Chapter 26: Encounter
Chapter 26: Encounter
#
There had been a time like that before.
It concerned a girlfriend I'd dated when I was young. She was pretty, kindhearted, and genuinely nice.
About a month after we started dating, she showed up to a date wearing a skirt for the first time.
We were sitting side by side, and the hem of the skirt rode up a little, exposing her thighs. My eyes kept drifting there.
Then I noticed the dark hairs pressed flat beneath her stockings.
Some women have a lot of body hair and some have less—it depends on the person.
Having a lot of body hair wasn't shameful, but at that age, the image of my girlfriend's leg hair seared itself into my mind.
In a bad way, that is.
Afterward, whenever I saw my girlfriend, my eyes kept finding more hair.
The hair on her arms. The fine hairs covering the back of her neck.
The tiny dark marks left on her legs after shaving.
As I grew older, I came to accept it as natural, but when I was young, I found it unpleasant.
Of course, I didn't break up with her over it.
The details differed, but the same pattern kept recurring afterward.
For example, a coworker smacking their lips while eating beside me.
Once I noticed it, the sound grated on me every time we ate together.
Likewise, if someone's perfume struck me as nauseating even once, simply standing beside them could become unbearable.
I assumed everyone experienced such things in ordinary life.
Even so, people continued meeting, socializing, and living together.
I couldn't worry about every detail simply because someone might find my body hair, sounds, or smell unpleasant.
Sometimes, though, someone got lucky.
They met a person whose smallest habits caused none of those aversions—as though it were fate.
That kind of luck found me in a world half-ruined by zombies. It was Seon-yeong.
If that person was a woman, wasn't it only natural to fall for her?
One thing appealed to you, then another, until even the person's flaws began to look endearing.
It was like an antlion pit you couldn't escape.
Then again, perhaps everything looked good simply because I already liked her.
I didn't know which came first, but one thing was clear: either way, this situation was dangerous.
"Ah... this is so good. You're not tired, are you?"
"I'm fine, so don't worry and just relax."
"Okay... thank you."
After brushing our teeth and washing up, it was time for a massage.
I worked my hands while lost in random thoughts until Seon-yeong's drowsy voice pulled me back.
"Next time, let's definitely use a condom. My cycle is super regular, but I'm still uneasy about it."
"I'm sorry. I should have taken care of that."
"No, we both did it. You have nothing to apologize for... But our prince is still full of energy, isn't he?"
Seon-yeong glanced sideways at my cock.
My cock had gotten a pet name before I had.
"I should take even better care of our prince, but this lady is exhausted right now. See you next time!"
She must have noticed my erection; Seon-yeong spoke in a half-asleep voice.
"If you get sleepy while I'm massaging you, just fall asleep. I don't mind."
"I'd feel bad, because you must be tired."
"It's fine. The massage works just as well if you're asleep, so don't worry."
"Okay... thanks."
Before long, her breathing evened out.
Listening to her soft breaths, I finished the massage and covered the naked, sleeping Seon-yeong with a blanket.
Tick. Tick. Fssssh.
I stepped out into the hallway and lit a cigarette.
Had I opened my heart to Seon-yeong so quickly because I'd already known she was a good person?
Whatever the reason, I decided to guard against my own feelings.
'The more I liked Seon-yeong, the more carefully I had to maintain my balance.'
What mattered was surviving, and for that, Seon-yeong also had to get stronger.
I couldn't coddle and shelter her simply because of my feelings.
Seon-yeong was a strong person and a good partner I could trust at my back.
I'd cherish and respect her, but I wouldn't let infatuation make me complacent.
'That should do for now.'
By the time the cigarette butt had burned down to the filter, I'd sorted out my thoughts.
#
"Mister, we have a tablet too. Wouldn't it be better to carry that?"
"It's too bulky for the sling bag, and I find paper more convenient."
Over breakfast, I brought up the topic of making a zombie map.
At first I called it a tactical map, then changed the name.
We weren't soldiers, and zombies were the central concern now, so I settled on calling it a Zombie Map.
"Then I'll print one while the two of you get ready."
"Ga-yeong, by the way, this soup is delicious. How did you make it?"
"Hehe, I'm glad. I just followed a MeTube video!"
The previous night, Ga-yeong had said something admirable: since Seon-yeong and I were the ones going outside, she'd handle the miscellaneous chores.
She had prepared breakfast that morning and insisted on taking charge of the other household work as well.
Thanks to that, Seon-yeong and I had a leisurely morning.
Before eating, I warmed up by following Seon-yeong's yoga routine, then ate the breakfast Ga-yeong had prepared.
Afterward, we washed up and prepared to leave, checking the supplies in our backpacks.
Meanwhile, Ga-yeong packed sandwiches for us to eat at lunch.
"Thanks. We'll enjoy them."
"Thanks! Eat well, and I'll make sure to grab some clothes for you today too, Ga-yeong."
"No, that's okay. Just come back safely! And text me when you have a chance."
Coming home late without any contact the previous day must have frightened her.
Ga-yeong asked us to send messages from time to time.
While we were out, Ga-yeong would spend a busy day at home.
From chores like washing dishes and cleaning to studying different recipes.
She was studying so she could make better use of our stockpiled ingredients.
On top of that, Ga-yeong had taken charge of organizing the scavenged goods and checking their condition.
Seon-yeong and I no longer wore poncho raincoats.
The humiliation of walking around wrapped in garbage bags was now a thing of the past.
We dressed from head to toe in chic black. I carried my bloodstained club, while Seon-yeong brought the club she'd successfully upgraded with stickers.
"Seon-yeong... I never used to wear sunscreen when I was out and about. Do I really need to put it on?"
"You're outside all day. You should start taking care of your skin now."
Just as we were about to step through the apartment door—
Seon-yeong stopped me in my tracks and then pulled sunscreen out of her sling bag.
'I was becoming very curious about what else was inside that sling bag.'
Then she began smearing sunscreen across my face with her slender fingers.
The question of whether skincare was important given the circumstances crossed my mind for a moment, but I just held still and let her do it.
#
"I wonder if Min-su is still under that tarp."
"We'll find out when we get there. Look, there it is."
The tarp-covered street stall we'd passed the previous day came into view.
The food we'd given him would last a day at most. Was he still there?
Then again, if he'd already survived two days, he might still be there today.
He would reach his limit soon, though.
"Min-su. Min-su."
At the stall, I quietly called Min-su's name.
I waited a bit and called out several more times, but there was no answer.
"I'll open it."
"Okay. Be careful."
I carefully approached the tent and opened a gap on one side to look inside.
Only a fish-shaped pastry griddle and a plastic chair remained in the dark interior.
It looked as though the stall had been abandoned after operating during the winter.
"Looks like he went somewhere else. No one's here."
With that small question unanswered, we resumed walking.
Soon, we arrived at the four-story building we had cleared out yesterday.
"Ugh... What is that?"
A mountain of corpses lay piled on the sidewalk beside the building.
Maggots swarmed over the rapidly decaying bodies while flies buzzed around them.
"Fuck... what is this?"
"Aren't those the zombie corpses we killed yesterday? I think they are."
Every corpse had a ruined head, and their clothing looked familiar.
One corpse in particular was wearing a convenience store vest.
They were almost certainly the zombies from the building.
"Let's back away first. Whoever moved the bodies may still be here."
We retreated while keeping a close eye on the building.
What should we do?
Should we just pass by?
Or should we check inside the building, or maybe wait it out and watch from nearby?
It was difficult to decide what to do.
As we backed away, still debating our options, and prepared to hide behind a car—
"Team Leader! Team Leader!"
"Huh? Min-su?"
A person's voice came from the top of the building.
I lifted my head to look up and saw Min-su on the rooftop, waving his hand.
'What if there are zombies nearby and he draws them here?'
Worried, I brought my finger to my lips to signal him to be quiet.
Min-su shut his mouth, then looked around and signaled that he would come down.
"How did someone who'd done nothing but hide make it all the way here?"
Seon-yeong murmured quietly.
I was wondering the same thing.
"Right? Maybe he figured dying one way's the same as dying another?"
A moment later, Min-su came out of the building.
He had more color in his face and looked cleaner than the day before.
As he started to cross the street, I stood and signaled for him to stop.
With the narrow road separating us, I listened to Min-su's story.
"So let me get this straight... you saw us heading back, and afterward you got so hungry that you came to this convenience store?"
"Yes. Since you'd returned safely, I thought the area must be somewhat secure. This may sound bad, but I was starving. I felt as though I'd die if I stayed where I was."
"Then did you move all these corpses too, Min-su?"
"Yes. I came to the convenience store and found the zombie corpses, so I assumed you'd killed them. I thought I might stay in this building for a while... Of course, since you were the one who cleared it, I waited here so I could ask your permission."
Seon-yeong, who had just been listening quietly while Min-su and I talked, spoke up.
"Min-su, we took risks fighting those zombies because we intended to scavenge these supplies. We also plan to move the goods in this convenience store back to our home."
Not immediately, but we did intend to do exactly what Seon-yeong had said.
As she spoke, I could see Min-su's face start to harden.