Chapter 109: Maybe It's Boredom?
Recently, Kim Jun's house had been wrapped in a quiet, subdued atmosphere.
No zombies had shown up nearby, and while they occasionally tackled chores, ever since the last disinfection, not even rats or bugs had appeared. Things were leisurely.
During those ordinary days, the idols had gathered for a lighthearted game among themselves.
Thwack.
Mari scooped up the cards for eight lights and spoke as she collected her win.
"I know it's kinda weird to talk about this, but... hasn't Jun oppa been acting a bit off lately?"
"What's off about him?"
Gaya, up next, tossed a card since she had nothing playable, then clicked her tongue when it didn't even pair up.
On this lazy afternoon, the group of top stars in their twenties played Go-Stop while chatting about the homeowner, Kim Jun.
"He's just quietly plugging away at work these days, not even talking much to the others, right?"
"Hmm, yeah, kinda..."
"Is he still mad at me about the wild boar thing?"
"Nah~ no way. If he was, that oppa would've gotten drunk at night and talked it out by now."
Emily, who had been munching on kimchi snacks while watching from the side, chimed in casually.
"He hasn't been having sex lately either."
"Hey! Emily!"
The three playing cards stared at her and shouted in unison, but she just shrugged.
"Why act shy now? We're all fuckbuddies from Snatch Sisters, aren't we?"
Her blunt words weren't wrong, though.
In that moment, Do Kyung quietly glanced out the door, confirmed Kim Jun and the others were outside, then tossed a junk card.
Thwack.
"Whew~ if word of this gets out, we'll never be on TV again."
"Oh? You planning to go back on air sometime?"
"What, you wanna spend your life zombie-hunting?"
Bickering between Do Kyung and Emily had become a familiar sight.
Back to Mari's turn—she nabbed a pair of pigs.
"There. Stop!"
"Whew~ let's go again."
It wasn't for money; they just tallied points from wins and losses, with the first to 100 taking the game.
As the cards circulated again, Gaya spoke up.
"Well... I wasn't paying much attention, but yeah, Jun oppa's been pretty quiet."
"So it's not just me. I thought I'd been dumped or something."
Once the floodgates opened, talk naturally turned to sex with Kim Jun.
All four women here had slept with the house owner, and two of them had lost their virginity to him.
"Last time, he was out smoking in the car at night, so I went over, but he said he wasn't in the mood and told me to leave. Even after I used that apple mint body wash..."
Emily recalled that heated moment, wondering if her appeal had faded, and absentmindedly fondled her breasts.
"He won't even look at me. Only uses me as a tool shuttle when he's hammering away."
"Hasn't that oppa been drinking less lately too?"
"Yeah. No group drinks in a while... okay, go-dori!"
This time Gaya hit her mark, immediately calling go.
"Guess we've gotten boring to him now."
Mari's words as she passed the cards made these former top stars, once the pinnacle of stage beauty, doubt their own allure.
Knock knock.
"Huh."
"What're you unnies up to?"
When Rana slipped in with some cola, they shook their heads while sipping the drinks she'd prepared.
"Jun oppa's been acting weird lately."
"You think so too, Mari unnie? He looks totally unmotivated."
Rana joined in slyly, and the five delved into discussions about Kim Jun's changed demeanor.
"Or maybe he's banging someone else besides us?"
"You crazy bitch, watch your mouth!"
Gaya and Do Kyung hurled their Go-Stop cards at Emily amid the uproar, and Rana quietly slipped out with her tray.
"Hmmm~ guess there really is something going on?"
She'd thought he'd lost interest since he hadn't come looking for her lately, but seeing everyone's reactions sparked another idea in her head.
That night, Kim Jun drank alone in his room with soju, pickled green peppers, and kimchi.
"Hoo~"
He sighed softly, downing a shot. A few had made eye contact with him, but no one entered the master bedroom.
Ever since the thing with Eun Ji, Kim Jun had paused his relations with the others.
For some reason, reality had hit him hard. He'd have just a couple drinks alone in his room, skip chit-chat except during chores or meals, and barely talk to the girls.
Eun Ji, true to form, remained composed. She dressed more variably now than before, occasionally letting her braided hair down, showing a natural side.
When Kim Jun was fixing things on the rooftop, she'd watch quietly and bring snacks—nothing indicated a rift.
The others sensed the awkwardness, but no one knew the details yet.
"I'm heading out for farming tomorrow. Let's swap some members."
"Pardon?"
At the morning looting briefing, the eight top stars prepped, thinking it was their turn again. But Eun Ji and Mari, who still had one run left, blinked in confusion at the change.
"Oppa, we're fine physically."
Mari showed off her face, rid of pimples and freshly healed.
Both Eun Ji and Mari had scratches, bruises, and sprains from the wild boar attack, but they'd all healed.
"No need—we could go again no problem..."
"Nah, we need muscle for this. Lots of heavy lifting."
At Kim Jun's words, eyes turned to the obvious choice for strength.
Taller than the rest with hands a size larger and an athlete's build, Do Kyung quietly set down her spoon amid the stares.
"Uh... ahem, I'll go. Heavy carrying stuff, right?"
Drafted as the muscle, she joined as tomorrow's partner.
For Do Kyung's partner, Kim Jun scanned options until Emily shook her head.
"Can't go this time."
"Why? Something up?"
"Period cramps..."
Gaya and Mari jumped in at her morning complaint, benching Emily.
"I'll do it."
Nanika had been gauging, In Ah was ready on command, but Rana boldly raised her hand first.
"Hmm, Rana wants in?"
"Yeah, I'm sneakily strong. You taught me hammering, remember."
Her eyes sparkling with eagerness, Kim Jun nodded.
"Good! Do Kyung and Rana, you're with me."
"Yesss~!!!"
Zombie hunts outside, wild beasts like boars lurking—yet the idols were eager to join the danger.
The house had truly become one seamless team.
The next day, geared up and in the car, they headed to the spot Kim Jun had mentioned, prepped thoroughly.
Do Kyung caressed her taser spear—emblazoned with the wild boar slayer title—and her slingshot in the back seat. Rana nodded, recalling crossbow lessons from her unnies.
"I've said it a million times: don't move before I say."
"Got it, oppa."
"I'll do exactly as told~"
The two nodded, listening to his briefing.
"We've cleared roadside shops, so alleys are mostly untouched—means more zombies."
Kim Jun warned Rana and Do Kyung, recalling a past loot where side-street zombies swarmed during a corner store raid.
"Especially where we're going today."
Today's target: a scrap yard on the outskirts.
Past the traditional market, down a sloped alley far in—once a demolition company's site, now scrap dealers and junk shops selling odds and ends.
Plus a parking lot for special vehicles like chicken coops or sewage trucks—it had been eerie even pre-apocalypse.
"Grab drums, wire mesh, hand trucks if we see 'em."
"What's a hand truck?"
At Rana's question, Kim Jun recalled the term.
"Hand lift—pumps up to move heavy loads on wheels."
"Ah~"
"Anyway, anything transport-related will make future runs easier. We'll sweep the whole scrap area—get ready."
"Yes!"
"Extra careful with clothes today. No telling what might pop out inside."
Kim Jun stressed caution repeatedly as he headed to the traditional market's back alley.
The front was always zombie-heavy; the back gate was familiar from the last Sinreung trip with Myeong Guk.
Seemed safe enough—but not risk-free.
"Oppa! Zombies!"
Thud thud.
Do Kyung spotted one and thumped the wall. Kim Jun turned the car to check the blind spot zombie in the mirror.
Rana spotted more from shotgun.
"There! The shops side."
Five or six zombies from the shop alley had spotted the car and shambled closer.
Clambering over wrecked, burned-out vehicles, Kim Jun grabbed his shotgun.
Ka-chunk.
"Battle stations, everyone!"
At his call, Rana and Do Kyung smoothly readied their weapons for the zombie fight.