Limited Days ｜Sweet Home Fanfiction

～6

It had been six hours since Hyunsu and Sangwook had left and quite frankly, I was getting worried. I knew that these things took time, but still, the knot inside my stomach wasn't getting any smaller. My head was spinning and I felt quesy. My lunch felt like it was making its way back up. I hurried to the bathroom. I crouched by the toilet and hurled. It wasn't a pretty site. As I wiped my mouth and walked to the basin to wash my hands, I realised something. I realised how alike me and all the other tenants actually were. We all acted brave so no one would think we were weak, but secretly we all felt the same.

Scared. Alone. Tired.

We didn't know how much longer we would could hold out. We felt as if we were a candle that had burned to its end. There was nothing left. No hope, no light at the end of the tunnel, nothing. Just the face of death awaiting us at every corner because in an apocalypse, the chance of you actually surviving was quite rare. And we all knew this. It was common knowledge. We were all fighting a battle inside our minds of how much longer we could pretend we were okay. Slowly, we were losing our humanity. The thing that kept us rooted to being human was slowly fading. And soon, we would all go feral. Because no one can stay entirely human, not during and apocalypse.

I walked out the bathroom to where I came face to face with Eunyu. She pulled her face in a sneer.

"You look like shit." she said.
Usually I would reply with some smart mouth comment, but not now. I felt much too dirty to think properly. All I wanted to do was get in the shower and clean myslef. I flip her off and walk towards the showers.

"Just trying to be helpful." She calls after me, even though I knew she intended to do the opposite. I slipped in the shower and let the hot water drip down my face. Inside I felt everything and nothing all at once. My emotions that I had suppressed these last few days came rushing back, like a wave hitting me so unexpectedly. I just let it all out. Tears streamed down my face. Though I didn't just cry about the last few days. Oh no, I cried about everything that I never did. All the years of pushing my feelings away, never shedding a single tear unless absolutely necessary. I felt angry. I felt sad. I felt broken. The world was ending. As much I'd like to say I'd accepted this, I hadn't. The only thing that had been keeping me going, was thinking that there was a way out of this, that we would see it to the end. But if I was being honest with myself, the chances of surviving were slim. I had a better chance of dying than living and I was not prepared to say goodbye. There were so many things I didn't get to do, so many people I didn't get to meet. My whole life, wasted. Thrown into the face of uncertainty. I was lost. I wanted to save myself, but I didn't know how.

But one thing I did know was that I was done hiding how I felt. Normally after crying, I'd rub my face really hard to try and stop the redness, but now, I didn't care. I'd finished showering, put on my clothes and walked out, eyes red and puffy and all. There were many murmurs around me. I didn't exactly hear what they said, but I assumed it had something to do with how bad I looked. I didn't say anything, just gave them a look that said: don't fuck with me, I'm not in the mood.

Even Eunyu steered clear of me, which wasn't like her. I half expected her to comment on how much worse I looked than before, but she said nothing.

Another hour had gone by and still no Hyunsu and Sangwook. Edgy, I walk to the office. I knock on the door.

"Come in." I hear Eunhyuk say. I walk in and stand behind the couch with my hands placed on the front. Eunhyuk spins around in his chair to face me.
"Still no word from them?" Eunhyuk shook his head. I expected it, but it still hurt. I turned to walk out, but Eunhyuk stopped me.
"Are you okay? You don't look to well."
I didn't know if he was being genuine or trying to make a cruel joke about how bad I looked so I decided to go with a neutral answer.
"I'm fine." I say. Eunhyuk smiled.
"You know, most people who say that aren't really fine. In fact, they're the furthest from fine."
I looked at him with a puzzled expression. I didn't know what game he was playing, nor did I know if I liked it.
"So what, you want me to tell you my life story or something?"
"No, not exactly."
"Do you know what it's like in an orphanage?" I asked him.
I don't know why I asked this, it sort of just come right out of my mouth. Like I stated speaking before I could actually think about what I was saying. He looked away. Sensitive subject I realised.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable." I fidgeted with my fingers.
After some time he said, "Yes, I do know what it's like." I wasn't expecting him to answer, let alone say yes, so I was little shocked.
"When mine and Eunyu's patents passed in a car crash," he continued, "we were sent to live in an orphanage. But we ran away, and I took care of her."
"Who took care of you?" I got no response. A couple minutes later, Eunhyuk asks, "And you? Do you know what it's like in an orphanage?"
The idea was so funny to me I actually laughed out loud, startling him.
"Sorry," I said once I'd finally gotten a hold of my laughter. "I know I shouldn't laugh. It's just that question..." I trail off
"I take it you know what's it?" I nod as I take seat on the couch.
"I spent ten years of my life in one. "
"Were you ever adopted?"
"A few times," I say. I wasn't planning on actually telling him everything, but the words just flew right out my mouth.
"The first time I was adopted, I was nine. The couple were some rich snobs. They had a big house with lots of cars. They went out almost every weekend, leaving me with the nanny. I don't even think they saw me as their child. Maybe as a cute little plaything they could entertain when they got bored. After a year, the gave me back. Two years later, when I was twelve, I was adopted again. I think this couple I hated most. They were strict and no fun. They had lots of rules in place, restricting everything I did. That of course only made me what to break them even more. I was disrespectful, that was for sure. After months, they had had it with me. And just like that I was back in the orphanage. At this point I was convinced I'd never get adopted. I was starting puberty. I was going through my awkward stage in life. And it's true what they say, you know, the older you get, the harder it is to get adopted. I thought that when I turned eighteen I'd run away. "
"And did you?" asks Eunhyuk. I shake my head.
"When I was fifteen, I was adopted again. They were a cute little couple, very sweet people. They owned a bakery, for which they would get up very early and bake bread. They would tuck me in every night, even when I told them not to," I smiled at the memory. " They were kind and gentle, the most amazing parents ever. I love them."
"Where are they now?"
My smile falters. Suddenly the mood in the room feels heavier.
"They died two years ago in a car crash."
"I'm sorry."
I give him a small smile. Some time passes before I speak again.
"You're a good listener," I say, not particularly to him, but rather as a general statement.
He smiled sheepishly. "You think so?"
"Yeah." I say. He turned his face away, and I swear I saw him blushing.
When he finally turns to face me he asks, "Do you know what happened to your real parents?"
My heart starts beating a little faster. My parents. My biological ones. I hated talking about them. They were horrible people. Eunhyuk and I were having a moment right now, a genuine heartfelt conversation. But I couldn't tell him the truth. So I lied.
"I don't know who my biological parents are."
He nods. Just at that moment Byeongil barges in.
"Sangwook is beating up Yunjae."
"What?" Eunhyuk says.
"When did they get back?" I ask.
"A few minutes ago. We were coming to tell you guys right now, but then Sangwook started fighting. And it's getting out of control."
Eunhyuk and I both rush out of the office to the first floor. To our horror we find Sangwook punching Yunjae. Everyone watched in silence. Some people begged him to stop. I, however, stayed quiet. Sangwook didn't strike me as a person to act without thinking, so surely he must've had a good reason for this. But what was that reason?

Sangwook lifted his hammer and bashed it into Yunjae's face. The body was still. Once he was sure Sangwook wouldn't strike again, Eunhyuk walked over and put his hand to Yunjae's neck. He looked up and shook his head. There was no pulse. He closed his eyes out of respect.

And so we all watched his lifeless body lay on floor, reality dawning on us of what this meant. Yunjae was dead and Sangwook had killed him.