𝕎𝔸𝕐 𝔹𝔸ℂ𝕂 ℍ𝕆𝕄𝔼 ||𝐃𝐔𝐓𝐘 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐋||

Chapter - 25

As the night wore on, the students were gathered together in the relative safety of the shelter, seated around the dimly lit dining area.

Yu-jeong and Yeon-ju had prepared some ramen for the survivors, understanding that they must be starving after their ordeal. The comforting aroma of the hot broth filled the air, and the survivors began to eat, albeit with a mix of weariness and hunger.

Among them was Yoon-seo, who seemed distant and lost in her thoughts. Instead of eating, she merely swirled her chopsticks in the ramen, her eyes empty and far away.

Yu-jeong noticed her lack of appetite and exchanged a concerned glance with Yeon-ju. They knew that Yoon-seo had been through so much, and her emotional state was fragile.

Yoon-seo quietly got up and started to walk away from the dining area. Yu-jeong subtly followed her, making sure not to draw too much attention to herself. She trailed behind Yoon-seo, giving her the space she needed while keeping a watchful eye.

Meanwhile, Yeon-hwa found herself sitting alone in the library, hidden behind rows of dusty bookshelves. The atmosphere in the shelter was tense, and everyone was preoccupied with their own thoughts and worries. Yeon-hwa, too, was lost in her own contemplations.

She couldn't help but reflect on the past- the days when they were just students preparing for the CSAT. Her memories intertwined with thoughts of her parents, who had always imposed a strict sense of duty and perfection upon her.

She remembered the days of trying to be the perfect model student, always striving to outperform her peers, especially Yeong-hoon, who eventually somewhat became her friend, and how they had been there for each other in tough times amid the academic pressure.

But everything changed when the spheres invaded their lives. The military training for extra CSAT credits seemed trivial now, considering the horrors they had faced since then.

She recalled the shock and grief she felt when she learned that Yeong-hoon had fallen victim to the spheres, and how the loss had forever changed her.

And then there was Miss Park, who had given her life to protect her students during the invasion.

As she sat hidden behind the rows of bookshelves in the library, tears welled up in her eyes. She couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the weight of their journey and the loss they had endured. It was hard to reconcile the memories of the carefree days in school with the harsh reality they were facing now.

The devastating loss of Yeong-hoon, Miss Park, and so many others-their innocence was forever shattered by the merciless invasion.

Yeon-hwa couldn't shake off the haunting images of their school being attacked, the grueling battles they had fought, and the friends they had lost along the way. The weight of responsibility as a survivor was overwhelming, and she questioned whether they truly deserved such a burden. They were just young students, after all.

Her thoughts drifted to the survivors, especially Yoon-seo. Yeon-hwa wondered if she would ever end up like Yoon-seo-lost in despair and trauma, unable to find solace even in someone's protection.

Her grip on the reality of their situation tightened as she thought about how she couldn't afford to lose anyone else. She didn't want to experience that pain again. The fear of losing the people she held dear weighed heavily on her heart.

Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. It was Yoon-seo and Yu-jeong. Curiosity got the better of her, and she decided to remain hidden, quietly listening to their conversation.

"What are you doing?" She heard Yu-jeong's trembling voice. "Why are you holding a rifle?"

Yeon-hwa's heart pounded in her chest as she listened to the conversation between Yu-jeong and Yoon-seo. She knew she had to intervene, but she also wanted to be cautious not to startle Yoon-seo further. She slowly moved closer, trying to remain hidden but ready to step in if needed.