Chereads / Stronger together (All of us are dead) / Chapter 18 - Chapter 17 - Give me your life

Chapter 18 - Chapter 17 - Give me your life

Chae Rin's POV

"My mom and day prepared everything for my transfer. They said to just go to Seoul, but I really didn't want to go. I wouldn't have any friends, and i was afraid of the kids from Seoul" Ji Min started.

" Then On Jo gave me a great idea. She said to cut school for five days. Then the principal wouldn't write the recommendation letter. That's why I cut school. It's all thanks to On Jo... that I didn't transfer" She continues, On Jo smiled proudly, lifting her hand in a peace sign before Ji Min finished the story.

"But I should've just gone." the girl says, On Jo putting down her fingers.

"Then this wouldn't have happened to me" she finished.

"My sister was told she was an archery prodigy ever since she was a child. So our family only cared about whether or not, she made it onto the national team. They gave me no attention." Wu Jin told the group.

"I give you attention, brother-in-law. Don't be sad, you have me-" Dae Su's words were cut off as Wu Jin grabbed the bigger boy by the throat pushing him into the ground.

"Thank god I have Dae Su" Wu Jin chuckles.

I smile at him, my hand patting his shoulder in a comforting manner, as the story passed to me.

"My mom's a nurse, she's never really home, so I got used to being by myself at 11 years old. After my father passed away in a fire... On Jo was the first friend I had ever made. Due to my parent's work situation we often moved, and only after his death did my mom settle down..." I began, fidgeting with my hands.

"My mom, to this day, doesn't know what I like to eat the most, or what I hate eating... she's too busy, and when she's home, she wants to rest. I understand that... but I feel, invisible. I thought getting good grades would make her notice me, but it only made me seem more independent in her eyes. Before On Jo and Cheong San, I had no one to tell me that it was okay to not like something, and they were the first people to shield me from thunder" I laughed dryly, a few tears falling.

"I'm glad that I met you all... Since you all became my family instead" I finished, laughing slightly as I wipe my tears looking at everyone, Nam Ra's hand squeezing mine and Wu Jin patted my back.

"I don't really have anything to say. I wouldn't really know... but I feel like I made friends" Nam Ra simply states, sharing a look with me, and afterwards with On Jo, who smiled back at the girl.

"Me, Chae Rin and On Jo..." Cheong San begins, a sigh falling from his lips.

"I just... I just want some water" He shrugs.

"Hey, not like that. Be completely honest" Hyo Ryeong joked.

"Be completely honest. Do you like someone?" Dae Su asked the boy, he hums looking down.

"Really? You do?" On Jo exclaims shocked, Cheong San simply stared at the girl besides me...

I gulped, eyes looking down, not wanting to make contact with anyone.

"Why are you stalling? Is it a crush?" On Jo furthermore asks.

"Pretty much" he answers vaguely.

"Pretty much? What does that mean?" She asks confused.

"Who is it?" She continues, but there is only silence.

Nam Ra's hand squeezes mine once again, I make eye contact with her, and she nods trying to be comforting, I shake my head... It wasn't...

I could feel some eyes upon me, but I decided to pretend not to notice, my eyes falling to my friend's hand on mine instead.

"No one" Cheong San answered after the silence.

"Who is she? Do I know her?" Cheong San's eyebrows lift the slightest bit.

"Who?" She nags.

"Sorry, I'm just exhausted. I'll let you all continue. I'll be by the railing" I forced a smile standing up, placing the blanket fully on Nam Ra, not looking at anyone's eyes.

I move to the furthest part of the rooftop, sitting against the ledge of the rooftop, ignoring the calls of my name.

Furthermore, I didn't need Cheong San to say who he liked... It was always going to be On Jo...

Nobody but On Jo.

Closing my eyes, I leaned my head back against the ledge, tears freely falling from my eyes, sniffing quietly as I pretended to sleep through the murmurs and words said around the bonfire.

"Chae Rin... I'm sorry" I open my eyes, Cheong San in front of me, a guilty expression on his face.

"I know what you're going to say, so don't - "

"Then let me say it..." He begged, I bit the inside of my lip, swallowing hard as I closed my eyes, nodding.

Waiting for it to be over. This would be the end of my crush. I could finally move on.

"I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry. I didn't mean to - "

"Why are you apologizing?" I smiled, nodding my head, not daring to look him in the eye.

"It's not your fault. You can't control your heart. I'm glad, that you finally confessed... That means I can finally move on too" I smiled assuring him of my intentions.

"What are you talking about? This is not about me confessing" He says confused.

"You're finally looking at me" He says, his eyebrows were furrowed as he stared at me in confusion, squatting down in front of me.

"Then... why are you apologizing?" I asked him again.

"Get up, come on" He sighs, reaching out a hand which I take, allowing him to help me get up and onto my feet.

He mumbles something under his breath, which I can't catch, so I nod.

"Why is there no reaction?" He asks confused.

"Because I couldn't hear anything. You spoke too quietly" I shrugged, he huffs.

"I like you!" He says louder, I nod again, looking again.

That is until my eyes widen, face snapping back to look at him, a small almost unnoticeable blush on his hair, as mine burns too.

"What did you just say?" I question him, needing the confirmation.

"You heard me"

"I just want to make sure"

"Don't be an idiot. I like you." He says again.

A smile breaks onto my face, before I punch his shoulder.

Gasps heard even from a distance, meanwhile he winces grabbing onto his left shoulder.

"What was that for?!" He cries out in pain.

"Why would you look at On Jo like that, if it was about me?!" I ask angrily.

"It was her plan! She said it would make you jealous and that you might confess to me instead!" He argued.

"Idiot" I murmured annoyed.

"You still haven't answered me" He whispers worriedly.

"Oh. You're right. I'll have to reject, I actually like Dae Su" She smiled at him waving as she walked back to the group.

Cheong San's face contorts into shock and most importantly pain, but I do turn around laughing as I jump into his arms, startling him.

"Ya! You said you liked Dae Su"

"Ya! You said you liked On Jo" I retorted, he pulled away, an angry look on his face.

"I told you that when we were 14" he scowls.

"So? I'll remember that until the day you die. You liked On Jo" I said in a petty way.

"Hm, I think Su Hyeok is calling you, go on" I tell him, nodding my head in the groups' direction which he follows,

"We'll continue this conversation later!" He points at me, I nod smiling at the happy boy.

I smile, hands over the ledge as I look towards the buildings ahead, head filled with happy thoughts of her crush reciprocating her feelings, finally making it a 2 way thing, instead of her being mindlessly chasing over a boy who liked her best friend.

She was over the moon with content.

3rd Person's POV

Chae Rin's ears finally catch onto a sound, she turns around seeing On Jo now standing up on the ledge opposite to hers, gasping, Gwi Nam grabs onto the girl. His bloodied hand covering her mouth.

"On Jo!" the girl frantically yelled, running to her best friend, Gwi Nam lets the girl go as he runs to her.

Both of us jumping at the same time as we grab onto each other's throats, throwing one another onto the floor, a groan the girls mouth.

"I told you not to come close to them" The girl snarled as the boy stood back up, the girl still on her knees, trying to control her own body as it cracked her bones.

"And I warned you before not to step in my way" He sneered, the girl got up as the others reached the two.

Gwi Nam's eyes sparkle at the sight of the boy he most wanted to see, Cheong San. Racing to him as Chae Rin looks back to see the boy who had just minutes ago confessed to her race to Gwi Nam.

But Gwi Nam was stronger, grabbing the boy by the neck and slamming him to the ground.

"Cheong San!" Su Hyeok called out to his best friend.

"What the hell" The others commented utterly confused.

"Let him go!" Chae Rin warned, the boy's thumb pressed against Cheong San's eye.

"Give me your eye, asshole" he growled, pressing deeper until the boy under him screamed in pain.

"I can't control it. Nam Ra" She whispered, loud enough for the girl on the side to listen to her friend's plead for help.

On Jo stepped up, grabbing Gwi Nam's arm, pulling it away from Cheong San's eye, making him curse and throw her away as he pressed back onto Cheong San's eye.

Su Hyeok kicked Gwi Nam to the side, fighting him off, which wasn't the best idea as he too was kicked by Gwi Nam.

Chae Rin approached him, dangerously slow as he smirked at her.

"What are those guys?" He scoffs.

"What about you? Are you from the One heart Club?" Dae Su asks, referring to the latter's jacket.

"It's me. Me. Don't you know me. How the fuck don't you know me?" he smirks proudly.

"I know you. I said it again and again. You were the bullies' gopher" Gyeong San said, hitting the exact same spot that almost got him killed.

"Call me that again, and you're dead" He warns, pointing a finger at the boy.

"You were never a thug, nor a good student. And now you're not a zombie nor human. Then, and now... you're nothing" Cheong San states, not once avoiding eye contact.

"I'm not going to just kill you. I'll gouge out both of your eyes and throw you to the zombies. Yes. Everyone but Cheong San run away. Unless you want to die" Gwi Nam says, giving them a choice. But nobody takes it.

Everyone standing up to protect their friend.

"You're all dead" Gwi Nam announces in a sickly tone, running to them.

"Stop" Chae Rin whispered, Cheong San and Gwi Nam grabbing onto each other as the others try to break the two up, Joon Yeong hitting him with a wood stick, which angers Gwi Nam who throws him away, pushing everyone aside after.

Cheong San still tries to strike, but Gwi Nam dodges hitting him instead making him fall to the ground where he kicks him.

"Stop it! Stop!" Chae Rin growls, hands flying out to attack at Gwi Nam who had barely had time to react, grabbing onto the girl's hand and twisting it in an unhuman ways, the girls screams only for a second before she bites down, breaking his skin, using it to her advantage to grab his neck.

Kicking his knee and making him fall to the ground.

"Give me your life" She whispers, a dangerous aurea running through her as madness is all she could feel.

"Take it. I dare you" He says, grabbing the girl by the shoulders and pushing her over him and onto the ground, she's fast, using her legs to grab him and laying him on the ground, her on top.

A seemingly sexual position, that in this case was just screaming 'death'.

She laces her hands on his neck, red veins popping from within and around her eyes, black veins appearing on her hands as her neck continuously cracked the longer she squeezed his neck for.

He puts his own hand on her neck, kicking her backwards and getting up, stalking up to her. But Su Hyeok hits him in the back with a wood piece.

Grabbing onto his neck, Gwi Nam lifts the boy off the ground, who uses it to his advantage, swinging his legs up and kicking him in the chest, his body twisting backwards, but he gets back up.

Punching and kicking are of no use as Gwi Nam just seems to get stronger.

Back on her feet, Chae Rin's hand twitches, Nam Ra walks ahead, hand grabbing a stick of wood with fire in it as she uses it to strike Gwi Nam who grabs her by the neck, kicking her.

Chae Rin kicks her heel high, hitting the boy in the face, stopping him as his neck snaps, just long enough for Nam Ra to stab him with the wood.

The effect on him isn't much, as he simply removes it from his leg, Nam Ra grabs onto his wrist not letting go.

"Let go" The boy warns her

"Let go, fuck" He punches her. But still doesn't let go as she falls to the ground.

Nam Ra gives the girl a look, Chae Rin stepping on his wrist that was being held by Nam Ra, the bone snapping out of the skin.

Nam Ra and Gwi Nam swing for a second, Gwi Nam using the black haired girl to hit the other who falls by Dae Su's feet.

"Chae Rin" he calls out softly, preoccupied.

The girl looks up at him, her eyes still a dark red, anger filling up more and more, the longer the fight continued.

"I'm hungry" The girl smiled darkly, standing up, Dae Su immediately standing back as Cheong San stepped up instead.

"Not for you, Dae Su" she smirked, heading back to the fight, the big boy sighing in relief, Wu Jin pats his back with a laugh.

"Chae Rin, wait" Cheong San grabs onto the girls arm.

"Let go. And step back" She tells him, gently removing his hand from her, he reluctantly does so, Joon Yeong pulling him back.

"You smell nice" Gwi Nam complimented Nam Ra who pushed him away slapping him in the face. He grabs her by the nape, Chae Rin grabs his hand taking it off her hair.

"Hands off, honey" Chae Rin smirks, pushing him away, close to the edge.

"Us three are on the same side. Smell me. Go on" Gwi Nam teases the two.

"Screw you" Nam Ra cusses, grabbing his hair and pushing him further away.

Su Hyeok kicks him in the back on the shin, but it doesn't have much affect as Gwi Nam just gets up as normal and grabs him by the collar, putting his face over the ledge, hands around his neck.

Chae Rin and Nam Ra share a look, the brown haired girl grabbing onto Su Hyeok from the ground as Nam Ra sweeps Gwi Nam off the ledge and onto the ground.

Chae Rin gets up, although her body starts convulsing.

Nam Ra grasps the girls hands, Chae Rin wasn't able to control herself as she cackled.

"Step away. I don't want to hurt you" She gasped through her words, Nam Ra refused to do so, but the girl, afraid to hurt her friend pushed her back to Su Hyeok's arms as she fell to the ground, holding onto the ledge for dear life.

Cheong San freed himself from the arms of his friends, racing over to the girl, covering her eyes with his body as he used his hands to cover her ears slightly.

"You're safe. I got you" He whispered soothingly to the girl, who visibly relaxed in his arms, eventually stopping.

He stepped away just slight, watching as the red veins disappeared from her eyes, them turning back to their original brown color as she panted quietly.

"I almost lost it" she mumbled, frightned of her own new self.

"But you didn't. You protected us. All of us" he said, smiling at the poor girl.

"We both need to practice self control, It's okay, we can help one another" Nam Ra softly told the girl, who nodded, holding onto Cheong San's shoulder and standing up.

"Is everyone okay?" The girl shyly asked looking at everyone.

They nodded, a few more hurt than others, but nonetheless, everyone was entirely there.

"On Jo, thank you" The girl thanked, grabbing the shorter one's hands, she smiled sweetly.

"Are you feeling better now?" She asked her friend, eyeing her carefully. The other nodded with a smile.

"Are you? You hit the ground pretty hard. Let me see" She fretted, pulling the girl to the side and slightly lifting up her shirt, watching her side, slightly forming a small purple bruise.

"You said you were fine!" The girl whined, worried for the smaller one.

"I am! You're the one who was thrown over and over again" On Jo protested.

"I'm fine, it doesn't hurt. Really" She smiled reassuringly.

"I'm cold. Let's just, sit down" I tell the group who nods, everyone sitting back around the fire burning low.

Nam Ra was between On Jo and Su Hyeok, her back to the door.

Besides Su Hyeok was Wu Jin, who was in between the taller male and Ji Min who was opposite to Nam Ra.

Next to Ji Min was Cheong San, as Chae Rin sat between him and Joon Yeong.

Joon yeong who was between the girl and Dae Su, and Hyo Ryeong to his side, between him and On Jo, enclosing the circle.

"Joon Yeong, do you need help?" Chae Rin asked the boy, immersed in his own thoughts as he tried fixing his glasses that Gwi Nam had thrown to the ground.

"It's okay, don't worry" he smiled softly at her, giving up soon after he noticed it would be impossible to put back together as the glass had broken.

"Damn, it stings" Dae Su hissed.

Everyone was in pain, either on their shoulders, backs, or just everywhere in general from trying to help and being pushed to the ground.

"What the hell is with that Gwi Nam dude? You said he was bitten" Joon Yeong says to Cheong San who had his knees up to his chest, a hand on Chae Rin's knee.

"I don't know. It looks like he became a different being" Cheong replied unsure.

"I don't think he can die" Su Hyeok inputs his own thoughts.

"What if he climbs up again?" Wu Jin asks the group.

"That asshole is bad, but to be honest. I'm scared of Chae Rin and Nam Ra too... You saw the two of them fight him." Ji Min pointed out, Cha Rin nods understandingly.

The two girls completely aware of their own new powers, and frankly saying, also afraid of them.

"I think it's reasonable to assume they're both hambies - " Dae Su begins to say but Hyo Ryeong elbows him in the ribs causing the boy to stop half way.

"What?" He whispers to her confused.

"You two are really okay right? You wouldn't do that to us, right?" Ji Min questions looking between the two of us.

"Will you believe me if I said I won't?" Nam Ra questions her.

The two girls didn't know how to answer, neither of them having the answer she wanted to hear. They didn't know what they could do. They could lose control one day, and bite their friends. Although for now, they seemed to be able to control themselves they couldn't promise something that they cannot keep, for now.

"Must you talk like that? Can't you try to make us believe you?" Ji Min asked exasperated as she looked at Chae Rin who had kept quiet all this while.

"We're going to be together anyway" Ji Min finished.

Chae Rin looked away, avoiding eye contact with her, head lost in thoughts and troubles of the possibility that she might turn against her friends.

Nam Ra sighs, unlike Chae Rin, lifting her head high to look at Ji Min.

"I... have never done anything but study, Not because i was naive but because I was a coward. I was scared my grades would drop and that my mom would get mad. So I didn't do anything else." The pre looked down.

"I was too scared to make friends too. My mom was always asked about how well they did at school, what their father did for a living, how big their house is..." She explains, using a stick of wood by her side to touch the fire burning.

"I never thought I'd get to sit by a fire with all of you like this. It's really nice. It's my first time. If we get out of here, let's gather around the fire and hang out like this again. I really hope we can" she says, a few people in the group smiling in agreement.

"Let's do that" Chae Rin smiled, On Jo agreeing.

"If anyone lights a fire.. let's all gather together" On Jo states with a small smile of her own.

"Sorry, Prez" Ji Min apologizes, Nam Ra finally shows them her smile, shocking everyone, but mostly Dae Su who smiles to himself.

"Did she just smile? That looked so awkward" he smiles happily, Nam Ra smiling even more.

"God, come on" Hyo Ryeong grumbles again at Dae Su's sudden comments.

"What now?" He huffs confused.

"Why don't you two just go out? You're being so loud" Wu Jin suggested ironically.

"Are you crazy?"

"Are you mad?"

The two reply at the same time.

"Hold on" Nam Ra mutters.

"You hear it too" I ask her, she nods.

"Hear what?" Su Hyeok asks confused.

"Why? Is someone coming again?" Hyo Ryeong asks nervously.

"They're coming" Nam Ra mutters.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~