Cheong-San has been pacing nonstop for the past few minutes, restless, and palpably, he's not one for patience.

"I'm heading out."

"Wait!"

You spring up, ready to block his path when the sliding doors slam open from the other side, and you can hear Dae-Su before you even see him, a life-sized teddy bear barreling into Cheong-San.

"Yah! Where were you, you jerk?"

Dae-Su envelops Cheong-San, shaking him back and forth, unwilling to let go.

"What about On-Jo?" Cheong-San goes to peer over Dae-Su's shoulders, skimming the faces of each classmate as they sprint into the music room. As soon as his eyes land on his crush, he instantly heaves Dae-Su to the side, rushing toward her without another backward glance. You watch, amused, as Cheong-San grabs On-Jo by the arms and looks her over, leaving poor Dae-Su practically face down on the floor in a ball. "Are you hurt? Are you okay?"

On-Jo discounts the questions rattled off at her and hugs Cheong-San, much to his astonishment. He's frozen still, arms gawkily at his sides as she tightens her hold on him, in disbelief at the rare display of affection.

Dae-Su coughs awkwardly, recollects himself, and turns to you, overly theatrical.

"Chae-Wol!"

In the next second, he's squeezing the life out of you, and you finally experience why a bear hug is true to its name.

"Dae-Su. Can't. Breathe," you try to get out between ragged intakes of air.

Before you can so much as try to return the hug, Dae-Su is once again jostled to the ground, landing smack dab on his butt.

"You asshole!"

He narrows his eyes and jabs an accusatory finger at Wu-Jin.

The latter gazes at you from a foot away, unmoving, before his eyes soften and a different pair of arms are around you. Compared to Dae-Su's embrace, this one is much laxer and hesitant. Rather than read too much into his actions, you chalk up the random hugs going around as mere comfort at the idea that the fear of losing two more people in the group is now unfounded.

"I'm so glad you're safe." He sighs in relief. "I think noona is as well. I saw her arrows scattered around the hallways from Joon-Yeong's drone when we were looking for you and Cheong-San." He holds you at arm's length soon after, not wanting to trespass over any more boundaries than he might already have. "If you two—you and noona—are alive, I can die happy."

You shake your head, eyebrows knitting together. "Don't say that." Fixing him with a serious stare, you object, thoughtfully, "Especially not when we're all fighting to survive and make it out of here, together, every last one of us."

"I mean it, though." Wu-Jin pauses, before adding, "I'll always mean it."

"Why? Are you afraid Ha-Ri unnie won't let you live it down if something happens to me?"

He looks away, ostensibly debating, before looking back at you again.

"No, I wouldn't forgive myself. Chae-Wol I—"

You're at a loss as to what he could possibly mean, and you guess you'll never know what comes next because Cheong-San's scream of pain effectively cuts off the conversation. When you look over, it's just in time to see On-Jo retract her leg as Cheong-San crumples onto his knees.

"Karma!"

Dae-Su seems entirely too happy at his friend's expense.

"I told you not to go!" On-Jo nags. "You were about to leave before we got here, weren't you? I can't believe you, Cheong-San!"

She lightly kicks him a few more times in the heel.

"If you're so mad, why did you hug me then?" Cheong-San grouses.

On-Jo turns red, but still has too much pride to concede she was fretting.

"That wasn't a hug! I was trying to squeeze your ribs hard enough to hurt for not listening to me!"

"Hurt him with what, exactly? Your affection?" Dae-Su deadpans. "Please save the lovers' quarrel for later, guys."

"We need to go," Wu-Jin declares from his perch atop a table, next to where Ji-Min and Hyo-Ryung have just entered through the doors.

"Go where?"

Cheong-San finally stands up, albeit still rubbing the back of his thigh, trying to soothe the pain from On-Jo's kick.

"We made an additional plan when we were figuring out how to get to you and Chae-Wol earlier," Wu-Jin begins. "I can explain more later if you want, but before the music ends, we have to reach the rooftop." He hops off the table and begins to escort everyone toward the door. "There's not much time left, so let's go. We've got to hurry."

Cheong-San looks at you muddled, only to see you inattentive, glancing around the room fleetingly.

"Wait, where's Su-Hyeok?" you probe quietly. "He isn't here."

"I haven't seen him or Nam-Ra," On-Jo replies apologetically. "Last I checked, everyone was called for and running behind me."

"If I don't find him, I'm not leaving."

You were never the kind of person to be reckless, not once in your life, but maybe you can afford to be now that you've resolutely given your ultimatum. Throwing caution to the wind, you exit the classroom to loud objections from everyone.

Cheong-San's panicked voice and rushed footsteps resound behind you.

"Where are you going?!"

"You guys!" Dae-Su bellows, mixed exasperations jumbling with his words as everyone follows behind, trying to stop one another from going any further.

You make it halfway down the corridor when you spot Su-Hyeok rounding the corner with Nam-Ra, hand-in-hand. Squinting to see more clearly, you realize there's a horde of zombies swarming after them, and you brush off their newfound proximity.

"Are you insane?! Why would you go by yourself—"

Cheong-San yanks you back by your shoulder, but when you flinch from pain, he hastily drops his hand, eyeing you worriedly.

"Go! Just go inside!" Su-Hyeok shouts while he continues to run.

Unable to linger and watch the distressing scene, Cheong-San drags you and On-Jo back inside the classroom, not leaving any room for argument.

"They're coming! Shit!"

Dae-Su stamps his feet anxiously, prepared to slam the wooden doors closed after the last person.

"Curtains! Everyone, curtains!"

Joon-Yeong frantically swishes the floor length red fabrics together, and you rush to help, everyone else tackling a different spot in the room. Soon, the snarls outside lower in volume but doesn't cease, the zombies no longer sensing human prsence as they had mere moments ago. Nam-Ra is about to approach the last white curtain by the window in the corner on the opposite side of the room when Cheong-San halts her.

"I wouldn't go too close if I were you. There's a zombie caught under the piano, but since it's stuck, it can't move."

Recoiling, Nam-Ra moves backward, warily eyeing the unfortunate zombie before plopping wearily into a chair.

As everyone sits down and tries to catch their breath, Su-Hyeok makes a beeline toward you, encasing you in his arms tenderly. His hand hovers behind your head for a brief second before gently cradling it, bringing you closer to his chest and tucking the top of your head under his chin.

"Thank gooodness you're okay. I was so afraid."

"I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere," you respond, wrapping your arms around his back.

When you both let go, you sit side by side backed up against the curtains near the door.

"We can't make it to the rooftop now, can we?" Hyo-Ryung states regrettably. "We're trapped once again."

"There are zombies outside, so we don't really have a choice, at least for now," Su-Hyeok offers. "Let's think a little more on how we can still go through with our original plan. Maybe we can revise it."

Hyo-Ryung breathes heavily, every word punctuated by a pant. "Aish, this whole thing is so annoying." When she looks up again, her eyes catch sight of something startling, and she gestures erratically toward Nam-Ra. "Don't tell me you were bit," she finally gets out. "Were you really?"

Su-Hyeok tenses up beside you at the same time that Dae-Su and Wu-Jin reflexively step back, even though nothing is yet confirmed. Cheong-San immediately seizes a nearby music stand, ready to fight, or worse kill, but Su-Hyeok jumps to his feet and stands in between, guarding Nam-Ra.

"It's not what it looks like."

He holds one palm up in hopes of obstructing Cheong-San.

"Step away."

The hard set of Cheong-San's jaw along with the glint in his eyes indicates that no matter what, he's not backing down.

You scrutinize Nam-Ra's relaxed arm, and sure enough, there's a bite mark embedded in her cardigan sleeve, the green cotton now stained with blood. Your heart plummets at the fact another one of your good friends might be gone forever. Trouble somehow appears to follow your group at every turn, and it doesn't seem as though it'll let up anytime soon.

"I'm telling you it's not!" Su-Hyeok whips his head to Nam-Ra sitting behind his standing form. "Tell him that you weren't bitten by a zombie."

She continues to stare off into space, remaining silent.

"She's not denying it."

Cheong-San grips his metal music stand tighter.

"Cheong-San," you whisper-yell, giving him a signal to wait it out and hear an explanation at least.

"She's not confirming it either," Su-Hyeok interjects frustrated, glancing at Nam-Ra again. "Why won't you say anything to defend yourself? A zombie didn't bite you, Gwi-Nam did. Can't you at least admit to that?"

"Who?!" you and Cheong-San simultaneously question, in shock.

The two of you exchange a knowing, doomed, look that goes undetected by everyone else.

"Gwi-Nam, the resident bully."

"Yoon Gwi-Nam?" Cheong-San clarifies, blinking rapidly, unbelieving.

"What other Gwi-Nam at this school do we know of?"

Cheong-San disregards Su-Hyeok's remark and turns his body toward Nam-Ra, the music stand following his movements.

"I want you, not Su-Hyeok, to tell me clearly."

Nam-Ra remains speechless, and regardless, you feel like vomiting either way.

It can't be.

"It's true," Su-Hyeok cuts in again.

"Gwi-Nam," Cheong-San's voice wavers as he says the name aloud. "He was bitten by zombies, and you know what comes next." Half confused and half fearful expressions stare back at him. "Once you're bitten by an infected person, you'll turn shortly after that. So, if you're saying Gwi-Nam bit her, that means..."

"You're wrong!" Su-Hyeok's adamant, and his loud shout reverberates in the virtually empty room, causing loud growls to erupt from outside. Thinking better of it, he lowers his voice, but doesn't change his stance. "How could he be a zombie if he spoke and recognized me?"

Nam-Ra's voice is barely audible when she opens her mouth.

"Are you certain he was bitten by a zombie?"

"Why are you asking that?" Su-Hyeok admonishes, riled up. "You saw him! He was as far from a zombie as anyone can get! Let them know!"

Nam-Ra doesn't listen to him, and instead speaks to Cheong-San. "You haven't answered my question." Cheong-San looks at you from the corner of his eye, not knowing what else to say. Nam-Ra catches the movement and turns to you this time around. "Chae-Wol, is it true?"

"I'm sorry." You see Nam-Ra nod lightly to herself, trying to come to terms with the fact from those two measly words alone. "We observed Gwi-Nam being mauled by a group of zombies. They clawed him as soon as they got to him," you finish, speech uneven upon recalling the scene.

"I'll turn into a zombie too, then."

Nam-Ra looks down once more, reverting back to her vow of silence.

"Why would you lie to take Cheong-San's side? I thought Nam-Ra was your friend, Chae-Wol," Su-Hyeok grits out, nothing short of bitter.

Whatever warmth you felt from his reunion hug earlier dissipates, the words stinging like a slap of cold water to your face. Cheong-San looks at Su-Hyeok with absolute incredulity as he sees the hurt on your face.

You step away, disappointed.

"Is that what you really think of me?"

"You don't believe me?" Su-Hyeok fires back.

"I never said I didn't," you answer, disheartened. "But that doesn't matter, because it goes both ways, right? You don't trust me either. In your eyes, I'm only a liar anyway."

The tension grows higher in the stillness of the room, the others not daring to step in. You tone everything out as your chest constricts, all but shriveling inward as you hug your arms tight around yourself, the knife wound in your back stinging as your skin stretches with the motion, though it doesn't compare to the pain in your heart.

"Chae-Wol, I didn't mean—" Su-Hyeok stammers as he reaches out, straightaway regretting the words that had left his mouth.

"I never took you for someone who makes a promise they can't keep," you murmur quietly, though in the dead silence of the room, you're certain Su-Hyeok hears it.

With that, you avoid his eyes entirely, the necklace around your neck feeling heavier than ever for the first time in your life.

"Just stop fighting, all of you." On-Jo steps in the middle of you four. "We can talk this out. I'm sure it's a misunderstanding."

"I think I should leave."

Nam-Ra rises and heads toward the wooden sliding doors near the front of the class, but Su-Hyeok impedes her, dragging her by the arm back to the middle of the room.

You wonder when and how they got close so fast, but it isn't the time nor place to question it, so you trample down your curiosity, and as much as you hate to acknowledge it, your jealousy.

"She's not a zombie, and neither will she turn into one of them. Just hear me out," Su-Hyeok pleads.

You can feel him watching you, but you fix your focus on the floor, and you can hear him sigh.

"Chae-Wol and I witnessed Gwi-Nam being bitten after I scuffled with him in the library."

You're glad Cheong-San left out the detail about him throwing Gwi-Nam to the creatures, as the group would go into a frenzy if they learned there's now a vengeful zombie that can possibly come running into them at any given time.

"You're not the only one who fought Gwi-Nam! I did too, that's why I know." Not waiting for a response, Su-Hyeok leads Nam-Ra over to the open window as she avoids eye contact with the group entirely. "See this?" He holds up their clasped hands. "If she turns, like you say she will, I'll throw her out the window, no questions asked."

"Su-Hyeok—" Cheong-San cautions, still skeptical.

"Don't say anything."

"You don't have to do this," Nam-Ra tries to remove her hand to no avail. "What's the purpose of fighting with everyone? Of course, I'm grateful, but you're going to go out of line soon." She shoots him an exasperated look before peeking at you guiltily, stuck between a rock and a hard place. "You might already have."

"The same goes for you. Stay quiet," Su-Hyeok counters, and Nam-Ra shakes her head subtly, frowning.

Cheong-San gradually steps forward and brandishes the music stand even higher.

"Can you put that thing down? We're getting nowhere here."

You're trying your best to convince him, but knowing how hard-headed Cheong-San is, no amount of persuasion will sway him. Earnestly, you turn to On-Jo and wordlessly ask for help. Maybe he'll listen to her.

"Don't come closer, I warned you."

Su-Hyeok moves in front of Nam-Ra, dropping her hand for the time being.

"Screw you," Cheong-San snaps, and you see On-Jo purse her lips, so done with the childish fight, but not really having a way to cut in. "I warned you first." Cheong-San seethes. "What's so hard to understand? Gyeong-Su was enough. I don't want a repeat of that, or lose any more friends. So, just listen."

"Your fears stem from the right place, but this isn't the answer. Get out of my way."

"No."

"I told you to stop it!"

Su-Hyeok clenches his fist, ready to throw a punch, but Cheong-San is undeterred.

"I'll stop if you just get out of the damn way!"

"Enough! Both of you!" Nam-Ra screeches, and the two boys finally clamp their mouths shut, Cheong-San reluctantly lowering his music stand.

"If I start to have even the tiniest urge for blood, I'll make sure I die." She decisively takes her hand out of Su-Hyeok's. "I'll send myself out down this window."

"Nam-Ra, no," you advise, but she shakes her head at you, smiling lightly at the concerned look on your face.

"It's okay."

"No, it's not okay." You wring your hands together. "How is any of this okay? None of us deserved anything that's happened."

"I'm sorry," Cheong-San supplements.

"Don't be. I'm not sorry toward anyone either. Let's not do that to one another," Nam-Ra fairly reasons.

"Still, I apologize," Cheong-San mutters, sincere.

Nam-Ra climbs to sit at the very edge of the windowsill, face blank. She doesn't even grab onto the window frame, determined to follow through with her words if things take a turn for the worse.

"Nam-Ra, there's no need to go this far!"

You try to advance, but Cheong-San holds you back by your wrist.

Su-Hyeok rushes forward to grab her by the shoulders in case she'll topple backward to the ground below. He turns to glare at Cheong-San, evidently blaming him for the events leading up to now.

His eyes flicker to yours momentarily, before going down to your wrist held in Cheong-San's, his eyes betraying any façade of anger.

"Why is blood dripping down your arm?!"

There's no mistaking the genuine concern in his voice, as everyone turns to you.

You finally register warm liquid running down your hand, and you squint down, seeing a trail of red. Cheong-San slackens his hand from your wrist and turns you toward him.

"What the hell happened? Is this why you've been holding your shoulder the whole time?"

He gazes at you, visibly upset you didn't feel the need to tell him sooner.

"I'll be fine," you try to withdraw your arm, but Cheong-San tugs it back and you grimace.

"Doesn't seem like you're fine!" Su-Hyeok is about to step your way when Cheong-San glowers at him, stopping him in his tracks with his next words. "Don't. I think you've done enough."

The former guiltily remains by the window, but still tries to catch your eye.

"It's nothing. It'll go away," you reassure, unconvincingly.

"You endured this the whole time we were running from and being thrown around by Gwi-Nam?" Cheong-San inquires, incredulous.

"Not the whole time," you reply sheepishly. "Just from when we left the principal's office."

"That's basically from the beginning, then." Cheong-San pulls out a handkerchief from his pocket. "Here, try to put pressure on it." He looks at you, gauging. "Where are you hurt?"

You take the piece of fabric from his outstretched hand. "My shoulder. Gwi-Nam hit me with that knife."

"There's no reason to, unless..." Cheong-San pieces it together. "Yah! Why would you block that for me?! He meant to hurt me. You didn't have to stand in."

"But you didn't see it coming at all, and would've been injured more than this. That's the best thing I could think