SRW | Chapter 15

 “Oh my, this student looks like someone straight out of Greek mythology.”

At Kim Boksoon’s words, everyone’s heads turned. Kim Jaeyoung, sitting with his torn clothes draped carelessly over his frame, truly looked like a god who had stepped out of legend.

…The world really is unfair. I pouted, glancing down at my bright pink floral T-shirt before plopping down beside Bear. I wanted to sit next to Jaeyoung, but our class president, Yoo Yeonha, was glued to his side, leaving no room. Still, I could feel Jaeyoung’s gaze lingering on me.

“Eunsoo-sunbaenim suits it better.”

“Are you mocking me?”

This punk had the nerve to tease me? I flicked Bear’s forehead lightly, but he still clutched his head in silent agony.

“…Sun Eunsoo.”

A thin voice came from my right. It was Hwang Sooyeon, the girl who had snapped under despair. I hadn’t noticed her earlier, hunched over as she was. In my dream, Sooyeon awakened an incredible ability. I’d tried to use her, but not long after, she threw herself at a monster. I’d sliced open the beast’s belly, but she was already dead.

‘Seriously? You’d kill yourself over a dead friend? I don’t get it.’

‘…What would you do, Eunsoo?’

‘If it were me? I’d chase them to the ends of hell and make them suffer. Whether they’re human or monster.’

I remembered Jaeyoung in the dream, whining Eunsoo-yah like a clingy kid. Back then, he was just a useful underling.

“Hey, Hwang Sooyeon.”

Could I save her this time? No other Awakener had healing powers as strong as hers. She could reattach severed limbs. If she lived and sided with me, I’d be much safer.

But was changing the future smart? Of the survivors from the gym, only Jaeyoung and I were supposed to live. The other three were supposed to be dead already. Too much had changed. I hesitated, recalling how I had nearly been killed by the threats of the clubroom survivors.

“Are you okay?”

Sooyeon asked while looking at my pink T-shirt. Surely she wasn’t asking if I was okay wearing this ridiculous outfit. For a moment I had that cynical thought, but she was actually looking at the wounds hidden beneath the clothes.

“Yeah, I’m fine. You… okay?”

The kindness in my voice surprised even me. I hadn’t decided whether to save her yet, but the words came instinctively. Awkward, I scratched my neck.

“I’m… not.”

Tears welled in her eyes. Should I comfort her? How could I stop her from dying? Hesitating, I finally patted her shoulder—clumsily. Sooyeon wiped her tears and smiled faintly.

“…Thanks for asking, Sun Eunsoo.”

I forced a smile back. The warmth was almost uncomfortable. Bear, oblivious, poked my side with a dumb “Ooh?” I smacked his head again. Idiot. Don’t make this look like a love triangle.

Jaeyoung was glaring at us. This brat, I scooted closer to Bear.

…Not good enough, either?’

Jaeyoung slightly furrowed his brows before sharply turning his head away. He didn’t like me sitting close to Bear either. What, does he think everyone’s gay like him? What does he want me to do? He’s the one glued to the class president.

*

The body of Sooyeon’s friend Lee Somang had arms twisted at unnatural angles and a torn abdomen. Despite the chilly weather, flies were gathering. If it was left like this, maggots would soon appear. The others wanted to put Somang’s body outside, but Sooyeon refused, saying she couldn’t let her suffering friend’s remains be devoured inside a monster’s belly. Seeing this as the perfect chance to get closer to Sooyeon, I suggested burying Somang. There was a small flowerbed behind the cafeteria just big enough to lay a petite girl like her to rest properly.

“Who’s going to bury her? What if there are monsters?”

“Tch, you cowardly bastards. I’ll do it, I’ll handle it.”

Grumbling, I stood up. Jaeyoung tried to follow me out, but the class president grabbed his arm and wouldn’t let go. Jaeyoung’s face turned cold as he looked down at the class president.

“I’ll be fine, don’t follow. Trust me, okay?”

I winked playfully to lighten Jaeyoung’s mood, but his stiff expression didn’t change. I’d have to placate him later, I thought as I walked to where Somang’s body lay.

Thanks to my [Special Dexterity] skill, digging with a stainless steel spatula wasn’t difficult. After burying Somang and returning to the cafeteria, Sooyeon, who had been waiting by the door, burst into tears.

“Thank you so much, Sun Eunsoo. Really.”

“…It’s nothing. We were in the same class in first year.”

As Sooyeon tightly gripped my hands with gratitude, I smiled awkwardly and recited a line that didn’t suit me at all. It was true we’d been classmates in first year… The problem was I couldn’t remember who Somang was…

“I’ll repay this kindness.”

“Yeah, be sure to repay it.”

A genuine smile escaped me at her promise. Surely with this much effort, I could prevent Sooyeon from going mad. It would be troublesome if she charged at monsters like in the dream. Fortunately, she still seemed sane for now.

“Eunsoo.”

While having this warm conversation with Sooyeon at the cafeteria door, Jaeyoung suddenly appeared behind me and pulled me back by the neck. Tilting my head to look, I saw his beautiful face smiling softly. Somehow his smiling face was more unsettling. After all, in the dream, this was the face Jaeyoung wore while committing atrocities without hesitation. To calm him, I stroked his cheek. Jaeyoung rubbed his face against my hand.

“What? I told you to stay inside.”

The position was slightly embarrassing for two grown male students, but placating the unpredictable Jaeyoung was more important than my pride. Fortunately, everyone else was inside the staff cafeteria, so only Sooyeon was watching.

“I hate it there.”

“Seriously, who likes it?”

I elbowed Jaeyoung’s stomach as he complained, but he just tightened his arms around me and buried his face in my shoulder, nuzzling. Damn it, now Sooyeon will misunderstand even more! As expected, Sooyeon was staring at us with wide eyes, looking back and forth between us.

“W-We’re just really close friends…”

I tried to explain, but Sooyeon nodded with a benevolent expression like she understood everything. Wait, what exactly do you think you understand…?

“Somang would have loved this…”

Sooyeon wiped away fresh tears. That Somang would have loved it…? Do kids these days not have prejudices about this sort of thing…? Or was Jaeyoung’s face so pretty that even two guys like this didn’t look strange…? Sooyeon’s reaction was perplexing, but better than being judged. I roughly patted Jaeyoung’s head where it rested on my shoulder.

“Stop whining and let’s go eat.”

“Okay…”

“Eat a lot, will you? You’re huge but eat like a bird…”

“It doesn’t taste good.”

“You picky bastard. People would think you’re the chaebol. Do we eat for taste? We eat to survive.”

I dragged the reluctant Jaeyoung back toward the staff cafeteria. Through the slightly open door, I saw someone watching us before startling and falling back.

“…Filth.”

Sooyeon muttered ominously behind us. Her attitude toward the staff cafeteria was the complete opposite of how she treated me. Gnash, gnash. Suddenly she began biting her nails frantically and repeating the same phrase over and over.

“I’ll kill them. I’ll kill them. I’ll kill them…”

Her bloodshot eyes gleamed in the darkness. Sooyeon’s staggering walk looked like a scene from a horror movie. What the hell, it’s creepy. I tightly gripped Jaeyoung’s arm.

‘This crazy girl was already insane…’

It seemed only half my plan had succeeded.

*

With no distinction between day and night, we lost track of time. About four more days might have passed. The survivors abandoned hope of rescue. Even Kim Boksoon, who had been encouraging the kids to hold on a little longer, stopped trying to talk as the realization that we would die when food ran out took over.

We ate twice a day. Whenever the broken clock’s hands pointed to 7, whether morning or evening didn’t matter, everyone would quietly get up to prepare food.