Four months. It has been four months of staying in quarantine. Four months since the last time they saw Namra. Four months after Cheongsan, Gyeongsu, and their other friend’s death.

And four months since Hyunjae confessed and acquired no response since then.

Honestly, it was painful but he made an effort to be understanding. He wasn’t entirely sure if he got rejected but as shortly as they arrived at the rescue centre, he just came to terms that maybe he was indeed rejected. Since he doesn’t have the heart and courage to appeal to her or Suhyeok. He just accepted it.

But of course, just because he acknowledged it, doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel pain anymore.

When they arrived at the facility, the authorities questioned why one of them was missing a hand. And they told the truth, in return, Wujin was examined and Hyunjae was asked how he knew cutting up Wujin’s hand would make him live.

Hyunjae had a straightforward answer, “I’m an avid fan of The Walking Dead,” He said it with full conviction and everyone in the room just looked at each other, staring at him as if he was a lunatic before moving on to ask another question.

Thankfully, Wujin’s examinations turned out to be normal, they didn’t find any bizarre findings and that made Hyunjae at ease. Because while they were being interrogated, he was frightened for his friend—he was overthinking if he made the right choice to cut off Wujin’s hand.

Eight weeks later after they were retrieved, Hyunjae’s parents arrived at the quarantine centre. Although the pair were happy to see their only son alive and well, confrontations were made—he was far from being delighted. And of course, there was shouting involved.

“You were stupid to think that I’d leave my friends for you.”

“Did it ever occur in your mind, just once, that those people that you wanted me to depart from were also the same people that got me here in front of you? Alive, breathing, and kicking? You wouldn’t be talking to me right now if it weren’t for them.”

In return for Hyunjae’s snarky and ‘ungrateful’ remarks, he received a threat of being cut off from his father’s wealth and influence and a hard slap in his face from his mother.

But that did not faze Hyunjae, in fact, he was brave enough to mock his parents which was fueled by his parent’s anger twice more than earlier.

In all honesty, Hyunjae’s father might be an asshole but he will never cut his only son out of his life. He doesn’t trust a lot of people, just his wife and son. Usually, threats like being ripped off his wealth, privilege, and such are all empty threats—he did it once or twice before the car accident and five times after the said incident, so it was nothing new to him. In his own twisted way, Mr Kim loved his only son, his heir too much. If anything, he sees his younger self on Hyunjae. He can’t and won’t cut Hyunjae out of his life.

Of all the things he endured and sacrificed, to place his company to where it is now–it was all for his family. He did it all because he loves his son and his wife more than he could love himself but of course, his sacrifices and endeavours for the family don’t justify how he can be strict and hard on his young son.

Throughout the family’s quarrel, Hyunjae’s mother was only crying. She might share a few good memories with Hyunjae, she is no saint or angel either.

Every time his father verbally abused him, his mother would just listen—sometimes, nodding her head, agreeing, which hurts him even more. Though, she would never firsthand scold him, no, she wasn’t like that. Instead, if she found something suspicious or an attitude of Hyunjae that she isn’t fond of, it would be reported to her husband immediately.

Hyunjae can’t figure out why his parents were like that, so, instead of asking, he just lets them be. He studied hard, he worked hard to earn their respect and with the accident, all of his impressive work was shrugged off and thrown into the trash bin.

Hence, he knew. That slap from his mother was necessary. Hyunjae deserved it. He literally just disrespected his parents, of course, he does. He wasn’t a saint either as he used to rebel against his parents before it and just as they thought being in Hyosan would tame him—it didn’t. He did a lot more that would give his father a painful migraine if he knew.

Again, like the last time, Hyunjae was offered another deal and he quickly denied it with no regrets or second thoughts. He wouldn’t be happy with his blood family, in fact, he would only be put in so much pressure and stress. He doesn’t want that.

Helpless and defeated, the married couple went back to Seoul with a heavy heart. Honestly, it wasn’t the talk they were expecting to have with their sole heir. Instead of blackmailing him again, they just let Hyunjae be.

They just realized how cruel they were—especially Mr Kim—when he let Hyunjae choose between his real family and the people who helped him and turned him into a different person. They were even more family than he and his wife ever were.
And he swore that would be the last time he’d put his son and his wife in a ruthless situation. His son just survived an army of corpses. He wanted and had to do better.

Meanwhile, Suhyeon hid in her room for those last four months—although she still oftentimes sees her friends from time to time, if there were ever a chance, she would lock herself in her room, contemplating the events that occurred before finding refuge.

She’s now at ease. In serenity.

Her remaining friends are all safe and secure. Her brother, Suhyeok, is doing better than he ever did considering he was separated from the girl he fancies, Namra. On-jo, as Suhyeon expected, is still grieving for her father’s and Cheongsan’s death and it is totally understandable, while Wujin is pretty much still healing and adjusting to his current situation having his sister and Daesu assist and guide him. Hyoryung and Mijin doing fine as well—the latter constantly appealing what she experienced as a reason for her to have special admission to a university without paying a single penny.

And, Hyunjae. God, Suhyeon missed that man exceedingly, with every ounce of her being. In all honesty, she hasn’t talked to him privately since his abrupt confession to distract the zombie that was supposed to eat her.

Unexpectedly, a knock was heard on the other side of the door to her room, putting a pause on her inner dialogues about how stupid she was for avoiding and hiding from Hyunjae. “Come in,” The door opened and it revealed Wujin.

The bags underneath his eyes are almost gone and his arms have finally recovered.

“What brings you here?”

Wujin walks closely and lies on her bed comfortably, letting out a sigh as he closes his eyes. “Back when we were kids, I liked you. I didn’t even know why but I remember my young self wanting to be noticed by you. You were so pretty and kind, and really smart. You were really cool and you also took good care of me when we started attending school.” The rugged-looking man lying on Suhyeon’s bed confesses, making her chuckle lightly.

“Wujin, why are you telling me this now?” This was the first time Suhyeon was hearing about this. It may be she is too dense or Wujin was just too good at hiding his admiration towards her.

Wujin turned his body in Suhyeon’s direction, “Just so you know that I liked you first. You know before Hyunjae confessed to you. Which brings me to the question, why are you not talking to him anyway?” His brows are aroused as Suhyeon frustratedly sighs.

Suhyeon looked away as she set her eyes on the ceiling—she doesn’t comprehend why either. It has been months since Hyunjae confessed.

Initially, after they arrived at the centre, she was supposed to tell him how she feels as well but then, his parents arrived and it caused a big headache on Hyunjae’s head to the point when he turned into an asshole.

Still, she understood Hyunjae’s hostile approach to his parents after Suhyeon and the entire group was told about the failed attempt to rescue him while they were on the roof of their school. They weren’t mad, they didn’t blame him whatsoever. All the possible reactions that Hyunjae thought that they would have were thrown out of the bus.

If anything, they didn’t show any emotion exempt from being surprised. They were surprised about his parents’ influence that they could pull off something like that—don’t get them wrong, none of them knew that Hyunjae was a chaebol’s son.

Although Suhyeon was informed, it was a bit later, in fact, they knew that he and his family are well off but not to the point of being an heir.

Hyunjae’s parents were a force to be reckoned with and although they were touched that Hyunjae chose them over his parents it was a bit stupid of him to reject a chance to live whilst on the brink of death.

But of course, they brush it aside immediately since they were already in a safe place now.

There were other occasions too when Suhyeon planned to respond with Hyunjae’s confession but then, they were put into quarantine, away from the other refugees and away from each other.

Suhyeon shrugged her shoulders, “I don’t know, honestly. I–I think I’m too late, Wujin.” She noted.

Wujin snickered lightly, “There is no such thing as being late, Suhyeon. You can never be late for Hyunjae.” Wujin paused, “Personally, I think he’d still be glad. The man has fancied you for years. Don’t you think it’s time for him to know about what you feel?”

Wujin’s last sentence lingers in Suhyeon’s ears and mind. Suhyeon seriously likes Hyunjae, there is no question about that, but she has been ignoring him since they arrived at the facility, and she thinks it might turn him off and has already moved on.

Even though she doesn’t talk to him now, he would always send a smile along her way—as if everything is alright, as if he did not confess to her most unexpectedly, in an unexpected situation, and in a bad place. Hence, she is afraid that he has already gotten over her already.

“That is just my opinion. You are not obligated to listen to it, the decision is still up to you, Hyeon.” Wujin got up from his seat and his brows started to wiggle as if he was teasing her. “I gotta ask since I’ve been dying to know. Since when did you know that you liked Hyunjae?”

“We’re seriously talking about that?” Suhyeon folds her arms as she avoids the teasing gazes of Wujin. Oh, the things she could do to get rid of that smug look on his face.

“Why? Have you told your brother all the details already?” Suhyeon shook her head, answering, “Then, you’re telling me first then. Now, spill.” Wujin ordered, receiving a few giggles from the girl beside him.

There wasn’t even a second when Suhyeon’s entire aura was glowing. There was something about her talking about Hyunjae that made her glow. Wujin only wishes that his friend could see his view right now, surely, Hyunjae would love it—he did.

Her eyes dazzled as her cheeks turned rosy the moment she started talking about what she loved about Hyunjae and her smile, he could die watching her smile like that. 

Suhyeon looked beyond euphoric, and it was the first time Wujin watched her be happy to talk about another person—considering where they were a few months back, this was the first time he saw her in this level of cheerfulness. She wasn’t that jovial while talking about her twin brother—no there was much difference.

Frankly, it is somewhat close to how she talked about Namra back in the day.

It wasn’t known by anyone, aside from his sister, Wujin has fancied Suhyeon for a long time.

Was he jealous? No. Still, he’ll always love Suhyeon, romantically or not. No jealousy, pain, or whatsoever. All that is on Wujin’s heart, is contentment and happiness for Suhyeon. He is content with the friendship he built with Suhyeon and he is also happy that a person like Hyunjae is the one who caught Suhyeon’s attention.

“On-jo thinks someone lit a fire on the school rooftop.”

Her brother, Suhyeok shared the information he received from On-jo earlier even if he was told not to tell anyone, of course, he’d tell his younger sister. He’s been in Suhyeon’s room for almost an hour having a chat and unconsciously spacing out together as their mind is preoccupied with their respective significant others.

“The same rooftop we were attacked by Gwi-nam?” Suhyeok nodded his head, irresistibly lifting his lip to smile before he sat next to his sister. 

She can now say his name without flinching or being scared as she did before, He is more than proud.
In all honesty, this was the first time in four months he and his sister talked about Hyunjae. He wanted Suhyeon to tell him about Hyunjae as he never wanted to be nosy about his younger sister’s love life. But just this once, he’ll swallow his pride for the sake of his sister, friend, and his curiosity.

“So, about you and Hyunjae.”

“Let me guess: me and Hyunjae?” The twins chuckle lightly after talking at the same time.

“It took you months to notice?”

Suhyeok raises an eyebrow, “No. I’ve noticed it longer than you know. I just don’t want to bother you with questions you don’t have an answer to yet.”

“And you think I have the answers now?”

“What I think is, you already had the answer long before all shit went down. I just think that you were just scared to tell him and how he’d react.” He replied, “The man’s practically been smitten by you, what scares you?”

Suhyeon just looked at her older brother with a meaningful look and Suhyeok already knew what was the matter. “You’re scared he no longer feels the same as he did back then, aren’t you? Well, don’t be. ‘Cos if he did, I’d haunt him for the rest of his life.” He stated, half-joking. “On a serious note, Hyunjae’s scared as you are.” His smile faded as he gets more into the conversation, explaining and spilling all the things he had talked about with Hyunjae.

Somehow, while Suhyeon’s brother was talking nonstop, her eyes glistened with joy as she can’t contain all the feelings she got in her entire body as she listened to his brother repeating all the words that came out of Hyunjae’s mind.

“...so I replied to him: Hurt my sister in any way possible and impossible, and you’ll be matching with Wujin who only has one hand. You should have seen the look on his face, it was priceless—see, this is probably the only reason I don’t want to talk to you about Hyunjae because you got this look on your face that makes me want to vomit.”

Automatically, Suhyeon rolls her eyes. “Shut up,” She mumbled as she chuckled.

“Talk to him, Suhyeon…or don’t.” Suhyeok shrugged his shoulders, “And you will regret it for the rest of your life.”

Later that night, the entire gang met in a hidden location after On-jo’s plan spread to all of them after Suhyeok made a decision to tell Daesu. After climbing off a huge arse wall, the entire group—much to Suhyeon’s surprise, Hyoryung came along considering how scaredy-cat she is—hiked their way to their high school led by On-jo, Ha-ri, and Hyunjae.

Whilst on their way, they made a stop on the tree with their friends, classmates, and all those people’s names that they have lost written on ribbons and some foods they left on the ground.

Seeing Cheongsan, Joonyeong, and Gyeongsu’s names written on a piece of ribbon hurts down to Hyunjae’s core. After all these months, he hasn’t had a thought process that they are both gone and thinks that Suhyeon and Wujin’s names were so close to being written in it baffles his mind.

Ironically, both were stopped by him.
A few minutes later, they continued their original itinerary after seeing with their own eyes that there was indeed a fire lit on the rooftop.

As they entered the campus, they were welcomed by bodies, people or zombies that they don’t recognise at all as it was the aftermath of the bombings that occurred after leaving Cheongsan alone with the zombies and Gwi-nam on the unfinished building. Meanwhile, Suhyeon crosses her fingers and hopes that none of them would see the corpses of the people close to them as they proceed to the rooftop.

Even though it was a long journey, the fire still lit. Which made them think about who was the reason behind it—except for Suhyeon and On-jo.

“No,”

Suhyeon beamed, remembering a friend who was also forced to separate from them, “It’s Namra. Maybe she lit it because she misses us.” She mused.

Then, suddenly, “You made it,” An all-too-familiar feminine voice talked, making the entire group turn their heads away from the fire and swiftly gaze at where the person’s voice came from. Pupils dilated as everyone was surprised to see their class president once again, considering how they got separated from her.

While Suhyeon was biting a smile back before she rushed to Namra and threw herself in a long and warm embrace. “Gosh, I missed you. We all missed you.” She whispers as Namra sweetly chuckles before caressing her back as she replies.

“I missed you too, Lee Suhyeon, all of you,” Namra responded as her mouth curved into a smile then her eyes gleamed as gaped at Suhyeok, who was unable to move, his gaze fixed on the girl he thought he would never see again. If it was a dream, he never wanted to wake up again.

“Namra,”

Hearing her brother’s voice, Suhyeon pulled away from the hug and curled her arms around Namra’s arm after she put her hands inside the front pocket of her sweat jacket. Then they both sauntered closer to the others with radiant smiles plastered on their faces.

Meanwhile, Hyunjae almost died as he was melted by watching Suhyeon’s smile. It was everything to him. During their entire stay in the centre, he always received a thrift smile to none from the girl he fancies, then, he felt someone nudging his side. For a second he looked away from Suhyeon and it was Wujin, grinning from ear to ear.

“See that? That’s how she smiled when he was gushing about you. She adores you, man,”
However, Hyunjae heard what his friend said, it came into his ear and came out to the other—he cannot comprehend it not even for a second as he was still mesmerized by Suhyeon.

“There are others like me,” Was what Namra replied after she was asked by On-jo to go with them.

And with that revelation, Hyunjae hoped that Cheongsan was one of them as it won’t be the case for Joonyeong and Gyeongsu anymore because they had witnessed it with his own eyes when they completely turned into flesh-eating creatures.

Suhyeon secretly looks over at Hyunjae’s stance. She could tell the hope glistening in his eyes as Namra mentioned others being like her.

“I’m neither human nor a monster,”

“You’re not,” On-jo dismissed her statement, then took a step forward, “Please stay. It’ll be okay.”

“We’re friends, even if we’re apart, okay?” She said, shifting her attention to Suhyeon who stood close to her brother a few minutes ago.

“Are we?” Namra then turns to everyone standing a few meters behind On-jo.

It was Suhyeok who answered first, “Yes, you’re right. Wherever we are, we’ll always be friends.”

Still beaming, “We’ll that’s good enough. It’s them.” Namra said before she looked elsewhere as did everyone else, sharing a confused look on their faces.

“See you, okay?”

Then, Namra bolted and leapt over the parapet wall after bidding her goodbye. Here and there, they were left astounded and beyond amused until a question popped into their mind. When are they going to see her again?

“She was all I could think of for four months and when I finally saw her again, I never got the chance to talk to her.”

Those words haunted Hyunjae all day and even until his sleep. He can’t really blame him, Suhyeok finally saw the girl he likes and yet, he didn’t have enough time to speak with her.

While he only lets Suhyeon avoid his cowardly arse. He had just assumed that it would be Suhyeon that would make the second move as he did the first one—pride’s up in his arse. As he keeps on putting it in his head that he’s already accepted the fate of his and Suhyeon’s potential love story is doomed from the start.

Right from the beginning, the moment he started to feel something different about the youngest Lee twin, he had doubted himself to be worthy of her. He had reduced himself to a friend, and he did not even ask for something more. He had accepted that he would only admire from afar, but, during and after the outbreak, gradually, his perspective of himself changed.
And a huge reason behind it was her.

Lee Suhyeon.

In order to be seen as worthy of Suhyeon, he has to work on himself first. Even if he was ignored and avoided by her, it also helped him to work on himself. To do better. To be better. He had time to know what he really wants, what he needs to work on, and just basically know himself more. Without her knowing, he has been helping him—even if there is much guilt overflowing in Suhyeon’s conscience.

It was about time for Hyunjae to finally had the courage.

And there he is, standing outside Suhyeon’s door, gathering his thoughts for the last time before knocking on her door. He lets in a deep breath, and raises his knuckles, ready to knock when the door opens itself.

“Suhyeon,”

“Hi.”

At ease. That was what Suhyeok felt. Suhyeok woke up the next day in a brighter mood. It somehow felt new and weird for him. He has never been in a brighter mood since the day he and Namra kissed.

Besides, it made him feel wrong for himself that he is in a good mood, after everything. His friends died. Wujin’s amputated arm. Whatever is or was going on between his younger sister and Hyunjae. And after seeing Namra on that very familiar rooftop.
It felt so wrong, but somehow, a seedling of hope arose deep within him. With all things considered, he, Suhyeon, and his friends are all safe—for now.

Suhyeok has no idea how long it will take but he knows if Gyeong-su and Joonyeong were with them, surely they want him—all their friends, the ones who survived to live the life they have right now.

To never take life for granted ever again.

After Suhyeok gave Hyunjae a handful of pieces of advice, it was bound for him to practice what he preaches. Although his previous feelings towards the girl, On-jo are all gone now, a part of him still wanted to talk to the girl. The girl who has lost almost everyone she loved.

Their discussion went well and smoothly. They have come to terms with having each other as friends—nothing less and nothing more.

After feeling guilty, Suhyeok wanted to check on his younger sister but it was Hyunjae he saw first.

And seeing that enormous and unusual glimmer on the man’s face, unconsciously he had one on his as well as he fast approaches Hyunjae.

“Took you long enough.” Suhyeok muses, turning his attention away from Hyunjae only to see Suhyeon coming on their way, along with all of their friends.

The lovestruck fool caught his lady’s glances, slightly nodding his head, “I finally got the girl.” Hyunjae finally professed.

No more fear and anxiety that was previously shown on their faces, only smiles and laughter.

Gone was the havoc.

•─────⋅☾ 𝔭𝔥𝔬𝔢𝔫𝔶𝔵𝔳𝔦 ☽⋅─────•

and it’s a wrap!

first and foremost, thank you. for your long patience, for waiting.

thank you for adding this book on your reading list, your library. for reading, voting, and commenting on each chapters.

it really is a big deal for me to finish this as this is my first fiction work that i’ve completed.

secondly, the reason this ending takes too long is because i don’t know what to write and how to end hyunjae and suhyeon’s story. so reading the final draft (which is this), i imagined it like how the movies and series i watched ends.

and it is safe to say that i am satisfied. a few days ago, i was contemplating, overthinking, unsure whether should i publish this or not then i watched a tiktok video, it says, “write what you want to read,” something along those lines and it felt very comforting and that’s when i continued writing with that mindset.

lastly, it would be a lie if i said that i don’t care about your opinion, of course i do. but regardless, even if you didn’t enjoy every last bit of the epilogue, i hope that there’s one line or passage that you liked.

may you be brave and powerful like suhyeon, an overcomer and courageous like hyunjae.

— xvi