SURVIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: MOVING FORWARD

“What do we need to do?” Soyeon said, her eyes deadly serious, void of any emotion from the day before, as if wearing a mask, but she knew she needed to get things done, no matter what.

For her, she thought, as she got rid of anything that was slowing her down, aiming to end it all.

“We need to destroy the laboratory and go to the main corporation, then find the person who is behind everything, and stop this all. I’m sure that some of the people in the other areas of South Korea are still not affected, because I think Seoul is the most affected of the virus that they released.” Soojin said, Soyeon taking that into account.

“We cannot go into the laboratory that easily; Gahyeon got away, and she mastered imitation easily when she is the weakest one out of us; this means that when she was caught while we were escaping, they injected something on her.” Jiu said, Soyeon nodding at that.

“Then should we… you know.” Soojin said, Jiu widening her eyes at that.

“What do you mean by that? Imitation? Gahyeon will immediately see through that!” Jiu said, Soojin shaking her head at that.

“Not the two of us; only one.” Soojin said, her eyes settling on Soyeon, who widened her eyes at that.

“What do you mean? Elaborate.” Soyeon ordered, Soojin nodding at that.

“One of us will imitate you, and act like you surrendered in your own accord, since… since Yuqi died. You know that they want you caught and killed, and they will think that you came there to stop the things that are happening and killing everyone.” Soojin said, Soyeon nodding at that, though Minnie noticed that she flinched at the mention of Yuqi’s name.

“Then when you two are inside, can you… can you eliminate all the major threats and let us in?” Soyeon said, the two knowing that Gahyeon was considered one of the major threats inside.

“Or…” Shuhua said, proposing another plan.

Minnie stared at the sunset from the rooftop of the building where their group are settling in, staring at the sun that was slowly settling under the horizon, signaling that nighttime had already come.

They were once again settling in Soyeon’s apartment, being the nearest fortified place that they could think of, after having eliminated the rebels that attacked them, and killed the main leader. Minnie sighed at that, holding onto the rails as she let herself cry, for the first time in a very long time, letting herself bare without the presence of any, as she let her tears fall without wiping them away.

“Why are you alone here?” She heard Soojin say, moving closer as she quickly wiped away her tears—

Soojin put her hand away, signaling that she was alright with the girl crying, as the Thai only nodded, letting the last of her tears flow across her cheeks, wiping them away and staring at the horizon, the night sky looking peaceful, the streets silent for the first time in many days.

“Nothing… Shuhua’s there, talking to Soyeon… She’s avoiding me, I want to give her space for a moment.” Minnie said, Soojin nodding at that.

“But if you don’t talk to her about it… It wouldn’t be resolved properly. I already talked to her that you weren’t the one who killed her father, but she wouldn’t believe it unless you talk to her, Min.” Soojin said, Minnie sighing at that.

“I’m afraid that I would just hurt her if I try or pressure her into talking, but I’m also afraid that everyone will hate me for things that I thought I was doing for all of us, things that I thought were right.”

“Do not carry the burden all by yourself, Minnie. We were also there, not just you.” Soojin said, Minnie sighing at that.

“Just… if you are forced to choose between Shuhua or me, choose her.” Minnie said, Soojin widening her eyes.

“What? What about Miyeon? Are you going to leave her all alone?” Soojin said, Minnie looking into the horizon, tears falling from her eyes.

“She deserves someone with a clean conscience, Soo—”

Soojin grabbed the Thai’s collar and slapped her, causing her to fall down the ground and stare at Soojin, widening her eyes, but Soojin’s stare made her sit down idly and look at the ground, for the girl was glaring at her, Soojin’s eyes filled with anger.

“You’re just going to do that to her? According to your stories, you already left her before, and she hated you for that. If she knows that you chose to die because you’re feeling about everything you had done, she will hate you for that. Do you want her to hate you for the rest of your life, knowing that you could have done something to make your situation better? Shuhua could forgive you if you talk to her properly, and no matter what, I’ll try to save the both of you!” Soojin said, tears falling, falling down the ground.

“Don’t do this. Don’t run away from everything by choosing to die, Minnie.” Soojin said, putting a hand onto her shoulder, Minnie only nodding at that as she let her tears fall down.

“I… I won’t.”

“Do know that when we meet Gahyeon, we will have to kill her.” Jaechan said, sitting next to Jiu who was drinking some warm drink that was given to her, soothing her nerves.

“Of course, I know that… I’m just making myself be ready for the things that are to happen.” Jiu said, staring at her right hand that was wounded from the fight to the rebels the day before, now a scar tattooed across her palm, a mark that was Gahyeon’s doing before she retreated.

“Gahyeon’s gone, the moment… the moment we left her there, she’s gone.” Jiu said, sipping the warm drink, trying to heal the scar, but it didn’t work, as tears fell from her eyes.

“We… We just went there to be safe, but why did I find myself getting ripped away from my little sister? I want her to be safe, but now she’s…” Jiu said, Jaechan putting a hand on her shoulder.

“It wouldn’t hurt to try talking to her, Minji-ssi. After all, she’s still your little sister, deep inside.” Jaechan said, Jiu looking at him helplessly.

“And if it doesn’t work? I don’t think I can do that, Jaechan. I don’t think I can kill her.” Jiu said, looking down the ground, the silence calming the two of them---

“Then I’ll do that.” Jaechan said, Jiu raising her brow at that.

“What? What do you mean?” Jiu said, Jaechan chuckling and pointing at himself.

“I’ll do that. I’ll… I’ll end everything. Just… Just protect Soyeon for me.” Jaechan said, Jiu widening her eyes at that.

“You… What are you planning to do, Park Jaechan?” Jiu said, but Jaechan only chuckled at that, ruffling his hair.

“It’s just for me to know, Jiu. I promise you one thing; I’ll do that, I’ll end her suffering from the hands of those assholes… You have to protect Soyeon until then.” Jaechan said, Jiu only staring at him.

“You’re in love with her, aren’t you?” Jiu said, Jaechan only standing before her, staring at the night sky from the window that was closest to them.

“I’m just doing what I think is right.” Jaechan said, Jiu watching him walk away, as she finished her drink.

Jiu stood up and walked towards the sink, setting the empty cup there and walking aimlessly, until she found someone who was sitting in a chair and facing the window, staring at the stars decorating the night sky.

“This is the end, isn’t it? The calm before the storm.” Jeon Soyeon said, Jiu grabbing one of the stools that was scattered around and sat down next to the girl, keeping her company.

“You don’t need to be here; I’m fine being alone.” Soyeon said, Jiu smiling and shaking her head.

“No, I insist. Besides, something tells me that you also have something planned in the back of your mind that you don’t intend anyone knowing.” Jiu said, sighing as she saw the girl falter at that, but then put her mask of emotions back on.

“And something tells me that you’ve already figured that out, but please don’t tell anyone else.” Soyeon said, hugging her knees and listening to the wind rushing by Jiu looking at her.

“Whatever it is, you don’t need to do that. We can end this with all of our efforts put together.” Jiu said, Soyeon chuckling at that.

“I believe those efforts, Jiu. But the deaths need to stop. You know that, right?” Soyeon said, Jiu holding her breath, then sighing at that as she stared at Soyeon, who seemed to not notice her reactions as they both stared at the night sky.

“I’ll protect you until then. Someone… Someone wants me to protect you, and I’ll do that.” Jiu said, Soyeon chuckling at that.

“Thank you, Minji.” Soyeon said, tears in her eyes, Jiu managing to smile at that.

“No worries, captain.” She said, as they let the silence of the night calm them.

“Hi.” Minnie croaked out in a small voice, Miyeon widening her eyes at that as she let the tired girl in, noticing that her right cheek was red.

“What happened to you?” Miyeon asked, Minnie hugging her tight, making sure not to harm the remaining wounds on her back that was still healing though rapidly, Miyeon chuckling at the girl’s behavior but patting her back, sitting down into the bed with the girl onto her lap, hugging her tight.

“Just… thinking about some things…” Minnie said, Miyeon noticing her eyes that seemed tired from crying a lot.

“I’m so weak, Miyeon-ah. I almost lost you before, didn’t I? Now I couldn’t help Soyeon and Yuqi be together, and I can’t… Shuhua…” Minnie said, not managing to say any other words left as Miyeon hugged her tight, using the sleeve of her sweater to wipe the girl’s tears.

“You have to move forward and leave those all behind, Min. Those thoughts are weighing you down, and you’re bearing unnecessary weight.” Miyeon said, Minnie looking at her eyes.

“There are things I could have done that could have helped people more, Miyeon-ah—”

“But it’s over already, Minnie. It’s done. There is nothing you can do about it. It’s okay to cry, to sit around and do nothing to recover, but you have to move forward and move on, and you have to help us end everything. Can you do that, love? We’re near the end, just one push.” Miyeon said, Minnie looking down and letting out the last of her tears.

“Y… Yes, yes, I can…” Minnie said, hugging Miyeon tight as the older nodded, hugging her tight.

“I know you can, love… You’re my strong girl, after all. You’re Soyeon’s strong older sister.” Miyeon said, as the two of them laid down the bed, hugging each other until they fell asleep.

Let’s move forward, was all of them thinking that night, falling asleep peacefully before another storm.