Apocalypse // Stray Kids

01

Have you ever thought about what you would do or how it would happen if it was the end of the world? If it's an asteroid fallen from space that blew up our city, or everyone flees the Earth because aliens have taken over the planet like in the movie Home. Or maybe some supernatural creature has changed everyone into the creature that bit them. I can tell you right now the last option is how our country ended. And I was a survivor along with a group of friends.

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Ha-rin

Days like this in Seoul just don't get any better. Don't get me wrong, I love the city, but growing up here for 18 whole years of my life it kinda gets a bit boring.

I walked around school with my best friend Ji-a, helping put away sports equipment and organising the shed while we're there as well. Since it was the end of the day, my year helped clean up the school before we went back home. Every year takes turns each day.

I saw Hyunjin and Felix in front of me while walking towards the school exit and I ran up to them with Ji-a following behind me. "Hey, are we having dinner at your house tonight?" I asked him and he glared at Felix who burst out laughing. "No, the restaurant isn't open tonight." Hyunjin replied and continued walking.

"I'm sure it would be open for us." I said, catching up to him, "please, your father cooks the best food in Seoul."

He gazed down at me and looked back up, sighing heavily. "Fine, whatever." He said. I grinned and ran off with Ji-a.

Hyunjin and I have been friends since we were young. He lives across the street from my apartment where his family's restaurant is. He lives behind it so it's much easier to get into the restaurant, but you would have to go through it to get into the house.

After I had unpacked my bag and done my homework for the day, I let my father know I'll be back after dinner and said I'll bring him back something from the restaurant.

I exited the apartment building and onto the busy street and crossed the road to the Hwang's and opened the shop to hear the small bell ring at the top of the door. It was a little crowded, the family does well with the business. They're usually busy on weekend nights and Friday nights.

I found Hyunjin and Felix at a table in the back talking to each other away from everyone else. I walked over and sat down next to Hyunjin and joined in on their conversation.

"What are we having?" I asked them.

"Uh, I don't know, mum said she's gonna bring out anything for us." Hyunjin replied. And just in time, Hyunjin's mother came out with a massive bowl full of noodles. "Here you are." She said as she placed the bowl in the middle of the table and looked around. "Are we missing someone?"

"Ah yes, she's gonna be here in five minutes or so Mrs Hwang." Felix replied.

Hyunjin's mother nodded and walked away.

I took some soup into my bowl and started slurping it into my mouth while Felix and Hyunjin kept on arguing about school or something until Ji-a sat down next to Felix. My face brightened up one I saw her and put some noodles in her bowl. "You finally made it!" I beamed, "have some noddles, I think it's Mr Hwang's best ones so far." 

She smiled and took the chopsticks from beside her plate and slurped up the noodles and groaned. "Hyunjin, your father is such an amazing cook." She said, covering her mouth with her hand to be more polite.

Soon after, Mrs Hwang came out with a plate of dumplings with too many to count. I got excited since they were my favorite. Especially if they're made by Hyunjin's dad.

"Mom, why did you bring so many out?" Hyunjin asked as he got a dumpling from the plate.

"Ha-rin eats so much doesn't she?" She replied.

I love the women, but I got a little offended by that. "I don't eat that much, I just eat well." I retorted back.

"Well that's a good thing to have, keeps you healthy and strong." She said and headed back into the kitchen.

An hour later, Felix and Ji-a were called back home while I helped clean up the restaurant. I moped the tiled floors and washed out the bucket until Hyunjin walked up to me and sat on the counter. "Ready for school tomorrow again?" He said. 

"No." I simply said, "you know I never am."

"That's right, you're always drooling in class."

I snapped my head up to him to see him smirking. "I do not drool while I'm sleeping!" I exclaimed which just made him laugh.

"You do so, I always look over at you while you're sleeping and there's drool making a puddle on your desk."

"Piss off." I said and took dad's dinner off the counter and walked to the back door so I didn't mess up the front room floor.

I heard Hyunjin chuckle behind me as he followed me out. "I'm sorry." He laughed as I walked out, the cold air hitting my skin like a thousand needles.

I turned to him making him stop suddenly and almost bumping into me. "Are you really?"

"Yes I am, I'm kidding anyway." He said. I rolled my eyes and turned back around to keep on walking. "Did you hear about Mr Su?" He asked me.

"What about him?" I asked.

"Doesn't he smell like a dead person?"

"June started a rumor about that didn't she?" I sighed, turning to face him, "but no I haven't really been paying attention."

"Well he came back to school after a few days when his daughter went missing didn't he?"

"And how would June know what a dead body smells like?"

"I heard that his daughter got bullied real bad." Hyunjin said, making me shut up.

Su Hana was her name. I heard rumors about her. I also heard rumors that she didn't just run away, but she committed suicide.

"I feel bad for him." Hyunjin said quietly.

"Me too." I said looking down at the ground. "Hey, Hyunjin, can I ask you something?"

He looked back up at me and shrugged. "Ok, what?"

I stared at him and shook my head. "Nothing." I said and walked towards the road.

"No, what is it? Tell me." He said, pulling my arm to face him.

"No don't worry."

"Ha-rin, tell me what it is."

I sighed and took out my ponytail. "How should I wear my hair tomorrow?" I said and brushed my hair behind my ear. "Like this?" I untucked my hair from both sides of my face and smoothed it out. "Or like this?"

It took him a while to answer me until he stumbled back a little. "Leave as it was before, you look strange with your hair out." He said and turned around to head back inside. I glared at him and punched him in the arm. He winced and held his bicep. 

"Jerk." I whispered and crossed the road to my apartment.