Chương 16: Leader?

The word froze him in his spot.

The word "leader" wasn't new to him. His parents had told him quite many times that he was a natural leader, so many times he was sick of hearing it.

Everyone knew that being a leader came with restrictions; leaders couldn't do as they pleased. They had to think of their subordinates first and work twice as hard just to keep things running smoothly.

But, as they say, leadership qualities excel in unexpected situations, like this one. Still, what had he done that warranted being called a leader? And was there a rule that said you had to accept a position if you didn't want it?

His parents had always said he was destined to lead, but that was precisely why he wanted to refuse it now.

His resentment toward them was growing by the day, and after this betrayal, it turned into something darker.

Likewise, he wasn't stupid. He knew Cynthia must have been the key reason for what had happened, and his instincts were right.

So, he asked, "Why?"

Cynthia only smiled, offering an insincere apology, her tone mockingly sweet. "I'm sorry, but I didn't think you wouldn't want it, Leader." It was like she knew the exact question he was asking.

Her words only added fuel to the fire. "You—You...Arghhh!" Jon was on the verge of losing it. This was it; this was exactly the feeling he got when he first met her.

She was a manipulator. She wanted him to take on the burden of leadership, but why? Maybe it was to achieve her goals... or maybe there was more to it than that.

But, contrary to his thoughts, she meant no ill. "Jon, even if you refuse now, another situation like this will happen again. And besides, it might even make you stronger."

"I know, but—" Jon started, but Cynthia understood, knowing full well why he was rejecting the role.

It wasn't that Jon couldn't lead; it was that he had no goal, no final destination. Someone with ambition would see leadership as a tool, a means to an end.

And without a goal, leadership felt like a pointless burden. The scary thing was that those who didn't want to lead but could still do it well were often the most dangerous once they found purpose.

Cynthia knew her strengths and weaknesses. She wasn't cut out for leadership, and she had her own goals. Besides, who said she couldn't achieve them by being a loyal subordinate to someone like Jon?

"Still no," Jon insisted. But then, Jenny, who had been quiet, finally spoke up.

"Okay, we'll just wait, then." She understood what was happening, even if she hadn't put it all together until now. She had a clue.

Jon just gave them a glare, and the girls didn't push the subject further. Changing the subject, he asked, "How is she?"

Jenny frowned, recalling the aftermath. Jon was naturally asking about Alexa. "She cried for two hours, ran out of tears, and then fell asleep."

Jon nodded. He couldn't meet her now because it was quite a sensitive moment for her. Seeing anybody, especially a guy now, could begin to traumatize her instead.

"Haa...so what's next?" he asked.

"Well, we will wait for the storm outside to stop before checking out the situation," Cynthia replied.

"That's why you should come to the gathering, at least," Jenny said, looking at him. There was now a strange flow between her and Cynthia as if they were working together to pull him in, but he didn't even notice.

Jon sighed. He couldn't argue anymore, as there was no reason for him to deny it. "Alright, I'll come."

As he got up to leave the room, the girls exchanged a knowing glance and smiled.

Jon muttered to himself, "I'm sorry, Alex. I am." He was apologizing, not because of his death, but because he couldn't feel anything for the one person, he thought was his friend.

With that, they left the room.

The cafeteria had been eerily silent for hours. Even while cleaning up the bodies, everyone worked in a somber hush. Even the crying, horror-filled faces, and vomiting were done in silence. And even after it was done, they kept the silence, occasionally glancing towards the door where Jon was.

The cafeteria was divided into five sections, each with its entrance from a different part of the school. Now, in the section where the food was prepared, there were some empty rooms. They were waiting rooms for the kitchen staff before they attended to their jobs.

And now, due to the lack of cooking activity, it was empty. But that wasn't all about the place, it was also where Jon was.

So immediately, the door swung open, and heads turned in that direction. The first people who came out were Jenny and Cynthia, but it felt like nobody was paying attention to them.

Then the next was the person they had been expecting. He was tall, had brown hair and eyes, and wore a serious expression that made people want to take him seriously. It was Jon, and within hours, he had become a celebrity.

Oblivious to their looks and emotions, Jon was led by the girls toward the meeting area. The remaining leaders, who had also been doing their various things, naturally stood up and followed without a word.

Upon arriving, chairs had already been arranged in a rough circle, and everyone took their seats, careful to keep their distance from Jon and the girls.

As they sat, waiting for someone to lead the meeting, everyone naturally turned to Tunde, the student representative. He was taken aback at how everyone looked at him, including Jon.

If people wanted him, he couldn't just ignore it, right? So, he sheepishly walked forward and smiled before speaking. "Before we begin, could we introduce ourselves for familiarity's sake?"

One by one, they went around the circle. When it was Jon's turn, all eyes turned to him. "My name is Jon Whyte," he said, his voice low but clear. "And I am a third-year physics student."

It was the first time most had heard his name, the name of the person who had solved three of their biggest problems in one decisive move. And they would get to know more of him in the future.

So, the introductions continued: "Jenny Stallwart, third-year arts." Jenny spoke.

"Matthew Po—" and so on, until everyone had spoken. Professors, security agents, non-teaching staff, and students alike, all were here because they could contribute in one way or another.

Then, Jenny raised her hand and spoke. "We'll need to leave the school eventually, so how do we handle that?"

The leaders debated for a while, but the conclusion was clear. For now, they would have to leave the safety of the cafeteria to assess the situation outside, their survival depended on it.

And with all eyes on Jon again, he shrugged. He had nothing to add to what had just been said. And with that, the meeting came to a close.

The survivors spent their time doing various things. Since the days were longer and the nights shorter, most spent their time thinking about what was next.

On the fifth day since the world fell, and the fourth for Jon, the storm raging outside finally stopped.

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