REMEMBER ME ʲᵒᵒ ᵍʸᵉᵒᵏᶜʰᵃⁿ

chapter eight

protector

The gunshot reverberates through the room, and we all gasp in horror. Seung-jun swiftly pushes my body aside once more, shielding me. I can't tell if he's being reckless or if he's just resigned to the danger, but he doesn't seem concerned about the possibility of getting shot himself.

My mind races through the worst possible scenarios, each ending with Yeong-ro lying lifeless on the ground, a bullet piercing her head. When I finally gather the courage to open my eyes, I'm taken aback. Instead of tragedy, I see Gang-mu shoving Jang Han-Na out of harm's way, taking the bullet meant for her in his shoulder.

Wide-eyed, I turn to the other side of the lobby where two figures, previously masked, stride in. One of them removes their mask and addresses Soo-ho with urgency, "Comrade!"

Time seems to stand still as my gaze locks onto the second figure's face. It's a face that has haunted my thoughts ever since our first encounter.

Joo Gyeok-chan.

As chaos erupts around us, Gyeok-chan and the other man move swiftly, shielding Soo-ho and Yeong-ro from the crossfire as they return fire at the ANSP agents. Bullets whiz by, and Seung-jun grabs my wrist, pulling me away from danger and pressing me against the nearest wall. His intense gaze locks onto mine, commanding me with urgency.

"Stay close to the walls. Listen to me this time, Na-eun!" His voice cuts through the chaos, leaving me breathless with its intensity. I nod vigorously, understanding the gravity of the situation as he gives me one last glance before rushing back into the fray with the other agents.

Gyeok-chan notices Seung-jun's sudden appearance, his brow furrowing as he scans the area behind him. Our eyes meet, and his rifle begins to lower. His gaze fixates on me, causing my heart to race with uncertainty. I realize I'm standing amidst the spies, separated from the safety of the ANSP agents on the opposite side of the room. I lower my eyes, avoiding his intense stare, and frantically scan for a path through the chaos to reach the other side.

Just then, I'm pulled behind the corner and held firmly by Gyeok-chan's grip around my waist, his voice stern yet strangely protective. "Stay still. I don't want to shoot you," he insists in a low tone that carries both authority and an underlying intensity. His gaze holds more than just anger; it's layered with something deeper, something I can't quite decipher in the chaos.

Before I can react or respond, he swiftly removes his bulletproof vest and places it over my head without a word. Shock freezes my voice momentarily, unsure of his intentions. Before I can utter a sound, he's struck in the shoulder, causing him to stumble back against the wall. A gasp escapes my lips as I instinctively cover my mouth in horror.

"God damn bastards..." Gyeok-chan grits through clenched teeth, his breathing ragged as he slides down to sit on the ground, pain etched across his face.

I flinch at the other spy's furious shouts and the continuous gunfire that follows. Sitting on the ground, the noise of bullets echoing around us becomes overwhelming, making me instinctively cover my ears. Tears threaten to spill from my eyes, but I fight to hold them back, unsure if crying is appropriate in such a chaotic and dangerous situation.

Through the muffled sounds, Gyeok-chan's voice reaches me, his words piercing through the chaos. "The vest will protect you," he assures me, his eyes meeting mine through the fabric of the vest draped over my head. I meet his gaze briefly before shifting my eyes to his wound, the sight of blood staining his shoulder unsettling me deeply. He notices my concern and sits up a bit straighter. "It's just a graze, nothing bad," he reassures me with a muttered tone, attempting to downplay the severity of his injury.

The sudden silence that enveloped the dormitory is shattered by the renewed onslaught of gunfire, echoing louder and more chaotic than before. My heart races with fear as I watch the ANSP agents shoot recklessly, their bullets whizzing past students caught in the crossfire. I spot Hye-ryeong and Jeong-min on the stairs, exposed and vulnerable, Jeong-min desperately shielding Hye-ryeong from the flying bullets with trembling hands.

Tears stream down my face uncontrollably as I struggle to comprehend how we ended up in this terrifying predicament. Why us? Why now?

"Hold your fire!" Gang-mu's commanding voice pierces through the chaos, directed at his own men as he spots the two girls caught in the crossfire. "Hold your fire, you idiots!"

"Those bastards," the unnamed spy beside me mutters with a smirk, his eyes meeting Gyeok-chan's next to me. The main doors burst open, admitting more ANSP soldiers armed with shields and rifles, who rush inside and take positions in front of their comrades. "Damn it!" The spy curses in frustration, his expression darkening.

Both Gyeok-chan and the other spy unleash a barrage of gunfire, the sound deafening as I instinctively cover my ears, feeling the vibrations rattle through my body. The intensity of the firefight grips the air, leaving me breathless with fear.

When Gyeok-chan turns back towards me, frustration etched on his face from running out of ammunition, I feel a surge of helplessness wash over me. But before I can process what's happening next, Soo-ho takes a drastic action, aiming at the chandelier above Gang-mu and Han-Na. My heart leaps to my throat as the chandelier crashes down, but Gang-mu's swift reflexes save them from the deadly impact just in time.

"He's got grenades!" Someone's voice rings out, causing me to look up in alarm. Soo-ho emerges from his cover, Yeong-ro at his side, wielding a grenade in his hand.

With a stoic expression, Soo-ho pulls the pin from the grenade and positions Yeong-ro in front of him. Fear grips me as I instinctively move forward, unsure of my plan but driven by desperation to protect my friend. Before I can act, Gyeok-chan pulls me back firmly, shaking his head with a grave expression. He grabs my wrists and pulls me toward Soo-ho and Yeong-ro, stopping right next to them.

My heart pounds in my chest as I lock eyes with Seung-jun, seeing concern etched across his face as he realizes the perilous situation I'm in. His grip on the gun tightens, his aim shifting slightly towards Gyeok-chan's head.

"Drop the guns," Soo-ho warns, his voice firm, the grenade ominously held in his hand.

"Lower your guns," Gang-mu orders quietly, his voice carrying a weight of authority. The ANSP agents obey without hesitation, lowering their weapons one by one. Gang-mu's gaze flicks between me, Yeong-ro, and Gyeok-chan, his expression unreadable. Gyeok-chan's grip on my wrist tightens, a silent warning not to make any sudden moves.

"Get out!" Soo-ho demands, his voice cutting through the tension. "All of you!"

"Get out," Gang-mu repeats, his tone resolute as he doesn't even look back at his men. "All units, withdraw."

"Wait," Soo-ho interjects firmly, his attention fixed on Gang-mu. "You're in charge, right? You stay."

"He's been shot," Han-Na blurts out, her eyes wide with concern. "But you're going to hold him hostage?"

"Listen carefully," Soo-ho asserts, taking a deliberate step closer. "If you attack us, I'll kill him first."

"Alright," Gang-mu mutters, his gaze unwaveringly locked on Soo-ho's. "I'll stay here, but let the students go."

"Are you crazy?" Han-Na protests, grabbing Gang-mu's arm. "You've been shot!"

"You hypocritical bastards," Soo-ho seethes through clenched teeth. "Get out."

"Go now," Gang-mu sighs, shooting a meaningful look at Seung-jun and Han-Na. "Get out."

"No," Han-Na shakes her head adamantly, her expression torn with worry and indecision.

Seung-jun and another agent swiftly grab both of Han-Na's arms, gently but firmly pulling her out of the room. Throughout the chaos, Seung-jun's gaze remains fixed on mine, reassuring me with a nod that I'll be okay, though uncertainty lingers in my mind.

As everyone begins to evacuate the dormitory, the third spy rushes toward Gang-mu. He forcefully wrests the gun from Gang-mu's hands and strikes him hard in the back with the rifle's barrel, causing Gang-mu to cry out in pain and collapse to the ground.

I don't witness what happens next, as Gyeok-chan swiftly pulls me away, guiding me towards where the other hostages are being held.

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