• ᴏɴᴇ •

...🄰🅄🅃🄷🄾🅁...

...​◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤◢◤...

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......

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***