𝐁𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐀𝐋 ─ all of us are dead

𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯

Rosie and Suhyeok walked side by side, chatting happily. She playfully pushed him to the side, making him stumble a little. He gasped playfully, pushing her harder. She tripped on her own feet, knocking down Gyeong-su with her. She laid on top of him, her hands pressed against his chest. If anyone looked closer, they could see the pink colour dusting Gyeong-su's soft cheeks.

"Oh god," Rosie stood up, embarrassed. "I'm sorry! I didn't see you there. Are you hurt, Gyeong-su?"

The said boy just stayed there with shock. He was flushed over everything that happened in such a shot span of time. Cheongsan snickered, kicking the side of Gyeong-su's stomach with his leg. Rosie's eyes widened, her eyebrows raising as she crouched down next to Gyeong-su, making sure he wasn't hurt deeply.

Suhyeok rolled his eyes. He knew that Gyeong-su liked Rosie — that he was in love with her — but that idiot wasn't making anything good for himself by simply laying on the ground and staring at Rosie shamelessly with wide eyes and blushed cheeks. Rosie could be a very caring person for some people; and being the type of person she was, she immediately searched Gyeong-su for the injuries she might have caused by falling over him.

"Is he always like this?" she looked between Cheongsan and Suhyeok. "Did I cause him shock? Is he paralyzed? Why won't he talk?"

"Don't worry about it," Cheongsan tried to soothe the girl who was oblivious to his best friend's feelings towards her. "He'll snap out of it soon. Maybe if you'd slap him?"

"Slap him?" Rosie looked at him, bewildered by such an idea. "Why?"

"Just do it!" Suhyeok exclaimed with a wide smile. Rosie narrowed her eyes, trying to find out if something was wrong with him. He raised his eyebrows, asking, "Yah, why are you looking at me like that?"

"I'm thinking if you've gotten crazy," she replied. Glancing at Gyeong-su, she questioned, "Why would I want to slap him? He already looks red."

Gyeong-su stood up abruptly, causing Rosie to fall back with a yelp. He gasped, stammering, "Sorry, Sorry! I didn't mean to scare you. Oh god –"

"It's okay," she cut him off. She stood with with the help of Suhyeok. "Are you okay? I mean, you did take the fall for the both of us."

"I'm okay, I'm okay," he said, "You couldn't hurt me even if you tried."

He cringed at his words along with Cheongsan and Suhyeok. Gyeong-su widened his eyes before correcting himself, "I don't mean it like that. I mean, I can't be hurt by you. Oh I'm making it worse, aren't I? I meant to say that whatever you do, I wouldn't be able to bring myself to be harmed by you."

Her brows were furrowed, a puzzled look adorning her face. "I – okay? I honestly have no clue what that means, but sure? If you say so."

"Yes, yes," Gyeong-su nodded vigorously. "Once again, sorry."

"It's no problem," she chuckled a little. Walking closer to him, she wrapped her right arm around his torso, enveloping him in a side hug. She detached herself from him, not noticing the look he had on his face, before patting him on his shoulder and walking away with Suhyeok. "See you later, Gyeong-su."

Cheongsan laughed at Gyeong-su, shaking his best friend's shoulder to make him snap out of the lovesick stare he was giving Rosie's retreating figure.

"Stop," Gyeong-su glared at Cheongsan. "Stop laughing, yah!"

Cheongsan ran away, Gyeong-su following him as the latter started throwing curses and threats towards him.

Rosie's eyes snapped open when she heard someone say her name. She looked at Gwi-nam who was towering over her, offering his hand to her. She looked at the dead zombie beside her – the same zombie who was about to eat her. She stood up breathlessly, ignoring Gwi-nam's outstretched hand and pulling him into a tight hug. He was surprised at first, but he quickly wrapped his arms around her. They stood like that for a few seconds before the snarling and growling of more zombies got slower. She immediately broke the hug; holding his hand tightly, she ran, pulling him with her.

After they found an empty classroom, Gwi-nam didn't waste a second before checking her of injuries. "Why were you out alone? Are you okay?"

He couldn't help but treat her better than he treated others. She was the only one who always had faith in him, telling him the rights and the wrongs, always making sure that he didn't make stupid choices. Of course he made them despite her telling him not to, but she still stood by his side, always helping him whenever he needed it, always providing him comfort whenever he needed it. Sometimes he felt bad for the girl. How can someone be so pure that they overlook every horrible thing the other person has done?

She was the light in his darkness, always making sure that he was okay. To him, even the smallest of things mattered because he never had someone to take proper care of him. He'd always be touched by the littlest things she did for him. He often wondered what he did to deserve someone like her in his life. He was a horrible person, and an angel like her was sent in his life. He did feel disappointed in himself when he'd do something she forbid him to, but he couldn't help it. He was trying. He was doing the his best.

"Am I okay?" she quirked her brow. "Are you okay? What the fuck even happened?"

"Don't make me remember," he groaned. Sitting on a chair, he continued, "Did you get lost?"

"What do you mean?" she tilted her head slightly.

"I'm sure you were with your friends," he elaborated. Leaning forward in his seat, he said, "Did you guys get separated?"

"Ah, no," she chuckled nervously. "About that, uh –"

"Out with it, Rose." Gwi-nam demanded, his eyes narrowing at her.

"I forced myself out. You know what I mean?"

He scoffed, looking at her like she was crazy. "You mean you were on a suicide mission?"

She shrugged, pursing her lips. "Well, when you put it like that –"

"Rose!"