Love's Lethal Game | Night Has Come

Chapter 06

After the solemn task of moving the bodies to the freezer room in the canteen, Nam Yeon-Woo, Park Ji-Eun, Im Eun-Chan, and Baek Eun-Ha gathered together, a sense of concern and rumination palpable among them. They agreed on the necessity of finding a safe hiding place within the retreat center, a spot where they could stay hidden and, hopefully, out of reach of the Mafia.

The four of them were about to leave when they stumbled upon An Na-Hee and Jang Hyun-Ho approaching Go Kyung-Jun's gang in the hallway next to the canteen.

Kyung-Jun warily stared at Hyun-Ho, his guard visibly up. The memory of their fist-fight from the previous night was still fresh, and it was only thanks to Ji-Eun's intervention that things hadn't escalated further. The tension in the air was palpable, a stark reminder of the underlying conflicts among them.

To the surprise of everyone, including his own gang, Hyun-Ho extended his right hand towards Kyung-Jun. Even Na-Hee, standing beside him, looked taken aback by the gesture.

"You helped give me my phone last night. I could tell you were about to throw my phone away like the jerk you are, but you didn't. You have my thanks," Hyun-Ho said, his voice sincere but still carrying a hint of their past animosity.

Kyung-Jun's skeptical gaze shifted from Hyun-Ho's extended hand to his face, weighing his intentions. Ji-Eun, observing this interaction from the hallway with Yeon-Woo, Eun-Chan, and Eun-Ha, felt a mix of hope and apprehension. She knew the importance of unity in their dire situation, yet she also understood the complex dynamics at play, especially involving Kyung-Jun.

"That's unexpected," Eun-Ha whispered, her eyes fixed on the unfolding scene.

"Yeah," Ji-Eun murmured in response, her eyes never leaving Kyung-Jun. She could see the conflict in his stance, torn between his usual defiance and the possibility of a truce, however temporary.

Kyung-Jun finally spoke, his voice edged with his typical defiance, "I didn't do it for you."

With that curt dismissal, he walked past Hyun-Ho and Na-Hee, blatantly ignoring the offered handshake. His goons, Seung-Bin and Jin-Ha, quickly fell in step behind him, leaving the others in the hallway. Hyun-Ho seemed to have expected this as he dropped his hand and smiled at Na-Hee, not seemingly bothered by the bully's response.

"That's so like him," Ji-Eun sighed, a mix of frustration and understanding in her voice.

"Maybe he's not ready to let go of the past," Yeon-Woo suggested, watching Kyung-Jun's retreating back.

Eun-Chan nodded in agreement. "Yeah, but at least Hyun-Ho tried. That's something, right?"

They nodded before the four of them left to find their safe hiding spot for the night. For hours, they explored the building, walking upstairs and downstairs, entering hallways they rarely frequented, and opening doors to the rooms they had never entered.

"Let's stick together before the lullaby comes," Yeon-Woo suggested, his voice low. "We have to run off right after the execution announcement."

Ji-Eun nodded in agreement, her eyes scanning the dimly lit corridors. "We need a place that's off the radar, somewhere not obvious."

Eun-Chan, leading the way, pointed towards a narrow staircase leading to the attic. "What about up there? It's isolated and not easily accessible."

Eun-Ha, still reeling from her recent brush with death, shivered. "As long as it's safe. I can't believe we're hiding from our own classmates..."

As they ascended the creaky staircase, Yeon-Woo paused, "We should be careful about leaving any signs we've been here."

Reaching the attic, they found it cluttered but spacious, with old furniture and boxes stacked in corners. It was dusty and neglected, indicating that it was seldom visited.