You Make Me | Lee Eunhyuk

05, departure

Jiwon had been watching the security cameras for hours. Currently, she could see her older brother and the woman who lived down the hall walking down the hallway in front of the surveillance cameras. Her leg trembled anxiously as her frustration increased. The girl's patience was wearing thin as the tenants of the Green Home apartments waited in the lobby for the army to arrive and save them.

Jiwon abruptly rose to her feet and said, "Hyuk. I need to go upstairs to get my brother."

Eunhyuk had been keeping an eye on the neighbouring computer, presumably searching for updates on the situation on the internet and hoping the person he had spoken to the day before would return to the online forum. 

"No. It's too risky," he said sternly, his eyes fixed on the monitor.

Sangwook, the mobster-looking man, had said that there were monsters inside the building after the encounter with a monster in the lobby. Jiwon had then decided she needed to search the upper floors for her brother, but Eunhyuk had objected. Since that point, no conversation between the two could be had without an argument starting. Jiwon understood Eunhyuk, but ensuring her brother's safety was incredibly important to her. When her parents neglected her in the past, Jaeheon always took care of her and ensured she grew up well, and it was time for her to return the favour.

"I don't need your permission, Hyuk, I just wanted to let you know," Jiwon said as she grabbed her duffel bag and walked past the boy.

Eunhyuk gently gripped the girl's wrist, compelling her to turn to face him and eventually meet his gaze. He sighed before returning her gaze. The boy wanted to beg, ask her to stay where he could see her and check on her. He had almost lost the girl a few hours ago, and he would be an idiot to allow it to happen again. He realized, however, that he could no longer try to persuade the girl to change her mind.

"Fine. Go. But first, let's get you a weapon," he added.

"Okay," she said, relieved that he was letting her leave. Even though she didn't require the boy's permission, Eunhyuk was her best friend. She did not want to leave him while they were arguing.

The two made their way from the manager's office to the defense supplies that the group had put together. Jiwon was lost in her thoughts as they walked; she was certain she wanted to go find her brother, but Eunhyuk's persistent protests served as a constant reminder that he wasn't wrong. This was dangerous. However, as long as her brother and Eunhyuk were safe, she was content. She carried on strolling next to Eunhyuk with that thought running through her head.

Eunhyuk took the baseball bat and handed it to the girl.

"This should work well. You'll deal a lot of blunt-force trauma if you swing hard. But it will not kill the creatures, so just distract them, and run, okay?" Eunhyuk spoke.

"Got it, thanks," Jiwon said, a slight grin on her face at his video game terminology.

"Is there really no way I can make you not go?" Eunhyuk inquired.

"No," the girl answered emphatically.

Before the two moved toward the barred staircase, so the girl could begin her ascent, Eunhyuk nodded, dejected.

They moved the barricade with the assistance of Sangwook. Before Jiwon left, the two exchanged glances as Eunhyuk patted the girl's shoulder.

"Please make it back safe, okay?" he urged.

The girl nodded softly and looked toward the staircase doors, mentally prepared herself for the horrifying events that were potentially ahead.

Eun came around the duo and hugged the girl tightly before leaving.

"You better be careful okay? I don't want to deal with my brother's moping," Eun remarked as she walked away, hastily smacking her brother on the back, causing him to scrunch his face. Jiwon laughed quietly to herself.

"Good luck," Sangwook said as he looked at the girl.

Because of the man's significantly greater height, Jiwon looked up. "Thanks sir, you too," she said.

As she finished speaking, she gave Eunhyuk one more glance before walking through the door that led to the stairs.

"See you soon."

Eunhyuk and Sangwook began re-barricading the door to the stairway. The longer Eunhyuk was away from the girl, the more anxious he became. His muscles felt tenser than they had been, and his breaths were soon filled with sighs.

When the door was barricaded, Eunhyuk stood in front of it, silently.

Sangwook stood next to the boy for a minute before speaking.

"Your girlfriend will be fine," he remarked as he walked away.

"Yeah," Eunhyuk said, before hastily scrunching his brows. "Wait a minute, she's not-"

"Whatever," Eunhyuk muttered, Sangwook having stepped out of earshot before he could continue his statement. The boy started walking back through the security room.

So, he sat in front of the security cameras, waiting for Jiwon to walk into a hallway so he could confirm that she was okay. He could hear the tenants shouting and chatting in the distance, but it was just white noise in comparison to the thoughts in his mind. The only thing Eunhyuk could think about was how alone he felt. Eunhyuk recognized how much he had come to rely on Jiwon the longer they were apart. 

In frustration, he sighed and ran his hands through his hair.

Then he resumed his gaze to the screen, looking for other survivors and, most importantly, Jiwon.