Even Zombies Have Fandoms

Chapter 71

Seokjae raised an eyebrow at Muyoung, who showed such a big reaction that it could be described as being terrified. He leaned in close and whispered in his ear.

“Why are you so surprised?”

The breath that seemed to travel not only around the ear but also inside sent a tingling sensation up Muyoung’s spine as if struck by static electricity. Startled by this unfamiliar feeling he had never experienced before, Muyoung hastily scooted his bottom back to create distance.

“H-Hyung! Why aren’t you sleeping…!”

“Mmm…”

As soon as he inadvertently raised his voice due to his racing heart, a small groan came from where the children were lying. Muyoung immediately pressed his lips together with a “hap.”

How long did the silence last? Fortunately, it seemed they hadn’t woken up, as the rhythmic sound of breathing could still be heard. Muyoung let out a small sigh. At that moment, a ticklish laugh like a feather brushing past pierced his ears. His head instinctively turned towards the attractive sound.

“…!”

Tae Seokjae was sitting against the wall with one knee raised. He had tilted his head to look at Muyoung. If only a cigarette had been added to the long fingers casually resting on his leg, he would have looked exactly like a dangerous character you might encounter in a back alley. That’s how delinquent-like he appeared.

‘Gasp…’

However, with his face that looked like it was painted, his strange eyes that could make a stopped heart beat again, and the mysteriousness of the late night added to it, he became threatening to Muyoung in a different sense.

“Kang Muyoung, what’s wrong with you?”

It felt like he was getting motion sickness, and his chest was churning as if he had ridden a roller coaster. As Muyoung momentarily froze, clutching his chest in surprise at this unfamiliar sensation, a voice devoid of any humor and frozen solid reached his ears.

Under normal circumstances, he would never have ignored it, but Muyoung was so distracted by the new sensations in his body that he couldn’t even remember he needed to answer.

‘Why am I suddenly like this? It shouldn’t be time to feel hungry yet.’

Setting aside the fact that it hadn’t been long since he’d eaten, it was different from when he felt hungry. When he felt appetite, he could distinctly feel movement in his stomach. But now, strangely, he couldn’t pinpoint exactly where the problem was, other than that it was in his upper body.

‘Now it’s fine again?’

The strange feeling swept through his body just once and then disappeared completely as if it had never happened. It all occurred in a matter of seconds. But it wasn’t a subtle enough sensation to be dismissed as just his imagination.

Muyoung began to search for the source of the problem, half anxious and half curious.

‘It felt like my chest or solar plexus was sinking… And I think my back felt a bit stiff too.’

Concentrating on recalling the sensation he had just experienced, he started from his chest area and twisted his arm behind to feel his back.

Seokjae’s face, who had been watching all of this unfold before his eyes, gradually hardened.

‘…No way.’

It didn’t look normal, the way Muyoung had suddenly stiffened and started twisting his body around. Seokjae naturally recalled a similar scene.

‘Is he starting to turn into a zombie now of all times?’

Because he was together with Muyoung due to an unexpected stroke of luck, he couldn’t be certain that this happiness wouldn’t suddenly be snatched away. Seokjae felt like he was going to lose his mind with anxiety, but he held onto his reason because there was something he had to do if the worst-case scenario unfolded.

‘His eye color looks normal, and his skin color… far from turning blue, he looks even healthier than before.’

He quickly checked Muyoung’s condition and regained his composure. Moreover, when he heard a whimper that was too cute to be compared with the disgusting howls of zombies, he completely relaxed.

‘Looks like I won’t have to pull out his teeth.’

Given their miraculous reunion, parting again didn’t exist in Seokjae’s dictionary. There was absolutely no chance that his determination to never let go would change based on Muyoung’s condition or will. If he were to change exactly like other zombies, wouldn’t it be enough to make him into a state where they could still be together?

“Muyoung. Kang Muyoung… What on earth are you doing right now?”

Seokjae was sincerely relieved that he wouldn’t have to pull out Muyoung’s neat, white teeth with his own hands, and naturally called out to him with a much softer attitude than before.

“Huh? Ah, well…”

Unaware that he had just narrowly avoided having all his teeth pulled out, Muyoung lowered the hand that had been feeling his back and smiled sheepishly at Seokjae’s seemingly bewildered voice. Then, worried that Seokjae might be concerned if he told the truth, he looked around nervously and racked his brain for a suitable excuse.

“Um, my back suddenly got really itchy.”

Everything from his expression to his tone was awkward, but there wasn’t anything specific to pick on, so Seokjae just stared blankly for a moment before gesturing with one hand.

“Then you should have asked me to scratch it for you. Why are you struggling, twisting your arms this way and that? Come here quickly and turn your back to me.”

“What? No, no. How could I ask you for something like that? It’s better now, so don’t worry about it and go to sleep, hyung.”

Although the way Seokjae gestured as if calling a dog could have been offensive, Muyoung just felt that Seokjae’s offer was too gracious and waved both hands vigorously.

“I can’t sleep. And what’s wrong with friends scratching each other’s backs? I was even thinking of scrubbing your back when we bathe together.”

Seokjae, who had been staring at Muyoung’s behavior, added the last part to tease him for seemingly lying just now. Of course, it wasn’t an empty promise, as he was fully willing to do so if such a situation actually arose.

“What? B-Bathing together?”

As soon as he heard Seokjae’s words, Muyoung couldn’t help but imagine the scene of bathing with him. Unfortunately, the sensation of the abs he had touched earlier today also came to mind, causing him to picture Seokjae’s body in excessive detail. This brought out a habit from when Muyoung used to be called “tomato” long ago.

“I-I won’t make such an indecent request.”

He covered his face, which would normally have turned bright red, and shook his head vigorously from side to side, making a sound as if cutting through the air.

Seokjae let out a small laugh at the more intense reaction than he had expected.

“What kind of thoughts did you have to use the word ‘indecent’?”

“N-No thoughts at all…!”

Just as Seokjae grabbed one of Muyoung’s wrists covering his face and pulled it away like pulling a radish to tease him more thoroughly, and as Muyoung was resisting to avoid showing his expression that must have been a mess from embarrassment—

Clang, clang—

Thud—

A noise was heard from beyond the glass door. Perhaps because of the distance, or maybe the glass door was more soundproof than expected, it was quite a faint sound, but Muyoung with his good hearing heard it clearly.

Whoosh. Muyoung’s head turned quickly. As he stared at the door with a suddenly tense expression, Seokjae also stiffened his face and whispered in a low voice.

“What’s wrong?”

“…I heard a sound from outside.”

Muyoung explained while keeping his attention focused outside and turned his body to get a little closer to the door. Seokjae tightened his grip on Muyoung’s wrist, stopping him.

“What are you trying to do?”

Seokjae’s eyes were sharp, but they were full of anxiety and worry. Seeing the reaction as if Seokjae had concluded that he would cause trouble, Muyoung covered Seokjae’s hand holding his wrist with his other hand and said:

“I’m just going to listen more closely. I won’t do anything else, just put my ear to the door.”

Faced with Muyoung’s bright-eyed gaze that seemed to say “trust only me,” Seokjae let out another sigh, which had been becoming more frequent lately, and slowly released Muyoung’s wrist.

“Alright. But I’ll be right behind you.”

He had made the threat preemptively, thinking Muyoung might tell him to stay far away out of concern. But Muyoung misunderstood it as Seokjae wanting to stay close in case he caused trouble, and ended up making a disgruntled expression.

‘As expected, he was trying to keep me away.’

‘Just how unreliable do I seem…’

Unaware that their mutual misunderstanding had deepened, Muyoung judged that it wasn’t the time to feel hurt and tried to hide his disappointed emotions.

“Okay… Do as you like.”

Nodding his head weakly, unlike his usual self, he crawled towards the door, being as careful as possible not to make any noise despite the short distance. He had chosen a spot that he thought would allow him to hear better through the paper-covered area rather than where the boxes were attached, after careful consideration.

Muyoung put his ear to the door and listened to the sounds outside. Several minutes passed, and nothing could be heard except for the faint sound of waves.

“…Fortunately, it seems it was just the sound of something like a can rolling in the wind.”

Just as Muyoung turned around with a bright smile of relief—

Creak. Cre-creak.

A chilling sound came from outside. The timing was as if it were mocking them.