Apocalypse: Apparently, I Can See Zombies

Chapter 21- Blurring Lines

As Jin-woo and Seong walked to Class 1A, Seong would chatter away while Jin-woo would answer him occasionally. Though Jin-woo tried not to make it obvious he was talking to himself.

He thought about buying earphones to carry to school since talking to his hallucinations looked like it was going to be a norm, but he figured it made no difference since the perception everyone had of him was that he was crazy. So why bother trying to put a Band-Aid on their fixed perception of him?

As for him making talking to his hallucinations normal, when Jin-woo first saw Seong during the Entrance Exams, his mother took him to a doctor afterward as this was the first time he was having hallucinations. The doctor at that time cautioned him to try not to interact with his hallucinations since this could blur the line between reality and fiction for him.

However, Jin-woo was now doing just that, though he was trying not to think about it.

But the doctor also said that the antipsychotic medication he was taking was the most effective product on the market to prevent his hallucinations, and Jin-woo believed that since it was something his mother created. However, three strikes and he was out, the three times he came to school he saw Seong.

Jin-woo soon reached the door of Class 1A and he could hear the chatter of the students inside. A slight smile hung on his lips as Seong chattered away about a comic they once read together.

Without much thought Jin-woo slid open the door and stepped forward to enter his class, however, someone was coming out and the two bumped into each other.

"Oh, I'm sor-."

"Look where you're going freak."

Jin-woo's hand fixing his glasses paused as he looked at Class President Ye-jun.

Ye-jun words were said extremely softly so even the students near the door couldn't hear his words.

Fixing his own glasses, Ye-jun brushed past Jin-woo and walked off. Seong placed his hands on Jin-woo's shoulders comfortingly and the two watched him walk off.

"Wait, those glasses, they're fake, right?"

Seong suddenly asked and Jin-woo made a noise of agreement.

Seong immediately sneered and then spat.

"What a pretentious fucker."

Jin-woo didn't comment and instead turned around to enter the classroom.

"Hey! Why are you so late, it's almost time for the first bell to ring!"

One student in the back of the class was heard calling over the din of the other chattering students while waving toward the classroom entrance where Jin-woo was.

Jin-woo paused momentarily, but a voice suddenly said from behind.

"Sorry, I want to enter."

Jin-woo instinctively stepped aside, and a youth with a military-style haircut hurried past him while heaving like a fish on land

"I woke up late, so I had to rush here!"

The late youth said as he reached into his pocket and took out an inhaler before placing it to his lips and taking a deep breath.

Jin-woo's focus shifted from the two friends and he entered the classroom. He had been slightly anxious just now, he thought someone was actually calling out to him. But a small part of him also felt disappointed when he realized that wasn't the case.

As he walked to the back of the class to put down his backpack and drawstring bag, Jin-woo made his way to his seat from yesterday. It didn't matter if the seats were rearranged now as he was already drawing attention by being the Class VP.

Seong watched as Jin-woo sat down before saying.

"You should really try and make some friends this year Jin. As much as I like that you're finally talking to me, you eventually have to meet new people."

Jin-woo didn't respond. He looked at his watch and saw that it was 7:54 am. There wasn't any time for him to read his comics.

Seeing that Jin-woo was ignoring him, Seong shrugged helplessly before he turned and wandered off to the front of the classroom.

Jin-woo leaned on his desk and propped his chin up while watching Seong insert himself into a friends of boys, who were huddled around one boy holding a phone that was playing a video. As the boys let out laughter so did he. Seong even had his arms wrapped around two students' shoulders.

After observing for a while, Jin-woo slowly lifted one of his hands and covered his eyes. He then lowered it after some time, but Seong was still there.

Jin-woo paused. After thinking for a moment, he then closed his eyes and muttered under his breath.

"Seong."

Not even a second after Jin-woo muttered Seong's name, Seong's voice was heard next to him.

"Hm? You called Jin?"

Jin-woo's eyes immediately snapped open and his heart trembled slightly as he gazed at Seong standing next to him.

Noticing Jin-woo's perturbed expression, Seong asked concerned.

"Hey, what's wrong? Did something happen?"

Jin-woo took a moment to calm himself, then asked seriously.

"How did you hear me from all the way over there."

Seong tilted his head at the question.

"I don't know, I was over there watching a video when I heard your voice calling for me. Was I hearing things?"

Seong's face showed a doubtful expression, and Jin-woo silently observed him. However, he suddenly realized what he was doing, and his heart sank.

He was treating Seong as if he was real. Obviously, Seong would hear him since his brain would make it so he did.

Jin-woo now understood the doctor's words. The lines between reality and his hallucinations were blurring.

However, after a moment of hesitation, Jin-woo asked again.

"What was the contents of the video they were watching?"

Without noticing the meaning behind Jin-woo's words, Seong said with a laugh.

"Oh, it's hilarious! You know that spoiled brat we would bump into when we go for our morning runs the times I slept over at your house? Well, turns out he was caught on camera almost hitting someone while driving his mother's car! However, what's even worse is that rumors are also coming out that he would go into forums for luxury car fans and pretend to be a woman to scam unsuspecting rich men."

Jin-woo was momentarily amused by this news, however, he was worried whether his mind was making Seong say all this. He wanted to go over those students to check but opted against it. Instead, he took out his phone to check himself.

Unbeknownst to Jin-woo, a pair of eyes were staring at him from across the classroom.

"Seo-joon, did you see the video that's going viral? It's a clip of the actor H-"

Before one of his lackeys next to him could finish his words, Seo-joon cut him off.

"Not interested."

Seo-joon then continued to gaze at Jin-woo talking to himself for a moment before he planned on getting up and walking over to him.

However…

Ding~

Ding~

Ding~

"Alright, students put away those phones and settle down."

Ms. Choi walked into the classroom right on time.

The school had the typical no-phone policy and other things like no dyed hair, but the teachers were pretty lax with enforcing these perceived rigid rules.

Seo-joon glanced at Jin-woo before looking away and sitting back down.

The students who were in their cliques in various areas of the classroom all went back to their seats.

Jin-woo had to put away his phone before he could search up anything. At the same time, the seat next to him was pulled back. He immediately sighed internally out of exasperation.

"Jin-woo, what happen to your face?"

Mai-sun asked directly after seeing Jin-woo's face.

A majority of the wounds on Jin-woo's face were already healed, but with one look one could see a few discolored spots on his cheeks, as well as the cut on his bottom lip.

"Seo-joon and his goons jumped me in the bathroom. What? Are you going to go fight them for me?"

Despite Jin-woo's sarcasm, Mai-sun responded seriously.

"I can't fight them off, but I can report it to the school. They have a strict no-bullying policy so Seo-joon and his friends will get in trouble."

Jin-woo's expression abruptly changed. He looked at Mai-sun and said coldly.

"I'll never forgive you if you did that."