Silence.

 

Nobody said a thing, Eunchae fiddled nervously. Kazuha let go of her arm, her hands going back to rest on her lap. 

 

The atmosphere in the room grew tense as Eunchae's words hung in the air, her confession shattering the tiny bits of fragile peace that had settled over them. Yunjin's eyes widened in shock, her mind struggling to really process the gravity of what the youngest had just revealed. Beside her, Sakura's expression softened with concern, while Chaewon's features hardened with anger and suspicion.

 

"Eunchae... why didn't you tell me?" Yunjin's voice sounded weak with a mixture of hurt and betrayal, her heart heavy in her chest with the weight of Eunchae's newfound secret. She reached out tentatively, as if unsure whether to comfort or confront the younger girl.

 

Eunchae's gaze flickered between Yunjin and the others, her hands trembling as she struggled to find the words to explain herself. "I... I was scared," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't want you to worry, and I thought... I thought I could handle it on my own. I thought—"

 

Chaewon's fists clenched at her sides, her jaw set in a stubborn line as she glared at Eunchae. "You should have told her," she snapped, her voice laced with frustration. "You could have put us all in danger by hiding this."

 

Sakura placed a calming hand on Chaewon's shoulder, shooting her a warning glance before turning her attention back to Eunchae. "It's alright, Eunchae," she said gently, her tone soothing. "I understand why you kept this to yourself. But in this world, we need to be honest with each other, especially in situations like this."

 

Kazuha remained silent, her expression unreadable as she watched the exchange unfold. Her eyes flickered briefly to Eunchae's arm, a stern look crossing her features before she averted her gaze.

 

Feeling the weight of everyone's eyes upon her, Eunchae bowed her head, her cheeks flushed with shame. "I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "I didn't mean to cause any trouble. I just... I didn't know what else to do."

 

Yunjin took a deep breath, her initial shock giving way to a sense of understanding. She finally reached out to Eunchae, gently lifting her chin so their eyes met. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re fine now, that's all that matters.”

 

“Still, Eunchae might be unaffected by the virus and that’s a big deal.” Sakura looked at Kazuha for a few, the second one giving her a slight nod before she continued. “She has been bitten by an infected, on the arm, and showed no signs of infection. The wound looks like it’s healing normally, and it’s been a month ? This is not a normal case, and this could mean a lot.” 

 

Yunjin looked at the oldest with her eyebrows slightly furrowed, as if she was trying to understand what she was implying. Chaewon’s interest was piqued too, despite her blatant act of trying to look unfazed. 

 

“What I’m saying is we can’t just ignore that. The fact that she's somewhat immune .” 

 

Eunchae looked between them, her own emotions a tumultuous whirlwind inside her. "But... what if I'm not? What if it's just a fluke?" she asked, her voice filled with uncertainty. Sakura reached out, gently placing a hand on Eunchae's shoulder. "We won't know unless we try. And even if it turns out to be nothing, at least we'll have tried. We owe it to ourselves to explore every possibility." 

 

Yunjin's gaze flickered to Sakura, a glimmer of hope dancing in her eyes, "If there's a chance Eunchae is immune, we need to do something about it.” then back to Eunchae. “I’ll try and see if I can take her somewhere? some place— I don’t know, we’ll figure it out.” 

 

Kazuha, silent but ever observant, stepped forward, her eyes focused on Eunchae's injured arm. With a gesture, she indicated that they needed to address the injury before anything else. The bandaged arm could only be secured, but it needed more attention, and Kazuha could only do so much with what she had here. Still, Yunjin’s heart felt lighter at the sight of Eucnhae’s features being less adorned with pain. 

 

— 

 

As Yunjin led Eunchae into the spare room, she couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude wash over her at the sight before them. The room, though modest in size, held a quiet serenity that seemed to permeate the very air they breathed.

 

The walls, adorned with faded wallpaper peeling at the edges, bore the marks of time and weariness, yet they also seemed to exude a sense of resilience that spoke of enduring strength. The sunlight filtering through the dusty window cast dancing patterns of light and shadow across the worn floorboards, lending an almost ethereal quality to the space.

 

The bed, positioned beneath the window with a view of the world beyond, stood as a beacon of solace amidst the chaos of their surroundings. Its wooden frame, weathered and worn from years of use, seemed to offer a comforting embrace to anyone seeking refuge within its sturdy confines.

 

Yunjin's gaze lingered on the bed, her heart swelling with gratitude at the sight of such a simple yet profound gesture of kindness from Sakura. It was a small gesture, to be sure, but one that spoke volumes of the care she offered. Yunjin didn't really know why, but she was convinced that they weren't the first to lay here. 

 

With a gentle hand, Yunjin smoothed the wrinkles from the blankets, a small act of care and tenderness in a world fraught with hardship and uncertainty. She watched as the younger girl settled onto the mattress, her form sinking into the softness with a sigh of relief. As Eunchae lied down, Yunjin couldn't help but feel a sense of peace wash over her, knowing that, if only for a moment, they could find respite from the storm raging outside. 

 

As Yunjin settled onto the edge of the bed beside Eunchae, she took a moment to gather her thoughts, the weight of the day's events pressing heavily upon her weary shoulders. The room, though quiet and still, seemed to pulse with an unspoken rigidness, a palpable undercurrent of emotions that hung heavy in the air.

 

"Hey," Yunjin began softly, her voice barely above a whisper as she turned to face Eunchae. "I know today has been...a lot. But I want you to know that you're not alone in this. Whatever you're going through, I'm here for you."

 

Eunchae's eyes, red-rimmed and weary from tears shed in silence, met Yunjin's with a mixture of relief and uncertainty. "I...I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice barely audible in the quiet of the room. "I should have told you about the bite. I just...I didn't want to worry you, or anything else. I thought I could handle it on my own."

 

Yunjin reached out a hand, gently brushing Eunchae's cheek with her fingertips in a gesture of reassurance. "It's okay," she replied softly, her voice laced with understanding. "But we're a team, Eunchae. We look out for each other, no matter what. And that means no more secrets."

 

Eunchae nodded, a silent acknowledgment of Yunjin's words as she struggled to find the right words to express the turmoil raging within her heart. "I'm scared," she admitted at last, her voice trembling with emotion. "Scared of what's happening to me, scared of what might happen next. I don't want to be a burden to anyone."

 

Yunjin's heart ached at the raw vulnerability in Eunchae's voice, the depth of her pain laid bare for all to see. "You're not a burden, Eunchae," she whispered, her voice filled with fierce determination. "You're a survivor, a fighter. And no matter what happens, we'll face it together. You and me, every step of the way."

 

Tears welled once again in Eunchae's eyes as she sat up to lean into Yunjin's comforting embrace, the weight of her fears momentarily lifted by the strength of their bond. In that moment, as they clung to each other amidst the silence of the room, they found solace in the knowledge that, no matter what trials lay ahead, they would face them together, hand in hand. 

 

Yunjin gently lifted Eunchae's chin with her fingertips, her touch tender a