[content warning: harsh language, a little sexual content]

"You can't deny it forever mister. Juyoung."

"What do you know... You are just a student.."

Ji Hoon noticed his trembling fingertips and said, "I don't know. So tell me."

"Why should I?" The man asked slowly.

"Don't you need someone to listen? And I need an explanation for all this nonsense you did."

"I.. well.."

"Then again I am not going to force-"

"It was three months back."

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Juyoung's narration

"Juyoung. Where are you sweetheart?"

Me and Cecile were deeply in love. She even moved in with me. Things were going fine. After her sister's graduation we decided to hold our wedding. There were only some months left for that. I was very excited. And I could see that she was too.

I worked harder in my company and even got promoted. I did all that so we could live with no problems. Cecile even started her own small business of apparel. Life was only going to get better. But as I thought of these, things started going downhill.

The following week, after I got promoted, she had an interview with an investor who was interested in her apparel business. She told me she'd be back late. But I got worried when the clock hit nine and headed for her company. I found from there that she was in a club with the investor and his friends for business relation expansion. I drove to the club.

But what I saw there was beyond any expectations. My fiance, Cecile was sitting next to that investor, his one hand on her thigh and other around her neck, lips on hers.

I was devastated. I didn't know what to do. What to tell myself. I rubbed my eyes several times thinking if only it was a dream it will disappear and I will wake up. But off course. It wasn't a dream. I wished the entire day that what I had seen had to be a lie.

When Cecile came back home later that night, she hugged me. I was upset, sad and choked up but mostly - I was disgusted. How could she do this to me and to that guy? To him she doesn't have a fiance. Cecile cheated on two men.

The later week, I realised that's how she works. She gets men home, shares the night with them and the business deal is hers. After the men age, she disposes them off. And unfortunately. I was one of her toys too. It really was heartbreaking. And at the time, I didn't even know what to feel.

When I stepped into her company I realised everyone in that place was into sponsorship. It destroyed me. I didn't want to stay there. I wanted to leave. But I couldn't. Cecile found out that I know about her sponsorship deals. She only shrugged casually.

"It is business. And they are not bad." She had said.

After I heard that, even my tears didn't show up anymore. Later that week the pandemic hit. Everyone turned into those things. Even Cecile. But I wasn't even mad. I hated myself for this. I should have been the happiest person alive but I felt bad for her instead.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

"I see.." Charyeong looked at him with eyes of sympathy focusing on his every word.

"Don't. Look at me like that.." Juyoung said shuffling his feet.

"You know. Forget about it", began Ji Hoon, "she didn't even feel the slightest remorse. Why should you?"

"I know. I tried.."

"It's your choice. Your decision. I am not forgiving you for what you tried to do with Charyeong-"

"Yeah. Why would you? I wouldn't even forgive myself either."

"..thanks"

"But. Uh. Ji Hoon, was it? Thanks for stepping in. I would have regretted it my whole life if I would have touched your friend in the wrong way like that.."

"..it angers me to think that a grown man like you would do something so disgusting like this.."

"..sorry won't cut it and I don't think your friend wants to hear my apology either-"

Charyeong overlaid her words over Juyoung's, "sir. I really, really am a bit too scared to even look at men..because of what you attempted and there is just no way I feel like forgiving..but you had a story. The world is already at it's ends it seems so I guess I'll just let you off the hook and when we reach the military base together I will file a complaint."

"Yes so stay safe untill then." Ji-Hoon muttered his words towards Juyoung. The man nodded in shame and slight relief. He then sighed a few times before stopping the kids from leaving far, "uhm.. Ji Hoon. I think you should try Gyeryong first. Maybe the rescue isn't completed yet."

"Sure. We'll leave there." Jay responded instead.

"Good luck" Juyoung said almost in a tone of embarrassment and disgust for himself. Haejun walked upto Ji-Hoon and apologised. Dongho apologised to Jay as well. They bowed to each other. The fourth man inside appeared in front of the students with a bunch of boxes in his hand, "it's not much but.. for what my friends did. This is all I can afford." He said offering the heap to them.

The students refused the offer seeing that they didn't have enough food for themselves but the men shoved it in their bag quickly.

"But what about you guys?" Ji Hoon asked.

"There are convenience stores here. And. The population of those things in our city is less than where you come from."

"Right. Thank you.." Charyeong bowed. They waved their hands embarrassingly gesturing them to be in their way.

***

Hours later, they reached the bus. Minji and Young were waiting for them in worry. As soon as they spotted the three, they rushed towards them and hugged them tightly. Charyeong narrated everything that had happened to the two of them after which what was crawling around them was immense anger and hatred from the couple towards Juyoung and Haejun.

"Let me at them! I'll finish them myself-" began Minji and was interrupted mid sentence by Charyeong, "I'm fine, Eunnie...let them be.. everyone has one or the other story to regret for..and I don't think we should worry about this with the zombies crawling around the world.."

***

"By the way dude", Jay began in a whispering towards Ji-hoon, "what was all that drama about?"

"Wh-what drama!"

"Quiet! You want everyone to in on us?"

"Y-yeah.. my bad." Ji-Hoon said slowly, almost muttering.

"What I meant was all that, 'He is right here. He is very mad'. Know what I'm talking about? Charyeong's boyfriend?"

"Ahaha.. that.. that was just defence."

***

"Thanks for the help, Ji Hoon." Charyeong said as soon as Jay went to Young for a little chatter.

"Yeah. Sure."

"And all the things you said-"

"Th-that kick was epic, Ch-Charyeong!"

"Thanks~ I was just getting tired of waiting. I thought we could solve it without violence and blah blah. But they wouldn't listen."

"Right, sure~ I was about to get killed, you see."

"Hey! Adrenaline rush doesn't happen just whenever."

"Excuses, woman. Excuses~"

"Heh. Are we going to Gyeryong now?"

"Oh yeah. It is going to be a long ride.."