HEART OF GOLD ↳ huh yunjin

03

YOON YEONA'S POV

"shit" i mutter out, my stress and confusion rising. what's going on out there? am i gonna die? is my sister okay?

while nobody was looking, i moved by the door opposite of the banging. i could see outside the classroom, i could see somewhat of what's going on, but i didn't care, i had to get out of here.

will i be stupid for this? will i die because of this? maybe, but maybe i'll live, maybe i'll get the answers i've been needing.

while thinking, i didn't notice yunjin standing by me until she finally spoke.

"where are you going?" she asked, and i cursed mentally for not going unnoticed, but would she really care? probably not. most people in this situation only would care about themselves, so maybe she won't care.

"i'm leaving" i tell her, and with that i quickly open the door and run out, and i notice she began running right behind me. i sped up, trying to get away from the zombies chasing us.

i try getting into a classroom, but it's locked so i continue running, going up a level to find a classroom that's open.

i don't know if yunjin's alive, i'm beginning to fear for the worse when i don't hear her footsteps behind me, but i can't really hear anything from my heavy breathing and nerves.

i find an empty classroom and look behind me quickly, seeing yunjin running about 20 meters behind me and a load of zombies behind her. i get inside and open the door for her.

the second she gets inside i slam the door and lock it, also setting the nearest desk infront of it, i do the same with the other door as well.

still out of breath, i manage to ask her a question.

"why the hell did you follow me? you could've died!" i scold, although i'm not angry, more relieved we're both alive.

"i followed you the same reason you ran off" she states, and i'm confused as of what she means like that, because deep down i didn't even know why i ran off.

i nod, but i don't say anything as i walk around the room, making sure nobody else was in here.

suddenly, i hear yunjin starting to sniff, and i could tell she's about to cry. i glance at her and see i'm right, her eyes are extremely glossy, and a tear could fall any moment.

i felt a sense of pity, and before i knew it i was walking towards her ready to comfort her.

"i promise you, through all of this, i'll protect you. i'll fight to make sure you're safe" i tell her, i don't know where the words came from, where the feelings came from, but i know i meant every single thing i said, and i hope she knows that too.

her eyes are no longer watering, she still looks scared, but not as much, and she still doesn't say anything, although she stands up and hugs me.

in a situation between life or death, i realized how dependent people are on others. i don't feel this way, atleast not yet, but i'm not gonna shame her because she does.

-

3RD PERSON POV

"where's yeona and yunjin?" na-yeon suddenly asks. na-yeon and yeona once were good friends in middle school, but with middle school comes drama, and they're friendship came to an end, badly.

"wouldn't you like to know" on-jo remarks, sarcastically, she then realizes what na-yeon said and she herself becomes worried.

"actually, where did they go?" says gyeong-su, looking around.

"forget about them, lets focus on what's outside!" su-hyeok states, and although the others are worried they obliged.

-

YOON YEONA'S POV

it's been hours, but it felt like days, if not longer. i was starving, and i'm sure yunjin felt the same with the way she was curled up on the ground.

i slowly stand up and make my way to the closet, hoping there's food in here. thankfully, there is.

"what if i get my period" yunjin mutters, i heard her perfectly fine but part of me still wants to make sure what i heard was right.

"what was that?"

"nothing" she lies, but i decide not to press it any further, and instead think of a plan on how we're gonna use the bathroom.

i see a bucket in the corner of the closet, suddenly i come up with an idea, a gross one, but still an idea.

"i found food" i tell her, and she suddenly perks up, looking at the food in my hands.

"we're gonna have to portion it, there's more food in there, but we want it to last us as long as possible" i tell her, i'm sure she knew that but i wanted to remind her just in case.

i handed her a snack before taking one for myself too, i put the rest back in the closet before sitting down next to her and opening the snack.

we don't say anything as we eat, we both just stare straight ahead at the windows that lead into the hallway.

my mind is blank as the reality sets in of the situation we're in. i thought i knew hours ago of the situation we're in, but i was wrong.

"thank you" yunjin suddenly says, breaking the silence, as well as confusing me.

"for what?"

"for being brave" she answers, but i don't get it, deep down i'm not brave, not in the slightest. if i wasn't afraid of scaring others, i'd be on the floor sobbing right now.

published; may 23, 2023

- velmei