"Oh, it's you," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm as I recognized the principal. I lowered my knife, which I had instinctively raised near his face when he woke me up by shaking me. "How is it outside? Still the same?" he asked, his voice filled with a mix of fear and hope.
I shot him a look that clearly said he was an idiot. "How should I know? I just woke up," I retorted, my voice heavy with sleep. I yawned and stretched, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. My gaze drifted over to Gwi-nam, who was sitting up and yawning as well.
"You feeling better or not?" Gwi-nam asked, his voice laced with concern. "You kept touching your neck and head and said you were thirsty in your sleep." His eyes held a look of care, but I couldn't quite understand what he was trying to convey.
Before I could respond, the principal interjected, "Who cares about that, Shinae, can you drive the car?" His question was abrupt and dismissive, causing me to glare at him. Gwi-nam seemed to share my sentiment as he swiftly hit the principal on the nose with his fist, defending me or perhaps expressing his own anger.
The principal recoiled, clutching his nose as he glared at Gwi-nam. But Gwi-nam didn't back down. He met the principal's glare with a defiant one of his own. It was clear that he wasn't going to let the principal disrespect me. And for that, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards him.
"Why do you even ask?" Gwi-nam questioned, his voice echoing in the silence of the room. The principal, a stern man with a hardened gaze, dug into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. "Here's my car key. It's in the parking lot. License plate, 7340. If you guys both go, you have a chance to bring it here," he stated, his voice carrying a hint of desperation.
Gwi-nam and I exchanged a glance, our expressions mirroring the incredulity we felt. This man was asking us to risk our lives for his car. "Why should we go out there? There are zombies, and that too for you?" I blurted out, unable to hide the disbelief in my voice. The principal turned to me, his eyes wide with shock. "What do you mean why? So we can leave this hell hole!" he exclaimed, his voice echoing off the walls.
I couldn't help but smirk at his naivety. Gwi-nam, too, seemed amused as he relaxed into the sofa, shaking his head. "No way," he said, his voice firm. The principal opened his mouth to argue, but I cut him off. "I'm not risking my life for someone who abuses children and threatens them. I have ears everywhere, you know," I said, my voice cold.
Gwi-nam turned to look at me, surprise evident in his eyes. "You knew about it?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. I nodded, remembering the information I had gathered. "Yeah, I found out from some guy who says you are his gopher or something. I beat him up for information on this old fart," I confessed, a sense of satisfaction washing over me.
"I'm not that old! Do as I say, I'm your principal!" He yelled, his voice echoing off the walls. I was already reaching for my knife, the cold steel glinting ominously under the dim light. I moved it closer to his face, my eyes never leaving his. He reached out, his hand closing around my face, ready to strike. But before he could, Gwi-nam intervened. "We said no, and do not touch her or I'll kill you," he threatened, his voice filled with a ferocity that made the principal let go.
Gwi-nam's gaze then fell on the kitchen knife lying on the table. He moved towards it, his steps measured and deliberate. The principal, however, had the same idea. He stood up, his eyes fixed on the knife. A silent battle ensued, both of them vying for the weapon. I sat down, watching as Gwi-nam managed to push the principal onto the table. The older man fell back, and Gwi-nam was now in possession of the knife.
"Fine. The two of you, get out of here," the principal said, gesturing towards the door with a defeated sigh. "Fat chance," I retorted, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Listen, give us the car keys and we can leave you here, alive. I think I should kill you after what you did to the student, Hee Su," I said, my voice cold.
Gwi-nam nodded in agreement. "Yeah, even I know about that. I watched you threatening her, telling her not to tell anyone or you'd ruin her reputation. I mean, I bully people, but even I don't stoop that low," he said, his voice filled with disgust. We both knew the truth about Hee Su, about her being pregnant, and who the father was. The principal's secret was out, and there was no going back.
Hee Su, a quiet and diligent student, had always been the target of the principal's undue attention. She was often seen leaving his office, her face pale and her eyes filled with unshed tears. Rumors started to circulate, whispers of the principal's inappropriate behavior towards her. But no one dared to speak up, the fear of the principal's wrath silencing them.
Then, Hee Su disappeared from school for a few weeks. When she returned, she was different. She was quieter, more withdrawn. And then, the signs started to show - the slight bulge in her stomach, the frequent trips to the bathroom, the bouts of morning sickness. It didn't take long for the students to put two and two together. Hee Su was pregnant.
The news spread like wildfire, but Hee Su remained silent. She bore the stares and the whispers with a quiet dignity, never once complaining. But the strain was evident in her eyes. She was just a child herself, thrust into a situation she was not prepared for.
And then, the unthinkable happened. The principal, the very man who was supposed to protect and guide his students, was revealed to be the father. Those who knew about it were threatened to keep shut.
Gwi-nam and I knew the truth. We knew what the principal had done. And we were not about to let him get away with it. Not if we could help it. Hee Su deserved justice, and we were determined to see that she got it. I had been observing the principal's actions closely, and when I saw the changes in Hee Su, we connected the dots. I had confronted Hee Su, and she confirmed my suspicions.
The principal, a man who had once commanded respect and authority, was now reduced to a trembling figure, bound and helpless. His eyes darted around the room, filled with fear and disbelief. He had never imagined that his actions would lead to this moment.
Gwi-nam, a student who had always been at odds with the principal, was now in control. His voice echoed ominously in the room as he confronted the principal. "You thought you could play with our lives like it's some kind of game?" he said, his voice filled with anger and resentment. "Well, guess what? The game has changed."
Just then, the door burst open, and Cheong-San walked in. His eyes widened in surprise as he took in the scene before him. He quickly rushed over to me, concern etched on his face. "I got your note," he said, his voice filled with worry. "I was worried when you didn't show up."
He glanced over my shoulder and his eyes landed on Gwi-nam, who was busy tying up the principal. "What's going on here?" he asked, confusion clear in his voice. I shrugged nonchalantly, "He was being a bad person to us."
Gwi-nam grunted in agreement, "This bastard won't stay still." He was struggling with the principal, who was thrashing around in a futile attempt to free himself. "You're both finished! I'm expelling you both! Untie me now!" he yelled, his voice echoing around the room.
But Gwi-nam was unfazed. He held a knife to the back of the principal's head, his eyes cold and unyielding. "Stop it, Gwi-nam," Cheong-San said, his voice filled with concern. But Gwi-nam was not to be deterred. "Why should I? This guy tried to kill us. He wanted us to go out and get his car!"
I chimed in, "And let's not forget, he's also a person who abuses his students."
The room was filled with a tense silence as Cheong-San pulled out his phone and started recording. The air was thick with anticipation and fear. "Cheong-San?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. I took a step back, my heart pounding in my chest.
Gwi-nam, his face a mask of determination, hid his knife behind his back. The principal, a man who had once been revered and feared, was now a pitiful sight. "That's a great idea," he said, his voice shaking. "You can't honestly be defending this man, if he can even be called a human," I retorted, pointing at the principal. "I'm recording everything," Cheong-San said, his voice steady despite the chaos around us.
The principal, a man who had shown nothing but disdain and disregard for us, was now at our mercy. "Come on, Cheong-San, this old man doesn't care about anyone but himself. If it were up to him, he'd abandon us the second he could. He should just die," I yelled, my voice echoing in the room. "He's done it before, and he'll do it again. He will hurt people like Hee-Su!" I added, pulling Cheong-San back by his chest, my eyes filled with anger and determination.
Cheong-San looked at me, his eyes filled with conflict. "Still, let him go. Or this will go to the police immediately," he said, his voice firm. Gwi-nam's face hardened at his words. "You little... I'll kill you," he spat out, his eyes flashing dangerously. "Just stop acting like human garbage. Come on, Shinae, you're better than this guy. Tell him to stop it." "The old man should just die," I said, my voice filled with frustration and disgust.
The room was filled with a tense silence as Gwi-nam declared himself the new boss of the school. His voice echoed ominously in the room, a stark reminder of the power shift that had taken place. "I'm in charge from now on. Don't you get it?" he yelled, his eyes flashing with determination.
Cheong san could only scoff at his words. "Don't make me laugh. You're just a loser who will serve for his entire life," he spat out, his voice filled with disdain. He turned his gaze towards me, "And Shinae, don't you dare take his side."
I could feel the tension in the room rising. I knew I had to defuse the situation before it escalated any further. "Calm down, do you want the zombies to be here or what? And Cheong-San, I'm on no one's side," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. But my words seemed to have little effect on Gwi-nam. He pushed me onto the sofa and approached Cheong-San, his eyes filled with a dangerous glint.
Suddenly, the principal saw an opportunity and tried to make a break for it. But Gwi-nam was quick to react. He noticed the principal's attempt to escape and swiftly sliced his neck open. The room fell into a stunned silence as the principal collapsed onto the floor, his life slowly ebbing away.
Cheong-San and I were taken aback by the sudden turn of events. But as I looked at the lifeless body of the principal, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. After all the harm he had caused, especially to Hee-Su, it felt like justice had finally been served. The old man, who had once held power over us, was now gone.
The room was filled with a tense silence as Gwi-nam turned to Cheong san. "What about you, Cheong san? Do you still think I'm a loser? Are you with me or not?" he asked, his voice echoing demandingly in the room. He held out his hand, gesturing for the phone. His eyes were filled with a dangerous glint, a clear indication of his determination.
I quickly moved to stand in front of Cheong-san, my body acting as a protective barrier between him and Gwi-nam. Cheong-san might not be the brightest, but he was still a friend, and I wasn't about to let him get hurt. "You just murdered-" Cheong-san started to say, but his words were cut off by Gwi-nam's sudden outburst.
"Give me the phone!" Gwi-nam yelled, charging at us like a wild animal. His eyes were filled with rage, and his hand gripped the knife tightly. The room was filled with a sense of impending danger as he lunged at us.
But Cheong-san was quick to react. He dodged Gwi-nam's blade with a swift movement, his eyes focused on the knife. As Gwi-nam approached him, Cheong-san used his body weight to his advantage and slammed Gwi-nam over the coffee table. The sound of the impact echoed in the room, and Gwi-nam let out a grunt of surprise.
Seizing the opportunity, I quickly grabbed my things. My heart pounded in my chest as I ran out of the room, the sounds of the struggle fading behind me. Cheong-san was right on my heels, his breaths coming out in short gasps. We didn't know what lay ahead, but we knew we had to get as far away from Gwi-nam as possible.