7. Dissonance

'.....'= Thoughts 

"....."= Conversations 

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Cheong-san glanced at Jin-soo and said, "We need to find a way to contact the authorities and get help. Jin-soo, do you have a phone?"

Jin-soo's hand instinctively went to his pocket, feeling for his phone. As he pulled it out, a sinking feeling washed over him. The screen was cracked, the device rendered useless. Still, he tried to power it on, but it remained lifeless.

"Sorry," Jin-soo muttered, his disappointment evident. "It's broken."

Su-hyeok nodded, looking serious but determined. "No worries. We'll find another way. Let's check the students' bags. Maybe someone has a working phone."

With a shared determination, they started searching through the bags, hoping to find a phone that could save them. While some kept watch at the doors, the rest hunted through the bags, their hearts racing with each discovery.

Outside, the sound of zombies banging on the doors reminded them of the danger. Tension filled the room as they worked, knowing their sanctuary was fragile.

But amidst the chaos, there was hope. I-sak found a phone and held it up with a shout. On-jo wasted no time asking whose it was.

"It's Yeong-ju's," I-sak said, relieved but worried. Yet their joy was short-lived when they found it was locked with a passcode.

Cheong-san spotted Yeong-ju nearby and acted fast, putting the phone in front of her.

Before Yeong-ju could react, a piercing scream echoed from the hallway. The zombies at the door suddenly turned away, distracted by the new noise. For a brief moment, the relentless pounding ceased, and the group exchanged hopeful glances.

On-jo's eyes lit up with a sudden realization. "Wait, we don't need to unlock the phone to make an emergency call!"

Cheong-san nodded, quickly taking the phone and dialing the emergency number. "Hello, police? Everyone in the school has turned into zombies. We need help immediately!"

The voice on the other end sounded skeptical. "If this is a prank call, there will be a fine. What's your name and number?"

"It's Cheong-san. Please, you have to believe me," he pleaded.

On-jo took the phone from Cheong-san and moved to the window to try making another call. Meanwhile, Jin-soo quietly sat on a bench near the group, lost in his thoughts.

'Is it right to just sit back and follow the decisions of the main characters? Sure, they usually make good decisions and manage to survive most of the time. But what if this show is different? What if everyone, including the main characters, dies at the end? What if they make a bad call and we all pay for it? I can't let myself be dragged down by someone else's choices. I need to be active, to make my own decisions. They might not always be right, but at least I won't have to regret losing my life because of someone else's mistake. I can't leave my fate in other people's hands.' Jin-soo's eyes shown with a determined light.

Jin-soo's resolve hardened. He would no longer remain passive. He would be part of the decision-making process, ensuring his survival wasn't left to chance or someone else's judgment.

Jin-soo watched as Na-yeon got up from the bench and approached Cheong-san. "Are the police coming?" she asked, her voice tinged with anxiety.

Cheong-san, who had been pacing near the window, stopped and glanced at her. "They said they are, but..." His voice trailed off, the uncertainty clear in his expression.

Na-yeon turned to On-jo, her frustration bubbling over. "Call them back! Make them come!"

"I've tried," On-jo said, holding up the phone in exasperation. "They're not picking up anymore."

Na-yeon huffed and marched over to where Nam-ra was sitting. "Hey, do something! Call Ms. Park or someone!"

Su-hyeok, who had been standing nearby, stepped in. "What do you expect Nam-ra to do? She's not a miracle worker."

"She's the class president," Na-yeon snapped back. "She should be doing something!"

Jin-soo frowned as he listened to the exchange. This girl was really getting on his nerves. Her constant complaining and sense of entitlement were not helping their situation at all.

Dae-su, sitting not far away, chimed in reluctantly. "Na-yeon's got a point, Nam-ra. You're the president. Maybe you should do something."

Nam-ra, who had been silently observing, looked over at Dae-su. He quickly avoided her gaze, guilt flashing across his face. She stood up and approached Na-yeon, but before she could speak, Jin-soo had had enough.

"Are you guys stupid or something?" he spoke, standing up and facing them. "What is Nam-ra supposed to do? Go out there and kill all those zombies with a punch? Or sacrifice herself to save our lives? Have you guys gotten brain damage or something?"

Na-yeon whirled around, her face red with anger. "Why are you taking that entitled bi*tch's side, Jin-soo? Did you fall in love with her or something?"

Jin-soo stepped closer to Na-yeon, the frown deepening on his face,"You look more entitled to me than her. At least she's not constantly complaining. So stop acting like a bi*ch who thinks she's the only one facing all the dangers alone. We are all in the same situation as you."

He paused, realizing he was still holding the knife he had been using to fashion a makeshift compartment in his coat. The sight of the knife seemed to give Na-yeon pause, and she backed off slightly, a flicker of fear in her eyes. Jin-soo, understanding the effect, slipped the knife back into the hidden pocket he had created.

"Look," he said more calmly, addressing everyone now, "we need to stick together and stop blaming each other. We're all scared, and we all want to survive. But turning on each other isn't going to help. We need to think clearly and act as a team."

Na-yeon, still seething but somewhat cowed by Jin-soo's intensity, crossed her arms and muttered something under her breath.

"This is not the time to fight with each other," Jin-soo sighed.

Nam-ra who was listening to Jin-soo didn't further pursue the matter with Na-yeon and went to sit back in her seat.

The group fell into a tense silence, the sound of zombies outside the doors a constant reminder of their precarious situation. Jin-soo's mind raced with ideas. They needed a plan that didn't rely on outside help, at least not immediately. He glanced at the others, taking in their anxious faces. They were counting on each other to survive.

"Okay," Jin-soo said, taking a deep breath. "First things first. We need to secure this room better. Those doors won't hold forever. Let's gather anything we can use to barricade them. Desks, chairs, anything heavy."

Na-yeon muttered under her breath but loud enough for everyone to hear, "And who made you the leader?"

Jin-soo glanced at her and replied calmly, "I'm not the leader. I'm just doing whatever it takes to survive and not end up like the ones outside. I assume you all have the same goal."

Na-yeon huffed but didn't respond. Jin-soo ignored her and stood up, starting to pick up benches. The others in the room followed his lead, even Na-yeon, albeit reluctantly.

Just as they picked up the benches, the door Gyeong-su was holding creaked open abruptly. His grip had loosened, and he backed away in fear, assuming it was a zombie. Jin-soo, alert and ready, drew his knife and moved to the front of the group, prepared to fighr.

However, the figure that entered was not a zombie but a person.

"Mr. Kang?" Gyeong-su muttered, his tense expression relaxing a bit, his breath heavy.

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