jacket - lee suhyeok

𝔳𝔦𝔦𝔦. promise

chapter eight
promise

Jimin picks up an old school camera that was sitting on one of the tables, pressing play before speaking. "My mom and dad tried to come to the school to save me, but the cops and firefighters never came," I hear her say from across the room, looking straight into the camera and her eyes glossed over. I look over at her holding the camera with shaky hands, the green light on the camera flashing slowly.

"If anyone sees this later, please punish everyone who should have come for us," she says firmly, a single tear rolling down her face. "And to everyone abandoned us," she took a shaky breath before continuing. "I swear I'll make you pay," she continues, wiping her cheek with the back of her hand.

"Mom. Dad.... I'll stay alive and get revenge," Jimin continues as her voice shakes, unstable and fragile. Everyone just watches her in silence, deep frowns on our faces. She stops the recording and sets the camera down on the table gently. The camera beeps before shutting down and the whole room goes quiet.

Hyoryeong walks over to where the camera is placed and picks it up this time. Suhyeok looks at me while Hyoryeong speaks into the recording herself. "Gowoon," he says softly. I feel my head spin unconsciously. The way he spoke my name made my walls come crashing down. Totally defenseless and at his will. "Yes?" I respond, looking at him with curious eyes. "Where do you think everyone else is at?" He asks me. "What do you mean?"

"Do you think... I mean if there are surviors like us... are they safe?" He adds. "Well... I think so, the government has probably set up refuge in the city. Once we get to the rooftop, they can take us there." I speak finally, smiling up at Suhyeok. Suhyeok just stares at me for a moment before continuing.

"Can you promise me something?" Suhyeok whispers, this time very softly. I look up at him with curiousity evident in my face. "Promise you what?" I ask with uncertainty. Now that we're in an apocolaypse, promises don't seem as easy as they once were.

"Promise we'll make it to the end." Suhyeok says, looking down at our conjoined hands. "Promise me you'll stay alive," he continues. I see his eyes gloss over and I'm taken aback. This is the first time I've ever seen him tear up. Even after all the death and destruction, he hasn't gotten choked up until now "Promise me you won't die. You..." he pauses, lip quivering slightly. His thumb rubbing against the surface of my hand. "What?" I question, leaning in closer to him.

"I can't lose you," he concludes.

"I promise." I say quietly, I lift my hand, breaking our connection to wipe the tear from his cheek. He holds out his pinky finger and looks me in the eyes. I pause for second before chuckling under my breath. He wants to pinky promise. I look at his hand before locking my finger with his, sealing the deal. "Good, because I don't know what I'm going to do if I don't leave here with you," he says softly.

Our eyes meet each other again and my heart squeezes at his words. Good thing we were sitting down because he really knew how to make me weak. I feel my knees and my elbows tingle as my heart rate starts picking up. I take in everything, the features on his face, the way his eyes are shining with tears, and the way his lips part slightly as he leans into me. He's leaning into me...

I lean in as well until we can feel each other's shallow breaths. He takes the final step and connects our lips together slowly. I kiss him back softly, closing my eyes. We stay like that for a few seconds before I slowly lean back. I look down at my shoes in shyness, smiling to myself slightly. He just chuckles at me, causing me to do the same. He puts a hand on my knee, patting it gently to reassure him.

Namra whips her head towards the curtains before standing up from her seat. "What is it?" Suhyeok asks, looking up urgently. "I heard something strange." Namra replies quietly. I furrow my eyebrows as Namra turns back around slowly. I haven't heard anything out of the ordinary. I assume neither did Suhyeok as he looks at him with a befuddled expressiom. She walks over to the curtains, Suhyeok and I looking up at her. Her once stoic face tightens slightly, her eyebrows furrowing.