Cha Hyunsu X Reader - Tumblr Posts

— bleed

corrupted!hyunsu x gn!reader | 3.8k words

genre: exes reunited in the weirdest circumstances ever

warnings: swearing, blood, fake blood in the gif, canon-divergence, killing, mentions of hallucinations, suicidal ideation, death, bullying and self-harm scars. when i say “corrupted hyunsu” i mean uimyeong got what he wanted basically lol

synopsis: there’s a lot of blood on your face. and apparently, according to a boy you've never met before in your life, it must mean you're above everyone else.

author's note: i love this gif so MUCH it's so pretty He's so pretty... and uimyeong in the back like hello there... love them

You didn’t get nosebleeds often. Actually, you couldn’t recall if you’d ever gotten a nosebleed at all, before.

So the sight of your own reflection in the mirror, blood flowing down the bottom half of your face in inhumane amounts was a bit terrifying, at first. Your hand had come up to stop the bleeding but it simply wouldn’t. It kept on flowing like it was some sort of unending bloodfall, and you honestly thought you were going to die.

And then it stopped. And you looked up. And everything was normal. You breathed heavily, eyes a bit wide as you stared at yourself. The red was painting your skin like a drop of watercolor flowing down a canvas. It was smudged, from your attempts at stopping it, and movie-like. You’d never seen this much blood at once in real life, before. You took a moment to calm down, swallowing thickly and taking a deep breath.

Well, you knew what this meant. You’d been confining yourself to your apartment since the news were announced, but never expected it would happen to you. The virus… Thing. The world was in shambles outside the comfort of your room and you’d been fine with it until now. You were just playing a game on your console when your nose started bleeding. Why did it do it at this moment precisely?

The lights of your bathroom flickered and you stepped back, looking up. There was a inaudible, clicking noise, and then all the lights turned off. The sound of powering down was so loud you wondered if it was only your apartment, or if the whole building’s electricity had shut off.

You gulped. Being in the dark was never really reassuring, much less when it was night and you’d just got the first symptoms of monsterization. You slowly moved towards your living room, dimly illuminated by the light of your — thankfully — open laptop. You followed the light while tip-toeing for no reason, really, and then settled down on your bed. You found your phone and turned it off sleep-mode, only to realize your hands were literally bloodstained. The realization came a bit too late and now your phone and bedsheets had blood on them. Great.

You sighed and tried to find the number of the building manager to ask him if the whole building was down. Your fingers scrolled through your contact list a bit frantically, as you struggled to find his name in it.

And then there were footsteps. You heard them, quite loud and clear and terribly frightening. You lived alone and they most definitely came from inside your apartment. You looked around, to no avail due to the blackout, and only took a deep shaky breath as you backed away towards your wall.

You decided your mind had been playing tricks, or that the noise was simply coming from the outside hallway and felt closer due to the lack of sound caused by the electricity cutting off. And, the sound had stopped, anyway. There was no reason to make yourself more scared than you already were. Yet, you couldn’t stop the shaking of your fingers as you continued to search for this damned contact name.

“Nervous?”

You jumped and screamed on instinct, dropping your phone and jumping off your bed. Someone had just spoken into your ear. Directly next to it. Like they were sitting behind you. Had someone been sitting behind you this whole time? No way. The light of your laptop would’ve showed it. Then had someone snuck up behind you to sit there withhout you even noticing? You couldn’t tell which was more terrifying, and in this moment you frankly didn’t care. You held a hand up towards your bed, now seeing the traces of a black coat on someone’s figure.

“Who are you?!” you managed to exclaim.

No response. The silence felt deafening. Suffocating, even. Your breaths were coming out short due to the overwhelming anxiety you felt. Your fingers were trembling and your head was spinning. Was this part of the virus? Hallucinations? Was none one really there? Your head was whirling with an inordinate amount of scenarios as you waited for whoever was there to speak up.

Then you saw them move, and instinctively took a step backwards. Except your back hit something. And before you could register that there was supposed to be nothing for your back to hit at this area of your apartment, a hand covered your mouth and you started screaming. The grasp wasn’t harsh but it was firm, effectively keeping your head from moving and thrashing in all directions as an attempt to get away. You heard an amused chuckle come from your previous spot on the bed and the stranger moved forward until they sat at its edge. Their face was completely covered by a black hood.

And then the lights turned on.

The stranger pulled their hood off and a face you didn’t recognize came into view. A young man, probably around your age, smiled in an overly-friendly manner and waved his hand so casually one would believe you weren’t being… Held captive in your own home? You unconsciously calmed down for a little bit, before you started thrashing around again. The stranger’s smile fell into a disappointed pout.

“Aw. Don’t tell me my instincts were wrong and you’re not actually a special case? It’d be a pain if you actually turned completely.” he mused, eyes searching your face like he was analyzing you. You yelled incoherently onto the hand on your mouth snd the latter finally let go. But the other hand still held your arm, strongly enough to refrain you from moving much.

“Who the fuck are you and how did you get in there?!” you yelled, this time angry. You were still scared, but once you could put a face and aura on what was at first just a frighteningly mysterious voice in a pitch-black apartment, you felt less terrified. You furrowed your eyebrows at the lack of reply and finally turned your head around. Your eyes widened and your arms fell limp. “… Hyunsu?”

“Two special cases who know each other. How delightful.” the stranger spoke from your bed, still. You paid him no mind, eyes focused on the boy holding you. This was Cha Hyunsu. Cha Hyunsu. Your ex from high-school, before he broke up with you during the mess that happened there and distanced himself as much as he possibly could. He had the same haircut as he used to, the same face but… Not the same look in his eye. There was something darker there, now. And you couldn’t tell what it was.

“What… What’s all this? Why are you here? How’d you get in, how… Who…” you paused to try and even out your breathing, before frowning. “What are you doing?”

“We came to take you.”

His voice was rough in the way it sounded, like he barely spoke and the results of that could be heard. It was dry and devoid of any emotion, as far as you could tell. You shook off his grip on your arm and stepped aside to take turns at looking between the two boys.

“Take me?” you scoffed, “Might I know what the fuck you mean by that? And who are you?” you said the last word with a pointed look towards the boy sitting on your bed. He offered a gentle smile.

“Name’s Uimyeong. I’m a monster. Just like your boyfriend here.” he said. You furrowed your eyebrows. You’d encountered monsters during your only trip down to the nearest grocery store to take everything you could before indefinitely confining yourself in your home. And they did not look so… Human. Was it a play on words, of sorts? It didn’t feel like one. Did that have to do with him talking about a “special case”?

Your eyes widened in realization. The flyers that dropped around your neighborhood, one hitting your window with the wind. It was red and hard not to notice. It talked about the military and calling them if we knew of a special monsterization case, or something of the sort. Now you pieced the few pieces you had together, and came to the conclusion that Hyunsoo and that boy Uimyeong were like the aforementioned special cases. But then…

“What did you mean by take me? And instincts? Can you just… explain yourselves?” you sighed, leaning against the wall.

“Hyunsu-ya told me about you. He said you lived nearby and that knowing you, you’d probably avoided contact with anyone entirely.” he paused to look around your apartment with a satisfied nod, “He seemed to be right on that. He told me about you when I asked if he knew if there was anyone who could’ve turned and could be like us.”

“Be like you?”

“Monsters.” he said casually, and then his eyes turned completely black, as if to further insist on his point. Then they turned back to their former state and he smiled. “That can control it.”

You gulped. So that was… What the military meant by special cases. You took a deep breath and glanced at Hyunsu, who was blankly staring down at the floor. “Why do you think I could be like you? What makes you think I even got a single symptom?”

“Well, I’d say I can’t argue with that, but the…” he grimaced a bit, vaguely moving his hand in front of his mouth, “… Blood on your face is an obvious tell.”

You instinctively looked away and tried to rub it off. It was dry, by now. You looked back at Uimyeong who only smiled casually. “We came here because I trust Hyunsu and I have this… This gut feeling. That you might be one of us. So what do you say? Come with us? Stay in your apartment?”

You knew that whether you completely turned or truly was a special case like he claimed you could be, you’d be alone in your apartment. At least with them… Well, you’d have company. Who understood you, instead of fearing you.

You looked down. “Whatever. I’ll come.”

You saw Hyunsu perk up at the words and he walked towards you. His hand slowly came up to your face and settled on your cheek. He rubbed the skin softly with a starstruck look on his face. His eyes were turning black. “Really? [name], it'll be perfect. We can wipe off every pathetic human that bothers us with this power, now. Just like we wanted to back in the day, remember?” he said with a frighteningly cheerful tone. Then his expression dropped and he blinked the darkness off, like he was confused.

“… We’ll find more people like us.” he said, and this time his voice was blank, hand dropping back to his side. You furrowed your eyebrows at the change in demeanor and glanced at Uimyeong, who only shrugged his shoulders in an exaggerated manner. You looked back at Hyunsu and sighed. There was something odd going on.

“… Hyunsu. I’m glad to see you again.” you said. He nodded slowly, expression unchanging but feeling reciprocated.

Then you were out of the building. To be frank, it was terrifying. You hadn’t left your apartment in ages and the world outside was in shambles. You knew it from the news and the view you had from your window, but seeing it up-close was definitely worse. There was something extremely interesting, though, and it was how easily Hyunsu and Uimyeong made their way through the swarm of monsters that would try and attack each of you. Uimyeong was on a league of his own, for sure, his arm capable of turning into a literal blade to slice any monster’s head off their shoulders. Hyunsu was different. He looked unfazed at times while sending monsters flying, and sometimes you could see the hints of a manic grin overtaking his features. And well, during thw whold ordeal, you felt awfully useless. You didn’t have any super-strength or powers so all you could do was use your best dodging skills to prevent yourself from getting killed.

Not that Hyunsu would let you.

You found yourself in a black, military van. Uimyeong sat at the front and started driving off like it was nothing, and then began to answer every question you had but hadn’t even voiced out. Special cases, monsters, the martial-law, the military’s plans, and at last, Hyunsu’s whereabouts during the entirety of this mess. He was staying in an apartment complex of the name of Green Home Mansion Apartment, that Uimyeong described as “a place with weirdly resilient people with a fear of the unknown. You know, like every other human.” and you quickly understood the boy bad developed a worrying superiority complex over the duration of the experiments the government had done on him.

Well, it made sense. But he was still terrifying in his own calm, smiley and friendly way. Even more so with the amount of blood on him. But you supposed that considering your face was still drenched in some, you didn’t have much to say about that.

You looked at Hyunsu who’d been asleep during the whole time Uimyeong was speaking.

“How did you two meet each other?”

“How did you two meet each other?”

You laughed at the synchronization of yours and Uimyeong’s question and he glanced your way with a grin. “Alright. I’ll go first.”

He talked about the group of thugs he joined, mostly out of boredom. He talked about how they eventually came to the place Hyunsu lived at, and the chaos that happened there. He talked about the fact that Hyunsu grew out of his, as he called it, “human-liking phase” and finally understood and acknowledged his true power… Or something like that. That basically, Hyunsu left the people of Green Home and left with Uimyeong before one of them called the military to report a special case, as the flyers you’d seen asked people to.

“I think part of him is trying to understand that change.” Uimyeong mused, fingers drumming on the steering wheel. “You know, when his eyes turn black and he goes manic? I think that’s the monster part trying to fully take over. And then you have our introverted, anxious Hyunsu.. The one you seem to know best.”

“Ah. We’re not dating anymore.” you suddenly said, reminded of Uimyeong calling him your “boyfriend” earlier. “And contrary to what you seem to think, I’m actually more familiar with the other part. On certain aspects, at least.”

In front of you, Hyunsu was asleep. You sighed.

“Then. Your turn, answer my question.” Uimyeong said cheerfully. You hummed.

“Well, we dated in high-school. He was extroverted and friendly, and very joyful. He wasn’t the number one popular boy in the school, but he did have popularity.” you reminisced out loud, “Then things changed and he somehow got bullied. This new guy transferred and started treating him really badly. The higher-ups at the school didn’t give a fuck, and his family were… Practically blaming him. The point is, I stayed with him, but after things finally calmed down, he broke up with me. He said he wasn’t good for me and I’d spent too much time on him already, or something of the likes…”

Then you sighed, scratching your neck.

“What you call the “monster part of him” looks, to me, like what he’s been bottling up. It’s like a version of Hyunsu that didn’t completely close off emotionally after the bullying. One that went batshit and started beating up people. That’s how it feels to me. It’s strange.”

Uimyeong hummed. “Well, the monster isn’t something separate from him, anyway. That further proves my point... The monster is part of him. I guess it would make sense. He’s just battling his own self, isn’t he?”

Hyunsu woke up with a gasp and looked at you with wide eyes. There was a moment where things seemed to slow, and then he moved towards you so fast you barely registered it. He held your face in both hands and looked at you with a worried look. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah?” you said, confused. “Did you have a nightmare?”

His eyes turned black momentarily, then he looked away, moving back into his seat. “Yeah.” He looked down at his lap, where he fiddled with his fingers. Uimyeong stared at him from the rear-view mirror with a squinted eyes and pointed interest. There was something in the way he looked at him that screamed obsession. You were practically certain Hyunsu himself hadn’t realized.

“Hyunsu-yah.” you said. He looked up. You beckoned him over to sit next to you. Slowly, he got up from his seat to move beside you. Then he went back to looking down and fiddling with his fingers. That was just like the last time you’d seen him, but worse. When he broke up with you he was starting to lose life— Starting to lose the will to live. It was visible and it was worrying but he put great effort in pushing you away whenever you tried reaching out to help him. You hesitantly reached a hand up to his hair, and when he didnt move, started brushing through it. You brushed off the dust and all, and them you moved his face towards you. You tried to rub off the blood on him but it was dry. Then you inspected his features, and his hands, his arms, his neck. Then you hummed in content. There weren’t any new scars since the last time you’d seen each other. You were glad.

You covered his forearms back up with the long sleeves of his sweater and held both his hands. During the whole ordeal, Hyunsu had been staring at you with barely a single blink. He had this adoring look in his wide, innocent eyes. It was different from the way he used to look at you. Hyunsu had lost part of him during his last years of high-school, so of course he’d changed. But it was still Hyunsu. And you still loved him. You looked up at him with a smile.

“Are you okay?” you asked, but he only frowned and reached out to your face. You furrowed your eyebrows when his thumb swiped over your upper lip, but then realized it came back with fresh blood. Your eyes widened and you covered the lower half of your face entirely in anticipation for the nosebleed you now knew was coming. Hyunsu grabbed your hands and slightly shook his head as he brought them away from your face.

“There’s no use in trying to stop the bleeding.” he said monotonously, “Since it’s the second time, we might see how you hold up to the monster. It might be hard.”

“Huh?” was all you could get out before your head started aching really badly. You held the sides of your head with your arms and closed your eyes tightly, eventually falling over onto the floor of the car as you winced in pain. You felt like you'd never felt such excruciating pain before. When your eyes were open there was blood, and you’d blink then there’d be nothing at all, and at some point, the pain stopped. You opened your eyes and sat up.

This was not the car.

A dark, dark space with a mirror. You slowly sat up and looked around. There seemed to be nothing other than the wide mirror in front of you. So you got up and walked over to it. The more you stared at your reflection, the more distorted it became. Slowly, your eyes turned black and your smile widened. Yet you were certain you were not smiling at all. You took a frightened step backwards and the reflection did not move.

“The weaker me. I've been waiting for you.” the reflection said, “Waiting for you to accept me. You’ve lost so much hope lately it became so easy to awaken. You see, the more hopeless you became, the more easy it was to trigger a physical reaction in you. The nosebleeds and headaches and all… Mhm. That was me. Or rather, you. After all we’re the same, aren’t we?”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” you scoffed, then pinched the bridge of your nose, “Will you stop monologuing like a fucking idiot and let me place a damn word in? Thanks. As it happens I’m far from being hopeless or whatever bullshit it is you were spewing out. I’m fine, and I want to live. And I will live. As a human.”

Your reflection hummed curiously. “As a human?”

“I’ve done so for all of my life. I'm pretty certain I can keep doing it.”

Your reflection smiled, then laughed. “Oh, my. Maybe you might actually manage to overpower me… That would mean getting my monster powers and keeping a human form. How lovely that is. Please, keep trying your best. I’m looking forward to it.”

"Please," Despite the confusion you felt, you knew one thing for sure. This so called reflection of yours was pissing you off. You punched the mirror and the glass shattered around your fist. “go die”

“Gladly.”

You yelled in fear and jumped awake. You looked around you with anxiousness, and slowly came to the realization you were still in the military van. It had stopped, and Uimyeong and Hyunsu were looking at you expectantly. Uimyeong smiled and held up Hyunsu’s hand by the wrist, shaking it in the air. “I had to keep him from trying to wake you up.”

Ah.

“Anyways. Seems you’ve met the monster?” Uimyeong said, sighing as he let go of Hyunsu’s wrist. He leaned back in his seat and smiled to himself. “I’m satisfied. If this was a game in trials I’d say you passed the first one. Congrats, [name]. You might just really be a special case.”

You looked up at him, then at Hyunsu, who kneeled in front of you and wrapped his arms around you. His hold was tight and he didn’t say a word. You could feel he was scared. Anxious. Or at least, that he had been. He felt relieved now, you could feel it. You figured he was hoping for Uimyeong to say that. After all, considering you already had symptoms, it seemed like being a special-case was the best thing that could happen. So you exhaled in relief and let your head fall onto the boy’s shoulder, rubbing his back comfortingly. “It’s okay, Hyunsu.”

He nodded, but didn’t let go.

“Hyunsu.”

He finally pulled away and he was kind of pouting. He looked like a kid and it made you laugh. “Come on, now. It’s fine. I’m sure you went through worse, too.”

“It’s not comparable. This isn’t about me.” he mumbled blankly, pulling you to sit next to him on the seats. You heard Uimyeong sigh and mumble something about love in the midst of an apocalypse as he went back to the driver’s seat and started up the car. You leaned against Hyunsu’s shoulder and he let his head rest on top of yours. Well, this was as fine as things could get, it seemed.

Chapter 1

Title: Shelter in the Darkness

Chapter 1: The New Beginning

Y/N’s POV

Moving into Green Home felt like stepping into a cold, unwelcoming void. The building had an air of decay and isolation, a fitting reflection of how I’d been feeling lately. It wasn’t much, but I could afford it, and after everything that had happened in my life, I needed a place to call my own.

As I dragged my suitcase down the dimly lit hallway, I heard a faint noise. Looking up, I saw a boy around my age moving into the apartment next to mine. He was tall, with messy dark hair falling over his eyes. There was something about him—an air of sadness, maybe even defeat. His nameplate read Cha Hyun-su.

He glanced at me briefly before looking away, not saying a word as he disappeared into his apartment. Part of me wanted to say something, to introduce myself, but he seemed so closed off. I decided to leave it for another time.

It was strange, though. There was something about him that pulled at me, as if he was hiding something much deeper than just silence.

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

The world felt heavy. After everything that had happened, this apartment was my last refuge. Moving here wasn’t a choice—it was an escape. An escape from the painful memories that clung to me like shadows.

I barely paid attention to my surroundings as I carried my things into the dingy room. It didn’t matter where I was. Nothing really did anymore.

That’s when I saw you.

You were standing in the hallway, your eyes curious but kind. I could feel your gaze on me, and for a moment, I felt self-conscious. I wasn’t used to people looking at me like that—as if I mattered. But instead of acknowledging you, I just turned away, closing the door behind me.

Inside my apartment, the silence was suffocating. I sat down on the bed, staring blankly at the floor. I could hear you moving next door, unpacking your things.

It felt strange to have someone so close. I hadn’t had any real human connection in a long time. But even though I felt the urge to ignore you, there was something about you that made me feel… different.

Y/N’s POV

Days passed, and despite living so close, Cha Hyun-su and I never spoke. I caught glimpses of him from time to time in the hallways or the convenience store downstairs. He was always quiet, keeping to himself, as if the world around him didn’t exist.

But something told me that there was more to him. His silence wasn’t just apathy—it was pain. I knew that feeling all too well. The loneliness, the isolation. It was a weight I had carried myself.

One night, after a long day, I returned to the apartment to find Hyun-su sitting on the rooftop. I hadn’t meant to interrupt him, but there he was, staring out at the city as the sun set behind him. I hesitated for a moment before deciding to approach.

"Mind if I join you?" I asked softly, not wanting to startle him.

He looked up, surprised, but then he nodded, scooting over a little to make room. I sat down beside him, the silence between us comfortable, not awkward like I had expected.

"You don’t talk much," I said gently after a while, watching his expression closely.

Hyun-su gave a slight shrug. "There’s not much to say."

I tilted my head, curious. "Sometimes silence says more than words."

He didn’t respond right away, but I could see him thinking. His face softened a little, and for the first time, I saw something in his eyes—something vulnerable.

"Why did you move here?" I asked carefully, not wanting to push too hard.

He stayed quiet for a moment before finally answering. "I needed to get away."

I nodded in understanding. "Me too."

For a brief moment, his eyes met mine, and something passed between us—a quiet connection, a shared understanding of the loneliness we both felt. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to make me feel closer to him.

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

I didn’t know why I let you sit next to me that night. I didn’t even know why I had answered your questions. But something about you made it feel okay—like it was safe.

You didn’t push me or demand explanations like others would have. You just sat there, quietly, offering a kind of companionship I hadn’t experienced in a long time. It wasn’t forced. It wasn’t awkward. It was just… there.

I had expected you to try to pry more, to ask questions I wasn’t ready to answer. But you didn’t. Instead, you just shared your own silence with me, as if you understood that sometimes words weren’t necessary.

"Do you come up here often?" you asked, breaking the silence again, your voice gentle.

"Sometimes," I replied, still hesitant. "It’s quiet up here."

You smiled softly, looking out at the skyline. "Yeah, it is."

I wasn’t used to this. People usually left me alone, which was what I wanted. But with you, it felt different. It wasn’t like you were invading my space. Instead, it felt like you were offering me a place in yours.

For the first time in a long while, I didn’t feel completely alone.

Y/N’s POV

Over the next few days, I found myself thinking about Hyun-su more often. I’d catch myself glancing toward his apartment door, wondering if he was okay, if he’d open up to me more. I couldn’t explain it, but something about him drew me in.

One evening, as I was heading to my apartment after a quick trip to the store, I saw him again—this time, sitting on the steps leading up to our floor. He looked lost in thought, his eyes distant.

"Hyun-su?" I called out softly.

He blinked and looked up at me, surprised again that I was talking to him. "Oh, hey."

I smiled and sat down next to him, offering him one of the drinks I had bought. He hesitated for a moment before taking it, giving me a small nod of thanks.

We sat there in silence for a while, sipping our drinks. The night was peaceful, and despite everything, being next to him felt comforting.

"I don’t really know anyone here," I admitted quietly, hoping to bridge the gap between us.

"Me neither," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

I turned to look at him, searching his face for any sign of what he might be feeling. His expression was guarded, but there was something in his eyes that told me he wasn’t as distant as he appeared.

"Maybe we could change that," I suggested, my heart pounding slightly at the thought.

Hyun-su looked at me, surprised by my words. "What do you mean?"

"I mean… maybe we could get to know each other," I said, feeling a little nervous but determined to reach out. "We’re neighbors, after all."

For a moment, I thought he might reject the idea, but then his lips curved into the faintest hint of a smile. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to make my heart skip a beat.

"Maybe," he said softly, his eyes meeting mine again.

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

I didn’t understand why you were so kind to me. You barely knew me, and yet you kept trying, kept offering this warmth that I didn’t know how to respond to.

But maybe that’s what made it so hard to push you away. There was something about you that felt… safe. Like you weren’t expecting anything from me, and I didn’t have to pretend.

When you suggested getting to know each other, I was caught off guard. No one had ever wanted to know me before. Not really.

I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that—ready to let someone in—but when I saw the hopeful look in your eyes, I found myself nodding.

"Okay," I agreed quietly, my heart beating a little faster than usual.

I didn’t know what would come of this, but for the first time in a long while, I felt like maybe I didn’t have to face the darkness alone.

End of Chapter 1

Next |

Chapter 2

Title: Shelter in the Darkness

Chapter 2: Cracks in the World

Y/N’s POV

The air in Green Home had shifted. Ever since I heard the news about the strange illness that was spreading, there was a lingering sense of fear. People in the building were talking in hushed voices, and the atmosphere felt tense—like something bad was coming.

I had only gotten to know Hyun-su a little over the past few days, but every interaction we had made me feel more connected to him. He was quiet, always thoughtful, but there was a gentleness about him that most people wouldn’t see at first glance.

That night, I couldn’t sleep. The noises outside—distant screams, strange growls—made me restless. My mind wandered to Hyun-su. Was he feeling this way too? Did he also feel the weight of something lurking in the air?

Unable to shake the feeling of unease, I decided to check on him. I left my apartment and knocked gently on his door. After a moment, the door opened, revealing Hyun-su standing there, looking a little surprised to see me.

"Hey… everything okay?" I asked softly, trying not to sound too worried, even though I felt it deep down.

He looked at me for a moment, as if weighing whether or not to say what he was really thinking. "Yeah," he said, his voice quiet. "Just… something feels off."

I nodded, stepping closer. "Yeah, I feel it too. It’s like the whole world’s falling apart."

There was a pause before he opened the door wider, silently inviting me inside. It wasn’t the first time I had been in his apartment, but there was something different about tonight. Maybe it was the uncertainty hanging in the air, or maybe it was the way Hyun-su seemed more vulnerable than usual.

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

I didn’t expect to see you at my door that night. But when you showed up, asking if I was okay, it hit me that maybe you were feeling it too—the same unease, the same fear.

You stepped into my apartment, and somehow, your presence made the suffocating silence less unbearable. It felt… safer with you around, even though I didn’t understand why.

We sat in the small living room, the distant sounds of chaos outside filling the quiet between us. You looked at me, your eyes full of concern, and for the first time, I found myself wanting to talk to someone. To you.

"Do you think it’s true?" I asked, my voice low. "What they’re saying about the sickness?"

You hesitated before answering. "I don’t know. But whatever’s happening, it’s not good. People are scared."

Scared. That word echoed in my mind. I had spent so much time feeling numb that I had forgotten what fear really felt like. But now, it was creeping back in—especially with you sitting so close, the thought of something happening to you making my chest tighten.

"I’m scared too," I admitted, surprising even myself with the confession.

You looked at me, your expression softening. "You’re not alone, you know. We’re all in this together."

Those words hit me harder than I expected. I wasn’t used to people telling me that. I wasn’t used to the idea of not being alone.

Before I could respond, a loud bang echoed from outside, followed by the unmistakable sound of something heavy moving through the hallway. My heart raced as I stood up, moving toward the door.

You followed close behind, your hand brushing against mine briefly, sending a jolt through me. "What was that?" you whispered, your voice shaky.

I didn’t know, but I couldn’t let you be in danger. I reached for the door handle, glancing at you. "Stay close to me."

Y/N’s POV

Hyun-su’s words caught me off guard, but I nodded, staying close as we cautiously stepped into the hallway. The tension was thick in the air, and every sound felt magnified.

The moment we stepped outside, I saw it—a creature, twisted and monstrous, moving down the hall. My breath caught in my throat as I grabbed Hyun-su’s arm, my heart pounding in fear.

He was calm, even though I could see the worry in his eyes. He didn’t panic, and somehow that helped me stay grounded. "We need to get back inside," he whispered, gently pulling me away from the door.

But before we could retreat, the monster turned, its grotesque face locking onto us. I froze in place, terror gripping me, but Hyun-su didn’t hesitate. He pulled me behind him, shielding me with his body.

"Run!" he shouted, his voice filled with urgency.

We sprinted back into his apartment, slamming the door shut just as the monster lunged. I collapsed against the wall, my chest heaving, fear still coursing through me.

Hyun-su stood there, his back pressed against the door, his face pale but determined. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice steady despite everything that had just happened.

I nodded, though my whole body was shaking. "I’m fine," I managed to say, even though my heart was still racing. "Thanks… for protecting me."

He didn’t say anything, but the look in his eyes told me everything. He was scared too, but he wasn’t going to let anything happen to me. And that realization hit me harder than any fear of the monsters outside.

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

I couldn’t stop thinking about the way you looked at me after we escaped from the monster. You were terrified, but you still managed to thank me. As if I had done something brave.

But I didn’t feel brave. I was scared—more scared than I had been in a long time. Not just because of the monsters outside, but because of the way you made me feel. You trusted me. You looked to me for protection. And that responsibility weighed heavily on me.

I sat down next to you, my heart still racing from the encounter. "We can’t stay here," I said quietly, glancing toward the door. "It’s not safe."

You nodded, your eyes filled with worry. "Where can we go?"

"I don’t know yet," I admitted. "But we’ll figure it out."

For a moment, there was silence between us, and then, to my surprise, you reached out and took my hand. Your touch was warm, grounding me in a way I hadn’t expected.

"Whatever happens," you said softly, "we’ll face it together. You don’t have to do this alone, Hyun-su."

Your words hit me hard, breaking through the wall I had built around myself. I didn’t respond, but I squeezed your hand gently, holding onto that small piece of comfort you were offering.

For the first time in a long time, I felt like maybe, just maybe, I didn’t have to face this darkness alone.

Y/N’s POV

I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring. The world outside was crumbling, monsters were lurking around every corner, and the fear in Green Home was palpable. But sitting here with Hyun-su, holding his hand, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time—hope.

It wasn’t just that he had protected me. It was the way he made me feel safe, even in the midst of all this chaos. There was something about Hyun-su that drew me in, something that made me want to stay by his side no matter what happened next.

"We’ll be okay," I whispered, more to reassure myself than anything.

Hyun-su didn’t reply, but the way he looked at me told me he believed it too, even if just for a moment.

In that moment, it didn’t matter how dark the world outside was. As long as we had each other, I knew we’d find a way to survive.

End of Chapter 2

Next | Previous

Chapter 3

Title: Shelter in the Darkness

Chapter 3: Monsters Among Us

Y/N’s POV

The tension in Green Home had become unbearable. Everyone could feel it—the sense that something terrible was brewing just beneath the surface. There were whispers among the residents about the growing number of monsters outside, and fear seemed to hang in the air like a thick fog.

I stuck close to Hyun-su, feeling safer with him by my side. The others in the building were panicked, talking about barricading doors and finding weapons. But somehow, Hyun-su’s quiet strength calmed me, even when the situation felt hopeless.

Today, though, there was a meeting with the other survivors. Mr. An and the others had gathered everyone in the lobby, discussing how to protect the building. Hyun-su and I sat at the back, his arm brushing against mine as we listened to the chaotic plans being thrown around.

"We can’t stay like this!" someone shouted. "We need food! We need protection!"

"Barricade the doors!" another voice added. "The monsters are getting stronger. We’ve seen it!"

My gaze flicked to Hyun-su. His face was unreadable, but I could tell the wheels in his mind were turning. He wasn’t one to panic, but I could sense the worry beneath his calm exterior.

As the meeting droned on, I leaned closer to him, whispering softly. "Do you think we’re safe here?"

He turned his head slightly, his dark eyes meeting mine. "No. But we have no choice."

His words sent a chill down my spine, but I knew he was right. The building was the only thing keeping us from the chaos outside. Still, it was only a matter of time before the monsters found their way in.

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

Sitting there in the meeting, surrounded by the panicked voices of the other residents, I could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on me. It wasn’t just about survival anymore—it was about protecting the people around me, especially you.

I could sense your fear, even though you tried to hide it. Your question—if we were safe—stuck with me. The truth was, I didn’t know if we were safe anywhere anymore. But I couldn’t let that fear consume me, not when you were counting on me.

"We’ll be okay," I whispered, more to reassure you than anything. "We’ll figure it out."

You gave me a small, tentative smile, and for a moment, it made everything else fade away. It was just us, sitting side by side, trying to make sense of a world that was falling apart.

The meeting continued, but my mind was elsewhere. I couldn’t stop thinking about the monsters—about what would happen if they got inside. If they found you. The thought made my chest tighten.

Suddenly, there was a loud crash, and the entire room tensed. Everyone fell silent as the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from down the hallway. It was followed by a guttural growl, sending a wave of panic through the crowd.

"They’re here," someone whispered, their voice trembling.

I stood up instinctively, my hand grabbing yours without thinking. "We need to move. Now."

Y/N’s POV

Hyun-su’s grip on my hand was firm as he pulled me toward the back exit of the lobby. People were scrambling, panicking as the monster’s growls grew louder. My heart pounded in my chest, fear taking over every thought.

We rushed down the hallway, Hyun-su leading the way. His focus was sharp, even with the chaos erupting around us. I tried to keep up, but the fear gnawing at me made my legs feel like jelly.

"Hyun-su!" I gasped, trying to catch my breath as we reached the staircase.

He stopped, turning to face me. His expression softened, and for a moment, he let go of my hand to place his hands on my shoulders, grounding me.

"Hey, look at me," he said, his voice calm but firm. "We’ll get through this, okay?"

I nodded, even though I wasn’t sure if I believed it. But Hyun-su had this way of making me feel safe, even when everything was falling apart. His touch was gentle but steady, like he was determined to protect me no matter what.

Just then, the growling grew louder, and we heard the unmistakable sound of something heavy slamming against the walls. My body tensed, but Hyun-su kept his gaze locked on mine, refusing to let fear take over.

"Stay close to me," he said softly, taking my hand again. "We’re going to be okay."

With him by my side, I believed him. I had to.

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

The monsters were closer than I had expected. They were strong, vicious, and determined to get inside. But I wasn’t going to let them get to you. I couldn’t.

As we hurried up the stairs, I kept my grip on your hand tight, not letting you fall behind. Every growl, every crash from behind sent a wave of adrenaline through me, but I couldn’t afford to panic. Not when your safety was on the line.

We reached the higher floors, where some of the other residents had gathered. They were armed with makeshift weapons, their faces pale with fear. I could see the hopelessness in their eyes, the uncertainty about whether we’d survive this.

"We can hold them off here," I said to one of the men. "But we need to be smart about it."

He nodded, though it was clear he wasn’t convinced. No one was.

But I had to be strong—for you. I couldn’t let the fear show, not when you were depending on me.

As we helped set up barricades, you stayed close, your presence giving me a sense of purpose I hadn’t felt in a long time. Every time our eyes met, I was reminded of why I couldn’t give up. You needed me.

And I needed you too.

Y/N’s POV

We helped set up barricades with the others, trying to fortify the building as best we could. The fear in everyone’s eyes was unmistakable, but I couldn’t focus on that. Not when Hyun-su was doing everything he could to keep me safe.

He moved with purpose, his eyes always scanning the hallways, always making sure we had a plan. I couldn’t help but admire how calm he remained, even though I knew he had to be scared too.

"You’re really brave," I said softly when we had a brief moment to ourselves.

Hyun-su glanced at me, his expression unreadable. "I’m not brave," he replied quietly. "I’m just… trying to survive."

I shook my head, stepping closer to him. "No, you’re brave. You’re doing all of this for us, for me. That takes courage."

He didn’t say anything, but I could see the way my words affected him. His gaze softened, and for a moment, it felt like we were the only two people in the world. The chaos, the monsters, everything else faded away.

"You’re important to me," he whispered, his voice barely audible but filled with sincerity.

My heart skipped a beat at his words, and I felt a warmth spread through me despite the fear that still lingered. I reached out and gently squeezed his hand, offering him the same comfort he had given me.

"You’re important to me too," I whispered back.

For a brief moment, everything felt… okay. As long as we had each other, I knew we could get through this.

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

Hearing you say those words—You’re important to me—hit me harder than I expected. It wasn’t something I was used to hearing, and for the first time in a long while, I felt… wanted. Like I mattered.

I squeezed your hand back, holding onto that small moment of peace amidst the chaos. For just a second, the world wasn’t as terrifying. It was just you and me, standing together, finding comfort in each other’s presence.

But the moment was fleeting.

A loud crash echoed from downstairs, followed by the unmistakable sound of glass shattering. My heart lurched, and I instinctively pulled you closer, shielding you from whatever was coming.

"They’re inside," someone shouted, panic spreading through the group.

Everything moved so quickly after that. People scrambled to reinforce the barricades, screams filled the air, and the sounds of the monsters grew louder.

But through it all, I never let go of your hand.

"We’ll get through this," I whispered, more to myself than to you. "I promise."

And I meant it. No matter what it took, I was going to protect you.

Y/N’s POV

The sound of the monsters breaking in sent a wave of terror through me, but Hyun-su’s presence kept me grounded. Even in the midst of all the chaos, he was calm, focused, and determined to keep me safe.

As the barricades were tested and people fought back, Hyun-su never left my side. His grip on my hand was steady, his eyes always watching for danger. I didn’t know how he did it—how he stayed so composed when everything around us was falling apart.

But I trusted him. I trusted him with my life.

"Hyun-su," I

Y/N's POV

"Hyun-su," I whispered, squeezing his hand tightly. My voice shook despite my best efforts to stay calm. "What do we do?"

He turned to me, his face a mix of determination and fear. "We stick together," he said firmly. "Whatever happens, I won’t let anything happen to you. Just stay close."

His words gave me strength, even as the sounds of chaos grew louder, and the monsters' footsteps approached. Together, we moved further down the hallway, away from the breaking barricades.

As we reached one of the higher floors, I could hear screams and see shadows flickering from downstairs. Every muscle in my body was tense, but I held on to Hyun-su’s hand, trusting him to guide us through the madness.

Then, without warning, the floor beneath us shook violently. The building groaned as if it was on the verge of collapsing. We stopped in our tracks, glancing around for the source of the disturbance. Something enormous was moving on the lower levels—something bigger than we had ever seen before.

"Run!" Hyun-su yelled, pulling me along with him as we raced down the corridor, our feet pounding against the floor. My heart was in my throat, but I couldn’t think about anything except keeping up with him.

We turned a corner and found a small storage room, the door slightly ajar. Without hesitation, Hyun-su pulled me inside and closed the door behind us, pressing his ear to the wood as he listened to the sounds outside.

Inside the small, dark room, the only light came from the dim glow of a cracked window. I could hear my own heartbeat pounding in my ears, and my chest tightened with fear. Hyun-su was standing close, his back against the door as he kept an eye out for danger.

For a long moment, neither of us said anything. The tension was suffocating. Then, he turned to me, his expression softening despite the chaos outside.

"You okay?" he asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

I nodded, though my body was still trembling from the adrenaline. "I’m okay… thanks to you."

Hyun-su sighed in relief, stepping closer to me. His hand found mine again, his touch warm and comforting. "I’m not going to let anything happen to you," he said softly, his eyes locking onto mine. "I promise."

For a moment, it was just the two of us in the darkness, the world outside seeming so far away. My fear faded, replaced by a warmth that only Hyun-su could bring. He had become my anchor in this nightmare, the one person I knew I could rely on.

Before I could stop myself, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him, burying my face in his chest. He stiffened for a second, as if surprised, but then his arms came around me, holding me close. I could feel the steady beat of his heart against mine, and it was enough to calm the storm inside me.

"We’ll get through this," I whispered, echoing his words from earlier.

Hyun-su tightened his hold on me. "Yeah," he murmured, his voice filled with quiet determination. "We will."

End of Chapter 3

Next | Previous

Chapter 4

Title: Through the Fire

Chapter 4: Descent into Darkness

Y/N’s POV

It had been a few hours since we sought shelter in the storage room, but those hours felt like days. The constant groans and thuds from outside made it impossible to relax. I could tell Hyun-su was still on edge, even though he tried to hide it for my sake.

He sat next to me, staring intently at the door. His jaw was clenched, his hands resting tensely in his lap, ready to act if something came crashing through.

“Hyun-su…” I said quietly, reaching out to touch his hand. “You need to rest.”

He shook his head. “I can’t. Not with those things still out there.”

I frowned, my heart aching for him. He had been carrying the weight of all this, trying to protect everyone—especially me. But he couldn’t keep going like this without breaking.

“You can’t protect me if you’re too exhausted to fight,” I pointed out gently. “Just… for a little while. I’ll keep watch.”

Hyun-su glanced at me, and for a moment, I could see the weariness behind his stoic exterior. He wanted to argue, but the dark circles under his eyes told me he knew I was right. He hesitated, then nodded reluctantly.

“Alright,” he said quietly, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “But just for a bit.”

He stretched out on the floor, his head resting against my lap, and I ran my fingers through his hair gently. The tension in his body slowly melted away as he closed his eyes, his breathing evening out. It was a rare moment of peace, and I wanted to hold on to it for as long as I could.

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

I didn’t want to rest. Not when I knew the danger was right outside that door. But when Y/N looked at me, her eyes full of concern, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse. I didn’t want to worry her.

So, I let myself close my eyes, feeling the soft touch of her fingers in my hair. It was calming, like a lifeline in the middle of the chaos we were living through. Even though I was supposed to be the one protecting her, she always found a way to comfort me.

For a moment, I allowed myself to let go. I let myself focus on the warmth of her touch, the steady rhythm of her breathing. In this small, dark room, it felt like the monsters outside didn’t exist. It was just us.

But even as I rested, part of me remained on alert. I couldn’t fully relax knowing what was happening in the building. The other residents were fighting, barricading themselves in, trying to hold off the inevitable.

And I knew that soon, we’d have to do the same.

Y/N’s POV

Hyun-su rested for a while, and I kept a careful watch on the door. My heart was heavy with worry for what was happening outside, but at the same time, I felt this overwhelming sense of peace having him so close.

I didn’t know how we ended up here—two strangers now leaning on each other in this impossible situation—but I was grateful for him. In the midst of the nightmare that Green Home had become, Hyun-su was my light. My reason to keep going.

Just when I started to believe we might get through the night undisturbed, a loud crash echoed down the hallway. My body tensed immediately. The monsters were back, and they were getting closer.

“Hyun-su!” I whispered urgently, shaking him awake.

He was on his feet in an instant, his eyes sharp and alert. “What happened?” he asked, his voice low.

I pointed toward the door. “They’re coming.”

Hyun-su nodded, his expression hardening. We both knew what was next. He reached for a piece of broken metal he had grabbed earlier, some makeshift weapon, and motioned for me to stay behind him. I wanted to argue, to stand by his side, but he shot me a look that silenced me.

“Stay close to me,” he said, his voice steady. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

The moment I heard the crash, all the exhaustion faded. We didn’t have time to waste. The monsters were getting bolder, breaking through our defenses, and I wasn’t going to let one of them anywhere near Y/N.

We moved carefully through the narrow corridor, our footsteps barely making a sound. I held the piece of metal in my hand tightly, ready to use it if I had to.

As we reached the edge of the hallway, I could see movement from the shadows. It wasn’t just one monster this time. There were several of them, their grotesque forms crawling over the walls, searching for their next victims.

My grip on the weapon tightened.

“They’re everywhere…” Y/N whispered, her voice shaking.

I glanced at her, feeling a surge of protectiveness. “We’ll find another way,” I said. “We just need to be quiet.”

Y/N nodded, trusting me completely. That trust… it gave me strength. I wouldn’t let her down.

We crept along the wall, trying to avoid drawing the monsters’ attention. My heart pounded in my chest, but my mind stayed focused. I couldn’t afford to panic, not with her so close.

But as we rounded the corner, one of the monsters turned its head, its glowing eyes locking onto us.

“Run!” I shouted, grabbing Y/N’s hand and pulling her with me.

Y/N’s POV

My heart raced as Hyun-su and I bolted down the hallway. The monster let out a horrifying screech behind us, its heavy footsteps closing in. I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins, fear threatening to overwhelm me.

But with Hyun-su pulling me forward, I forced myself to focus. We had to survive.

We turned another corner, and Hyun-su skidded to a stop, pulling me into a nearby room. He slammed the door behind us, panting heavily as we leaned against it.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice breathless.

I nodded, though my legs felt like they might give out any second. “Yeah… I’m okay.”

Hyun-su’s eyes scanned the room quickly, searching for anything we could use to block the door. He spotted a heavy dresser and immediately started pushing it in front of the door, his muscles straining from the effort.

I hurried to help, and together we managed to barricade ourselves in. For now, we were safe.

As the sounds of the monsters faded into the distance, I collapsed against the wall, trying to catch my breath. Hyun-su sat beside me, his eyes flickering with exhaustion again, but also relief.

“You saved me,” I whispered, glancing over at him.

He shook his head, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “We saved each other.”

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

The truth was, I wasn’t the one doing all the saving. Y/N had become my anchor, the reason I kept fighting. Every time I felt like giving up, I looked at her and remembered why I had to keep going.

“Stay close,” I said softly, leaning my head back against the wall. “We’ll figure out our next move soon.”

Y/N leaned into me slightly, her warmth spreading through me like a quiet comfort. Despite everything, despite the danger that still loomed outside, being next to her made me feel like things would be okay.

At least for a little while longer.

End of Chapter 4

Next | Previous

Chapter 5

Title: Strength in Each Other

Chapter 5: The Edge of Survival

Y/N’s POV

I never thought I’d find myself living through something like this—monsters, death, and constant fear. Every moment felt like a fight to survive, a fight to keep the people we cared about alive.

But through it all, there was Hyun-su. No matter how dark things became, I found strength in him. His quiet determination, the way he always put others before himself, it made me feel safe even when everything around us was falling apart.

After the close call with the monsters, we sat in the barricaded room, resting. The silence between us wasn’t uncomfortable. In fact, it felt peaceful, like we had an unspoken understanding. We didn’t need words to know what the other was thinking.

I leaned my head against Hyun-su’s shoulder, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest. “What do you think is happening outside?” I asked quietly, breaking the silence.

Hyun-su’s hand twitched slightly, his fingers brushing mine as if to comfort me. “It’s getting worse,” he said, his voice low. “More monsters. Fewer places to hide.”

His words sent a chill down my spine, but I already knew he was right. The screams and crashes we’d been hearing for the last hour confirmed it. Green Home was falling apart, and there wasn’t much time left before everything came crashing down.

I closed my eyes, trying to push away the fear that gnawed at me. “I’m scared, Hyun-su.”

“I know,” he whispered. “But we’re going to get through this. I’ll protect you.”

There it was again—his promise to keep me safe. And somehow, every time he said it, I believed him. Even when everything else seemed hopeless, I believed in Hyun-su.

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

It wasn’t just her who was scared. I was terrified too. I didn’t let it show, but the weight of everything—every life lost, every monster we faced—was heavy. But when I looked at Y/N, I felt this deep need to protect her, to keep her away from the horrors outside.

I couldn’t explain it. I barely knew her before all of this happened, but now, she was the one thing keeping me grounded. In a world filled with monsters, she was the only thing that felt real.

But I couldn’t afford to lose focus. There was no time for weakness, not when the building was crawling with creatures that could kill us in seconds. I had to stay sharp, for her.

“We should check on the others,” I said, standing up and holding out my hand to her.

Y/N looked up at me, her eyes full of trust, and placed her hand in mine. That small gesture—it gave me the strength I needed to keep going.

We moved carefully through the building, avoiding the sections we knew were infested with monsters. Every creak, every shadow made my heart race, but I kept my focus on her, making sure she stayed close. I couldn’t let anything happen to her. Not on my watch.

Y/N’s POV

As we crept through the dark hallways, I couldn’t help but steal glances at Hyun-su. The way he moved, always so alert, so ready to protect me… it was more than just survival. He cared. I could see it in the way his eyes flicked toward me, making sure I was okay.

When we finally made it to one of the safer areas where the other residents were holed up, the tension eased slightly. People were huddled together, their faces pale with fear, but there was a sense of solidarity. We were all in this together.

“Hyun-su!” A voice called out, and I turned to see Jae-heon, the pastor who had taken charge of keeping everyone together. His expression was grim. “It’s bad. More monsters have broken through the lower floors. We’re running out of time.”

Hyun-su’s jaw tightened, and I could see the weight of Jae-heon’s words settle over him. We weren’t just fighting for survival anymore—we were running out of places to hide.

“What can we do?” I asked, stepping forward. I wasn’t going to stand by and do nothing. I couldn’t.

Jae-heon’s eyes softened slightly as he looked at me. “We need to fortify the upper floors. It’s the only way we’ll have a chance of keeping them out.”

“We’ll help,” Hyun-su said firmly, glancing at me as if to ask if I was okay with it.

I nodded. If there was a way to help, to keep everyone safe, we had to do it.

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

We spent the next few hours helping to reinforce the barricades, moving whatever we could to block the entrances. Y/N worked right beside me, never complaining, never showing fear. It was like she had found this inner strength, and it made me admire her even more.

But as the hours passed, the sounds of the monsters grew louder. The building was becoming more dangerous by the minute.

“Hyun-su,” Y/N whispered, her voice trembling slightly. “What if… what if we can’t hold them off?”

I paused, looking at her. Her eyes were wide, filled with uncertainty. I hated seeing her like this, scared and unsure. I wanted to tell her everything would be fine, but I couldn’t lie.

“We’ll figure something out,” I said instead, reaching out to squeeze her hand. “As long as we stick together, we’ll be okay.”

She nodded, though I could see the fear lingering in her eyes. I hated feeling powerless, hated knowing that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t promise her safety.

Y/N’s POV

Hyun-su’s hand in mine brought me a sense of calm, even though the fear still lingered. His presence alone was enough to make me believe that somehow, we’d survive this.

But then, there was a sudden crash from the stairwell, followed by a blood-curdling screech. My heart stopped. The monsters had found us.

“They’re here!” someone shouted, panic spreading like wildfire through the room.

Hyun-su grabbed my arm, pulling me close as the others scrambled to reinforce the barricades. But I could see it in his eyes—the realization that the barricades wouldn’t hold for long.

“We need to get out of here,” he said urgently, his grip on my arm tightening. “Now.”

We didn’t have time to think. We ran, pushing through the panicked crowd as the sound of the monsters grew closer. My heart pounded in my chest, but I trusted Hyun-su to lead the way.

We made it to another stairwell, this one still intact, and rushed up to one of the higher floors. The air was heavy with fear and tension, but we couldn’t stop. We couldn’t look back.

When we finally reached a small, empty room on the top floor, Hyun-su slammed the door shut, breathing heavily as he leaned against it. I collapsed onto the floor, my legs shaking from the adrenaline.

For a moment, we just sat there, the weight of what had just happened settling over us.

“Hyun-su,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “What do we do now?”

He didn’t answer right away, but when he finally spoke, his voice was quiet, determined. “We survive. No matter what.”

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

As I looked at Y/N, exhausted but still determined, I realized something. She wasn’t just someone I needed to protect—she was my reason for fighting. My reason for surviving.

In this hellish world, she was the only thing that kept me going. And I wasn’t going to lose her. Not to the monsters. Not to anything.

“We’ll get through this,” I said softly, my voice steady. “As long as we’re together.”

Y/N looked at me, her eyes filled with trust and something else… something deeper. And in that moment, I knew I’d do anything to keep her safe. No matter what it took.

End of Chapter 5

Next | Previous

Chapter 6

Title: Fear and Fire

Chapter 6: The Point of No Return

Y/N’s POV

The sounds of the monsters grew louder, their eerie screeches echoing throughout the building. Every second felt like we were on the edge of something terrible. As Hyun-su and I crouched in the dimly lit room, my heart pounded in my chest, fear swirling in my veins.

We had barely escaped the lower floors. The monsters had broken through the barricades, and the building was quickly becoming a death trap. People were scattered, lost in the panic. It was chaos.

Hyun-su hadn’t let go of my hand since we fled. His grip was tight, as if he was afraid I’d slip away from him. And maybe he was right to feel that way. In this nightmare, everything we held onto could be ripped away in a moment.

“We can’t stay here for long,” Hyun-su muttered, glancing around the room. His eyes were sharp, calculating. Even in his exhaustion, he was thinking ten steps ahead.

I nodded, trying to steady my breathing. “Where can we go? Everywhere seems… infected.”

Hyun-su frowned, his gaze flickering toward the door as if the answer would come bursting through. “There’s only one place left—the rooftop. If we can make it there, maybe we can hold out until… something.”

I knew what he wasn’t saying. The ‘something’ he hoped for—rescue, escape, a miracle—was unlikely. But he couldn’t give up. Neither could I.

Before we could move, a familiar voice echoed from the hallway. “Hyun-su? Y/N?”

My heart leapt as I recognized it. Jae-heon, the pastor, came around the corner with a few other survivors trailing behind him. Relief washed over me, but it didn’t last long. Their faces were pale, and Jae-heon’s eyes were grim.

“They’re everywhere,” Jae-heon said, his voice tight with fear. “We can’t hold them off anymore.”

Hyun-su clenched his jaw, looking over at me. I knew what he was thinking. If the monsters had overrun most of the building, we were out of options.

“We’re heading to the roof,” Hyun-su said quickly, not wasting time. “That’s our best shot.”

Jae-heon hesitated, glancing back at the few people who had followed him. “The roof… it’s exposed. What if they climb up there?”

“It’s a risk,” Hyun-su admitted, “but staying here is suicide.”

I could see the weight of the decision pressing down on Jae-heon, but finally, he nodded. “Let’s go.”

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

There wasn’t time to waste. Every second we lingered, the monsters got closer. I led the group, keeping Y/N right by my side. Her presence was like an anchor, keeping me grounded in the madness. No matter what happened, I couldn’t let anything happen to her.

The stairwell up to the roof was eerily quiet. Too quiet. The others were moving slowly, carefully, but I could feel the tension radiating off them. Everyone knew that one wrong move could alert the monsters, and we’d all be dead.

Just as we reached the final flight of stairs, a blood-curdling screech pierced the air. My heart stopped.

Behind us, two of the creatures appeared, their grotesque bodies filling the narrow corridor. Their mouths opened wide, sharp teeth glistening as they lunged toward us.

“Run!” I shouted, my voice hoarse.

We didn’t need to be told twice. I grabbed Y/N’s hand, pulling her up the stairs as the others scrambled behind us. The monsters were fast—too fast—but we were faster.

We burst through the door to the roof, the fresh air hitting us like a wave. But there was no time to feel relieved. The monsters were right on our heels.

“Block the door!” Jae-heon yelled.

Several of us pushed a heavy metal barrel in front of the door, hoping it would hold for at least a few minutes. I could hear the creatures pounding on the other side, their rage vibrating through the metal.

Panting, I turned to Y/N. “Are you okay?”

She nodded, though I could see the fear in her eyes. “Yeah. You?”

“I’m fine,” I lied. The truth was, I was exhausted. But I couldn’t let her see that. I had to be strong—for her.

Y/N’s POV

The tension on the roof was unbearable. We all knew this was only a temporary reprieve. The monsters were relentless, and they wouldn’t stop until they tore through that door or climbed up the sides of the building.

“We can’t stay up here forever,” one of the other survivors muttered, pacing nervously.

I glanced at Hyun-su, whose eyes were scanning the edge of the roof. He was always thinking, always looking for a solution. It was one of the things that drew me to him—his quiet strength, his ability to stay calm even when the world was burning.

“We’ll have to keep moving,” Hyun-su said, his voice steady. “We’ll figure out our next move when the time comes.”

The others didn’t seem reassured, but no one argued with him. What else could we do? This was survival, and there were no guarantees.

Jae-heon stepped closer to Hyun-su and me, his face full of concern. “Hyun-su, there’s something we need to talk about. The others… they’re starting to notice.”

I frowned. “Notice what?”

Jae-heon hesitated, glancing at me before continuing. “Hyun-su, you’re… changing, aren’t you?”

My breath caught in my throat. Hyun-su’s condition—it had started back on the lower floors. The strange symptoms, the way he seemed different sometimes, as if he was fighting something inside. But I had pushed it aside, not wanting to believe it.

I turned to Hyun-su, my heart racing. “Is that true?”

He didn’t answer right away, but the look in his eyes told me everything I needed to know. “I can control it,” he said finally, his voice low. “For now.”

My chest tightened, fear swirling inside me. I didn’t want to think about what that meant. I didn’t want to imagine a world where Hyun-su became one of those monsters.

But as much as I hated it, I couldn’t deny the truth. Something was happening to him.

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

I hated seeing the fear in Y/N’s eyes. I didn’t want her to look at me like that, like I was something dangerous. But I couldn’t lie to her. I was changing. I could feel it. The monster inside me was growing stronger, and it was getting harder to fight.

But I had to fight it. For her.

“Y/N,” I said quietly, stepping closer to her. “I’m not going to let this thing take over. I won’t become one of them.”

She looked at me, her eyes filled with worry. “But what if you can’t control it?”

I took her hand, squeezing it gently. “I’ll figure it out. I won’t leave you.”

For a moment, she just stared at me, searching my face for any sign of the monster. But then she nodded, her fingers tightening around mine. “I trust you, Hyun-su.”

Those words—they gave me strength. As long as she believed in me, I could keep fighting.

But then, another loud crash came from the door. The monsters were getting closer, and we were running out of time.

Jae-heon stepped forward, his expression grim. “We need a plan.”

“We need to lure them away,” Hyun-su said. “If we can get them off this floor, we might have a chance.”

The others exchanged uneasy glances, but no one had a better idea. We were running out of options.

“I’ll do it,” Hyun-su said firmly.

“No!” I blurted out, my heart sinking. “You can’t. It’s too dangerous.”

But Hyun-su shook his head. “It has to be me. I’m faster. I can handle it.”

I wanted to argue, to beg him not to go, but I knew he was right. He was the only one who could do it. And that terrified me.

“Just… be careful,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

Hyun-su gave me a small, reassuring smile. “I will.”

Y/N’s POV

Watching Hyun-su step toward the edge of the roof, my heart ached. I knew he was doing this for us, for me, but the thought of him risking his life made me feel sick.

The others gathered near the door, ready to block it again once Hyun-su made his move. Jae-heon stood beside me, his face tense as he watched Hyun-su prepare.

“He’s brave,” Jae-heon said quietly.

I nodded, unable to take my eyes off him. “Yeah. He is.”

Hyun-su glanced back at me one last time, and I saw the determination in his eyes. He wasn’t just doing this to survive—he was doing it for all

of us. And in that moment, I realized just how much he meant to me.

“Go,” Jae-heon whispered to Hyun-su.

And with that, Hyun-su took a deep breath and jumped from the edge, landing on a lower platform. My heart stopped as I watched him sprint across the roof, drawing the monsters’ attention away from us.

The screeches of the creatures filled the air as they followed him, and I could only pray that he’d be okay.

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

The adrenaline surged through me as I ran, the sound of the monsters closing in behind me. My body ached, but I pushed through the pain. I had to lead them away. I had to buy everyone more time.

The monsters were relentless, their twisted forms scrambling across the walls as they chased after me. But I was faster. I had to be.

I leapt from one ledge to another, my heart pounding in my chest. The monsters shrieked in frustration, but they kept coming. I couldn’t stop. Not now.

I glanced back once, just for a second, and saw Y/N watching me from the rooftop. Her eyes were wide with fear, but I could see something else in them—hope.

That hope, that trust she had in me, it gave me the strength to keep going.

No matter what happened, I couldn’t let her down.

End of Chapter 6

Next | Previous

Chapter 7

Title: Beneath the Surface

Chapter 7: Shattered Hope

Y/N’s POV

Hours passed since Hyun-su lured the monsters away from the rooftop. We hadn’t heard anything from him yet. The air was thick with tension, and everyone was restless, waiting for something to happen. Every minute that ticked by felt like an eternity.

I kept glancing at the door, praying that he’d come through it any second now. The thought of him out there, alone, risking his life, gnawed at me. I hated this helplessness. All I could do was wait.

Jae-heon moved around, talking quietly with the other survivors, discussing what our next move would be. He was trying to keep everyone calm, but I could see the fear in his eyes too. We were running out of time, and the monsters were getting more aggressive.

“Y/N,” Jae-heon said, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, though the tightness in my chest didn’t loosen. “I’m fine. Just… worried.”

Jae-heon placed a hand on my shoulder, his expression softening. “He’ll come back. Hyun-su is strong.”

I wanted to believe him. But a part of me was terrified that I wouldn’t see Hyun-su again. That thought made my heart ache.

“I know he’s strong,” I whispered, my voice shaky. “But this is… this is different.”

Jae-heon didn’t argue. He just gave me a reassuring look and moved to help the others with reinforcing the barricades.

I hugged my knees to my chest, sitting on the cold floor, my mind racing. What if something had gone wrong? What if Hyun-su—

Before I could finish the thought, the door burst open, and Hyun-su staggered inside.

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

Every muscle in my body screamed in pain as I stumbled into the room, the adrenaline finally wearing off. I had managed to lead the monsters away, but barely. The whole time, I could feel the transformation inside me fighting to take over. I had to push it back, to stay in control.

But now, I was completely drained.

The room fell silent as I entered, everyone’s eyes on me. But the only person I cared about seeing was Y/N.

She was on her feet in an instant, rushing toward me. The relief in her eyes almost broke me. I’d never wanted to let her down, never wanted her to see me like this—weak, exhausted, barely holding on.

“Hyun-su!” Y/N’s voice was full of emotion as she reached me, her hands gently gripping my arms. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, though my legs felt like they might give out at any second. “I’m fine,” I lied, trying to steady my breathing.

“You look awful,” she said softly, her brow furrowed in concern.

I wanted to reassure her, to tell her I was okay. But I couldn’t find the words. The truth was, I wasn’t okay. The monster inside me was getting stronger, and I didn’t know how much longer I could keep it at bay.

But I couldn’t tell her that. I couldn’t let her see how scared I really was.

“I’m fine,” I repeated, forcing a small smile.

Y/N didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t press the issue. Instead, she wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a hug. For a moment, everything else faded away. The fear, the pain, the constant threat of death—it all disappeared as I held her.

“I was so worried about you,” she whispered against my chest.

“I know,” I murmured, resting my chin on her head. “But I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”

Y/N’s POV

I didn’t want to let go of him. Not after everything that had happened. Holding Hyun-su like this, feeling his warmth, it made me forget, just for a moment, the hell we were living in.

But we couldn’t stay like this forever. Reluctantly, I pulled back, though my hands lingered on his arms. His face was pale, and I could see the exhaustion in his eyes. He wasn’t telling me everything, but I didn’t want to push him. Not now.

Jae-heon approached us, his expression grim. “Hyun-su, we need to talk. There’s something… something else.”

Hyun-su nodded, his jaw clenched. “What is it?”

Jae-heon hesitated, glancing at the others before speaking. “We’ve found another survivor. Someone… infected, like you.”

My heart skipped a beat. Another person like Hyun-su? Was that even possible?

“Where are they?” Hyun-su asked, his voice tense.

“Downstairs, in the basement. We locked them up for now. But they’re different. More aggressive.”

I saw Hyun-su’s expression harden. The fear I’d seen in his eyes earlier was back. Whatever this meant, it wasn’t good.

“I’ll go see them,” Hyun-su said, determination in his voice.

“No!” I blurted out, grabbing his arm. “You just got back. You need to rest. Let someone else—”

“I have to do this,” he interrupted, his tone gentle but firm. “I need to know if… if I’m going to end up like them.”

The words hung heavy in the air. I didn’t want to think about that possibility—Hyun-su turning into one of those creatures, losing himself completely. But I could see the fear in his eyes. He was worried too.

“Then I’m coming with you,” I said firmly.

Hyun-su looked like he was about to argue, but then he sighed, nodding. “Okay. But stay close to me.”

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

We made our way to the basement, the tension thick between us. Y/N was silent, but I could feel her worry radiating off her. I didn’t blame her. I was scared too—scared of what I might see, of what it might mean for me.

The basement was dark and cold, the air damp and heavy. As we approached the locked door, I could hear something moving inside—scraping, low growls, the sound of something inhuman.

Jae-heon unlocked the door, and the sound grew louder. My heart pounded in my chest as we stepped inside.

The creature inside wasn’t fully transformed yet. It was still human… mostly. But its eyes were wild, filled with rage and fear. It snarled as it saw us, its body twitching with every movement.

I swallowed hard, my stomach churning. This could be me. This could be what I turn into.

“Hyun-su…” Y/N’s voice was soft, but I could hear the fear in it.

I forced myself to look at the creature, to study it. It was losing itself, the human part of it slipping away. I could feel the monster inside me stirring, as if it was trying to take control, to break free.

But I wasn’t going to let it. I couldn’t.

“This is what you’re fighting against,” Jae-heon said quietly. “You have to stay in control, Hyun-su. For all of us.”

I nodded, clenching my fists. “I won’t let this happen to me.”

Y/N’s POV

I watched Hyun-su as he stared at the creature, his expression tense and conflicted. I could only imagine what was going through his mind. Seeing that thing—it must have felt like looking at his own worst nightmare.

But I knew Hyun-su. He was stronger than that. He wouldn’t let this thing take over him. I believed in him, even if he didn’t fully believe in himself.

“We should go,” I said softly, reaching for his hand.

Hyun-su didn’t move for a moment, his gaze still locked on the creature. But then, slowly, he turned and took my hand, his grip tight. “Yeah,” he muttered. “Let’s go.”

As we left the basement, I couldn’t help but glance back at the creature one last time. I hated it. Not just because it was a monster, but because it represented everything I feared for Hyun-su.

But I wouldn’t let it win. I wouldn’t let the fear consume me.

We walked back up the stairs in silence, but I didn’t let go of Hyun-su’s hand. Whatever happened, whatever came next, we would face it together.

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

Y/N’s hand in mine was the only thing keeping me grounded. The monster inside me was still there, lurking beneath the surface, but I was determined to fight it. For her. For everyone.

As we reached the top of the stairs, Jae-heon gave me a reassuring nod. “We’ll figure this out, Hyun-su. You’re not alone in this.”

I nodded, though I wasn’t sure how much longer I could hold on. But Y/N’s presence gave me hope. As long as she was by my side, I had something to fight for.

“We’ll get through this,” I said quietly, looking at Y/N.

She smiled, though I could see the worry still lingering in her eyes. “We will.”

And for the first time in a long

time, I allowed myself to believe that.

End of Chapter 7

Next | Previous

Chapter 8

Title: Holding On to Hope

Chapter 8: Fragile Lines

Y/N’s POV

The tension in the building was palpable as we gathered in one of the few safer rooms left in the apartment complex. The air felt heavy, almost suffocating with the weight of everything that had happened. The group was getting thinner, the dangers were multiplying, and it seemed like with every passing moment, we were walking a thinner line between survival and destruction.

Hyun-su had been quieter than usual since we visited the basement. Seeing that monster—knowing that it could be him someday—had left him on edge. I could feel it in the way his hand would tense up when he thought I wasn’t paying attention, how he’d sometimes drift off in thought, staring into space with that haunted look in his eyes.

But I wasn’t going to let him deal with this alone.

“Hey,” I said softly, sitting down beside him as he leaned against the wall. His eyes flickered up to meet mine, and for a moment, I saw the exhaustion etched into his features.

“Hey,” he replied, his voice low.

I reached out, my fingers brushing against his. “You okay?”

He hesitated before answering. “I don’t know,” he admitted quietly, his gaze dropping to the floor. “I thought… I thought I could handle this. But every time I look at myself in the mirror, I wonder how much longer I can keep it together.”

My heart ached at his words. Hyun-su had been carrying so much weight on his shoulders, trying to protect everyone while fighting the monster inside of him. I couldn’t imagine how hard that must be for him.

“You’re not alone in this, Hyun-su,” I whispered, moving closer to him. “I’m here. We’re all here. And you’re stronger than you think. You’ve made it this far. You’re still you.”

He looked at me, his expression softening. “What if I’m not me anymore?”

“You are,” I said firmly. “You’re still you. And I believe in you.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke. I could feel the warmth of his body next to mine, the quiet understanding that passed between us without words. In a world that was falling apart, Hyun-su was my anchor, and I knew I had to be his too.

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

Hearing Y/N’s words, feeling her belief in me, it made the darkness inside me seem just a little less overwhelming. I had been so caught up in the fear of losing control that I’d forgotten what it felt like to have someone by my side. Y/N wasn’t just a reminder of who I was—she was my reason to keep fighting.

I looked at her, really looked at her, and for the first time in a while, I allowed myself to feel something other than fear.

“Thank you,” I said, my voice quiet but sincere.

She smiled at me, and I could see the determination in her eyes. “We’re in this together, remember?”

I nodded, my heart swelling with a strange mix of gratitude and affection. Y/N had been with me through so much already, and I couldn’t let her down. I wouldn’t let the monster win. Not while she was here.

Before I could say anything else, the door swung open, and Jae-heon entered the room, his face serious.

“We need to talk,” he said, glancing between Y/N and me. “There’s something you both need to know.”

Y/N’s POV

Jae-heon’s expression was grim as he stood before us, his usual calm demeanor strained by something heavier.

“We’ve received word from the outside,” he began, his tone cautious. “There are people coming. Soldiers. They’re looking for survivors, but…”

“But?” Hyun-su asked, sitting up straighter.

Jae-heon took a deep breath. “But they’re also looking for infected.”

A cold chill ran down my spine. I knew what he was implying. Hyun-su was infected. Would they take him? Would they try to… kill him?

“They won’t understand,” Hyun-su said, his voice tense. “They’ll think I’m like the others.”

Jae-heon nodded slowly. “That’s the risk. If they find out…”

My mind raced. There had to be a way to protect Hyun-su, to keep him safe. “Can we hide him? When they come?”

Jae-heon shook his head. “They’ll be thorough. They’ll scan everyone, test for infections. It won’t be easy to hide something like this.”

I glanced at Hyun-su, my heart pounding. “Then what do we do?”

“We’ll figure something out,” Hyun-su said, his voice firm. “I won’t let them hurt anyone else because of me.”

I could see the determination in his eyes, but I couldn’t shake the fear that gnawed at me. Hyun-su had already been through so much—would he really have to face this threat too?

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

The thought of soldiers coming, of them possibly seeing me as a threat—it stirred something deep inside me. Anger, fear, frustration. But more than anything, I was worried about what it would mean for the others. I had always known I was walking a thin line, but this was something new. I couldn’t let them catch me, couldn’t let them decide I was just another monster to eliminate.

“We have to be ready,” I said, my voice hardening. “I’ll stay out of sight. If they don’t see me, maybe they won’t know.”

Jae-heon looked at me for a long moment before nodding. “We’ll do our best to keep you hidden. But we need to make sure the others are on board with this.”

I swallowed hard. That was the tricky part. Some of the survivors weren’t exactly… comfortable with me. They had accepted me, but only barely. If it came down to it, I wasn’t sure they’d risk their own safety to protect me.

“Do you think they’ll agree?” I asked.

Y/N placed her hand on my arm, her touch grounding me. “They will. I’ll talk to them.”

Y/N’s POV

I could see the fear flicker in Hyun-su’s eyes, the uncertainty of what might happen if the others turned against him. But I wouldn’t let that happen. Hyun-su had risked everything for us—he deserved to be protected.

“I’ll talk to them,” I repeated, standing up. “They’ll understand.”

Hyun-su didn’t say anything, but the gratitude in his eyes was clear. He trusted me, and that meant everything.

I found the others gathered in the common area, murmuring quietly among themselves. They had heard about the soldiers. They were afraid too.

“Everyone,” I said, stepping forward. “We need to talk.”

The room fell silent, all eyes turning toward me.

“I know you’ve all heard about the soldiers coming,” I began, my heart pounding in my chest. “They’re going to help us… but they’re also looking for infected.”

There was a murmur of unease, and I could see the tension rise in the group.

“And that means we need to protect Hyun-su,” I continued, my voice steady. “He’s not like the others. You all know that. He’s helped us—saved us more than once. We owe it to him to keep him safe.”

Some of the survivors exchanged uncertain glances, but no one spoke up. I could feel the weight of their fear, their hesitation. They were scared, and I understood that. But Hyun-su was one of us. He wasn’t a monster.

“Hyun-su has been fighting to stay in control,” I said, my voice growing more urgent. “He’s not a threat to us. He’s been protecting us. And now, it’s our turn to protect him.”

For a moment, no one said anything. The silence stretched on, heavy and tense. My heart raced, and I braced myself for the worst.

But then, finally, Jae-heon stepped forward.

“She’s right,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “Hyun-su is one of us. We’ll protect him.”

Slowly, one by one, the others nodded in agreement. Relief washed over me, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. They were on our side.

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

I watched from the doorway as Y/N stood before the group, speaking on my behalf. I could hear every word she said, and each one cut through the fog of doubt that had been clouding my mind.

She believed in me. More than that, she was fighting for me.

When Jae-heon finally backed her up, I felt something shift in the room. The others were still scared, but they were willing to protect me. I didn’t know if it would be enough when the soldiers came, but it was more than I had expected.

Y/N approached me after the meeting, her expression soft but determined. “We’ll figure this out,” she said quietly.

I nodded, feeling a strange mix of gratitude and guilt. I didn’t deserve this. I had put everyone in danger just by being here, and yet, they were willing to protect me.

“Thank you,” I said, my voice rough.

Y/N smiled, that warm, comforting smile that always made me feel like maybe everything would be okay. “You don’t have to thank me, Hyun-su. We’re in this together.”

For the first time in a long time, I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, we could make it through this.

End of Chapter 8

Next | Previous

Chapter 9

Title: At the Edge of the Abyss

Chapter 9: Unbreakable Bonds

Y/N’s POV

The atmosphere in Green Home was thick with dread. After Jae-heon’s announcement about the soldiers and our decision to hide Hyun-su, everyone was on edge. The plan was risky, but it was our only option. No one knew exactly when the soldiers would arrive, but it felt like the clock was ticking.

Hyun-su had been quiet since the meeting. He wasn’t the type to show his emotions openly, but I could see the fear and doubt lingering behind his eyes. He was carrying the weight of everything—his own transformation, the survival of everyone in the building, and now, the looming threat of the soldiers.

I wasn’t going to let him face this alone.

As the night fell, I found him on the rooftop, leaning against the railing and staring out at the wrecked city below. His shoulders were tense, his hands clenched into fists as if he was trying to hold onto the last bits of his humanity.

“Hyun-su,” I said softly as I approached, careful not to startle him.

He glanced at me, a tired smile tugging at his lips. “Can’t sleep?”

I shook my head. “Not with everything going on.”

He nodded, his gaze drifting back to the horizon. “Me neither.”

I stepped closer, standing next to him and looking out at the devastation. The city, once so full of life, was now just a crumbling reminder of the world we’d lost. But up here, on this rooftop, it almost felt peaceful—like the chaos was far away, even though I knew it was creeping closer with every second.

“How are you feeling?” I asked, my voice quiet but full of concern.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know. I feel like… like I’m losing control. Every time I close my eyes, I see that creature we locked up in the basement. And I wonder… how much time do I have left before I turn into something like that?”

My heart ached hearing the pain in his voice. I wished I could take that fear away from him, make him see that he wasn’t alone in this. But I knew how hard it was for him. Hyun-su had been fighting against his own body for so long, and the pressure was only getting worse.

“You’re not going to turn into that,” I said firmly, reaching out to place my hand over his. “You’re stronger than that, Hyun-su. You’ve been fighting this thing from the start, and you’re still you. That’s not going to change.”

He looked down at our hands, his thumb brushing gently over mine. “What if I can’t control it anymore? What if… what if I hurt you?”

“You won’t,” I said, my voice steady. “I know you won’t.”

He was silent for a long moment, and when he finally spoke, his voice was low and filled with uncertainty. “I don’t deserve your trust, Y/N. I’m dangerous. I’m a monster.”

“No, you’re not,” I said, my grip on his hand tightening. “You’re not a monster. You’re the person who saved us—who saved me. You’re the reason we’re still alive.”

He turned to face me then, his eyes filled with so much emotion that it made my heart clench. “You don’t know how much that means to me,” he whispered.

I smiled, leaning in just a little closer, my voice soft. “I do. Because you mean everything to me, Hyun-su.”

The tension between us seemed to shift, turning into something deeper, something more intimate. For a brief moment, the chaos of the world around us faded into the background, and all I could think about was the boy standing in front of me—the one who had risked everything for me, for us.

Slowly, cautiously, I reached up and cupped his cheek, my thumb brushing against his skin. He leaned into my touch, his eyes closing for just a second, as if he was trying to hold onto this moment, to ground himself in the warmth of my hand.

When he opened his eyes again, there was a vulnerability there that I hadn’t seen before. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Y/N,” he murmured, his voice barely audible.

“You won’t ever have to find out,” I replied, my heart pounding in my chest. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

Y/N’s words hit me harder than I expected. I had been so used to being alone, to carrying the weight of everything by myself. But she wasn’t going to let me do that anymore. She was here, standing by my side, no matter how dangerous or uncertain things were.

For the first time in a long time, I felt like I wasn’t fighting this battle alone.

I swallowed hard, my throat tight with emotion. I had never been good at expressing how I felt, especially in moments like this. But Y/N was different. She had a way of seeing through the walls I put up, of understanding me even when I couldn’t find the words.

“I don’t want to lose you,” I whispered, the fear I had been trying to push down finally bubbling to the surface. “I don’t want you to see me… like that.”

“You won’t lose me,” she said, her voice strong, filled with that quiet confidence that always made me feel like maybe, just maybe, things would be okay. “No matter what happens, I’m staying with you.”

I didn’t deserve her. I didn’t deserve any of this—the trust, the hope, the love that she was offering me. But I wanted to. I wanted to be someone she could rely on, someone who was worthy of her faith.

“Y/N,” I started, but before I could finish, the sound of footsteps echoed from behind us, breaking the moment.

We both turned to see Jae-heon standing at the entrance to the rooftop, his expression grim.

“They’re here,” he said, his voice laced with urgency. “The soldiers. They’ve arrived.”

Y/N’s POV

A cold wave of fear washed over me at Jae-heon’s words. The soldiers. They were here already. We weren’t ready. We hadn’t even had a chance to figure out where to hide Hyun-su, how to protect him from being discovered.

Hyun-su’s hand tightened around mine as we exchanged a quick glance. His eyes were filled with determination, but I could also see the fear lurking beneath the surface. He was trying to stay calm, but I knew he was terrified of what might happen if the soldiers found out what he was.

“We need to move,” Jae-heon said, his voice low but urgent. “They’re searching the building, room by room. We don’t have much time.”

My heart raced as I looked around the rooftop, searching for any possible hiding spots. But there was nothing. We were completely exposed up here.

“What do we do?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly despite my efforts to stay calm.

Jae-heon frowned, thinking quickly. “There’s a storage room on the lower floors—somewhere out of the way. It might buy us some time. But we need to go now.”

Hyun-su nodded, his jaw clenched. “Lead the way.”

We hurried down the stairwell, our footsteps echoing in the dark, narrow space. My mind was racing, trying to figure out how we were going to get through this. The soldiers were trained to find infected—they wouldn’t just pass Hyun-su by. But we couldn’t give up. We had to find a way to protect him.

As we reached the lower floors, Jae-heon gestured toward a small door at the end of the hallway. “In there,” he said, his voice hushed. “It’s not much, but it’s the best we’ve got right now.”

Hyun-su stepped forward, his eyes scanning the area. “Y/N, you stay here with the others. I’ll hide inside.”

“No,” I said immediately, shaking my head. “I’m not leaving you.”

“Y/N—”

“I’m not,” I repeated, cutting him off. “I’m staying with you.”

He stared at me for a moment, his expression conflicted. But he didn’t argue. Instead, he nodded, his shoulders sagging slightly in defeat.

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

There was no point in trying to change Y/N’s mind. She had made it clear that she wasn’t going to leave me, no matter how dangerous things got. A part of me was relieved—having her by my side made everything feel just a little less overwhelming. But another part of me was terrified. What if something happened to her because of me?

We slipped inside the storage room, the dim light barely illuminating the small, cramped space. There were old shelves lined with broken equipment, dusty boxes piled up in the corners. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do.

Y/N and I crouched behind a stack of boxes, our breathing shallow as we listened for any signs of movement outside.

Minutes passed. Then more. The silence was suffocating.

But then, the unmistakable sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway.

My heart pounded

in my chest as I held my breath, praying that the soldiers wouldn’t come this way. Y/N’s hand found mine in the dark, and I squeezed it tightly, drawing strength from her presence.

The footsteps grew louder, closer. My body tensed, every muscle coiled, ready to react if I had to. If they found us…

The door creaked open.

I froze, my blood turning to ice as the beam of a flashlight swept across the room.

They were here.

I could feel Y/N trembling next to me, but she didn’t make a sound. We both stayed perfectly still, hidden behind the boxes, hoping that the soldiers wouldn’t check too thoroughly.

The light passed over us once, then twice. I held my breath, waiting for the inevitable.

But then, the light disappeared, and the footsteps retreated.

The door closed.

I exhaled slowly, the tension draining from my body as the danger passed. We weren’t safe yet, but at least for now, we had avoided detection.

Y/N leaned against me, her forehead resting against my shoulder as she let out a shaky breath. “That was too close,” she whispered.

I nodded, my heart still racing. “Yeah.”

For a long moment, neither of us spoke. We just sat there, our hands still entwined, the adrenaline slowly fading.

“We’ll get through this,” Y/N said quietly, her voice filled with a quiet determination. “We’ll find a way.”

I glanced down at her, my heart swelling with gratitude and something else—something deeper that I hadn’t let myself acknowledge until now.

“I know we will,” I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

End of Chapter 9

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Chapter 10 (Last chapter of season 1)

Title: The Brink of Despair

Chapter 10: Through the Darkness

Y/N’s POV

The piercing wail of the fire alarm echoed through Green Home, filling the building with an almost unbearable noise. My heart raced as we crouched in the cramped storage room, the sound vibrating through the walls and making it difficult to think straight.

Hyun-su was beside me, his hand tightly clasping mine. I could feel his pulse beating rapidly, his breath coming in short, uneven bursts. We were both caught in the chaotic aftermath of our plan to distract the soldiers, but the tension was almost too much to bear.

“We need to stay hidden until the soldiers move away,” Hyun-su said, his voice strained but determined. He glanced at me, his eyes reflecting a mix of anxiety and resolve. “If they find us now…”

“They won’t,” I said firmly, trying to inject some calm into the situation. “We’ve come this far. We just need to stay put and wait.”

Hyun-su nodded, though I could see the fear in his eyes. The fire alarm was designed to create chaos, and it was working all too well. The building was in disarray, and the soldiers’ shouts and hurried footsteps were a constant reminder of the danger we faced.

We sat in the darkness, the blaring siren creating an almost surreal atmosphere. The room was filled with old furniture and dusty boxes, the dim light from a flickering bulb casting eerie shadows on the walls. The noise was almost deafening, but it was a small comfort knowing that it was drawing attention away from us.

I glanced at Hyun-su, noticing how the stress was taking a toll on him. His face was pale, and his hands were trembling slightly. I reached out and touched his arm, trying to offer some reassurance.

“Hyun-su, we’re going to make it through this,” I said softly. “We just have to stay strong a little longer.”

He looked at me, his eyes reflecting a mixture of gratitude and fear. “I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up, Y/N. The pressure… it’s overwhelming.”

I squeezed his hand, my heart aching at the sight of his distress. “You’re stronger than you think. We’re in this together. We’ll find a way out.”

As the minutes dragged on, the sound of the fire alarm seemed to blend with the distant voices of the soldiers. I tried to listen for any signs of movement, but the noise was almost too loud to discern anything clearly. The chaos outside was a constant reminder of how precarious our situation was.

Finally, the noise of the alarm began to subside, replaced by a tense silence. The soldiers must have been moving on to investigate other parts of the building. I could hear their muffled voices growing fainter as they moved away from our location.

Hyun-su and I exchanged a look, both of us recognizing that this was our chance to make a move. We had to take advantage of the distraction while we could.

“Let’s go,” Hyun-su said, his voice filled with a renewed sense of purpose. “We need to find a safer place.”

We carefully made our way out of the storage room, the building still echoing with the distant sounds of the soldiers’ search. The hallway was dimly lit, the occasional flicker of a broken light casting unsettling shadows on the walls.

As we moved through the corridors, I could feel the adrenaline still coursing through my veins. Every creak of the floorboards and every distant sound made me jump, but Hyun-su’s steady presence beside me helped keep me grounded.

We reached the stairwell, moving quickly but cautiously. The stairs were narrow and steep, and I could feel the tension in Hyun-su’s shoulders as he led the way. We had to be careful not to make any noise that could attract attention.

As we reached the rooftop access door, Hyun-su paused, his hand resting on the doorknob. He glanced at me, his expression serious. “We need to be extra cautious up here. If the soldiers see us…”

“We’ll be ready,” I said, trying to offer him some reassurance. “We’ll find a way to stay hidden.”

Hyun-su nodded, his hand gripping the doorknob as he slowly pushed the door open. The rooftop was dark and exposed, the city lights below casting a faint glow over the ruins. The air was cold, and the wind whipped around us, carrying with it the sounds of distant sirens and the occasional explosion.

We stepped onto the rooftop, our footsteps muffled by the gravel underfoot. I glanced around, trying to get a sense of the situation. The soldiers were still moving through the building, their flashlights cutting through the darkness below.

Hyun-su and I moved to the edge of the rooftop, staying as low as possible to avoid being seen. We could see the soldiers searching the building, their flashlights moving methodically from room to room.

“We need to create another diversion,” Hyun-su said, his voice low and urgent. “Something that will draw their attention away from us.”

I nodded, my mind racing as I tried to come up with a plan. “What if we use some of the debris on the rooftop? We could create a distraction by making a loud noise.”

Hyun-su’s eyes lit up with the idea. “That might work. Let’s find some materials.”

We began to gather various items from the rooftop—old metal sheets, broken pipes, and anything else that could be used to create a loud noise. We arranged the debris in a makeshift pile, positioning it near the edge of the building where it would be visible from below.

Once we had everything set up, Hyun-su pulled out a lighter and set fire to the pile. The flames quickly spread, sending up a plume of thick black smoke that rose into the night sky. The sight of the fire and smoke would certainly attract attention.

The soldiers below reacted immediately, their shouts growing louder as they turned their attention to the new threat. The fire alarm was still blaring in the distance, adding to the confusion.

Hyun-su and I took advantage of the distraction, quickly moving away from the edge of the rooftop and heading back inside the building. We made our way to a safer location, the chaos outside giving us the cover we needed to avoid detection.

As we reached a small, secluded room on a lower floor, we paused to catch our breath. The noise of the fire and the soldiers’ shouts was still audible, but we were out of immediate danger.

“We did it,” I said, my voice trembling with exhaustion. “We managed to create a diversion.”

Hyun-su nodded, his face still pale but showing a hint of relief. “Yeah. But we need to keep moving. We don’t know how long the distraction will last.”

We continued to move through the building, staying as quiet as possible and avoiding any areas that might still be under inspection. The building was eerily quiet now, the sounds of the soldiers and the fire alarm fading into the background.

As we made our way through the darkened corridors, I could sense the exhaustion and stress in Hyun-su. He was pushing himself to the limit, trying to keep us both safe despite the overwhelming odds.

“We’ll find a way out,” I said, trying to offer him some reassurance. “We’re close. We just need to stay focused.”

Hyun-su gave me a grateful look, his eyes reflecting the determination that had been guiding him through this nightmare. “Thank you, Y/N. For everything.”

We continued to navigate the building, our goal clear—find a way out and ensure our safety. The challenges we faced were immense, but we were determined to overcome them together.

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

Navigating through Green Home was like walking through a maze of shadows and danger. The fire alarm and the distraction we created had given us a brief respite, but we couldn’t afford to let our guard down. The soldiers were still out there, and their search could resume at any moment.

Y/N’s presence was a constant source of strength. She was always there, providing support and encouragement even in the darkest moments. I knew that without her, I wouldn’t have been able to keep going. Her belief in us, in me, was what kept me moving forward.

As we made our way through the building, I could see the exhaustion etched on Y/N’s face. She was tired, scared, and yet she remained resolute. It was a testament to her strength and determination, qualities that had always impressed me.

“We need to get to the basement,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “There might be a way out through the underground tunnels.”

Y/N nodded, her expression serious. “Lead the way.”

We headed down to the basement, our footsteps echoing in the dimly lit stairwell. The tension was palpable, each step bringing us closer to our goal but also increasing the risk of discovery.

As we reached the basement, I noticed a flickering light coming from one of the storage rooms. We approached cautiously, peering inside to see if it was safe.

The room was empty, the only light coming from a malfunctioning fluorescent bulb overhead. We moved inside, taking a moment to catch our breath and assess our situation.

“There should be an access point to the tunnels somewhere in this area,” I said, scanning the room for any signs of an exit.

Y/N began to search through the clutter, her hands moving quickly as she examined old equipment and discarded items. “I’ll look for it,” she said, determination in her voice.

I

watched her work, my heart swelling with admiration. Despite everything we had been through, she was still focused and determined. It was a reminder of why I had to keep fighting, why I had to protect her.

Finally, Y/N found what we were looking for—a hidden panel in the wall that led to the tunnels. She managed to pry it open, revealing a narrow passageway leading underground.

“We found it,” she said, her voice filled with relief.

I nodded, my own sense of relief mingled with the anticipation of what lay ahead. “Let’s go. This might be our best chance to get out of here.”

We made our way down the tunnel, the passageway narrow and dimly lit. The air was musty, and the walls were damp, but it was a welcome change from the chaos of the building above.

As we moved through the tunnels, I couldn’t help but reflect on everything that had happened. The danger, the fear, and the uncertainty had been overwhelming, but through it all, Y/N had been by my side. Her strength and courage had given me hope, and it was that hope that kept me going.

The tunnel eventually led us to a small access point outside the building. We emerged into the cool night air, the sight of the city lights a stark contrast to the darkness we had left behind.

Y/N and I stood together, looking out at the city. The danger wasn’t over, but we had made it through the worst of it. We had survived, and that was something to be grateful for.

“We did it,” Y/N said, her voice filled with quiet triumph. “We made it out.”

I looked at her, my heart full of gratitude and affection. “Yeah. We did.”

We stood there for a moment, taking in the view and savoring the sense of freedom. Despite the challenges we had faced, we had made it through together. It was a testament to our strength and resilience.

As we began to make our way to safety, I knew that the road ahead would still be difficult. But with Y/N by my side, I felt confident that we could face whatever came our way.

We had survived the nightmare that was Green Home, and we had done it together. And as we moved forward into the unknown, I knew that our bond was stronger than ever.

End of Chapter 10

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Chapter 1 season 2

Title: Shadows of the Past

Chapter 1: A New Dawn

Y/N’s POV

The first rays of morning light crept through the cracks in the makeshift curtains, casting soft golden streaks across the room. The building was quiet, save for the distant sounds of the city awakening. It was a stark contrast to the chaos that had consumed our lives just days before.

I woke up slowly, my body still adjusting to the new rhythm of our precarious existence. The remnants of our harrowing escape from Green Home seemed like a nightmare, and yet, here we were—survivors in a world that had been turned upside down.

Next to me, Hyun-su was still asleep, his face relaxed in an uncharacteristic moment of peace. His features, usually marked by tension and worry, were softened by the calm of sleep. I watched him for a moment, my heart swelling with a mix of relief and love. Despite everything we’d endured, he was here, and we were safe—for now.

I carefully slid out of bed, not wanting to disturb him. The room was small but functional, a temporary refuge from the chaos that still roiled outside. We had found a safe house on the outskirts of the city, a place that offered some semblance of normalcy amidst the turmoil. It wasn’t much, but it was ours.

The first few days had been a whirlwind of activity—finding food, assessing our new surroundings, and making sure we were secure. We had established a routine, but the shadows of our past still loomed large.

I moved quietly through the room, preparing a simple breakfast. The small kitchen area was functional, though it lacked the comforts we once took for granted. The scarcity of resources made every meal a precious commodity.

As I cooked, my thoughts drifted back to the days spent in Green Home. The memories were a tangled mess of fear and resolve, each one etched into my mind. But alongside the darkness, there were moments of light—glimpses of hope and resilience that had carried us through.

I set the table and glanced back at Hyun-su, who was stirring awake. His eyes met mine, and he offered a sleepy smile. “Morning,” he said, his voice still rough from sleep.

“Good morning,” I replied, trying to keep my tone light. “I made us some breakfast.”

Hyun-su sat up, rubbing his eyes. “You didn’t have to. I can—”

I cut him off with a gentle smile. “It’s fine. I wanted to. You’ve done so much for us. It’s the least I can do.”

He gave me a grateful look, his eyes reflecting the warmth of his appreciation. “Thanks, Y/N. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

We sat down to eat, the simple meal a welcome comfort. The quiet of the morning was a stark contrast to the turmoil of the past weeks, and we savored the moment of calm. It was a chance to breathe, to regroup, and to find some semblance of normalcy.

After breakfast, we decided to explore our new surroundings. The safe house was located in a relatively quiet area, but the city beyond was still a place of uncertainty. We needed to understand the lay of the land, to find out what had changed and what resources were available.

We stepped outside, the cool morning air a refreshing change from the stifling confines of the building. The streets were eerily quiet, the remnants of the chaos still visible in the damaged buildings and abandoned vehicles. It was a ghost town, a reminder of the world we had left behind.

As we walked through the streets, Hyun-su stayed close, his eyes scanning the surroundings with a vigilance that had become second nature. His presence was a constant source of strength, and I could see the toll that the past events had taken on him. He was still carrying the weight of our survival, the burden of responsibility etched into every line of his face.

We found a small convenience store that had been partially stocked, and we gathered what supplies we could. The store’s shelves were sparse, but we managed to find enough to sustain us for a while longer. It was a small victory, but one that was crucial for our continued survival.

As we made our way back to the safe house, I couldn’t help but reflect on the journey that had brought us here. The fight for survival had been brutal, but it had also forged a bond between us that was unbreakable. We had faced unimaginable odds, but we had come through stronger.

Back at the safe house, we took stock of our supplies and planned for the days ahead. The uncertainty of our situation was always present, but we were determined to make the best of it. We had survived the horrors of Green Home, and now we were ready to face whatever the future held.

Cha Hyun-su’s POV

The quiet of the safe house was a welcome change from the constant turmoil we had faced. The past days had been a blur of stress and danger, and waking up to the calm of our new surroundings was both a relief and a reminder of how fragile our situation was.

I watched as Y/N moved around the small kitchen, preparing breakfast with a quiet efficiency that spoke of her resilience. Her presence was a comfort, a constant source of strength that helped me cope with the overwhelming challenges we faced.

I could see the toll that the past events had taken on her, the way her eyes carried the weight of our shared experiences. Yet, despite everything, she remained hopeful and determined. It was a reminder of why I had to keep fighting, why I had to protect her at all costs.

As we ate breakfast together, I felt a sense of gratitude and warmth. The simple act of sharing a meal was a small but significant comfort, a moment of normalcy amidst the chaos. It was a reminder of the bond we shared, a connection that had been forged in the crucible of our trials.

After breakfast, we decided to venture outside and explore our new surroundings. The city was a different place now, scarred by the events that had unfolded. It was a world that had changed beyond recognition, and we had to navigate it with caution.

Walking through the quiet streets, I stayed close to Y/N, my senses on high alert. The silence was almost unsettling, a stark contrast to the chaos we had left behind. The abandoned buildings and damaged vehicles were a constant reminder of the world we once knew, a world that seemed to be slipping further away.

When we found the convenience store and managed to gather some supplies, it was a small victory. Each item we collected was a step toward survival, a sign that we were adapting to our new reality.

As we returned to the safe house, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were on the brink of something new. The world outside was uncertain, and the future was filled with challenges. But with Y/N by my side, I felt a sense of hope. We had faced the darkness together, and we would face whatever came next with the same determination.

The journey ahead would be difficult, but we were ready. We had survived the worst, and now we were ready to build a new future—together.

End of Chapter 1

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About to go full fleabag on these hoes

What if women put aside their differences and kissed, like is that so hard

Love! I’m in some serious need of Sweet Home fanfic after watching season 3

Watch Me.

My Navigation and Masterlist

My Sweet Home Masterlist

My Cha Hyun-su Masterlist

Pairing(s): Cha Hyun-su x Fem!Reader Summary: Your high school life was as normal as anyone else's... until Kim Do-hun arrived. He took you away from your best friend, Cha Hyun-su, until an apocalypse happened and he came to get you back. Warnings: Bullying (toward Hyun-su), mentally abusive behavior, implied physical abuse (One written slap directed towards reader), blackmailing, unhealthy relationship, abusive relationship, sadism and dacryphilia but not in a sexual way, Kim Do-hun being the queen of gaslight gatekeep girlboss, lots of crying, reader feeling helpless, monster!Hyun-su, talk of past suicidal ideation and self-harm, male masturbation, sexual fantasy, and fingering. Word Count: 14,310 Extra Notes: I FINALLY FINISHED IT! YES! The smut part I'm not the most proud of BUT I FINISHED IT ARE YOU PROUD OF ME?! Okay... enjoy :)

“I guess you don’t know why I’m doing this to you,” 

Kim Do-hun sighed out with a condescending tilt of his head. His hand readjusted his grip on the wooden stick he used to beat Hyun-su only minutes ago. “I promise, I have a good reason.” 

“You scum,” Hyun-su cursed under his breath as he glared at him. He was lying on the floor, blood flowing from the cut on his cheek and bruises scattering themselves across his body. His, once white, shirt was now splattered in red and muddied from the dust and dirt collected on the floor. 

“You look pretty angry. I guess you weren’t beaten enough.”

“Do-hun, stop, please!” You pleaded from your place on the side. Tears you were unable to hide streamed down your cheeks as two of your ‘friends’ held you back from rushing forward and stopping him from continuing with the beating toward the boy who held your heart. 

You could faintly hear Hyun-su whispering for you to stay out of it, but you focused your attention on the boy standing above him. He lazily tilted his head over to look at you and his lips quirked up into a smirk. “Yeah? And what’ll you give me if I do?” 

“Anything. What do you want? You already have money and popularity and loyalty from all the fucking asshats that surround you, what more do you want?” You seethed out. 

Your breath caught in your throat when he approached you. He raised a hand and you flinched when his knuckles skimmed over your cheek. “I want you,” he said simply with a grin. 

“What?” You whispered, praying he wasn’t asking what you thought he was asking.

“I want you to be my girlfriend,” he took a step forward and you stumbled back, feeling betrayed but not surprised when your ‘friends’ instantly let go of your arms when they saw what he was doing. “I want to have you by my side every day while I walk down the halls of the school. I want to introduce you to my dad and arrange for us to get married. I want you to be mine.”

Your back was pressed against the window of the classroom as he cornered you, your eyes wide with surprise and fear. You didn’t want to marry this asshole, you didn’t want to be within 30 feet of him. 

But you desperately wanted him to stop hurting the boy you loved. 

“Hell no. She’s not getting with a guy like you,” Hyun-su protested, trying to get up from his position on the floor but failing. He whimpered your name through a pained gasp and started talking directly to you. “I won’t let you do this. Stay out of this, okay?” 

The two of you held eye contact for a bit, arguing nonverbally about what you would do before you sighed sadly and looked away. 

“No, Do-hun. I won’t be your girlfriend,” you spoke quietly, not looking him in the eyes. He sighed airily before turning back to where his victim resided on the ground. 

He clicked his tongue, almost teasingly. Shooting you one last glance, he asked, “Are you sure?” You didn’t respond or even look at him. “Okay, your call,” he sighed before turning to face a classmate of yours who was sitting at a desk. “Hey, four eyes.”

Park Ju-yeong looked away from Do-hun’s direction, hoping he wasn’t talking to him but luck wasn’t on his side. 

“You,” Do-hun tried again and the boy turned to look at him warily. “Yeah… It’s your turn now.”

Ju-yeong watched as he placed the wooden stick on his desk with a soft clacking sound. “But he looks…” he stuttered out, glancing at Hyun-su and seeing the state he was in. 

“So?” Do-hun taunted. “Were you close with him or what?” The boy looked down, silently confirming the statement. The bully scoffed. “All these guys used to be friends with him too.”

Everyone looked away, either in shame or embarrassment from being called out on it. You quietly seethed as you watched the scene play out in front of you. 

“Don’t do it if you don’t want to,” he offered him. “I’m not forcing you. Oh, by the way,” he started as he walked to stand behind his chair, leaning down so he was speaking right next to his ear. “Who were your friends again?”

You scoffed. 

‘Not forcing you’ my ass. 

Even though you expected it, your heart still started racing when you saw Ju-yeong close his fingers around the stick and stand up, moving to stand in front of Hyun-su. 

“No,” you whispered and gradually got louder with your protests. “No, no. No! Stop!” You rushed forward to stand in the way but two pairs of hands wrapped around your arms to pull you back. You were practically completely immobilized and forced to watch everything in front of you.

Do-hun scoffed out a laugh as he glanced at you before turning back to Ju-yeong. With his hands placed in his pockets, he nodded back to him. “Keep going.”

You could see how Ju-yeong hesitantly looked over at you and your pleading face before facing forward again and raising the stick over his head. You let out a sob when he whispered a small apology and brought the stick down upon your best friend. No matter how many times you pleaded and begged for him to stop, Do-hun would always tell him to keep going. It wasn’t until you fell to your knees sobbing that you finally said the words he really wanted to hear, but your best friend dreaded. 

“I’ll do it,” you sobbed out, barely coherent through your staggering breaths. 

Do-hun raised a hand, signaling Ju-yeong to stop what he was doing. Hyun-su wheezed, trying to say something, to protest what he knew you were planning, but unable to because of the pain coursing through his ribs. 

“What was that, Doll?” Do-hun asked as he took a few steps toward you and crouched down in front of your form. You had curled in on yourself with a hand clutching the fabric of your chest. The boys holding you back from interfering let you go when Do-hun reached forward to grab your chin. The gentleness with which he did so contrasted his actions toward Hyun-su so much it scared you. “Why don’t you repeat that?”

You stared at him as you tried to get your words out without any sobs or cries interrupting you. “I-” you let out a shaky breath. “I’ll do it. I’ll be your girlfriend. Just st-stop hurting him. Please.”

His smirk grew as he listened to your begs and how you seemed so helpless in front of him. So desperate for your friend to be released from this agonizing torture. 

“So pretty when she cries, isn’t she Cha Hyun-su?” He jeered while you closed your eyes and tried not to flinch away from his hand caressing your cheek. He wiped away the tears that continued to fall and cooed at your soft whimpers. 

“N-no… sto-” Hyun-su tried but it abruptly was interrupted by him falling into a coughing fit. 

“Aw, you don’t think she’s pretty when she cries? That’s just not nice. Maybe you need another beating to appreciate her.”

Your eyes widened as you heard him say that and he stood up to face Hyun-su again. “No!” You screamed, scrambling to stand up and grab onto his sleeve hopelessly. “You said you wouldn’t hurt him, please.”

He wrapped his arm around your waist, pulling you into his side and you froze. You couldn’t move; couldn’t breathe; couldn’t think. All you could do was stand stiffly in his embrace as he pretended to think. 

“Alright. I’ll make you a deal,” he started and you held your breath.

Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy. Why would it be? He was a bully after all.

“I won’t hurt him anymore, as long as you follow everything I say.”

Your exhale was shaky when you released it, your heart thumping rapidly against your chest and your mind screaming at you that this was a bad idea. Ignoring the way your body - and Hyun-su - protested, you nodded. “Okay. Okay, I’ll do whatever you say. Just don’t hurt him.”

He smiled at you, his eyes gleaming with a familiar look that brought you back to all the first interactions you had with him. 

You were running down the halls of the school, cursing yourself for not waking up to your alarm. You would definitely be marked as tardy, if not absent. 

Disheveled and panting from exertion, you held your Math and History textbook in your hand with your backpack hanging on one shoulder. You were trying to force the books into your bag but with the way you were walking and not thinking clearly, it was hopeless. 

Your tie wasn’t even correctly done. 

Turning the corner, you looked up just in time for your face to slam into someone’s chest. The both of you got knocked down to the ground with your books falling from your hands. Letting out a gasp, you immediately scrambled to bow your head and apologize. 

“I’m so sorry! I wasn’t looking and I’m late for class and I- I’m so sorry,” you rambled. Looking up, you saw a boy you’d never seen at the school before. Your eyes lit up in realization before you practically crumpled in on yourself. “Oh, and you’re the new kid too, this is such a terrible first impression!” You whined and put your head in your hands. 

When he let out a small laugh, you looked up. He was sitting more upright now while looking at you. His head tilted and his eyes filled with a look that you couldn’t quite place. “It’s alright, Doll.”

You frowned at the nickname but brushed it off. “Are you hurt?” You asked frantically while simultaneously shoving your books into your bag and helping him gather his own things. You stood up, holding his backpack in one hand while yours remained on the ground. With your other hand, you reached down and offered it to him. He looked at your hand for a while before taking it in his. 

“No, I’m not hurt.” 

“Well, I am so sorry but I am still late for class, so I’ll see you around, newbie. Let me know if you need help with a tour of the school or anything like that!” You waved him off after handing him his backpack and picking up your own. 

You were unaware of how he watched you walk away until you were out of sight. 

A few hours later, it was lunchtime and you were outside with a few of your friends playing soccer. It was your favorite thing about lunchtime except for the times when you would eat with your best friend, Hyun-su. During the times when the two of you weren’t eating together, he would often watch you on the sidelines as you played soccer or occasionally be with another friend.

Today seemed to be one of the latter days as you played soccer. You couldn’t see him anywhere on the sidelines, but you did see his backpack. It wasn’t too uncommon for him not to be there so you just decided to let it be and continue focusing on the game. 

You had the ball but you had nowhere that could be a good shot and one member of the opposing team was persistent on messing up any dribbling you tried to do. Your only choice was to pass it, and you did. You passed it to Seo-joon. The boy had only started playing with your group about a week ago but he was a pretty good kicker. 

The only thing he needed to work on was his aim. 

The ball went flying out of the playing field and crashed into the vending machine where two familiar boys were. 

“Seo-joon!” You exclaimed just as you heard a voice call out.

“Be careful, watch out!” Hyun-su yelled to Seo-joon as he ran to retrieve the ball. 

“Oh, sorry! Are you okay?” He asked but didn’t wait for a response as he passed the ball and the game continued. You rolled your eyes and jogged over to the two boys. You realized the other boy, who had fallen backward from the shock of the ball flying toward him, was the new kid, Kim Do-hun. 

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry, are you two alright?” You asked, placing your hands on your knees while you panted from the run over. “Seo-joon might have a really powerful kick but he can’t aim all too well,” you joked. 

“Yeah, I’m okay,” Hyun-su confirmed before turning to where Do-hun was sitting on the floor after falling back in shock. “Are you okay?” He reached out his hand, offering him a way of getting up but it ended up not getting taken. 

Not paying Hyun-su any mind as he stood, Do-hun turned to you. “I’m fine. Thank you.”

You nervously glanced over at Hyun-su before looking back at the boy and shooting him your most charming - yet still slightly awkward - smile. “Perfect. Well, I’m going to go back and continue playing, but I’ll try to keep you guys from getting any more balls being shot in your direction!” You reassured playfully before turning and placing a hand on Hyun-su’s arm. “I’ll see you after school, yeah?”

He shot you a grin and nodded enthusiastically. You returned it before turning around and running back to the game. Hyun-su missed the way Do-hun glared at the place where your hand touched his arm, instead watching as you were passed the ball and started dribbling toward the goal. 

You could see it now. The look he gave you.

It was obsession. 

He was obsessed with you; with getting you on his side, and if he had to use force or the use of others’ pain to get that then he would. No hesitation. 

“Doll,” you heard and returned from your daze when fingers snapped in your face. 

“Hm?” You looked away from where you had zoned out looking at your best friend and up to see the brown, haunting eyes of Do-hun in front of you. He let out a laugh.

“Hm?” He mocked and you bit your tongue to stop from making any remarks. “I’m taking you home,” he told you. There was no room for argument in his voice and you noticed everyone who had been in the room except for Hyun-su, Do-hun, and yourself were all gone. Hyun-su had moved from lying on the floor to leaning against the cubbies on the wall behind him. He wheezed every time he tried to open his mouth and all you could do was watch helplessly as you came to terms with what exactly you were agreeing to.

But still, even with the feeling of Do-hun’s hand around your waist and his fingers on your jaw that guided you to look back into his eyes, you couldn’t bring yourself to regret it. 

“I’m taking you home,” he repeated more sternly. You could tell he was getting annoyed but you couldn’t help yourself from asking your next question. 

“Can I keep him as my friend?” You hated that you had to ask for that simple action. You were practically giving up any control you had over your social life and that was heartbreaking.

But as long as it kept Hyun-su safe…

Do-hun scoffed and his hand tightened uncomfortably around your waist. Your blood ran cold as you felt his fingers digging into your side, knowing how much power he had at the tips of those appendages and how hopeless you were against them. 

You weren’t even talking about it in a physical aspect. No, you were talking about the power in society he held. It wasn’t a secret how he was the son of a very successful and important businessman, especially with how much he boasted about it. He could ruin anyone’s life at the drop of a hat and they wouldn’t know what hit them. 

You were mostly worried about Hyun-su and his family. You were well aware of his dad’s boss being Do-hun’s father and how he used that to threaten him on a daily basis. It scared you how out of your depth you were in this battle you waged against him. 

And like striking down the leader of your army, he dug the blade through your heart with the next words. 

“You’re not allowed to even look at him ever again.”

You let out a scream as you thrashed around. The smell of cigarettes burned your nose as it filled the air around you. Your hands fought to pull against the grip holding you by your hair and forcing you to face your worst nightmare. 

You cringed at the hot breath that blew against your ear as he spoke. “This is your fault. I wouldn’t have to do this if you’d just followed what you were told and stayed away from him,” Do-hun condescendingly told you. He made it sound like he was sorry and remorseful at having to do this but you knew he was loving every minute. 

“Just stop! Stop it! Please!” You sobbed, your hands going weak as they limply held the wrist of his hand holding your hair. The pained groans and gasps coming from Hyun-su on the ground in front of you echoed in your head relentlessly.

It’s your fault.

It’s your fault.

It’s your fault.

“Please let him go. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” you pleaded helplessly but he just clicked his tongue in disappointment.

“I’m sorry too,” he lied. “But the only way you’ll learn is if you see that there are consequences to your actions,” he explained before forcing you to walk forward and fall to your knees in front of Hyun-su. You let out a small whine as the grip he had on your scalp tightened and he leaned in again. “These are the consequences. So take a good, long look and remember it every time you think about going back on your word.”

It’s your fault.

It’s your fault.

It’s your fault.

More tears fell as you did as told and took a long look over your wounded friend. There was blood splattered across his white-uniformed shirt as well as the grey undershirt he wore. Blood collected around his mouth from where he had spat it out along with the cut on his bruised lips. On his left cheek was the laceration from last time that had reopened and was sending streaks of blood down his face. His nose had a small gash along the bridge and both eyes, one still bruised from the last time he was beaten up in the classroom and the other luckily unharmed, were opened wide as he stared back at you. 

Hyun-su reached out a bloodied hand to your cheek to instinctively wipe away the tears that had fallen there but you were harshly pulled away just before his fingers could skim your skin. 

His eyes shot back up to Do-hun as he looked bored by the interaction. “Let her go,” he demanded in a quiet voice. 

“I will, if you jump off,” Do-hun bargained and the look Hyun-su sent over to the edge of the roof sent you into a panic. 

“No! No Hyun-su, don’t you dare!”

“Oh, shut up, Doll,” Do-hun rolled his eyes before he forced you to look at him again. “Do you want him to get another beating? Huh?” He questioned, mockingly. “I thought I told you not to talk to him, yeah?” At your silence, he degradingly tapped his knuckles against your temple. “Is there a brain in there that can answer or are you just an empty shell?”

“No. No, I don’t want him to get another beating,” you rushed out, trying not to make any remarks about the belittling way he spoke to you. 

Hyun-su seemed much braver than you. “Don’t speak to her like that.”

Do-hun scoffed and pushed you backward so you crashed into the chest of another boy in the group. His arms wrapped around your chest and stopped you from moving while Do-hun crouched down in front of Hyun-su and lightly flicked his forehead. “I’ll talk to her however I want. Don’t forget, she’s my girlfriend now,” he laughed under his breath. “And do you know how it feels to figure out my girlfriend has been cheating on me? Texting you, talking about how you left your clothes at her house? It breaks my heart,” he said with a sarcastically sad tone.  

Hyun-su sent you a glance and you begged him with your eyes not to say anything. Whether he denied or confirmed the situation, it would only make things worse for the both of you. He just looked down and away from you, avoiding Do-hun’s irritatingly patronizing gaze as well. 

“But don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get your clothes back soon enough, though I can’t guarantee what their quality will be like,” he joked and all the other boys on the roof laughed along with him. With that, he stood up and walked back over to you. The boy holding you let you go but his arms were immediately replaced with Do-hun’s as he wrapped an arm around your waist and pulled you tightly to his side. Tugging you toward the entrance of the roof, his posse of sheep following close behind, he sent a dismissive wave over his shoulder to Hyun-su. “Better hope your bestie doesn’t misbehave anytime soon, or else this will happen again. Although, maybe you’re into that.”

You didn’t dare turn around to shoot him a glance goodbye, but you could feel his eyes on the back of your head until the door closed behind you and you were left alone with Do-hun and his friends once again. 

7:30. 30 minutes before school started. 

You walked down the stairs, heading for the back exit of the school where the outdoor staircases were - yours and Hyun-su’s designated spot to meet up in the mornings. It was a very dark day. Deep gray clouds crowded out any blue in the sky and revealed only little bits of the sun’s rays through the diminished light that shone through them. 

Although it hadn’t started raining just yet, you brought a raincoat and change of clothes just in case you got caught in it when it inevitably did. 

Opening the door to the back of the school, you immediately saw Hyun-su sitting on the steps with a white square gift box in his lap, a light blue ribbon wrapping around it beautifully. His foot was tapping along to a beat from the music playing on his phone, the headphones stuffed into his ears and playing loud enough that you could hear it as you approached. It was a habit you always tried to make him break, concerned for his hearing, but he never did. 

When he saw you walking toward him, his eyes lit up and a smile grew on his face. He stood up to greet you before you both sat down again and started talking. 

“This is for you,” he told you, placing the white box on your lap excitedly. 

“Hyun-su,” you complained lightly. “I didn’t get you anything!”

He brushed you off with a smile. “There’s no need. Just open it.”

You did and when you saw the contents inside, you laughed. “What is this?” You asked, picking up the patchwork teddy bear. It wasn’t the most well-done stuffed animal but it reminded you of something specific that you couldn’t put your finger on. 

His smile turned a bit bashful and maybe nervous as he scratched the back of his neck. “It’s… it’s your baby blanket,” he told you and you gasped. “I had your sister help me with it. I know that it meant a lot to you and how it wasn’t in the greatest condition, so I came up with the idea,” he explained in a rush, worried over how quiet you were as you stared at the stuffed bear. “So… Do you like it?” 

You couldn’t contain the smile anymore as you turned to face him. As calmly as you could, you placed the stuffed animal back into the white box and set it to the side before throwing your arms around him in a tight embrace. “Do I like it? How could I not like it? I love it!” You pulled back to hold him by his shoulders and stared deeply into his eyes. “This is the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me. Thank you, Hyun-su.”

He smiled at you before bringing you in for another hug. The two of you stayed like that for a minute until you felt a cold wet plop on your head. Pulling away and looking up, you received another raindrop on your forehead. 

“Shit! It’s raining!” You quickly turned and put the white lid back on the box before reaching to grab your bag. You were quickly stopped when Hyun-su grabbed your arm and pulled you back. Looking back at him, you let out a nervous laugh at the mischievous look in his eyes. “Hyun-su… no.”

“Hyun-su, yes,” he joked before grabbing both your hands and tugging you farther away from your bag. He laughed as you yelped from the light sprinkle turning into a full-on downpour and your clothes immediately getting soaked to the bone. You gaped at him while he spun you around.

“You’re such an idiot,” you said, trying to keep your tone serious but eventually failing as you burst out laughing. “Oh my god, you’re so lucky I brought a change of clothes today!”

“Don’t worry, I’ll get those wet too,” he promised with a cheeky smile.

You raised your eyebrows playfully. “Wow, Hyun-su, I didn’t know you were so dirty-minded. And in public no less!”

“Wha-?” It took a second for him to understand what you were saying but when he did he pushed your face away from him with his hand. “Oh my god, if there’s anyone here who’s dirty-minded, it’s you.”

You laughed and it seemed like you couldn’t stop until the bell rang with how much the two of you were joking with each other. In the end, at least your bear was safe and dry.

The same couldn’t be said about the two of you.

You held the white box in your hands as you walked down the hall. The lid was slightly brown with water damage and was fraying in some areas but you couldn’t help the fuzzy feeling you felt when you looked at it. 

Do-hun walked beside you. As a little ‘reward’ for being on ‘good behavior’ as well as a graduation gift of sorts, he was allowing you to give Hyun-su his stuff back, as long as he stayed with you the entire time. 

The two of you walked toward the back of the school to Hyun-su and your spot. It had been so long since the two of you met here and you couldn’t help the emotion building behind your eyes and stinging your nose. Do-hun droned on and on about something but you weren’t listening to a word he said as you focused on not bursting into tears. Instead, you focused on keeping the letter pressed to the bottom of the box. You kept it a secret from Do-hun and you just prayed, for both yours and Hyun-su’s sake, he wouldn’t see it. 

Opening the door, you weren’t surprised to see Hyun-su sitting on the steps. The way his form seemed so much sadder and lifeless than he had all those months ago when the two of you danced in the rain had your heart clenching painfully. 

His head lifted as he heard your footsteps approaching and you nearly sobbed at the bandages covering his face. He scrambled to his feet, eyes mostly set on you but flicking over to Do-hun every once in a while. 

You couldn’t handle speaking, so all you did was hold out the tattered white box to him. You saw his eyes light up in recognition of it but he didn’t say anything. His hands reached out and grazed yours as he grabbed it. The way his eyes locked onto you when he did made you know he felt the paper. It wasn’t anything too special, just a simple note asking him to keep in touch with your new phone number and the home address you knew Do-hun and you would be moving to once you graduated. It meant a lot for you to have him in your life, though, and you wanted him to know that. 

“Wow, Doll. After all this time, you don’t even want to say your final goodbye to your ex-bestie?” Do-hun taunted, wrapping his arms around your waist, pulling you away from the boy in front of you and into his chest instead. “Seems like you don’t care about him anymore.”

You cleared your throat and looked down, your arms retracting from where they’d stretched in front of you to give the box. “Let’s just go,” you told him quietly. Luckily, he obliged and turned to walk away with you glancing one more time at the boy you loved. 

You stood outside of the church, debating back and forth with yourself on whether you should go inside or not. 

It hadn’t been long since you saw Hyun-su, only having graduated a few months ago, but it had been a long time since you had interacted with him. You were still with Do-hun. His father arranged for the two of you to get married and your parents did nothing to help. They were persuaded with money and the promise of a good life all in exchange for the freedom of yours. The engagement ring weighed heavily with betrayal and manipulation at the bottom of your black dress’s pocket. 

Today had been the first day in weeks that you hadn’t been within five feet of Do-hun, and it was all for the same reason - the same person - you gave yourself to him in the first place. 

Cha Hyun-su. 

Even after everything, after every attempt to destroy your feelings Do-hun tried, you still loved the boy with all of your heart. 

And now he probably needed you more than ever. 

Your hand rested on the doorknob as you hyped yourself up to open it when you suddenly heard yelling. It was muffled and you couldn’t understand it but it slowly got closer and closer until Hyun-su came rushing through the door, a few men on either side of him dragging him out. You could hear the shouts now and they were all coming from him. Each was about how his parents abandoned him, leaving him to live alone in the world. 

The shouts came to a stop when his eyes locked on you, your black knee-length dress and black flats showing you dressed for the occasion while he stood disheveled in a loose t-shirt and sweatpants. His hair was disheveled and most likely tangled, grown out from the lack of attention he’d been giving himself since the bullying started.  

You tried to help him behind the backs of everyone else. You mainly left little snacks or water bottles on his desk before class when you knew he hadn’t eaten, but occasionally you provided first aid kits for him on the occasion you ‘misbehaved’ and he paid the price for it. You never knew if he took them but you continued to do it, every day, without fail. 

You watched as Hyun-su shook off the arms of the people holding him and they walked back inside. You had to hold yourself back and bite your tongue at the insults they called him on their way. It was only after the door clicked and it was quiet outside the church that you spoke. 

“Hi.”

You said it so softly you weren’t sure he heard it, but then he replied. “H-hi. What… what are you doing here?” He looked away from you as he asked it, shoving a hand in his pocket while the other came up to scratch the back of his neck. You almost smiled at the nervous habit he seemed to have kept. 

“I’m here for you,” you explained, taking a hesitant step toward him and inwardly celebrating when he didn’t move away. You took more steps forward until you were right in front of him, only a foot of distance between the two of you. You closed the distance as you wrapped your arms around his middle and pulled him into you. It was gentle at first since you were hesitant whether or not he would push you away, but your hold tightened when he returned the embrace. He buried his face into your neck as you rubbed his back comfortingly and you could feel the tears falling onto your skin. He sobbed into your shoulder all while you just held him. It was the first time in months you had held each other like this and it was a relief for you to feel him like this one more time. “I’m so sorry, Hyun-su,” you whispered to him, feeling the tears welling up in your eyes too but desperately trying to blink them back for his sake. He needed you to be the strong one right now, you couldn’t cry. 

“It wasn’t your fault. None of it was your fault,” he emphasized with a hoarse voice, bringing you closer. You let the first tear fall. It was such a relief to hear him say that when all you’d heard from everyone, specifically Do-hun, was how it was your fault. How you were the one who ruined Hyun-su’s life. 

But you still blamed yourself.

“But I could have done something! I didn’t do anything and you paid the price for it all! I should have done mo-” 

Hyun-su pulled away from you and in an instant pressed his lips against yours. The words left your mind as you immediately melted into it. He tasted like the salt from his tears but you didn’t care. All that mattered at that moment was that he was there. He was kissing you and he was there. You didn’t think you deserved it but he was there. 

He pulled away slowly, resting his forehead against yours and breathing heavily. “Never blame yourself for what happened,” he demanded. His lips skimmed yours with each word and you felt yourself longing for the feel of them again. “You will never be at fault for what happened.”

Instead of saying anything back, you just pulled him back in for another quick kiss. The two of you might have been abandoned by your families but at the very least, you had each other. 

Or, you did until you felt arms wrap around you from behind and yank you away from him. Your eyes grew wide as you recognized the familiar expensive cologne of your betrothed. You stiffened under his arms as they tightened painfully around you and Do-hun smiled at Hyun-su. 

“Long time no see, Cha Hyun-su. Why are you kissing my fiance?” He asked, his grin still as condescending as it was in high school. Hyun-su looked shocked by the news, looking at you with anger boiling inside him but it fizzled out instantly as he saw you standing petrified in fear. “I don’t care. It’s not like you’ll ever see her again,” Do-hun cut him off right as he opened his mouth, walking backward and dragging you along with him. “Well, maybe you will, we might even send you a wedding invite!” He yelled as he forced you into the passenger seat of his sleek black, definitely more expensive than any vehicle Hyun-su had ever sat in, car. 

Another wave of fresh tears fell down his face while he helplessly watched you stare hopelessly out the window as the car started driving down the road and out of his life. 

August 13th. That was the day the world officially ended. 

It started off as a normal day for you. You stayed in bed for the first few hours of the morning, only getting up when your stomach felt like it would eat itself. Then, you sat on the chair on the back porch of your house, watching the butterflies fly around your gorgeous flowers and petting the stray cat that would always find its way into your yard. You’d come to name it Dong-ee, meaning sunrise. Do-hun always scolded you when he saw you with the animal, talking about what diseases it could have, but you’d stopped responding to his words months ago. 

He tried threatening you every day but it never worked. 

After your sister died and he found out about - and stopped - the letters you sent to Hyun-su, you had nothing left to lose. 

In the massive house you lived in, with servants cleaning everywhere and greeting you each time you passed by and your ‘husband’ never far, you’d never felt more alone. 

It started with a single nosebleed. One of the servants started bleeding profusely out of their nose and onto the crystal blue couch she’d been vacuuming. You told her it was fine, rushing her off before your husband found out and immediately spraying some stain remover onto it. You know he would have scolded her at best - which was never a fun experience with the way he would degrade someone until they felt like dirt beneath the heel of his perfectly shined black shoe, or fired her at worst - which was a big way to get someone out of a job for life. He often blacklisted the employees he fired. 

The nosebleeds seemed to increase, not only in the one girl but in the other servants as well. It wasn’t until one of them turned into a tall monster with sharp claws and extended canines, trying to kill Do-hun when they saw him, that you knew the world would never be the same. 

It took time, but Do-hun and his guards - which in reality were actually just his guards following his every word while Do-hun sat in the background, just like in high school - were able to force the monster out of the house. After that, Do-hun decided what he thought was best and decided to do the worst thing you could have imagined. 

He forced everyone out. Everyone who worked there and resided in the large house, they were forced out of the house and left to die in the streets roaming with monsters. You screamed and struggled as you watched them all be shoved out the doors which were barricaded soon after with thick wooden planks.

What he did next though, was what made you seriously fear the man called your husband and fear for your life. 

He brought out a gun you didn’t know he even owned and shot silver bullets into the foreheads of all his most trusted guards. The same guards who just sent the servants to their death sentence as they forced them out of the house. 

The air filled with the foul stench of blood and you nearly threw up. You backed away as he approached, getting closer and closer to you with the gun still in his hand. His finger may not have been on the trigger but it was terrifying nonetheless. 

Eventually, you were backed against a wall with nowhere to escape. Do-hun cornered you against it, playfully and gently tapping the muzzle of the gun against your forehead. 

“I’ve been waiting to do that for a while,” he confessed, smiling down at you. “Now you can be the perfect housewife you were supposed to be. It’s all worked out.”

You shuddered, flinching away as he leaned in to kiss your forehead. The one thing you were thankful for was the fact that Do-hun accepted consent when it came to anything sexual. You knew he would never do anything to hurt you like that, but he wasn’t above physically hurting you if you didn’t do as he said. 

“Now, why don’t you clean up that mess over there,” he pointed to the dead bodies near the front door and you followed his finger slowly. “And I’ll watch from the couch. If you do good, I’ll consider making you some dinner.”

The world was ending. 

And you were stuck with your psychotic murderer of a forced-marriage-provided husband. 

You were fucked. 

It had been a few weeks since the apocalypse started. You often heard the sounds of roaming creatures as they passed by and shuddered at the thought. Despite everything, you were at least glad to be able to stay in a relatively safe place when everything went to hell. 

Do-hun didn’t make life easy for you, though. You could feel him hovering over you every second. Now that he didn’t have work and there was nobody around to stop him, he didn’t hesitate to be by your side the entire time and give you no privacy. 

During everything, you couldn’t stop thinking about Hyun-su. You wondered if he was alright; if he was a monster or not; if he could possibly be one of those special infectees; if you would ever see him again. 

You found your answer sooner than you expected. 

You had no idea how much time had passed since everything started. At first, you tried counting the days, but you lost track after 80. 

Now, after what you assumed must have been more than half a year within this hellhole, you sat on the couch nearest to the window. Though you couldn’t see through it anymore with the way Do-hun had boarded it up, using the curtains and whatever furniture he could find, you could imagine the way the birds and butterflies fluttered around your rose bushes and sunflowers as they often did when you would watch them through the glass. On days like those, you would often be having a glass of your favorite tea along with a new book of your favorite genre.

You’d since had to resort to a sliver of water from your designated drinking water supply and a book you’d already read several times over. 

Do-hun had gotten especially protective and obsessive over you since the start of this hell. He never let you out of his sight, even more so now than before when he could entrust you into the hands of his guards. He would scream at you for hours at a time when you would ignore him. He would force-feed you your rations on the days you felt you couldn’t do anything but sit in despair. It was a strange, aggressive, display of his ‘affection’ for you. 

You stopped ignoring him as often, part of the reason being he would scream at you for hours at a time when you did, just to get a reaction, but also because you just felt so isolated and alone. He was the only source of any interaction you had, human or otherwise; and while all of that was entirely his fault, you couldn’t really hope for a different situation when you knew it would never happen. Sometimes, when things got bad with him, you envied the servants who were forced out.

On other days, when things were even worse, you envied the guards you had to clean up afterwards. 

You closed your book with a sigh when you read the same sentence over again for the twentieth time. Do-hun looked up from his own book with an annoyed glare before rolling his eyes and focusing on the pages again. Sighing, you stood up and gently placed your book in your spot before walking away. 

“Where the hell are you going?” Do-hun demanded and stood up abruptly. His book limply fell to the floor and he stormed closer to you. On instinct, you took a step back before steeling your nerves and looking him dead in the eye. 

“Away from you.”

He huffed angrily and grabbed ahold of your wrist and started walking back towards the couch. “No, you’re not. You’ll stay right here where I can see you.”

You roughly yanked your arm away from his grip and pulled away. “No. I won’t.”

Do-hun slowly turned around to look at you, his eyebrows raised slightly in surprise. This was the first time in a long time you’d truly fought against and denied a direct order from him. “What did you say?” He took a step toward you and your breath caught in your throat. 

“I… I-I said,” you stuttered, cursing yourself for the lack of control over your shaking hands. 

He widened his eyes, imitating your fearful expression. “Y-y-y-you s-said?” He mocked over exaggeratedly and you opened your mouth again to reply when a large shadow blocked the limited light coming through the fabric covering the windows. It got closer and closer, larger shadows casting over the floor behind Do-hun as it did. Your arm raised to point at the approaching creature when suddenly a sharp pain exploded across your cheek. Your head snapped to the side painfully and you brought a palm up to cover the reddening area where Do-hun’s hand had slapped you. Although the pain shocked you, you weren’t surprised by his actions. Nor were you surprised by the sadistic smile that covered his lips. “Got no words, Doll? You were so confident just a second ago, where’d that attitude go?” 

Despite his taunting words, your attention was solely focused on the silhouette of a large wing rising into the air behind the curtains of the window. Just as you saw it come swinging down, you ducked down and covered your head with your arms. 

Do-hun didn’t see the image of the creature behind him, so the action of you ducking down and the loud sound of shattering glass both confused him and gave him a fright. The fabric of the curtains was able to prevent most of the glass from getting through, but you were unfortunate enough to have a piece nick your right knee right below your dress’ hem. It started bleeding immediately and it streamed down your leg to stain your sock-clad feet. The blood was enough to smear across the floor when your foot moved. 

Unfortunately for you, Do-hun remained unharmed from his standing position. 

You crawled away from the wall and hid behind the white-marble kitchen island, unaware of the red trail you left behind from your bleeding limb, as Do-hun turned around slowly, taking the gun he kept in his belt at all times into his hands and pointing it at the figure still hidden by the furniture stacked high. The couch, with two dining room chairs stacked on top, screeched against the hardwood floor as a large wing made of only muscle and bone sent it flying across the room. You covered your mouth to hold in your yelps as the chairs loudly tumbled to the floor. Your eyes clenched tightly together and you tried to stop the sobs from wracking your body. Instead of focusing on the fight, you covered your ears tightly, making sure no sound could get through, and rocked yourself back and forth, trying to calm your erratically racing heart. 

Outside of your covered ears and hearing range, Do-hun started speaking to the intruder. “Oh,” Do-hun laughed his usual taunting and narcissistic laugh, a sound that was unfitting considering the situation. “It’s you. You didn’t get enough in high school?”

Hyun-su smirked as the dust cleared and he clearly saw the face of his high school bully. He let his eyes travel around, looking for the one person he was truly there for but not finding her. His face almost fell until he saw a strange trail of fresh blood leading behind the large kitchen island. There wasn’t any blood on Do-hun, so he knew it couldn’t have been from him. 

“You know, I really thought you might have changed after high school. Maybe you’d mature and see the error of your ways,” Hyun-su started, putting his arms into his pockets. He had transformed both arms back into their human forms for the interaction he was going to have with the bully, really wanting to see the fear on his face when he saw how powerful he really had become. “I guess I was wrong. You’re still scum.”

Do-hun scoffed and released the safety on the gun he still had pointed at the boy. “And I thought you would have killed yourself by now. I guess we’re both disappointed,” he smirked, tilting his head tauntingly. “But I got something you didn’t,” he leaned forward as if telling a secret but kept the distance between them. His lips formed a sadistic smile that made Hyun-su sick. “I got the girl.”

The boy who held your heart felt his own heart drop to his stomach, but he refused to let it show on his face. “Oh really? Well, I don’t see her,” he pointed out, giving another glance around the room and still not seeing you anywhere. The blood stain still held his interest but he would save that until afterwards. 

“Well, you won’t need to see her. I’ll make sure she sees you though, when I put a bullet through your chest and make her clean up the mess afterward.”

The anger rapidly rose in Hyun-su’s soul like a forest fire. He clenched his fists, hating himself for not being able to come sooner. With adopting and raising Ah-yi along with trying desperately to find where you lived - which was much harder than he expected in a technology-free world - he took much longer than he wanted to. 

‘Surrender.’ Hyun-su heard in his head. He looked behind Do-hun and saw the monsterized version of him standing next to him in the large mirror on the wall. The eyes of his double remained the deep black color he’d come to accept as a part of himself. ‘Let me help you. I only do what you want, remember?’ The other version of himself reminded him. 

“Any last words, Cha Hyun-su?” Do-hun asked him, now looking bored with the conversation and placing his finger on the trigger of the gun. 

‘Surrender. I’ll find her. We’ll find her.’ The monster insisted, speaking over and over in his head. Hyun-su’s thoughts were running all over the place, unsure of what he wanted to do. 

He could turn over his control to the other side of him, but that side was unpredictable. Even though he knew he would never hurt you, no matter what version was in control, he was still worried. 

On the other hand, if he stayed in control, he would have to fight through the pain and beat Do-hun on his own. It wouldn’t be that difficult but he just knew from how his finger fiddled with the trigger, that this apocalyptic version of Do-hun was a trigger-happy person. 

He wasn’t sure he could handle that kind of pain. 

He let out a deep breath, releasing his hands from his pockets and closing his eyes. 

‘Okay. Go ahead, just keep her safe.’ Hyun-su told his other half, slowly feeling himself lose control and fading away. 

“You know I will.”

When his eyes reopened, they weren’t the magically gorgeous deep chocolate brown that he had grown up with. Instead, they were a beautiful and vibrant sky blue. Do-hun’s eyes widened in surprise, but he didn’t show any other signs of a change of emotion. 

“I think I should be asking you that question,” the now monsterized version of Hyun-su asked Do-hun, referring to his previous question after a moment of silence. He could tell the eerily excited grin that lit up his face unnerved the boy in front of him and it sent a sick sense of satisfaction down his spine. 

“And I think you're forgetting who has the upper hand in this situation,” he reminded him before his finger pulled the trigger. 

You heard the loud sound of a gunshot go off even through the protection of your hands over your ears. The small whimper of fear you made might not have been heard by any human, but with Hyun-su’s unnaturally advanced sense, he heard it loud and clear. 

The bullet did indeed pierce through Hyun-su’s chest, but he just sighed in disappointment at the attempt on his life. “Is that really all you’ve got?” He asked cockily despite the blood oozing from the hole in his torso. Do-hun’s facade finally cracked and Hyun-su could finally see the fear lingering in them. He let out a small noise of excitement and his grin widened even more. He slowly, teasingly, took a step toward the bully who quickly, fearfully, pulled the trigger again. This time, the bullet missed Hyun-su completely and he tutted. Do-hun went to pull the trigger again, but in a flash, Hyun-su appeared in front of him and twisted the gun out of his grip, putting his arm into a wrist lock and pushing lightly. Do-hun let out a loud noise of pain at the feeling of his wrist nearly breaking under the pressure. With his other hand, Hyun-su wrapped his fingers around his neck and grabbed it tightly while pulling him close. The boy let out a loud yelp at the feeling of his wrist still being held hostage and now the feeling of no oxygen getting into his lungs. 

“I’m not going to ask if you have any idea what you’ve put me through, what you’ve put her through, because I know you know very well,” Hyun-su started. His tone was scarily calm as his finger tightened and loosened teasingly around Do-hun’s neck. One moment the boy could breathe in a drink of air, and then next he would be suffocating until the process repeated again. “But, if you tell me where she is, maybe I’ll consider letting you go,” he bargained. 

Do-hun nodded emphatically before using his free hand, which had been scratching at the wrist Hyun-su used to choke him, to point behind the kitchen island where you were currently holding your breath to stop yourself from hyperventilating. Hyun-su turned his head to look over at where he was pointing and was pleasantly surprised that he hadn’t lied to him about your whereabouts. With a grin, he faced him again and released his neck. “Good boy,” he mocked, praising him like a dog before his grip around his locked wrist tightened and he twisted it sharply. The bone of his forearm popped out of place and Do-hun let out a scream, looking at Hyun-su with something like betrayal in his eyes. “I only said I would consider it, not that it was a promise,” he taunted him. Do-hun breathed heavily until Hyun-su once again wrapped his hand around his neck and blocked off any airflow. This time, his grip was relentless; he refused to let up until the face of his former bully and abuser turned blue and his body went limp. Just for good measure, he snapped the boy’s neck and made sure he was dead for sure. 

Hyun-su’s monster let out a deep breath, feeling content with the revenge that had been boiling in his bones for years, only now getting let out in the way he best saw fit. The original Hyun-su would never admit it but he had pictured hurting Do-hun the same way his monster just did on occasion, wishing he could do that so he could get revenge for himself and for you.

You. 

Now, Hyun-su’s monster knew he should probably give control back to the original Hyun-su now that the threat was dealt with and he just needed to find you now, but he was the result of Hyun-su’s desires, and his desires were very selfish when it came to you.

He wanted you all to himself. Ever since the kiss the two of you shared after his parents and sister’s funeral, he hadn’t been able to get over the guilt and wished for you to return to him. When the letters stopped, it was even worse for him. He could still remember the last letter you wrote to him. He often read and reread it over and over again. It got to the point where he had the entire thing memorized. 

Dear Hyun-su,

It’s not your fault. It never will be. You didn’t do anything wrong. I refuse to let you ever think that even for a second, so if those thoughts ever intrude in your mind, think back on my words and let them remind you. 

It isn’t what I want, but I won’t be able to keep in touch any longer. I haven’t been as secretive as I’ve intended, not that being secretive is at all possible around Do-hun. I don’t have much time so I won’t be able to make this nearly as long as I want. I’m not even sure if it will make it to you, but God do I hope it does.

Please, never let the world change you. 

That was the time he really considered killing himself. The only thing that held him back was the thought of you and how he knew in his soul he would find his way back to you. 

However, since he wasn’t able to see you and you weren’t there anymore to stop him, even if you didn’t know it, his self-harm got worse. He was able to get clean a few months before the apocalypse, but the scars on his skin felt constantly fresh with the loss of your presence.

Yes, he was selfish. And his monster side was even worse. His monster hadn’t personally met you yet, so he decided right then and there that he wouldn’t return the control, not just yet. He wanted to meet you himself, to see you in the flesh through his own unnaturally blue eyes. 

Hyun-su snapped out of his thoughts when he heard the, unfortunately familiar, sound of your muffled crying. He walked over to the kitchen island, his feet not making a sound on the wooden floor - a trick he learned at the start of the apocalypse. When he reached the corner and the top of your head was revealed behind the white marble, he let out a sigh of relief. It felt like the weight of the world tumbled off his shoulders and he was free again. He saw you and the sun seemed to shine after a thunderstorm. 

He tiptoed around to be in front of you and kneeled so he was at your level. His heart, infected or not, broke at the sight of your knees pulled to your chest and your hands covering your ears. To not hear was also to not see, and to not see was for it to not exist, he supposed. Your eyes were clenched shut and your cheeks were stained with tears that continuously ran down them. Instinctively, he reached a calloused and bruised but gentle hand forward and wiped the tears off your left cheek. What he should have expected, but it still seemed to surprise him, was the way you screamed and launched yourself to the side to avoid his touch. Another instinctive action he did was grab onto your arm and pull you back to him. You reacted negatively to this as well. It seemed you weren't able to recognize the familiar face in front of you in your panic, but he was determined to make you realize it was him. 

You screamed and cried, swatting and kicking at the unfamiliar yet familiar and comforting touch of, what you presumed to be, a monster holding onto you. It was only when you heard the familiar voice speaking the syllables of your name that you froze. Your hands rested on the figure’s chest as you breathed heavily and slowly raised your gaze to their face. 

It was him. 

The boy you’d longed to see for months. 

“Hyun-su?”

He smirked. It was so weird to see it because it looked so confident. Cocky, even. This was not the Hyun-su you knew less than a year ago. This wasn’t the Hyun-su Do-hun had broken him down into.

But it reminded you of the Hyun-su you knew before everything happened. The Hyun-su who would mess your hair up and then run away with a mischievous grin as you chased after him. The Hyun-su who dragged you into the rain so you could dance with him despite the water soaking through both of your clothes. 

It was comforting. 

What surprised you the most, however, was the blue color that took over the brown eyes you longed to see. 

“Your eyes are blue,” you softly told him as if he didn’t already know. Your hands came up to lightly rest on his cheeks, so lightly that it barely felt like the touch was there at all.

The loose grip he had on your arms tightened slightly to keep you close - just in case you got scared and tried to move away from him again - when your eyes widened in realization. “You figured it out quicker than I expected you to. Smart cookie. And only because my eyes were blue?” He questioned, teasingly. 

Your eyes were still wide as you answered, but he was pleasantly surprised to see no fear in them. “Hyun-su wouldn’t act this cocky.”

He kissed the back of his teeth, shaking his head with a smile. “That’s where you’re wrong, sweetheart. I’m still Hyun-su. We are one and the same.”

“Are you one of those ‘special infectees’?” You asked, bringing your soft touch away from his cheeks to make air quotes with your fingers. He frowned, not liking how the places your fingers had touched felt cold without you but nodded nonetheless.

Your head tilted to the side and your left hand went back up to his cheek so you could cup it, almost unconsciously, as you stared at him in perplexment. He leaned his face into your touch just like how Hyun-su always did. You didn’t do it often in the past, especially after you got with Do-hun, but he would always lean into the warmth of your touch whenever you did. 

Do-hun!

Your eyes widened again and you turned to the side to try and see where he was. Your head didn’t turn far before Hyun-su cupped both of your cheeks and directed your attention to him again. “Don’t look over there, okay? Just look at me.”

You nodded, your eyes flickering back and forth between each of his eyes while you regulated your breathing. You knew he was protecting you from what was sure to be a gruesome sight. 

‘A sight that he created.’

The thought fluttered through your mind but it didn’t affect you in the way you expected it to. You expected to feel at least a sliver of guilt or maybe even fear of the boy in front of you for what he did, but instead you felt none of that.

You just felt relief. You were finally free of the person who put you through hell for almost a year. 

The hand not cupping Hyun-su’s cheek found its way to rest on his left shoulder. You didn’t keep it resting there for long when you felt a sticky, warm liquid stain into the creases of your hand. You pulled it away and your eyes quickly widened in fear. 

It was blood. 

You ripped your hand away from his cheek, an action that caused him to pout, and tore the collar of his shirt down past his shoulder. You gasped heavily when you saw the bullet wound right below his collarbone. Because of the black color of his shirt, you didn’t notice it before nor did you see the blood on the palms of his hands, the hands that had been holding your arms gently since you saw him. 

“You’ve been- you’re- oh my god-” You panicked, pressing your hands against the wound that was still bleeding so you could stop the blood flow. “I need to- I have a first aid kit. We need- you need-” You couldn’t get your words out, heavy breaths interrupting each one and not allowing you to think properly. 

Suddenly, a pair of warm, surprisingly still-soft lips met yours. You were still breathing heavily so you couldn’t really do anything except try to hold your breath as he kissed you. It was a feeling you didn’t know how much you craved to experience again until the moment it happened. Once he pulled away, you slowly let out the breath you held and just stared into his blue eyes. 

“Calm down. I’ll be fine, okay? Just show me where the first aid kit is. I’ll even let you patch me up if it’ll make you feel better. Is that what you want to do?” He asked, his face still only inches apart from yours. You could feel his breath hit your lips with every word and it just made you crave his taste again. 

You replied without looking away from his eyes. “It’s in the bathroom.”

He nodded, his lips tilting upward slightly into a small smirk. His eyes slowly flickered back and forth between yours, his head tilted slightly to the side as he spoke. “And what do you want to do? You wanna come with me and help clean me up or do you want to stay here until I’m done?” His voice was slightly teasing with a hint of a mocking undertone. It surprised you but you didn’t particularly dislike it. 

You gripped onto his collar tightly, scared he’d leave you. “Please don’t leave me alone,” you whimpered softly. The smirk on his lips grew a bit bigger at your words before he suddenly leaned forward and wrapped one arm around your back, the other going under the backs of your knees. He lifted you so effortlessly you were astounded at how little effort he seemed to use in order to complete the action. 

He made his way down to the bathroom, you in his arms as you gave him directions, and set you down on the large white marble countertop that the sink resided on. You watched as he kneeled down to open the cabinets below and rummaged through them messily until he found the first aid kit. 

He was only doing it for your sake, knowing that - especially in his monster state - he healed quickly and didn’t feel much pain. 

He took off his ripped muddied and blood-stained shirt while you grabbed the materials you needed while nursing his wounds. It wasn’t until you looked back up at him that you noticed his apparent lack of a shirt and your eyes caught onto his defined muscles. It was obvious the apocalypse had at the very least done wonders for his physique, that’s for sure. 

The man was even more attractive than you’d thought he was in high school. 

And you’d thought he was so hot in high school. 

It took you a moment to snap out of your stupor, but you did and purposefully ignored the arrogant smirk on his face while you honed your attention in on his wounds. He noticed the way your face warmed at his silent teasing but he decided not to comment on it and risk breaking the intimacy of the moment, especially when you started to clean his wounds and he felt your hands touch his skin. 

He slowly skimmed his hands up from where they had been resting on your knees until they reached your hips. He purposely avoided causing any fabric from your dress to rise since he didn’t want to make you uncomfortable. You appreciated it greatly, but couldn’t help the want that grew inside you for him to take it further. 

The cleaning of his wounds, specifically the bullet wound - which took extra long because you had to make sure the bullet wasn’t still inside, which it thankfully wasn’t - took a while but you got them done. It seemed they looked much worse with all the dried blood and mud stuck to them than they actually were. The bullet wound had practically fully closed, and the same could be said about the majority of his other wounds. You were grateful he was an infectee, otherwise he wouldn’t have survived. 

He also wouldn't have ever been able to get to you in the first place, which was another bonus. 

Once the areas surrounding the wounds were cleaned, and he adamantly insisted he didn’t need the bandages you were so willing to cover him with, you grabbed a towel from the towel rack on the wall and wet it in the sink. Hyun-su looked at you curiously when you did and you just looked at him shyly. 

“It’s a filtration system using rainwater. I set it up before the whole apocalypse started, not that Do-hun appreciated me doing that,” you explained with a hint of pain in your voice, recalling the painful memories of when you put your self-taught engineering skills to use. 

“So you got to create it after all. I remember the first time you mentioned wanting to do something like that. I always knew you could,” he praised with a devilishly handsome smirk on his lips. The sight of it erased all the painful memories you felt - something Hyun-su had always been able to do. A hot feeling settled in the bottom of your stomach and it caused a damp spot to form on your panties. Hyun-su could smell the intoxicating scent of your arousal, and his hands tightened around your hips to hold himself back. 

“Thank you,” you whispered with a slight blush before focusing on wringing the cloth out and bringing it to the dried blood and dirt on his chest, gently wiping it away. Each time your fingers lightly grazed against him, he could feel his resolve slipping just a little more. 

It was only after the first swipe of the cloth that you realized just wiping it might not be enough for him to get clean. 

“I think… it might be better if you just take a shower,” you told him hesitantly. You wanted him to get clean and feel more comfortable but that would also mean you would have to leave the bathroom. 

He stared at you for a minute, trying to figure out what was troubling you but not quite being able to. Instead, he answered with a simple, “Okay.”

You gave him a small sad, scared smile - one that broke his heart a million times over - before you gently pushed him back so you could hop down and off of the counter. He watched you carefully as you crouched and grabbed a fresh towel for him from under the sink. When you handed it to him and fearfully turned to the door, he finally realized what was wrong. 

“Sweetheart, I don’t think you leaving is a good idea,” he warned, wanting to relieve you of asking to stay and instead just giving you the option openly. 

You sighed in relief and took your hand off the handle of the door. Turning back around to face him again, you looked into his eyes so seriously but with a hint of concealed desperation. “Are you sure? I can leave so you can have some privacy.”

He would be lying if he said the way you cared about his feelings and how considerate you were in general didn’t turn him on, because God knows it did. 

“I’m sure. You can wait for me on the counter. I won’t be long,” he promised and you nodded, hopping back up on the counter. 

While the regular Hyun-su would’ve avoided thinking about it at all costs, his monster had no qualms about imagining impaling you on his cock on that countertop; about making it hard to tell whether the steam fogging the mirror was from the shower or from your hot bodies colliding together with each thrust of Hyun-su’s hips; about making you cry out his name in pleasure while your dead husband’s corpse listened in from the next room over. He almost regretted killing Do-hun off so soon, especially without proving to him that he never had the girl in the first place. 

He started unbuckling his pants and your eyes widened before you hastily covered them with your cheeks heating up to dangerous levels. He chuckled quietly which caused you to blush harder. “You could’ve warned me,” you chastised. 

“But where’s the fun in that?” He teased, dropping his pants and boxers to the ground with a slight clatter and stepping out of them both. You whined and his already half-hard dick twitched. The sound of your whining and the sight of you in front of his naked body caused him to nearly blow his load right then and there. 

He smirked at you - not that you could see it - before stepping into the frosted glass shower and turning it on. He was honestly a bit surprised that you had soap in the shower but decided not to question it too much. 

Just as he’d finished washing his hair and torso, he heard the soft and imperceptible to anyone without his supernatural hearing sound of you gasping and your breathing picking up. It was when he looked over that he saw you completely turned away from the shower door and clutching your chest. 

It didn’t take a genius to figure out you’d snuck a peek at him through the window and evidently liked what you saw. 

He cursed under his breath, the sound concealed to you by the sound of the shower’s running water. He could smell your arousal despite being doused in water and it was making him go crazy. 

He leaned his back against the shower wall with a heavy breath and brought a hand down to his hardened cock, looking at your silhouette through the frosted glass and listening to your flustered breaths. He groaned under his breath as his hand stroked up and down on his cock. He imagined it was you in there with him, your hand instead of his. He could imagine the way your hand would barely be able to wrap around it if it even could at all. He held his breath to keep any sound from coming out as he squeezed and stroked his cock, the water covering his labored breaths. 

It wasn’t enough to cover the banging sound that happened when he slammed his head back against the wall as his fingers ran over the slit of his penis.

Your head perked up but you still refused to turn around. 

“Hyun-su? Are you okay?” You asked cautiously in a soft tone and god, he was a goner.

His dick twitched in his hand as he came all over the shower wall, coating it white with his seed. He breathed heavily as he came and almost completely forgot about the question you asked until you spoke up, this time more worriedly. 

“Hyun-su?” He could hear your breathing and how it picked up speed in fear for his safety. It made his heart swell just as much as it made his dick harden again. 

“I’m just fine. I’m not hurt,” he replied calmly as he grabbed the soap and cleaned off the lower half of his body like he hadn’t just masturbated to his best friend with only a transparent shower wall to separate them. 

You let out a sigh of relief and nodded to yourself. “Okay. Good. I got worried when you didn’t reply.”

The shower suddenly turned off and you felt a presence appear behind you only a second later. You turned your head quickly to look in the mirror but you closed your eyes just as fast when you saw your, very naked, best friend standing behind you. Your cheeks lit on fire and you let out a surprised little sound that went straight to Hyun-su’s cock. 

“I left the towel on the rack,” you explained, thinking he’d maybe just missed it. Instead, he leaned forward so his breath hit your neck and brushed your hair behind your shoulder.

“I know,” he said simply as he leaned forward and started pressing kisses along the expanse of your neck. Unconsciously, you leaned your neck to the side to give him more access and he smirked against your skin. Water droplets fell from his hair and skin onto yours and they slid down slowly. Hyun-su watched with hungry eyes as one slid down right between your cleavage and down to your stomach. He brought a hand up to your shoulder where he carefully traced the same path the droplet made, stopping once he reached the top hem of your dress. “May I?” He asked patiently. It made you feel sure he wouldn’t be upset if you wanted to stop right there and then. It honestly made you feel like you were floating. 

Instead of answering, you turned your head to face him and brought your right hand up to pull his face into yours, your mouths crashing in an intimate and passionate kiss. Meanwhile, with your other hand, you brought it up to grab his hand which was still resting right above your cleavage, not going any further until you gave your consent. You gently wrapped your fingers around his wrist and moved his hand around your body so it was at your back. Separating from his lips for just a moment, you whispered against his lips, “Help me unzip?”

You could feel the smirk against your lips as he reconnected them and sensually, with a painfully slow pace, unzipped your dress, the straps falling off your shoulders and pooling around your hips. Hyun-su pulled away for a moment to marvel at your bare breasts. “You’re so fucking perfect,” he whispered and leaned in so he was mouthing at your chest. At this point, you had turned so you were facing him directly while still sitting on the sink countertop. Your hands gripped his hair as he gently tugged on your nipples with his teeth, his hand playing with the breast he wasn’t paying attention to. Your head leaned back as you let out soft moans of his name that made him work harder and rougher to make them louder. He couldn't help looking up at your face and marveling at how drop-dead gorgeous you looked with your eyes closed and mouth hung open in pleasure. 

You tugged at his hair harder as you felt the hand not playing with your breast brush against your inner thigh, slowly going further up with each second until it was completely covered under the fabric of your dress. You let out an embarrassingly loud whine as you felt his fingers brush over your clit and through your folds over your panties, feeling the wetness inside. You bit your lip to silence your sounds when Hyun-su kissed his way up to your neck and bit down harshly, leaving a mark and causing you to let out a moan of mixed pain and pleasure. He left a wet kiss over the bite mark before leaning up so he was whispering in your ear. 

“I’ll only say it once. If you try to cover up the sounds you make again, I assure you I’ll force them out of you.”

A wave of arousal ran through you and it was obvious Hyun-su noticed by the way he let out a soft laugh in your ear before leaning back down to your neck and giving you as many love bites as he could. Meanwhile, he snapped the fabric covering your heat in half, allowing his fingers to continue running through your folds and to rub at your clit. Though you were curious to see what he would do if you continued to hold back your moans, you didn’t want to risk it and so you let them fall freely, your head falling back against the cool glass of the mirror. 

After a while, he decided it was time to stop teasing you and slowly inserted a finger into your cunt. Both of you groaned in unison as he did. “You’re so fucking tight,” he moaned out while you let out soft whines as he caressed your clit with his thumb, trying to make you ease up enough for him to add another finger. He slowly thrusted his finger in and out, hitting multiple spots inside you with each thrust that had you seeing stars. 

“Hyun-su,” you whimpered out, gripping his hair harder as you forced his head up so he was looking at you. 

“What is it, sweetheart?” He asked with a slightly teasing lilt. 

You brought his face closer to yours until your lips were touching as you spoke. “More.”

He smirked at you slowly gaining more confidence and taking what you wanted as you joined your lips together in another kiss. He obliged, slowly working another finger in until his middle and ring finger were both snuggly set inside your pussy, thrusting in and curling on their way out without fail. The moans you let out sounded heavenly to Hyun-su and his monster’s ears and he wished he could hear them every day. 

Scratch that, he would make sure he heard them every day from here on out. 

You came on his fingers with your face hidden in the crook of his neck, the sound of your moans traveling and not only sounding directly next to his ear but vibrating through his whole body. 

He slowly took his fingers out of you and shushed you as you let out a small whimper from the loss. Bringing his hand up to his lips, he stuck the two fingers in his mouth and moaned at the taste, his eyes closing as a result. 

“Come out so you can fuck her, I’ve had my fun,” Hyun-su’s monster told him, his control over the boy’s body fading away as the original Hyun-su regained consciousness. The first thing he noticed when he came to was the sweetest taste he’d ever tried in his mouth. He opened his eyes and saw something he’d been imagining for years, but something he never thought would actually happen. 

He saw you, halfway naked with your chest bare and rising as you took in deep breaths. He nearly choked in surprise but was able to calm himself down as you opened your eyes to look at him. Your own eyes widened at the sight of his once blazing blue eyes turned back to the magnificent brown you adored. 

“Hyun-su?” You whispered, bringing a hand down from where they still were gripping his hair and caressing his cheek. 

“Yeah,” he replied softly, “It’s me.”

You smiled at him and he felt his cock - which he just realized was as hard as a rock and standing tall in all his named glory - twitch. 

“Fuck,” he cursed, “I’m sorr-” he tried to apologize and move away when you used the hand still gripping his hair to pull him back into you and connect your lips. It seemed you pulled too hard because he crashed into you, his cock slapping against your still-sensitive core and his bare chest colliding with yours. 

You moaned into his mouth while he gasped in shock from the feeling. His hands instinctively fell to your waist where he gripped you roughly, much rougher than he was trying to but you didn’t mind the bruises his rough treatment would most likely leave. His hands slowly traveled down to your hips, pushing the fabric of your dress down even further. He gently pulled the dress up and over your head, making you just as bare as him. Then, he roughly grabbed your ass and hoisted you up so you were supported in his arms with your legs crossed around his hips. You gasped loudly which gave him the perfect opening to take control of the kiss, entering his tongue into your mouth and dominating it instantly. While he did that, he took careful steps out of the bathroom and down the hallway towards the only bedroom in the large house. Once he got in there, he gently set you down on the bed and crawled on top of you, never breaking the kiss. He broke the kiss only to lean his forehead against yours and give the both of you a second to breathe. 

“I love you,” you spoke through heavy gasping breaths. Hyun-su, whose eyes had been closed, opened them instantly to look at you in shock. You looked determined but a little insecure as you said it again. “I love you, Cha Hyun-su. I have since the first time you brought me out to dance in the rain and then when you cared for me all of the next week when I got sick. I can’t stop and I haven’t stopped despite not seeing you for all this time. I don’t think I could ever stop loving you.”

He stared at you in complete and utter shock. “Really?” He asked, disbelief coloring his tone. You nodded timidly before he cut off any other insecurities with a passionate kiss. “I love you, sweetheart. I have since the moment I met you. I knew you were the one for me and there would never be another who could compare. I want to be by your side until the end of time,” he confessed and you smiled a blinding grin. He smiled back as he interlocked both your hands together, subtly pinning you against the bed as his look turned from loving and adoring to loving and adoring and lustful once more. “Can I prove it?”

You smiled at him even brighter. “I would love it if you did.”

best fic at the moment of hyunsu. read

The Time Will Tell Masterlist

(Picture from @ hyunsuwife on pinterest)

Cha Hyun-su x Fem!Kim!Reader

Warnings: Talk of past self harm, near suicide attempt, violence, monsters, slow-burn, angst, fluff, possible smut in future chapters. Total Word Count: 57k+

My Navigation and Masterlist

My Sweet Home Masterlist

My Cha Hyun-su Masterlist

Most would think moving back in with your parents was a weird and uncool thing to do.

You disagreed.

Moving back in with your dad meant seeing him and your two younger siblings, Kim Yeong-su and Kim Su-yeong. It also meant you were moving into an apartment complex that housed the cutest boy you'd ever seen.

After a few random encounters and then a monster apocalypse, you figure out your feelings for the boy. How will you navigate these feelings? Are they reciprocated?

Only time will tell.

Glossary

Season 1:

| Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 |

| Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 || Chapter 6 |

| Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 |

| Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 |

| Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 |

| Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 |

| Chapter 19 | Chapter 20 | Chapter 21 |

| Chapter 22 | Chapter 23 | Chapter 24 |

| Chapter 25 | Chapter 26 | Chapter 27 |

| Chapter 28 | Chapter 29 | Chapter 30 |

| Chapter 31 | Chapter 32 | Chapter 33 |

| Chapter 34 | Chapter 35 |

Season 2: