Even Zombies Have Fandoms

Chapter 55

“Damn… It hurts like hell.”

Junwoo said, clutching his side.

“S-sorry. I was in a hurry and couldn’t control my strength.”

Junwoo glared at Kyungho, who was apologizing while hurriedly rubbing his back.

“So why did you do that? You’re curious about what’s going on between the hyungs too. Even when I asked before if they knew each other originally, we didn’t get an answer in the end.”

“Well… I am curious, but it’s rude to ask about other people’s love life.”

Kyungho cleared his throat and explained with an awkward smile. Junwoo, who had finally managed to remove his hand from his side as the pain subsided a bit, gasped.

“Are the hyungs dating?”

“I’m not sure about that, but at least they seem to like each other, don’t they?”

“But they’re both, both men?”

Junwoo’s voice, clearly showing his surprise, echoed in the kitchen.

“You…”

After a moment of silence, Kyungho’s face looked as if he had discovered a strange creature.

“You went all the way to Australia for Uncle Seungheon’s wedding, and you’re asking that…?”

“Ah, no! That’s not what I meant!”

Junwoo waved his hands, belatedly realizing that the words he had blurted out in surprise could be problematic.

“I was just surprised, that’s all.”

“Right.”

“I’m telling you, it was just a mistake. I spoke without thinking.”

Unlike Kyungho, Junwoo was actually embarrassed that he hadn’t noticed at all and was searching for a reason. Though unintentional, he felt sorry for almost describing their relationship negatively and privately decided to become their Cupid from now on.

“I wonder when they became like that, when they haven’t known each other for long?”

Junwoo changed the subject to break the awkward atmosphere caused by his mistake.

“They say love blossoms more in dangerous situations. Maybe it’s like that for them too?”

“Well, both hyungs are handsome enough for anyone to fall for them.”

Suddenly remembering both of their survival skills, Junwoo nodded. Kyungho, who had been watching him, opened his mouth with a serious face.

“…A love triangle is not okay, Junwoo.”

“Are you crazy, seriously?”

As the two ended their conversation with a fight as always, bickering with each other, Muyoung was banging his head against the wall.

On his way up to the second floor, Muyoung pondered why he had never called Seokjae by name until now. Then, remembering his failed attempt earlier, he unconsciously muttered his name.

“Seok, Seokjae hyung…”

And the moment the three syllables left his lips, he had a very strange experience. For some reason, a ticklish sensation rose from his toes, making him want to curl them tightly.

Muyoung reflexively gripped the tray he was holding tightly, and a cracking sound came from the plastic handle. He loosened his grip, startled.

But the strange feeling didn’t go away, and eventually, Muyoung took the extreme action of internally screaming “Argh!” and banging his forehead against the second-floor stairway wall with a thud.

“Calling someone by name is more embarrassing than I thought…”

Muyoung muttered, finally able to escape the ticklish sensation. Whether it was because of the steam rising from the food or not, his face felt strangely hot. So he decided to keep his head against the wall, which he assumed would be cold, for a moment.

“Did I subconsciously avoid calling his name because I knew this would happen?”

If so, he really wanted to praise his subconscious. He couldn’t show Seokjae such an unsightly sight of twisting his body and banging his head against the wall every time he called his name.

“But he’ll be waiting…”

Remembering Seokjae’s face expecting to be called by name, it was also difficult to subtly avoid it. Given that he might have to call him as soon as he went downstairs, this was the only time to practice.

Naturally, Muyoung shouted “Seokjae hyung” while internally screaming “Argh!” with each step he climbed, and as a result, by the time he reached the second floor, he was exhausted as if he had been through a tough ordeal.

“This, this should be fine now.”

Thanks to the Spartan-style practice, in a short time, he could at least avoid banging his head against the wall even if his toes still curled. Just as he was grinning with a sense of accomplishment, someone called out to him.

“What on earth are you muttering as you come up?”

Startled, Muyoung raised his slightly lowered head and met eyes with a woman looking at him curiously as she opened the door.

“Did, did you hear? Since when?”

“I came out because I heard the sound of the wall being hit.”

That meant from the beginning. Fortunately, it seemed she didn’t know that what he had been chanting like a mantra was Seokjae’s name, as he hadn’t spoken very loudly.

“I, I just had something to think about.”

“…”

“I’m sorry for coming later than usual. I overslept…”

Feeling the piercing gaze throughout his explanation, Muyoung gave an awkward smile. The response came not from the woman, but from below.

“Hi, oppa!”

A clear voice echoed on the second floor.

“Ah, hello Hayun.”

As he crouched down to meet her eyes, the child stretched out her arms.

“Give me that!”

“Huh? But it’ll be heavy?”

“I can do it!”

The child aimed for the tray Muyoung was holding.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“Yes!”

If it spilled, she could get burned. Looking worried, he glanced up at the woman as if seeking help.

“…No matter how I look at it, shouldn’t your roles be the opposite?”

“Pardon? What do you mean by opposite?”

The woman muttered while covering her lower face with her hand as she looked down at Muyoung. As he asked back, not understanding her meaning, the woman shook her head saying it was nothing. Meanwhile, the child snatched the tray from Muyoung’s hands.

“Hayun, isn’t it heavy? Should I carry it again?”

Although he let her take it, fearing it might be more dangerous if he held on, his worry didn’t subside. As Muyoung fidgeted anxiously, the woman spoke.

“It’s okay. She can handle that much well.”

“That’s right! I’m good at this.”

The child smiled brightly and walked with big steps to place the tray steadily on the desk cluttered with papers and notebooks.

“You’re right, you did well.”

Only then did Muyoung relax and straighten up from his half-crouched position.

“Then I’ll be going now. Enjoy your meal. Hayun, eat well too.”

Having finished his task, it was time to go down. Thinking of the three people who might be waiting for him without eating, Muyoung bid farewell to the two.

“Excuse me.”

But as Muyoung was about to turn around and go down without hesitation, the woman called out to stop him.

“Yes?”

“I heard from the person who came up earlier. That you’re thinking of moving?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Surprised as this was the first time this had happened, Muyoung turned back with startled eyes and answered readily, thinking she might have something she wanted to ask. The woman hesitated for a moment, then as if checking if anyone was coming, she glanced down the stairs and asked quietly.

“Do you want to do that too?”

“Pardon?”

“I’m asking if you want to leave here and move.”

“Ah…”

Could it be that she wants to stay here?

Thinking about it, it made sense. She was originally someone who chose to hold out in the hotel rather than trying to escape to the outskirts.

But if the reason for her question was that she wanted someone to support her opinion to stay, he couldn’t help. He might be able to delay the departure date by a day or two, but staying here continuously was dangerous.

Eventually, there would be an end to scavenging food from the surroundings, and if the electricity and water were cut off later, trying to move then would be much harder than now. There were many other reasons why they couldn’t stay. Of course, even if all those reasons were resolved, Muyoung couldn’t support her.

‘Hyung said he wanted to go outside.’

Since Seokjae said he wanted to do that, Muyoung had to do his best to help him achieve what he wanted.

“I think we should, shouldn’t we? There’s the food issue, and this place isn’t very safe as I chose it with the intention of using it temporarily. There are large windows too. In many ways, I think moving would be better than staying…”

Muyoung added various reasons to try to persuade her. But as soon as Muyoung finished speaking, the woman asked as if challenging him.

“Then what if there were no food issues and there was a safe place?”

“Uh… even then, if the electricity or water is cut off-“

“If you were certain those wouldn’t be cut off either, would you prefer to stay in one place rather than moving?”