All for One, One for All

Chapter 9

Everyone gathered in the boy's barracks after they all had freshened up. "Honestly, I don't believe that our parents went to the shelter." Min Ha didn't think that Lieutenant Lee would lie about that but as far as she could remember, in the drama, there never showed the parent's whereabouts so she couldn't say much about it. "What if he lied to make us stay?" said Joon Hee. "As if the platoon leader... He isn't one to lie." So Yeon tried to defend Lieutenant Lee. "I want to believe him, but I don't trust anyone right now. Let's confirm it ourselves."

Min Ha sighed. She just watched them from the side. She couldn't stop them from doing something stupid so she let them be stupid. After all, it's once in a blue moon to see Young Shin being dumb like this. So at the end of their discussion (which was once interrupted by Tae Man's comment about the pigeon), they decided to check the nearest house. Kim Chi Yeol's house. The ones whose going to check them were Jang Soo, Young Shin, Chi Yeol, and Deok Joong.

"I'm warning you that you will get caught by our platoon leader. Just saying." Min Ha said to Young Shin, who replied, "Don't worry. We will be cautious and come back safely." Min Ha shrugged. Come back safely? Man, you would not even step a foot outside the school. "Yeah, be very cautious all you want, Einstein. Hope you can get out safely." Min Ha walked out from the barracks, leaving everyone behind.

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Min Ha entered the girl's washroom to wash her face. She started at her hands and that was when the feeling of guilt came back to her. She raised both of her hands and slapped both of her cheeks, hard. Somehow, it felt good to do that. "Hey, Min Ha." Min Ha turned to In Hye who just entered the washroom. She waved her hand to In Hye which was replied with a smile. In Hye walked to the sink beside her and started to wash her hands. "You know, what happened today is not our fault." Min Ha looked confused, she didn't understand what In Hye meant by that. "What I'm trying to say is Ms. Park's death was not our fault. Sure, we could stop her but you know Ms. Park right? She always thinks of her student's safety first and never scare to risk her life for us. So, please don't feel guilty about it. If Ms. Park is here, she will tell the same thing."

Min Ha stared at her for a while before she asked, "Why are you saying that to me?" In Hye turned to look at her. "Because I feel it too, and I know how you are, Min Ha. Even though you are quite different now." Min Ha became more confused. "Different?" In Hye nodded. "Before this, you are more reserved and also polite. I never heard you curse before. But now, you become more carefree. You can even express yourself better. To be honest, I like this version of you." In Hye smiled at her. Min Ha felt touched by what In Hye said. She never expected In Hye to know her that much but seeing how she comforted her, made her realize that she was not alone in that horrible universe.

They both then headed to their barracks when they were called by the one and only, Woo Bin. These dumbasses. 'We'll be cautious', they said. 'We going to come back safely', they said. "Be cautious, my ass." Min Ha scoffed which earned a giggle from In Hye.

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Everybody, let's all welcome the four el eśtupido who failed to even set foot outside the school. Give them big cheers! Now, because of their courage, all of the students from the 3-2 class were punished. "Second platoon, roll to the right." They all rolled to their right. "Roll to the left." Next, they rolled to the left. Min Ha felt like a rolling pin. She could roll down on the field all night long (that's sarcasm FYI).

"Stand up." Everyone stood up. Min Ha could feel the sand running behind her back. She really didn't want to take another shower. "From now on, you are not a student. I'll treat all of you as soldiers now. You can't act like a baby and have no privilege as a student. You have to follow every order I give as soldiers. Do you understand?" No one answered him, even Min Ha was too tired to answer Hades's question. Lieutenant Lee watched the student's faces one by one before shouting, "Second platoon, lie face down."

All of them obeyed the platoon leader's instructions. Min Ha was convinced that she had become one with the ground now as her white shirt had become brown. She had leveled up to level 'ground'. It was an impressive achievement as before this, she was in the level 'rolling pin'. "Does anyone still want to go home?" Min Ha shook her head. She was pretty sure that her hair would be full of sand. "Stand up." As Min Ha stood up, sand could be seen falling from her hair. Great, now it's confirmed that she needed to take a shower.

"From now on, if you get out of here, it's desertion, and you'll be tried by court-martial. From this very minute, anyone who leaves without permission will be considered a deserter and may be shot under my order." Ah, great.

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They made a new plan. Spread the news around. Min Ha didn't want to do that as she felt it was disrespectful to the dead but she thought that it might be a good opportunity for her. After she took her food, she walked to a table full of strangers and sat with them. When the students saw Min Ha, they laughed out loud. "What?" Min Ha said, annoyed. One of the students pointed at his nose. Min Ha realize she had a clothespin on her nose and looked at them disgustingly. "Never saw a clothespin, are you, wimpy? Suck to be you then." Their laughter died down instantly when she insulted them. "Why are you here then?" She started to tell them about the sphere. She didn't intend for them to go back home like the others want but she planned to make them aware of how dangerous the sphere is.

The plan seems to go well when some of the class agreed to join the protest. Now, she was in the class with others when Jang Soo slid the door open and shouted, "Let's go!" Min Ha walked with them to the school field, not to protest, but she wanted to try again. To try changing someone's fate. Woo Taek's fate to be precise. She watched all of the students protesting and struggling to pass the barrier. Min Ha searched for Woo Taek and walked closer to him when she found him. Woo Taek who noticed her behind him tried to protect her from other students and soldiers. He then tried to comfort her when he noticed she flinched when one of the instructors shot a gun.

"What are you waiting for? Force them back inside if you must!" The soldiers pushed the students harshly while the students still struggled to pass the soldiers. That's when the sphere had fallen. It had fallen near them. Lieutenant Lee shouted for the other soldiers to be ready with their guns to shoot. "Run!" Min Ha shouted at the top of her lungs and everyone started to run as the gunshot could be heard. Woo Taek took Min Ha's hand and both of them ran together.

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Letter to myself,

Dear me,
Don't give up. That's right, you can't save everyone's lives. But you must try. It's not wrong to try and you will see the results. Not all result is like what you hope for but what matters is that you had done your best to change it. As Chi Yeol said, some things can't be changed but don't be afraid to try.

Sincerely,
Cho Min Ha

P.S. You can do it, Min Ha. Fighting!