When We All Died

Chapter Four

The school looked so different that day.

Several children came to school with trolley bags and suitcases. The school ground no longer looked like itself; it looked like some military training field with barbed wires, tents, crates, ropes, toy dummies and dozens of other things. The school was noisier than usual, if that was even possible, and everywhere the juniors stopped the seniors of the third grade to ask all kinds of questions.
All the classes of 3rd grade were filled with students and a number of colourful bags and suitcases.

Ms. Im headed to her class early since she could hear the frustrated implores of her  poor class President and Vice-president from the staff room. As soon as she entered the class and banged the desk with her hand, the noise went down significantly.

"Well, as much as I hoped to see the happy faces today, I didn't expect a fish market level of excitement. Congratulations, the school will be considering creating a 'worst class of the decade' award just for you guys."

"Aww," Jackson whined. "I was hoping we could hit a century."

Ms. Im smiled, sarcastic. "Of course, Jackson-ah. Pretty disappointed in you for not showcasing your talent. But of course, you can hit that century in the training grounds if you signed the consent form or in your CSAT paper if you didn't. Okay, those who did not get their papers signed, please raise your hand."

Not a single hand was raised. Namjoon stood up from his seat and Ms. Im nodded for him to speak. "Actually, everyone got their consent form signed and nobody's absent as well."

"Wait, really?"

"You think we're gonna sit back when everyone gets a premium camping trip experience?" Jin shouted out. Jimin laughed out loud across the class. "Kim Seokjin! Say that after the training!"

"I will, you twerp!"

"Okay, okay! That's all for today, let's start our classes now."

Just as the class calmed down, someone knocked on the door and the class teacher sighed. She just wanted to teach peacefully, for once. "Come in."

Two boys were shoved inside the class, followed by two girls who took timid steps— Jaebum, Hanseo, Aera and Norae. From behind them, Lieutenant Sarang and Sergeant Hyunshik came in and shut the door.

"Ms. Im, two of our soldiers caught them smoking on the rooftop. So I thought we'd bring them along," Hyunshik said, clapping a hand on Jaebum's back who flinched.

"Thank you so much for that. But may I ask you what brings you here?"

The Lieutenant faced the class and nodded. "The consent forms were submitted by the class President early in the morning and I'm glad to see that all of the students of 3-1 got their forms signed so we're here to clear some things today."

The Sergeant came forward and cleared his throat. "Class President, please stand up."

Following a shove from Hoseok and Seokjin, Namjoon stood up with a suppressed smile, combing his fingers through his hair one last time to make it good. "Y-Yes, Sergeant?"

"Are you Kim Namjoon?"

"Yes!"

"From now on, you'll be the Senior Private."

The smile from his friends' face disappeared but Namjoon didn't even seem to register the words. He nodded and took his seat.

"Wait, Senior Private? Like, our Namjoon? Who finished track fifteen minutes after the whole class was done? Who absolutely cannot climb the stairs without crying for an inhaler? Who puppy-talks to venomous whatever-the-fucks because they're cute? Fuck! What are they gonna make him do? He basically has zero survival skills! He's at the bottom of the food chain and natural selection only favours him in terms of academic smartness, Disney princess star quality and cuteness," Hoseok rambled.