Even Zombies Have Fandoms

Chapter 39

“Since hyung says he checked, I guess I can rest easy and sleep a bit more. I didn’t know that. Haha…”

To show he no longer had any interest in the entrance, Muyoung clasped his hands behind his back and walked backwards to his room as if rewinding a video.

“Well then, sleep well, hyung.”

Ignoring the intense gaze, he endured until both feet safely crossed the threshold into his room. Muyoung then hurriedly said goodbye and tried to close the door, fearing his lie would be exposed.

“Wait a moment.”

If only he hadn’t called out to him.

Opening the half-closed door again, he saw Seokjae still standing there with an even grumpier face than before.

‘It’s not because of the shadows…’

He looked again, hoping the indirect lighting was casting shadows that made Seokjae’s expression seem furrowed, but instead he just got a closer look at the creased brow.

“What is it…?”

Sensing it wasn’t for anything good, Muyoung asked cautiously, and Seokjae’s expression worsened.

“…”

He moved his lips a few times, then ruffled his hair as if frustrated. Muyoung had no idea what he wanted to say that made him hesitate so much.

‘Did he notice I was trying to leave and wants to scold me? But that’s not something to hesitate about, is it?’

Not knowing that zombies posed no threat to Muyoung, it was natural for Seokjae to worry. It was something worth scolding, both objectively and subjectively.

‘Maybe… he finds it hard to scold me since we haven’t known each other long?’

Seokjae had already teased Muyoung a couple of times, treating him quite intimately. But Muyoung, who hadn’t even noticed he was being teased, could see Seokjae as a gentle person who couldn’t even scold him when he should.

‘Well, I’ve been watching hyung every day, but he hasn’t, so it makes sense.’

Although they had communicated through notes, even Muyoung thought it would be difficult to become close enough to scold someone after just a few written exchanges.

‘At times like this, I should approach him first, right?’

Although he didn’t want to be scolded, Muyoung hoped Seokjae would treat him as comfortably as he did Kyungho and Junwoo.

“Hyung, I’m fine, so please say whatever you want.”

Hearing Muyoung’s words meant to put him at ease, Seokjae’s thoughts became even more complicated.

‘What on earth is he thinking to say something like that?’

Seokjae had simply wanted to be the first to call Muyoung by name before the others. It was so natural for him to know Muyoung’s name that he only realized Muyoung hadn’t told them his name yet when he overheard the conversation in the hallway.

‘I should be the first to call him.’

Because even seemingly insignificant things have great meaning when they’re firsts.

Seokjae was certain that Muyoung had been living alone since becoming this peculiar being. So if there was anything Muyoung would do together with others again, Seokjae wanted to claim all those firsts.

Of course, there was no evidence that Muyoung didn’t have human friends. But if someone like him, who cared deeply for others, had such companions, he wouldn’t have been living alone where Seokjae had reunited with him. Even if they had fallen out, Muyoung’s personality was such that he would still hover around and help a former friend.

In short, Seokjae was wondering if it wasn’t a bit undignified to not only eavesdrop on conversations but also to rush out at the opportunity to be the first to act.

“Tell me your name before you go in.”

But since the moment he met Muyoung again, appearances weren’t that important to Seokjae.

“What? My name? Why so suddenly…”

Muyoung was surprised to be asked for his name when he expected to be scolded, but soon remembered his conversation with Kyungho.

“Is this because of what I talked about with Kyungho?”

Did he suddenly become curious about my name after hearing that? Enough to stop me like this to ask?

Realizing that the angry expression and hesitant behavior were all because Seokjae was curious about his name, a sudden, unexpected emotion surged from deep in Muyoung’s chest.

‘I want to… do this and that…’

He wanted to ruffle Seokjae’s bedhead hair vigorously, and to squish that handsome face until it was smushed.

‘I didn’t know I was such a violent person.’

Muyoung was surprised by these impulses he had never felt before, but for Seokjae who was waiting for an answer, he feigned composure and spoke.

“I’m Kang Muyoung. Pretty ordinary, right? You could have heard it tomorrow, there was no need to ask now.”

Feeling somewhat embarrassed as if his name was some grand piece of information, Muyoung added the last part. Seokjae, who had been listening quietly, moved his lips.

“Muyoung.”

It was a soft whisper, almost like talking to himself, but Muyoung’s hearing, which could catch even a breath if he wanted, didn’t miss Seokjae’s call.

“Oh, me? Ah, Muyoung. That’s me. Right.”

Was it because someone had called his name after so long? Or because it was Seokjae who called him? He wasn’t sure exactly why, but feeling somewhat unfamiliar and his heart tickling, Muyoung fumbled foolishly before shyly answering.

“Why, why are you calling me?”

“Why do you call me hyung?”

Oh.

* * *

After dawn broke and Junwoo’s condition improved enough for him to sit up, the four gathered on the living room sofa for the promised introductions.

It wasn’t that they didn’t call the woman and child from the second floor. Kyungho, who had seen them the longest, volunteered to bring them down, but he returned alone to the living room shortly after.

“Why are you alone?”

Junwoo asked in a muffled voice, having found and put on a mask that was in the house.

“Well, she asked me to tell you that her name is Park Hyunyoung and the child’s name is Kim Hayun…”

Kyungho said with an awkward smile.

“What’s that about? Does she think we really called them just to know their names?”

Junwoo coughed and crumpled the blanket draped over his shoulders. He was already feeling terrible for causing them to bring in unplanned people, and now it seemed those people weren’t very nice, which irritated him even more.

“Hmm, maybe I should have explained better? It could be because I didn’t explain well.”

“Why are you blaming yourself again? It’s weird that she took ‘let’s introduce ourselves’ to mean just stating names.”

Kyungho tried to soothe Junwoo, worried his fiery temper might raise his barely lowered fever, but it backfired.

“It’s understandable since they suddenly had to share a place with us unexpectedly. Let’s not force them to join us until they’re ready.”

Seokjae, who had been watching their conversation from a step back as always, spoke as if considering those who weren’t present. He did so thinking Muyoung would appreciate it.

Sure enough, Muyoung’s eyes, which had been quietly watching him from the sofa, became even brighter.

‘I’d appreciate it if you keep acting like this.’

Although it meant an unexpected complication had arisen, it wasn’t a bad situation when he thought about it. After all, Muyoung’s level of concern would inevitably differ depending on whether there was a dedicated guardian for the child or not.

Moreover, since the possibility of someone this prickly staying quiet was close to zero, Seokjae secretly hoped she would cause trouble on her own before he had to do anything. Each time he had to resolve such issues, Muyoung would inevitably feel responsible for bringing the woman, and thus be more likely to willingly take a subordinate position and not refuse Seokjae’s words.

If he couldn’t prevent them from joining the group, it was beneficial to use what he could.

“Um… shouldn’t we at least call them for meals?”

Although he agreed that forcing friendships wasn’t the way, Muyoung couldn’t help but be concerned, given that they had pushed them into this situation without giving them time to even pack. He cautiously spoke up.

“I think we should at least be mindful of that too. There’s a child, after all.”

Kyungho, who had briefly conversed with the child, also supported Muyoung’s opinion.

“Hmm… I think if we try to bring someone who refuses even brief conversation to eat with us, they might choke. Wouldn’t leaving food outside their door give them the best chance to eat comfortably? What do you think?”

Seokjae briefly hummed as if considering, then suggested what seemed to be the most efficient solution in the current situation.

“That makes sense.”

The original Muyoung might have argued that it would be better to try approaching them a few more times, but remembering the wary look in the woman’s eyes from yesterday, he nodded in agreement.

“True, it would be hard to eat in front of someone you’re uncomfortable with. And if we try to bring just the child, it might feel threatening to her…”

With Kyungho also agreeing, they finished discussing this unexpected agenda item. The three men’s gazes naturally turned to Muyoung. It was time for the main self-introduction.