ZFS Chapter 21

His eyes carried a sharp coldness, his lips were unusually pale, and his overall pallid face bore no hint of expression. If one had to describe it, wouldn’t it give off a gloomy and chilly impression instead? Sexy face? What a joke.

 

Tae Yujun couldn’t accept Won Hyuk’s words. Shaking his head, he wiped the mirror clean.

 

When he stepped out of the bathroom, the lights were still off, but the sunlight streaming in naturally provided enough visibility. Won Hyuk moved around, drawing the curtains closed.

 

“It’s not good to let people see inside so clearly, so let’s keep the curtains drawn. We can peek outside once an hour through a gap to check the situation.”

 

“Sounds good.”

 

After drawing the curtain on the large window facing the garden, Won Hyuk turned around. His gaze lingered on Tae Yujun’s nape and collarbones for a long moment.

 

“…What? What is it this time?”

 

“Hmm. 100 points.”

 

“What?”

 

Tae Yujun glanced down at his loose T-shirt. It wasn’t a fancy brand, nor did it have any flashy designs or logos. There was nothing stylish about it.

 

“What do you mean by 100 points?”

 

“It’s my style.”

 

“…What?”

 

Leaving the confused Tae Yujun behind, Won Hyuk entered the bathroom.

 

He’s dangerous. He’s a very dangerous dude.

 

Tae Yujun glared at the bathroom door before heading back to the room where he had taken some clothes earlier. The queen-size bed was made up with fluffy bedding. It looked so comfortable, almost as if it were inviting him in. His exhaustion from the night before finally caught up with him. He lay down, staring at the ceiling, and let out a deep sigh. Resting in a real home, in a real bed, for the first time in a while, made his body feel like it was melting.

 

But his mind remained uneasy.

 

Kim Eun-jin was still in the bunker, and though her family had left for the bunker at Sinyongsan Station, there was no guarantee they had reached it safely.

 

Moreover, the alley right outside this villa building was undoubtedly teeming with zombies, most likely active and restless at this early hour. The thought of it made sleep elusive.

 

After tossing and turning for over ten minutes, he heard Won Hyuk’s voice from outside the door.

 

“Father, I’m done washing up.”

 

“…Yes?”

 

“I’m coming in.”

 

“Wait, why are you coming in here—”

 

The door swung open, and Won Hyuk walked in. Tae Yujun stared at him, eyes wide in disbelief.

 

“We should sleep together. It’s scary.”

 

“…Sleep together? There are plenty of rooms here. Why inconvenience ourselves by sharing a bed?”

 

“If zombies show up, Father would be able to protect me. So, let’s sleep together.”

 

Won Hyuk raised his eyebrows, as if he were putting on an act to look pitiful, and quickly approached the bed.

 

Tae Yujun instinctively retreated toward the corner, but in the blink of an eye, Won Hyuk flipped the blanket and slid right in.

 

When his large figure lay down beside him, Tae Yujun panicked and tried to push him off, but it was like trying to move a boulder—completely ineffective.

 

“Ah, this is nice.”

 

Won Hyuk pretended not to notice Tae Yujun’s futile resistance and even went as far as grabbing a pillow and settling in.

 

“Excuse me, that’s the pillow I was using. So, you’re saying I should sleep with my head on the bare mattress?”

 

“No way. I’m not that petty.”

 

“Then what?”

 

“Let’s do this.”

 

Before Tae Yujun realized it, a sturdy arm slipped under his head.

 

Pillow-arm?

 

Won Hyuk even turned to face him, striking a posture fit for lovers. Tae Yujun couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.

 

“Last time in the bunker, you insisted on resting your head on my lap. Now, you’re offering an arm pillow in turn? Why are you constantly hovering around me like this?”

 

“And back in the bunker, didn’t I spread a blanket for us to share? Didn’t you lean on my shoulder while you slept? Why do you keep making my heart race only to suddenly change your attitude?”

 

“Stop mimicking my tone.”

 

Tae Yujun narrowed his eyes, but Won Hyuk only chuckled and pulled him into a hug with his other arm.

 

“Stop hugging me!”

 

“You smell so good, Father.”

 

“…It’s just soap.”

 

“That’s what’s good.”

 

Won Hyuk’s arms felt like iron chains—impossible to break free from. Pushing at his chest was as futile as trying to move a stone wall. After a few attempts, Tae Yujun gave up and sighed—Haa.

 

“Don’t sigh so sensually.”

 

“…Am I not even allowed to sigh freely now? And what’s so sensual about it?”

 

“Father, your breath is brushing against my neck.”

 

As he spoke, Won Hyuk casually intertwined their legs. His solid legs were a bit heavy, but strangely enough, they provided a sense of stability. Tae Yujun considered untangling himself but ultimately decided against it.

 

Though the closeness had felt suffocating at first, a strange sense of comfort soon washed over him.

 

Ah, I’m so sleepy.

 

Tae Yujun’s breathing gradually slowed. His eyelids started to droop, heavy with exhaustion.

 

“Father, sleep. You must be sleepy.”

 

“…Outside… zombies… I shouldn’t sleep soundly….”

 

“I’ll keep watch. Just sleep.”

 

As his consciousness faded, his vision blurred. Tae Yujun soon nestled his head against Won Hyuk’s chest and thought faintly—

 

Having spent almost a month together, Tae Yujun knew. Despite how relaxed Won Hyuk seemed, he was always alert.

 

He also thought—Even if zombies roamed nearby, as long as Won Hyuk was on guard, there would likely be no problem.

 

…What nonsense, Tae Yujun. How long have you even known this guy? And now you’re trusting him and drifting off? It’s almost as if you find him reassuring. This man who constantly busies himself with absurd jokes and crude teasing whenever he gets the chance.

 

“Father, are you asleep?”

 

“I’m sleeping.”

 

“Sweet dreams. If you dream of me, even better.”

 

“….”

 

Strangely enough, Tae Yujun always slept well next to this man.

 

Even with a nightmarish world lurking outside, Tae Yujun was able to close his eyes.

 

---

 

Fell into a deep, dreamless sleep and woke up. Won Hyuk was no longer by his side. Stepping into the living room, he peeked outside through a gap in the curtains. A few zombies dangled from distant trees and telephone poles, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

 

There was nothing worth worrying about. Tae Yujun sank onto the living room sofa, its size perfect for a family of four.

 

He pictured the family who once lived here—sitting in this very spot, sharing stories, laughing together, spending precious moments with one another.

 

His gaze drifted across the sofa and table until a framed photo caught his eye.

 

Inside the frame was a middle-aged couple, a broad-shouldered man in his late twenties, and Kim Eun-jin, looking a little younger than she did now.

 

Upon closer look, a banner above their heads read “Korea University Graduation Ceremony.” Kim Eun-jin even wore a graduation cap, clutching a large bouquet of flowers. Since she’d mentioned being a graduate student, this was likely from her university graduation.

 

She truly shone back then.

 

Tae Yujun stared at the photo for a long time. The bright, cheerful Kim Eun-jin in the picture was a stark contrast to the gaunt, weathered girl she had become. Seeing such a drastic difference in someone he knew left him with a strange, unsettled feeling.

 

The event date on the banner was only a year ago. That made it all the more bitter.

 

If the outbreak hadn’t happened, Eun-jin would still be living like this—with her family, happy and carefree.

 

“The homeowners, huh?”

 

When did he—? At some point, Won Hyuk had joined him, sitting beside him and pointing at the photo.

 

“Yes. It’s a photo of Eun-jin and her family. They must have lived well here at one point.”

 

Tae Yujun spoke softly, sinking deeper into the sofa.

 

“Father, are you feeling down?”

 

“Yes. A little.”

 

Watching Tae Yujun, who couldn’t take his eyes off the photo, Won Hyuk placed a hand on his head. Gently stroking his black hair, he began to speak.

 

“It’s scary, isn’t it? People turning into zombies all of a sudden, biting and killing others.”

 

“…It is.”

 

“This is my first time dealing with something like this too. Everyone’s first time, I suppose. Still, I feel so lost.”

 

“…you feel lost as well, Brother?”

 

Tae Yujun turned to look at Won Hyuk. Their eyes met.

 

“Of course. Didn’t I tell you? My mom married into a wealthy family while carrying me, and they treated me terribly because of it. I was despised by the other kids in the family—like a stone sticking out. I even came close to dying.”

 

Though his tone was steady, the hardships he spoke of were anything but trivial.

 

“Because of those bastards, I once walked barefoot in the snow, was abandoned in an unfamiliar area on the roadside, and even fell off a cliff. It was the worst. But even so, this feels more hopeless than back then.”

 

“Can I ask why?”

 

“Because there’s no solution.”

 

“No solution…”

 

“Back then, all I had to do was somehow make it home to my stepfather and mother. Or whether by finding a kind adult to help me or going to the police. But this zombie outbreak isn’t like that. Surviving each day is the only thing I can do. It’s not living—it’s just surviving. And no one knows when this survival game will end, do they?”

 

A life of survival, not of living. Won Hyuk’s words rang true. Tae Yujun remained silent for a moment before finally speaking, wanting to say something.

 

“…I don’t know when it will end, but I hope this time passes soon. If Dr. Jang and I can survive, I think that would be already a satisfying ending.”

 

He hadn’t realized before how precious an ordinary life was—or how fragile it could be.

 

Talking with Dr. Jang about their daily lives, living each day without pain, and dreaming of becoming a full-fledged priest.

 

Will the day come again when I can dedicate my entire day to prayer?