It's been three weeks since Zeke and Jihyo defeated Vesper.
Hyungwon and his men have rescued more survivors in Dalseong Park after the battle. Thanks to their combined efforts, these survivors have another shot at life without ever worrying about their safety ever again.
They've also recovered Vesper's wind bracers. They were taken to Hyungwon's workshop, but until now, Hyungwon doesn't have any idea how it works.
Hangyeol had a speedy recovery and is already okay a week after the battle. Minhyuk acknowledged his efforts of helping Zeke and Jihyo and has appointed him in his ranks as a head guard of the district, much to Hangyeol's excitement. He was now tasked in patrolling the settlement alongside some of his men during the night.
Zeke still had a few injuries, so he sat down on the majority of his training for now. Jihyo, on the other hand, was back to training with Seojun just two days after the events at Dalseong Park.
On March 24, Zeke and Jihyo celebrated Mina's birthday with a simple dinner. Jihyo used the LCD screen that they used for her birthday greeting to show him pictures of Mina, and tell Zeke alot of stories regarding her, as well as some other memorable parts of Mina's life that she's happy she's a part of.
Since that day, however, Zeke noticed that something was wrong with Jihyo.
She's been distant to everyone, only talking to them if the matter was urgent. She's also spending more time training rather than resting or eating, much to his worry. Now he was concerned about her so much it bothered him to no end.
He always asks Jihyo if something is wrong. Yet, she shrugs off his questions and telling him that she's okay.
Zeke knows she isn't.
April 2, 2023, 10:32 am, Minhyuk's Settlement, Daegu, South Korea.
It was already morning, and Zeke was watching Jihyo train on her own.
"Skyscraping Light!" Jihyo swings upward three times, unleashing three fierce, crystalline slashes that seemingly grew bigger the longer it traveled. They faded after a short while.
"Huff... Again." Jihyo muttered to herself.
She takes a deep breath and gives it another go, only this time, she forces herself to make a stronger swing and accidentally dislocates her shoulder.
"Skyscraping Li--- Agh..!" Jihyo winces in pain as she knelt on the ground. Zeke notices this and rushes toward her.
"Jihyo, hey..." Zeke said. "You've been like this for the last week. You have to relax." He said as looks at Jihyo.
Jihyo looks back at him.
"Zeke, don't worry about me too much. I still got this. I would've told Seojun-nim if I can't do it. And look, I'm okay, see?" Jihyo replied as she snaps her dislocated shoulder back in place, grunting in the process.
"I'm just concerned, Jihyo. You're overworking things, you haven't had proper rest in days, and now... you're getting hurt," He replied as he looks at Jihyo.
Jihyo stands up and takes a deep breath.
"Look, Zeke... I just... I just really want to find my family and friends soon. That's why I work so hard. I'm no stranger to working all the time, I've been doing this for more than a decade. I have to keep going regardless of what's going to happen because I have to be stronger. You know what's out there, and I have to be prepared for that. So, don't worry."
"But Jihyo--"
"You don't need to think about me, Zeke---- your best interest is going home, right? Please focus on that, and just let me do what I need to do!" Jihyo said as she raised her voice a little.
Zeke fell silent. Jihyo notices his sad expression. She knows he's only concerned about her, and now, she suddenly feels guilt all of the sudden.
"...I'm sorry for lashing out like that," Jihyo said as she looks at Zeke with worried eyes. "There's just... a lot on my mind right now."
"It's okay..." Zeke replied. "Things have been tough lately. Now that we have a vague idea of what we are facing because of Vesper's appearance... I can't blame you for being like this..."
Jihyo just nodded in reply.
"How about this... Let's just... head back to the apartment so that you could rest for a while. Then let's have lunch. A sound plan?"
"Y-yeah. Sure." Jihyo replied as they walked inside the settlement.
They are greeted by numerous people--- people whom they have been with throughout their stay in the settlement. Despite being distant from people, Jihyo still keeps her happy face up.
"Hey, Jihyo-ssi!" A woman waved.
"Hello!" Jihyo replied.
"Zeke, how is it going?" A man said from his store.
"Just fine, hope you're doing well too." Zeke waved.
"Yo, Zeke, Jihyo-ssi, come to my spot for some drinks!" Another one said.
"Perhaps next time! Save us some." Jihyo said as she smiled.
Zeke then let out a sigh.
"I'm still not used to so many people greeting me.. Like I'm some sort of celebrity," Zeke said to Jihyo.
"Hmm. Back in our debut as TWICE, I felt the same thing. It just kinda grows into you the longer you expose yourself to it. Sooner or later you'll just get used to the people, the cameras, and the spotlights." Jihyo said as she looks back at Zeke.
"Yeah. I remember our first few weeks here. Jusko. The survivors were flocking to you, asking you for your autograph and pictures as soon as we finish training. If not for Mr. Minhyuks intervention and his rules... It'll turn worse." Zeke said, rubbing his temples. "That was just... I mean, really. We are in an apocalypse."
Jihyo faintly chuckled. "Can you blame them? It's just like you always say. You don't get to see a cute idol wielding a mystical katana every day in your life. And besides... I'd bet you'd do the same if you were in their position. Don't lie, Zeke." She said as she smiled at him.
"Well, you're right... At least they weren't rude back then, too.." Zeke said, scratching his head.
They soon reach their small apartment where they stayed. On the front door was Seojun, sipping on his coffee.
"Seojun-nim, hello," Jihyo said as she went to him.
"Oh, hi, Ms. Jihyo! You're finished training?" Seojun replied.
"Yep..." Jihyo's voice trailed off.
"That's good," Seojun replied as he stirred his coffee.
"So.. Seojun-nim... any update on Minhyuk-nim's plans? I want to head outside the settlement again and search around.." Jihyo said. "You know... In the off chance that my friends are just around somewhere..."
"Sadly, none yet. You should probably take your well-deserved rest for now, while you wait. You seem tired since your battle with Vesper." Seojun said.
"I'm fine, Seojun-nim. It's just that I need to find my friends soon.." She replied.
"Just rest for now, alright? You hadn't had a proper rest since last week. We can plan our next move immediately with Minhyuk if we get some new leads. I promise." Seojun said, sipping on his coffee.
Jihyo sighed and nodded. "Well, all right, Seojun-nim... If that's what I have to do..." she said as she slowly went inside.
Silence filled the air as Seojun looks at the disturbed Zeke looking down on the cold, frozen ground.
"...I know you want to say something." Seojun said, sipping his coffee."You can say it."
Zeke looked at Seojun, giving out a pained sigh.
"...You knew she was overdoing this, do you, Mr. Seojun?" Zeke said.
"I do. I've been observing her training patterns lately. She looked like she wasn't focusing much. Like something was bothering her..."
"She's probably worried about her family and friends," Zeke replied.
"Yes, yes. I also feel it's about her family and friends. She's concerned and determined about finding them, hmm?" Seojun replied.
Zeke nodded. "And I know she's used to working hard. She's been doing this for a decade as an idol. But... this is different. It's not some performance or stage show... Everything out there is a matter of life and death. And I'm worried about her. I wanted to talk to her about it, but she brushes it off every time, telling me it's okay and that I don't have to worry." Zeke said to Seojun.
"I know and understand, Zeke. While it's impressive how passionate Jihyo is in doing this, she has been exhausting herself lately. If she's going to do this constantly, she might collapse even before we explore once again outside the settlement. It's not good for her training, and it's most definitely not good for her in general."
"Yeah..." Zeke replied. "So... what do I do, Mr. Seojun?"
"Well, the only plausible choice here is to let her be and just be there for her, honestly. She'll need all the support she can get." Seojun replied.
"But... she'll only push herself further if I don't intervene or anything..." Zeke said with worry.
"Zeke, you don't have to intervene. Just give her time. I assume she'll open up sooner or later. No need to bother her for it." Seojun replied.
"What should I tell her if she does?" Zeke asked.
"It's up to you," Seojun said as he finished his coffee. "As far as I know, you're already good friends, so I guess the right words will just come out without any thought."
Zeke just nodded and breathed deep.
"...Wait, why are you asking me this?" Seojun said. "You used to work in an HR Department, dealing with all kinds of people day by day. Shouldn't you know how to do this already?" Seojun chuckled.
"Well... I... you know, Jihyo is..." Zeke chuckled nervously.
"I get it, I get it." Seojun chuckles. "You haven't had a friend like Jihyo. She's a famous person. Like, world-level famous. And you're still nervous on how to act around her as your friend. Even with all that's happened... your training, your birthday surprise to Jihyo..."
Zeke nodded.
"Well... It's okay. Thats normal! But the way I see it? I think you and her already have a good one. One that will last for a long, long time." Seojun said.
"Y-yeah," Zeke replied as he scratched his head. "Thanks for the advice, Mr. Seojun."
Seojun smiled at him. "Time, Zeke," Seojun said as he finished his coffee. "Give it time."
After a few minutes, the two went inside, with Zeke still worried about what's going on with Jihyo.
The day passes by very quickly, and soon enough, it was night time. The stores have begun closing, the kids are being sent back to their designated places with their parents, and Hangyeol, Hyungwon and a few of Minhyuk's men are now making rounds near the barricaded gates of the district.
Zeke, Seojun, and Jihyo are now resting early, sleeping away in each of their sleeping bags on the floor of their small makeshift apartment.
April 3, 2023, 2:12 am, Minhyuk's Settlement, Daegu, South Korea.
Zeke stirs and slowly wakes in the middle of the night, feeling thirsty. Just as he was about to stand, he sees that Jihyo was not in her sleeping bag. He goes to the window and sees Jihyo training quietly outside, executing some techniques that she developed.
"Argh... Not good enough, Jihyo..." Jihyo said as she practiced her footwork while swinging the glowing Seraphim on her hand.
Jihyo continued to train while counting quietly. "One.. two... swing. Then forward... swing.. then.." She then makes a mistake. "Urgh! Now I have to do this again." She goes back to her original position and breathes.
Before she could even start once more, she hears the sound of someone sipping a drink. She looks and sees Zeke sitting on the curb in front of their place, sipping what seems to be a yogurt drink, quietly observing her.
"Oh, Zeke. Hi." Jihyo said as she faintly smiled.
"Hey. Can't sleep, huh." Zeke said.
"Yeah. Can't read webtoons either because we have no internet, so I just decided to practice." Jihyo replied. "If you're worried about me again, I assure you, I'm okay. I can handle practicing this late. I've been like this since SIXTEEN."
Zeke just nodded, knowing that any more questions or pushing her to rest would only make her more irritated and stressed. Jihyo turned away and continued practicing.
Zeke silently watched Jihyo as she trained, all while sipping his drink. A couple of minutes pass and Zeke felt sleepy again. He stands and lets out a yawn.
"Hey, um, I just went down for a drink, see. I'm going to bed again, alright?" Zeke said, tossing the bottle into the trash bin nearby. "Goodnight and good luck, Jihyo."
Jihyo suddenly stopped training.
"Wait, Zeke.." Jihyo said, not looking at Zeke. "Can you stay? Even for a while."
"I can't. I don't want to disturb with your train-"
"Please," Jihyo said as she looked at Zeke. Her eyes looked tired, sad, and hollow--- devoid of any shine in them as if it lost all hope in this universe.
Zeke looks at her for a few seconds and takes a deep breath.
"Okay," Zeke said as he went back to the curb and sat down. Jihyo sat next to him as the bladed essence on Seraphim fades out, returning into a cane once more.
Silence followed soon after, but after a few minutes, Jihyo speaks.
"....Zeke..." Jihyo looks at him, then looks down. "You know... What Vesper said to me... it kinda got into me."
"What do you mean?" Zeke replied.
"He said I can't protect anyone, Zeke. That I'm not strong. I know what he said isn't true--- considering we just saved a lot of souls back at Dalseong Park---- but... a small part of me just... believes otherwise."
Zeke just continued listening to her.
"And then Mina's birthday came along. I didn’t feel good. I only remembered her more. I only missed her more than I could ever imagine. And I also remembered the time she got kidnapped by those... Nasty aliens. I was powerless to stop them from taking her away from me. I wonder, if I was really strong, I could've... saved her. Maybe we would've celebrated her birthday with her around. Maybe... Maybe I..."
Jihyo fell silent as she let out an exasperated sigh.
"What happened.. to her...?" Zeke hesitated to ask.
Jihyo was just silent.
"Oh, I'm... I'm sorry, I shouldn't hav--"
"Look, I don't usually open to people, Zeke." Jihyo cuts him off. "As much as possible, I try to keep it all inside. I'm the type who values privacy as to not make people worry, or disturb the inner peace I have."
"I understand." Zeke replied as he looked down.
"However, I don't even have inner peace anymore. I have a lot on my mind that I try to hide... but... I told myself that if I keep hiding this, it would only kill me even further, and it will only hinder me into finding her and the rest of my friends... And I know you've wanted to know what truly happened to her for months now, so..."
"...I think now is time I tell you all about it," Jihyo said as she looks at Zeke.
"Huh..? Are you sure..?" Zeke said. "This might be a sensitive matter, it's okay if you don't actually tell me."
"No, no, It's okay. Right now, I just need to let this out. I've been handling this to myself for way too long. Will it be okay for you to hear me out?" Jihyo said.
"Why... Yes, yes, of course." Zeke nodded as he replied.
"Thank you." Jihyo faintly smiled and began telling her story.
"I've never told anyone this just yet, but I am aware of the Koul'in from the very beginning of this apocalypse. Why? Because I've met two of them. And they're the ones responsible for taking Mina away from me..."