January 10, 2023, 9:01 am, Minhyuk's Settlement, Daegu, South Korea.
After a few nights rest, Zeke and Jihyo were now finally beginning their training. They were outside their makeshift apartment, which was now a bit more furnished than before.
"Goodmorning, my new students!" Seojun said to Zeke and Jihyo.
"Goodmorning, Seojun-nim!" Jihyo bowed.
"Goodmoring, Mr. Seojun." Zeke places his palm on his chest and bows.
"Oh, no need for formalities, young ones." Seojun chuckled. "You can relax. This is only a brief introduction on what we will do starting later this afternoon."
"Oh, I see, I see. Okay, Mr. Seojun." Zeke said as he and Jihyo sit down on the curb.
"So... first, our schedule... we start around six in the morning, take an hour's worth of break during lunch, then continue along until five in the afternoon. The training will not be as hard or intense. What's hard about it is the frequency of the training sessions that we will have. It will be on a daily basis, and your rest day will be every Sunday. Sounds good? Or is it too harsh?" Seojun asked.
"Oh, no, no, I'm good with this, Seojun-nim. It's honestly similar to my schedules on a jam-packed comeback week. Pretty sure it wouldn't be a problem to me. How about you, Zeke?" Jihyo turns to Zeke.
"I'm fine too," Zeke replied. "Overtime at work was worse than this. I don't get paid enough to deal with shitty people at work. Capitalism sucks." Zeke laughed.
"I'm glad you're all willingly into this." Seojun replied as he chuckled as well. "Now, next agenda. I have planned a three-part training here, which we'll be practicing in the open field just next to this settlement. The first training will span two weeks, which will strengthen your body through exercise. Yoga, pilates, and some other stuff will be included."
"Pilates!" Jihyo's face light up as she shakes her fists. "I love pilates. I used to do it everytime. If Nayeon was here she would love this too. I'm excited!"
"Glad you have high spirits about it, Ms. Jihyo." Seojun smiled. "Okay, the second one is hand-to-hand combat training, which will also last two weeks. I know Mr. Zeke has some knowledge about this, so it would mostly be a breeze, honestly.
"Despite me having combat training before... I never actually threw hands in reality... because I don't wanna hurt people." Zeke scratched his head. "But our enemies are not human so I guess I can make exceptions?" Zeke laughs.
"Hoho, you're right, monsters are definitely an exception. Okay... the final part of the training will be about armed combat. You will use a weapon here, and learn some various basic techiques in sword-wielding. This part will be a bit difficult however, as I have planned for us to go out and beat some snowmen and Scrapers nearby. But I will accompany you incase of trouble, so no worries about this." Seojun said. "And I will also teach Jihyo how to control her Manifest abilities properly there. Once that's all over, then it's basically application from then on. You must train on your own."
"I'm ready to start soon, Seojun-nim!" Jihyo said.
"Me too!" Zeke said. "Although I don't have a Manifest myself... Hehe."
"That's fine, Zeke. This training will be vital for your survival. Considering you never underwent military service since you aren't from this country, you'll need even the simplest techniques in combat." Seojun replied.
"Yes, yes. Thank you, Mr. Seojun, for the opportunity."
"You're welcome, Mr. Zeke. Now... you two... We'll see each other later. You're free to do whatever you want for now! Be here at exactly 1'o clock, okay?" Seojun smiled.
"Okay, Seojun-nim! See you!" Jihyo said as they both stood up.
"So... what do you wanna do for now, Zeke?" Jihyo said, smiling at him.
"Uh..." Zeke looked away, blushing. He was still shy around Jihyo, even after her telling him that they're officially friends. Jihyo was still an idol, after all. A famous person, loved by millions around the world, just literally a few feet away from him.
Jihyo notices his flustered face and giggles. "Mister Zeke, helloooooo?"
"Ah! Uh, sorry. Just really not used to you being friends with me. I still feel I'm dreaming, honestly. Can you slap me?" Zeke said.
"You sure about this?" Jihyo said.
"Yea--"
Jihyo immediately slaps him on the face, much to his surprise. He holds his cheek, wincing in pain.
"Ow, you really did it!" Zeke exclaims.
"Oh my god! I'm sorry, did I hit you way too hard?" Jihyo said as she goes to him to assesses his cheek.
Zeke looks at her. Her face was extremely near to his as he blushes even more. She was really beautiful close-up. Her round, hazel brown eyes were amazing to look at, and her overall facial features show both cuteness and pureness at the same time.
"Y-y-yes! I'm okay... I know this is real now, I know this is real now... You don't have to worry..." Zeke moved away from her a bit, still blushing.
Jihyo giggles. "I'm sorry. I just followed what you said. And listen... I know you're not used to me being your actual friend yet, but let me tell you, you don't have to feel shy around me, alright? You can be comfortable with me." She said as she smiles.
Zeke slowly smiles back. "Okay."
"Now, I think I wanna visit Minhyuk-nim right now. I just wanna thank him again for accomodating us. Wanna come?" Jihyo said.
"Sure. I want to thank him too." Zeke said as they began walking towards Minhyuk's office.
When they arrived, they were in front of his office--- a once spacious clothing store. Zeke knocks on the door.
"Minhyuk-nim, it's us," Jihyo said. After a while, the door opens, and they're greeted by Minhyuk, who was now wearing comfortable, formal clothes.
"Oh, hello, Zeke and Jihyo. Please, come in." He said as he moved to the side. As they entered his office, they see his small desk, with a nice chair, a few drawers, and a table with a CB radio on it.
"Please, please. Have a seat." Minhyuk takes two monoblock chairs from the side of his office and moves it towards his desk. Zeke and Jihyo sits down.
"What can I do for you two?" Minhyuk said as he sits down his chair.
"Well, we just came here to say thank you for taking us in the other day." Jihyo said. "We are grateful."
"Oh, no, no, Ms. Jihyo," Minhyuk said "If anything, It's me who should be thanking you two. Those snowmen... They would've likely killed several of my men if it weren't for you and Mr. Zeke right here."
"We are... just glad to help, Mr. Minhyuk. We don't want any more losses. We've seen enough in just two days." Zeke replied. Jihyo nodded in agreement.
"Glad we are on the same page. Now, Seojun-nim has informed me of your training, which will start later. If you need anything--- your fave food, drinks, assistants in training--- just tell me and I'll do my best to provide it, alright?" Minhyuk said.
"T-that's too much, Minhyuk-nim. We're already good with the shelter you provided us, honestly, no need for that..." Jihyo replied.
"I insist. It's the least I can do for you two." Minhyuk smiled.
Zeke and Jihyo just nodded.
"Alright. If you don't have anything else to ask of me, I must get back to my work. Being a leader of a newly established apocalyptic settlement sure isn't easy..." Minhyuk laughs. "It's a good thing I'm an engineering major... I could work around with stuff to help fortify our place."
"I wish you goodluck, Minhyuk-nim! And thank you, once again." Jihyo said as she stands up and bows. Zeke follows as well, and they leave his office.
As soon as they get out, they see Minji and Hyungwon just standing outside. Minji had a puppy-eyed stare towards Jihyo, while Hyungwon is next to her, holding his temples.
"Oh, hi, Jihyo-ssi. Sorry about my sister. She's just so in awe that she gets to see you in person everyday since you came." Hyungwon said.
Minji squeals. "I mean, aren't you in awe of Jihyo? THE PARK JIHYO, Hyungwon? She's a celebrity, brother! A full-fledged idol right in front of us! Living with us! Aren't you happy she's here?"
"Well, of course I am, Minji. It's just that we must be professional about this. She's a respected figure, and we must keep that respect up high." Hyungwon reply.
"Now, look at you. You aren't like this when it's about---hmph!" Hyungwon smolders Minji's face with his hand.
Jihyo just giggled and scratched her head.
Zeke chuckles as he places his hands in his pockets.
"I'm sorry for her enthusiasm, Jihyo-ssi, Zeke-nim." Hyungwon said. "We must be going now, we might be disturbing what you've been doing."
"Ah.. no, no! We're actually full of free time right now. And as a matter of fact, I'm hungry. We havent had breakfast yet. Would you like to come with us?"
Minji breaks from Hyungwon's hold on her face. "Yes please! Come on, Hyungwon! We haven't had breakfast too, right? Let's get on with it!"
Hyungwon sighs. "Alright. I guess it can't be helped. Zeke-nim, Jihyo-ssi. There are only a few food stalls here open for now, and I could take you to some of them."
"Lead the way, Hyungwon!" Zeke replied as they all went to the food stalls inside one of the buildings in the settlement.
They were now sitted in one of the food stalls as the four were eating simple but delicious pancakes.
"So... you two... Tell me a little bit about yourselves. I wanna get to know you two better. You first, Hyungwon!" Jihyo said as she takes a bite out of her pancake.
"Uhm... let's see." Hyungwon clears his throat. "I'm an engineer graduate just like Minhyuk-nim, and I work as a mechanic for quite some time in Busan. I spend my idle time tinkering with cars and dissecting various types of machinery. As such, I know how to build simple machines from scratch."
Hyungwon takes a sip of his water bottle and continues.
"After the bombs fell days ago, and the icy dust has settled, we immediately began barricading and fixing whatever we can fix---electricity, cars, some other machinery. I alone managed to fix about a dozen different machines in a span of just one day. Minhyuk-nim was amazed by my abilities, and now has appointed me as some sort of head mechanic. Now, I don't know if that term actually exists, but I take pride in it."
"That's astounding. You're a gifted person, Hyungwon. I'm sure your skills can be of help." Jihyo smiles.
Hyungwon was taken aback by what she said. He just got praised by a member of TWICE, after all.
"T-thank you, Jihyo-ssi. I'm doing my best." Hyungwon replied.
Jihyo giggles. "How about you, Minji?"
Minji swallows her pancake as she speaks. "I'm a Red Cross Volunteer at the hospital nearby, Jihyo-ssi. My brother and I just went here for lunch, but then, well, the apocalypse happened. I tried to come back to the hospital to help with the evacuation, but the whole building collapsed..."
"..." Zeke and Jihyo were silent, trying to internalize what Minji just said.
"I'm honestly lucky that Minhyuk-nim was there to help and assist me, and we were still able to rescue a few people from the hospital. After all that, the base was established quite quickly soon after. So now I just took the initiative to heal the injured around this base, together with some surviving doctors and nurses."
"I see, I see." Jihyo said. "It must've been really hard..."
"It was..." Minji replied. "But now, we are trying to rise again. We gotta do what we gotta do to save what we can, right?"
"Yes. That is true..." Zeke replied.
"We honestly still have a lot of work to do. There are still many more injured people to treat, and destroyed machines to fix later. It's tiring, and it doesn't pay, but somebody has to do it..." Hyungwon sighs.
"I understand. I wish we could help you two..." Jihyo said, taking a deep breath as she finishes her pancake.
"Jihyo-ssi, it's fine. I've heard you have some sort of combat training with Seojun-nim. If it's vital for our survival, then it's best you two prioritize it." Hyungwon said.
"That's right, Jihyo-ssi!" Minji exclaimed. "Please, you two, do your best! We'll be watching you from here, rooting for your eventual success!"
Jihyo smiled. She wasn't sure of the outcome of her training. After all, it wasn't something for a performance, or a fanmeet, or an encore stage anymore. It was something for her survival, for her own life. It was something for her missing friends. And the mere fact that there are already a few people rooting for her success in this path give her so much hope and optimism in this trying time.
"Thank you, all of you..." Jihyo said. She then turns to Zeke. "Zeke, let's do our best, okay?"
"U-uh, yes! We'll do our best." Zeke smiles back.
January 10, 2023, 1:01 pm, Minhyuk's Settlement, Daegu, South Korea.
It was now finally time for training. Zeke and Jihyo arrived just in time on their training grounds to begin some stretching exercises, followed by some other exercises that improve their overall strength, endurance, flexibility, and agility.
Jihyo had no problem with the exercises, because she was used to it during her idol days.
Zeke, on the other hand...
"Ow!" Zeke said as he fell with a thud after trying to balance himself.
"Mr. Zeke, are you good?" Seojun and Jihyo rushes to him.
"I just had a really bad cramp on one of my legs.... Owowowow..." Zeke exclaimed as his face contorted in pain.
"Relax, alright? Take deep breaths. Take deep breaths..." Jihyo said.
Zeke breathed deep a few times, and after a few minutes, he recovers.
"Wooo. This is tough, honestly." Zeke said as Seojun helped him stand up. "It's been years since I last properly exercised... It's difficult for me now..."
"I know, Mr. Zeke. But you know that it takes a lot of effort and patience to grow stronger, right?" Seojun said.
Zeke nods. "Yes, Mr. Seojun."
"Besides, you aren't alone, okay? You got your friend Jihyo here to assist you." Seojun continued.
Zeke looks at Jihyo. She looks back, flashing her gummy smile. He blushes once more in embarassment.
From the side of the field, Hyungwon and Minji watches as the two exercise.
Minji exhales a happy sigh. "Still can't believe Jihyo-ssi is here."
"Me too," Hyungwon replies. "It's unreal. But I guess I shouldn't be surprised anymore. Anything can happen at this point."
Minhyuk slowly approaches the two.
"Hello, Hyungwon. Minji." Minhyuk said as he smiled.
"Oh, Minhyuk-nim." Hyungwon bows.
"Hiii Minhyuk-nim!" Minji bows as well. "What brings you here?"
"Just wanted to have a word with your brother here." Minhyuk replied.
Hyungwon looks at him.
"How are the repairs on the truck I've assigned you?" Minhyuk asked.
"I got it to work again, Minhyuk-nim." Hyungwon replied. "Just needed to replace the spark plugs because they got corroded. It should be up and running by tomorrow."
"Good, good. Okay. Now that the settlement is going fine, I think it's time we explore the other areas outside the Seomun Market and try to find more survivors and supplies. And I want you to spearhead these search and rescue missions."
"Me...? Minhyuk-nim, are you sure you're trusting the right guy for this? I mean, there could be better men--"
"Look, Hyungwon. We have no other choice. We lack manpower and supplies. Zeke and Jihyo need their training so we can't bother them until they're fully ready. There are only a few men I can entrust with this, and you're one of them. We have to make this place safer soon if we want to make it out alive. For the settlers. For Zeke and Jihyo." Minhyuk said.
Hyungwon thought of it for a while, and then spoke.
"Okay, Minhyuk-nim. Just tell me what to do, and I'll do my best."