nam-Joon, Joong-Ki, Jong-Suk, Jack-Son, and Yoon-Gi—rushed to meet their junior friends.
They congregated in the main corridor, chatting and teasing one another as they prepared to head home.
Tae-Hyung, walking at the front of the pack, suddenly collided with someone.
"Ah~!" Tae-Hyung winced as his forehead took the brunt of the impact.
"You! Can't you watch where you're going? Why were you running?" Jung-Kook scolded the younger boy who had crashed into Tae-Hyung.
The friends watched in surprise; it wasn't often Jung-Kook got worked up over something so minor.
The boy stammered out a hasty apology.
"Wait, what's that?" Jung-Kook asked, pointing to a dark red mark on the boy's arm.
"It's nothing! Sorry, Hyung, I have to go!" The boy quickly hid his arm behind his back and sprinted away in a panic.
Jung-Kook watched him go, a sense of unease settling in his chest.
"It looked like he was bitten. He was bleeding quite a bit," Jung-Kook noted, his eyes fixed on the spot where the boy had disappeared.
"He probably got into a scuffle or was nipped by a stray dog," Hyung-Sik suggested dismissively. "Forget it. Let's go, Kook-ah."
Jung-Kook nodded, though the bad feeling lingered.
Tae-Hyung, however, was beaming, touched by how worried Jung-Kook had been for him.
"If I'd known that's all it took to get your attention, I'd have crashed into everyone today," Tae-Hyung joked.
Jung-Kook gave him a playful swat on the shoulder, and they continued toward the exit.
At the school gates, the group began to split up.
Tae-Hyung, Hyung-Sik, Yoon-Gi, and Jong-Suk headed in one direction; Nam-Joon and Seok-Jin in another. Jung-Kook, Bo-Young, Jim-In, and Ji-Eun walked together, while Jack-Son and Ho-Seok, and Joong-Ki and Yeo-Been, departed for their respective homes.
Nam-Joon and Seok-Jin shared a condominium, as did Joong-Ki and Yeo-Been, and Jack-Son and Ho-Seok.
With their parents living abroad, they had moved in together to support each other through their studies.
Meanwhile, the others headed home alone, each harboring the quiet hope that their feelings would soon be returned.
...◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...
...Tbc......
...🄰🅄🅃🄷🄾🅁...
...◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...
The morning light ascended, its brilliance scattering across the cold, empty laboratory.
As the sun's rays banished the lingering shadows, the heavy thud of the door swinging open echoed through the silence.
The woman entered, but the sight before her caused her eyes to widen in shock.
Her gaze darted frantically around the room, searching for the subject she expected to find—the man she had personally bound to the surgical bed only the night before.
"Bo-Boss..." Her voice fractured under the weight of sudden terror.
Shaking violently, she stumbled out of the room, racing to inform her superior of the vanished specimen. "Boss! Boss!"
She reached a private study and found him reclining on a leather couch, his legs crossed with practiced nonchalance.
"Boss..." she gasped, skidding to a halt in front of him.
He looked up, his expression unreadable. "What happened?"
"Boss, the man... he's missing," she stammered.
"WHAT?" His roar reverberated through the room. "HOW?"
"I don't know, Boss! I remember securing him myself, but the restraints are empty!" she confessed, her voice trembling.
The man flared with a sudden, primal rage.
He lunged forward, his hand snapping around her throat.
He squeezed, cutting off her air until she clawed at his grip.
With a snarl, he shoved her against the wall, lifting her off the floor by her neck.
"I gave you one simple task, and you couldn't even manage that! Shame on you!" He threw her down harshly; she collided with a nearby table, a low groan of pain escaping her as she hit the floor.
Despite the agony in her abdomen, she bowed her head. "I'm sorry, Boss."
Without a word, the man stormed out of the area.
The woman gathered herself slowly, limping as she followed him. "Boss, what will happen if he's wandering out there?" she asked tentatively.
He stopped in his tracks. "A disaster will occur."
She stared at him, trying to comprehend the gravity of his tone. "What do you mean, Boss?"
"Humanity will face extinction if we don't apprehend him immediately."
The color drained from her face.
She had known the experiment was dangerous, but she hadn't realized the stakes were apocalyptic.
Her heart sank into her stomach as she watched him rush off to begin the hunt.
...◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...
"So, tell me... why did you insist on meeting this early?" Yoon-Gi asked as he approached Jim-In.
Jim-In had requested this sunrise meeting, and the morning was crisp and bright, with only a few early risers scattered about the area.
"Actually, Suga Hyung... I wanted to tell you something. I've tried so many times, but we never seem to see each other outside of those crowded lunch breaks," Jim-In said softly.
Yoon-Gi already suspected what was coming, but he chose to play the fool for a moment longer.
"Okay, tell me now. We're alone." He felt a smirk tugging at his lips but masked it quickly when Jim-In looked up.
He didn't miss the deep crimson flush spreading across Jim-In's cheeks.
"Suga Hyung, the thing is..." Jim-In hesitated, the words catching in his throat.
Yoon-Gi waited with uncharacteristic patience.
For him, this was a perfect morning; he had spent two years admiring Jim-In from a distance, noticing every lingering stare and shy smile.
He knew the feelings were mutual, but he had waited for Jim-In to find his own courage.
"I like you, Suga Hyung."
There it was.
Yoon-Gi beamed as Jim-In immediately spun around, trying to hide his face.
"Oh, c'mon, Chim. Turn around and let me see you." Yoon-Gi placed a firm hand on his shoulder, gently forcing Jim-In to face him.
Jim-In kept his gaze fixed on the ground, radiating embarrassment.
"I like you too, Chim." Yoon-Gi leaned down to his level.
To Yoon-Gi, Jim-In looked small and incredibly endearing; he fought the urge to pull him into a kiss right then and there.
Overjoyed, Jim-In threw himself into Yoon-Gi's arms.
Yoon-Gi pulled him into a crushing embrace, holding him tightly as the world around them seemed to stand still.
After several minutes, they finally stepped back, their eyes locking in a silent, happy promise.
Hand in hand, they began the walk down the valley toward school.
...◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...
Once the entire circle of friends had gathered at school, Yoon-Gi and Jim-In made their announcement: "We're together."
"OHHHH!"
The group erupted in cheers, shouting their congratulations to the newest couple.
The excitement was short-lived, however, as the warning bell signaled the start of lectures, and they were forced to disperse.
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The afternoon proceeded smoothly until a man in a state of total devastation appeared at the school's main gate.
The security guard watched him approach with growing suspicion; the stranger appeared intoxicated or severely injured.
The guard stepped forward. "Hey! Who are you? What are you doing here?"
The guard waited, but the mysterious man offered no reply. "Do you need help? Were you attacked? What happened to you?"
Still, there was only silence. The man just stood there, swaying slightly.
"If you have no business here, move along!" the guard snapped, his patience finally expiring.
He gave the man a light, dismissive push.
The stranger finally looked up, and the guard's eyes widened in horror.
The man's face was a mask of gore.
His mouth was filled with what looked like raw human flesh, and the stench of copper and decay rolled off him in waves.
The guard recoiled.
"Hrrr... urrr..." Low, guttural growls were the only sounds the man could produce.
In a heartbeat, the stranger lunged.
He tackled the guard to the ground, his teeth sinking into the man's neck with savage force.
The guard screamed in agony, fighting to shove the attacker off. "Leave me! Are you insane?"
But the man fought with a wild, unnatural strength.
Because the road was empty, no one heard the guard's cries.
Soon, the guard collapsed, blood pooling around his mangled throat.
The stranger stood up and, with a limping, disjointed gait, passed through the gate and entered the school.
...◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...
"Now, who can solve this?" Ms Hong asked the class.
She finished writing a complex mathematical formula on the blackboard and waited for a volunteer.
"No one? Very well. Hyung-Sik, come and show us how it's done." Hyung-Sik's face went pale; he loathed mathematics.
His friends struggled to hide their laughter as he trudged toward the front of the room.
He took the chalk from Ms Hong and stared blankly at the board.
'What even is this? I've never seen a formula like this in my life.' He thought, leaning closer to the blackboard as if proximity would grant him insight.
He was still pondering his first move when a teacher burst into the room.
"Ms Hong, you need to come with me immediately. There is an emergency," the newcomer said breathlessly.
"What is it, Ms Choi?" Ms Hong asked, startled. "Why the rush? What's happened to the school?"
"Some of the students are acting... crazily," Ms Choi reported, her voice trembling. "It's like they've been hit by some kind of sudden, instinctive disease."
The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly.
Hyung-Sik and the others grew somber.
As Ms Hong hurried out, Hyung-Sik retreated to his seat.
'What could have happened?' Hyung-Sik thought.
"Someone probably just lost their mind," Jong-Suk joked, trying to break the tension.
The class offered a nervous chuckle.
"The only one who's gone crazy recently is Suga, now that he finally has a boyfriend," Tae-Hyung teased.
"True, but you're just as crazy because Kook is still making you wait," Jack-Son countered.
Everyone laughed, though Tae-Hyung let out a dramatic sigh of longing.
"Oh, please. What about me? I haven't even confessed yet," Jong-Suk added.
"Then you're the worst of all, Sukkie," Hyung-Sik teased.
"Don't forget, you haven't confessed either, MinMin!" Jong-Suk pointed out, causing Hyung-Sik to hide his face in his hands.
"See? Take your own advice before you tease the rest of us," Jong-Suk said, flipping his hair sassily.
The bickering continued until a faint, strained voice reached them from the doorway.
"Guys..." Every head snapped toward the sound.
Standing there was Ji-Eun.
She was a wreck.
Her hair was a bird's nest, her uniform was torn, and her shirt was stained with dark red spatters.
She was gasping for air, her face contorted with pure, unadulterated terror.
Jong-Suk leaped to his feet. "IU! What happened?"
Ji-Eun couldn't answer at first, her lungs burning as she struggled to breathe.
"IU! Talk to me! Why is your shirt torn? Is that... is that blood?" Jong-Suk was becoming frantic.
The entire class fell silent, watching Ji-Eun's distress.
"Sukkie Oppa... Jung-Kook..." Ji-Eun managed to choke out.
Tae-Hyung panicked instantly. "IU, are you okay? What happened to Kook?"
"V Hyung... Kook and Bo-Young..." Ji-Eun's voice failed her as she began to shake.
At the mention of Bo-Young, Hyung-Sik stood up, his own heart racing.
They all pressed Ji-Eun for information, but the girl was too deep in shock to form a coherent sentence.
Jong-Suk pulled her into a protective embrace. "IU, calm down. Please, just breathe."
Tae-Hyung didn't wait.
He bolted from the classroom.
"I'm going with him! Watch over IU!" Hyung-Sik shouted, running after Tae-Hyung.
"I'm coming too," Nam-Joon added, following close behind.
Joong-Ki, Jack-Son, and Yoon-Gi remained, looking to Ji-Eun for an explanation.
After a long minute, Ji-Eun's breathing leveled out.
She gripped Jong-Suk's shirt tightly. "A... a weird—looking man entered the classroom. He attacked Jung-Kook and Bo-Young. Seok-Jin and I tried to stop him... we tried to hold him back, but he tried to bite us too..."
Ji-Eun was trembling so hard she could barely speak.
"Where is he now?" Joong-Ki asked.
"He ran off... but he bit a few other students first. And now they're all acting weird... like... like Monsters."
The word hung in the air.
Jong-Suk continued to rub Ji-Eun's back as the reality set in.
"Where did they go?" Yoon-Gi asked.
"I don't know. Everyone is heading to the infirmary," Ji-Eun replied.
Jong-Suk helped her to his feet, and the group hurried toward the school pharmacy.
When they arrived, they found Tae-Hyung, Hyung-Sik, and Nam-Joon already there.
Jung-Kook and Bo-Young were sitting on the edge of the beds, nurses wrapping bandages around their arms. Jim-In, Seok-Jin, Ho-Seok, and Yeo-Been were busy assisting the medical staff with other students.
Relief washed over them to see their friends alive.
Yoon-Gi rushed to Jim-In, who immediately burst into tears as he was pulled into a hug. Hyung-Sik went straight to Bo-Young, who had jagged scratches along her neck and arms. Nearby, Tae-Hyung was talking softly to Jung-Kook, who was weeping as he recounted the horror of the classroom attack.
"What's the situation?" Jack-Son asked a nurse who was speaking with Ho-Seok in the corner.
"It's a nightmare," Ho-Seok answered for her, his voice grim. "A sick, crazed man attacked them. It's a miracle they weren't bitten; Jung-Kook was injured when he fell over a desk, and Bo-Young was clawed during the struggle."
Jack-Son reached out, taking Ho-Seok's hand. "Are you alright?"
Ho-Seok nodded, but his eyes were filled with worry.
Nam-Joon was occupied with Seok-Jin, who was sobbing uncontrollably.
Nam-Joon held him close, his own face pale with concern.
As the nurses were called away to tend to the teachers, the group was left alone in the pharmacy.
As evening approached, a sudden, violent chaos erupted in the hallway outside.
Tae-Hyung stood up, cautiously stepping out to investigate.
A minute passed in agonizing silence.
Then, the door flew open and Tae-Hyung scrambled back inside, slamming the door shut and throwing the bolt.
Everyone gasped.
Tae-Hyung was drenched in blood.
Crimson handprints marred his white shirt, and his uniform was filthy, as if he had been dragged through the gutters.
His face was a mask of sheer, paralyzing fear.
He leaned against the door, his ragged breathing filling the silent room.
Jung-Kook rushed to his side.
Tae-Hyung looked at his friends, his eyes hollow and haunted. "Guys..."
The room went still.
They waited for him to speak, the tension thick enough to suffocate.
Tae-Hyung looked at each of them in turn before finally whispering. "It's Train to Busan out there."
Silence followed.
Most of the group struggled to process the reference, confused by the cryptic warning.
But Jung-Kook—who had seen the movie years ago—felt a jolt of ice water run through his veins.
His eyes widened.
"What is Train to Busan?" Jack-Son asked, his voice echoing.
From the other side of the door, the sound of scratching and low, wet grunts began to rise.
Jung-Kook turned to Jack-Son, his expression devoid of hope.
"Zombies..." he whispered.
Seconds later, a massive force slammed into the door.
The wood splintered as the lock gave way.
Tae-Hyung was knocked to the floor, crawling backward as the door burst open.
The group watched in paralyzed horror as the things that used to be their classmates stumbled in.
"Zombie" had always been a fictional concept, a movie trope—yet here they were.
These creatures were covered in gore, their jaws working as if chewing on invisible meat, emitting high—pitched, disgusting groans as they limped forward.
Tae-Hyung was the closest.
A zombie lunged for him, but Jung-Kook was faster, hauling Tae-Hyung to his feet just before the creature's teeth could find purchase.
Jung-Kook shoved everyone toward the back of the infirmary, into the secure medicine storage room.
Once they were all inside, Jung-Kook slammed the heavy door and locked it tight.
Tae-Hyung collapsed into Jung-Kook's arms. "Will we survive this?"
Jung-Kook held him firmly.
"Will we die?" Bo-Young sobbed, burying her face in Hyung-Sik's chest.
The fear of death was a cold weight in all of their hearts.
"We will survive," Jung-Kook said, his voice ringing with a sudden, fierce determination. "We aren't going down without a fight. Like the protagonists in the movies—we fight back."
The group looked at him, and slowly, the terror in their eyes began to be replaced by a desperate resolve.
They were scared, but they were together.
They would fight for their lives.
...◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...
...Tbc......
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