til the end

22.

y/n y/l/n

I'm going to wake up and get ready for school.

I have to wake up anytime now.

Why am I still here, staring at Cheong-san with tears in my eyes?

I shake my head over and over again. This can't be real. I have to be in a dream.

Cheong-san stumbled, stepping back. Each step he takes my heart breaks.

"Y/n...." he whispered.

I walk towards him, "I-It's okay, don't worry I...we'll find a way. It's not what you think,"

His eyes look at On-jo behind me who stood at a distance from him.

Her eyes were watering. "I'm sorry..."

Cheong-san gulped and stepped back.

"Don't do that!" I cried. "Don't step away. You won't hurt me."

"Y/n," his voice was hoarse and dry. "No one...will die here today."

"No one includes you as well." My shoulders fely heavy and my eyesight was starting to get blurry. "Let's talk tomorrow, like we said, okay?"

He was silent.

I could hear the small tears and cries from behind me. I try take a step forward but was stopped by surprise when Cheong-san ripped his name tag and held it out for me, closing our distance.

"W-what..?"

"Take it." He said. "I want you to take it. To remember me,"

I refused. "You're not leaving me. I won't let you,"

I watched as he took my arm and placed his name in the palm of my hands and closing it to a fist. "Hold on to it,"

With my other hand, I ripped my name tag off and gave it to him with trembling hands. "You hold on to this,"

He looks up with shiny eyes and sadly smiled. With his hand, he stroke my cheek and I shook my head. I shook my head over and over again only to be stopped by both of his hands on either side of my cheeks.

I felt his hands shake and my lips quivered. My voice betrayed me as I spoke. "You promised...y-you said you won't die. You can't Cheong-san, I won't let you."

A dry chuckle came out of him and he shook his head looking down. "You have too, Y/n. Who knows what I'll do to you. I can't live with the burden of knowing I'd hurt you when my zombified insticts take over. I can't let you get hurt because of me."

Everything was still. Nothing came out my mouth for a while before repeating tears sprang out. I covered my mouth, pressing pressure in hopes I wont attract any attention from zombies.

With careful and soft movement, Cheong-san removed my hand and wiped my tears. His thumb ended one of my falling tears and tucked a strand of hair back.

I look up slowly, my heart breaking more when I see his tear-stained eyes. "D-Don't. Please," my voice broke.

"Don't cry." He spoke like I was glass and fragile. He spoke with a soft tone, cautious not to make me cry. "I'll be with you til the end." he smiled and placed his hand on my heart. "In here,"

I could feel my tears ready to escape and I pull him into a hug. I sobbed. I let my tears out and my nose run. I didn't care if people were watching. Right now, in this moment, everything was useless for me. Everything but Cheong-san.

Cheong-san pulled away first, placing one hand on my neck, his thumb tracing my jaw, while the other held my cheek, caressing it.

Before I knew it, he leaned in and I close my eyes.

His soft lips met mine and we kiss for the last time. The kiss was full of forgiveness, passion, and wet tears that strolled down from both our cheeks.

I never want to leave this moment. I wish on a thousand stars I could bottle up this feeling and get wasted on it. It was a feeling I'd want to expirience again and again.

A feeling I want with Cheong-san.

I couldn't find myself with anybody else except him. I didn't want myself with anyone else.

My fantasy and wishes shattered when I felt Cheong-san pull away.

I look at his face.

It was time.

Time for us to say goodbye.

I held back a loud sob as Cheong-san gave me one final kiss on the cheek before I watch as he turned towards the window.

He was about to jump into the building before I held him back. "Wait!"

He stopped and slowly looked to me.

I froze. His face was still pretty even while crying. His eyes were red and puffy, his hair messy in a good way, his cheeks pink and his lips a little swollen.

I almost forgot what I was going to say...or do.

I ran up to him and engulfed him into one last hug. I felt his hands snake their way around me and he pulled me tighter.

"I would die first before getting you hurt," he whispered.

I smiled and ignored my worries and second choices. I knew what I wanted to say and I meant it. I would never just say this to anyone, but I would to him. "Cheong-san...I love you."

I hear his heart beating faster and heard a soft exhale of surprise.

Fear took over me and I was scared I miscalculated my thoughts and feelings when suddenly, I felt him smile and held onto me tighter.

"I love you too."

🎥