Apocalypse // Stray Kids

04

Ha-rin

"What's on the menu today do you know?" Ji-a asked me as we walked into the cafeteria. I shrugged my shoulders. "Why, what did you feel like eating?" I asked her.

"Chicken." She replied, smiling to herself, "and maybe some rice as well."

I laughed at her fantasies of food as we made our way to the kitchen to get our lunch.

We sat down at our usual spot once we got out feed and Ji-a was already digging into the chicken. "Calm down, you'll get a stomach ache." I told her as I ate some chicken myself.

"No, you don't understand, I've been craving for chicken all week." She cried.

"Alright, doesn't mean you have to inhale the food." I said and continued to eat until I remembered something I needed to tell. "Ok, I have something I need to get off my chest but after I tell you, you are never to bring it up until I say so." I said, dropping my fork next to my tray and turning my whole body to face her. She stared at me as she slowly raised the chicken to her mouth, telling me to continue with my story.

"Never mind, don't worry." I said, shaking my head and picking at my food.

"Oh my god, tell me, you can't do that." Ji-a whined.

"No, it's nothing."

"Ha-rin, tell me now."

I sighed and turned my head. "Fine." I said and took a deep breath. "I told Lee Know I like him before." I said, barely audible, I couldn't even hear myself.

"Wait, what?" Ji-a said, knotting her eye brows together.

"I told Lee Know I like him."

It took her a long time to process on what I had said, but then she stood up out of her seat. "What!" She shrieked, making the whole cafeteria stare at us. I pulled her arm back down and glared at her. "Shut up!" I hissed at her.

"Aren't you going out with Hyunjin though?" She asked.

"You're supposed to be friend, you should know I'm not."

"So how did you exactly tell him? Did you ask him out to the movies?"

"I gave him my name tag." I told her, suddenly becoming more interested in my food, but not eating anything. I heard Ji-a sighed beside me. "That's boring. Did he give you an answer?"

I shook my head.

"Even more boring."

"Hyunjin came over before I could say anything anyway."

We finished our lunch and we went to put our trays back to get them clean. "I have an idea." Ji-a suddenly said, turning around to me. I watched her, eager to know what her idea is. "Why don't we ask Hyunjin what Lee Know thinks of you?"

"No, I don't want Hyunjin to get involved with it." I stated, "it's a terrible idea."

"But aren't they best friends?"

"Yes, but still."

And just at that minute, Hyunjin came over and placed his tray on top of mine. "Put mine away, Kiddo." He said and was about to walk away when Ji-a spoke up.

"Hyunjin, wait." She called to him and he turned back around. She looked at me and then back at him. "You and Lee Know are close, aren't you?"

"What are you doing?" I whispered.

"I guess you could say that, why?" Hyunjin asked.

"Ji-a, if you go on, you are dead to me." I hissed at her. She smirked as she stared at Hyunjin.

"A real friend would help in situations like this." She said and moved along with the line. 

Hyunjin gave me a confused look and I just shrugged and he walked away.

Once I put the trays in the pile, Ji-a ran to her other friends while I went to exit the cafeteria by myself to me next class.

"What was Ji-a talking about before?" Hyunjin said, running up beside me. I paid no attention to his presence. "Nothing, get lost."

"Did Lee Know say something to you, because I will talk to him about it."

"No, don't worry."

"Did you guys have a fight."

"I said no, now piss off."

"Then what happened? Did he say he likes you?"

I suddenly stopped and looked at Hyunjin. "Did he say that?" I asked a little too quickly.

Hyunjin leaned back a little bit. "No, he didn't."

I rubbed my face then dropped my hands to the side. "Alright, you can't tell anyone about this alright?"

He nodded eagerly.

"Like, not a single soul."

"Alright, I got it, just tell me."

"I told him I liked him before you came." I told him, "but, I don't know how he feels."

Hyunjin was quiet for a long time and it was very uncomfortable. "Can you ask him what he thinks of me?" I asked him.

He chortled lightly. "We're not close." He said and walked away.

"You are so!" I called out after him. "Can you help me out just this once?"

He didn't answer me. 

"Dick."

I was about to leave for the exit when I saw a bunch of people running in. People started screaming and running around. I stayed in my spot, wanting to know what they're running from.

"Move!" People shouted at another.

I looked around me and then back at the door and saw other students banging on it, begging to be let in. Before some others bit them into their flesh.