The phrase “turning misfortunes into blessings,” truly rings true.
What we initially thought to be a crisis has instead turned into a stroke of luck for us.
Of course, it would have been better if the crisis never came at all.
Thud, thud.
“Thank you! I owe you my life.”
“Hehe. It was nothing. Come on, older sisters! Follow me!”
Thanks to the kind child, Jeong-eun, Yeon, and I managed to dramatically survive amidst the horde of zombies.
Expressing our gratitude for their help, we all followed the child’s gesture and entered a house with an impressive blue roof, leaving the locked gate behind.
Boom, boom.
The continuous sounds of the zombie horde hitting the tightly shut iron doors and walls didn’t stop even after we entered the house.
But even though we should have been trembling in fear at those horrendous sounds, our hearts gradually found peace.
Compared to the earlier situation where a zombie was reaching out to us right in front of our eyes, stepping into this house, surrounded by thick concrete and sturdy brick walls, gave us a sense of security like no other.
With that in mind, we felt as if the current knocks were nothing more than the zombies’ futile attempts to get in.
In short, this is what it means.
Sucks to be you, you little brats.
Knock, knock, knock, knock!
[“■■■■■■!”]
[“■■■,■■■■■!!”]
“………”
It sounded just like raindrops tapping against the window.
The clanking sound of their decayed hands hitting the door continued until the moment we locked the front door and stepped into the room.
Knock, knock.
It just kept going.
[‘■■■!’]
“……..”
….It just kept going.
If that unbearable noise ever stops, it will mean one of two things.
Either the zombies have grown tired of banging on the door and decided to give up to chase after other survivors wandering outside, or…
The wall keeping us safe has collapsed under the zombies’ strength, turning this formerly safe house into our coffin.
Our death, or the death of strangers we don’t even know.
A cruel choice between those two, indeed.
And whichever it may be, it meant that the only outcome remaining at the end will be someone’s death.
Well—
That aside, it’s time to put aside the heavy thoughts of death and take a little break.
“Ugh… Jeong-eun, I’m dying….”
“Don’t talk to me, Hwamun. I don’t have the strength to respond…”
“Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk—”
“…..If you get up, I’ll kill you. Seriously.”
Now wasn’t the time for heavy thoughts about death; it was time to take a break.
Jeong-eun and I, relieved to be alive, let all our tension go, and it was as if we had made a pact as we sprawled out on the floor by the entrance like any regular day, putting on a sketch comedy show.
Only the polite Yeon maintained a straight posture, looking up and chatting with the little child who saved us.
“Hehe~ Are you tired, older sisters? I’ll bring you something to drink! Just wait a little bit here?”
“Please…. So, um… kid, what should we call you? Ah, first, my name is ‘Seon-woo Yeon’. My friends call me Yeon. And these two lying next to me are my seniors, Lee Hwa-min and Park Jeong-eun.”
“…..Hmm.”
Yeon’s introduction of herself and us was momentarily paused as the child looked around before breaking into a bright smile and responding.
One letter at a time.
Careful and clear so there are no misunderstandings.
“──Hi-a. My name is Hi-a. I hope we get along well, Yeon unnie!”
“…Yes! Nice to meet you, Hi-a!”
Well, even though Yeon was playing it cool, the fact that she was kneeling on the floor and looking up at the child was the same as us.
So, the house we followed the white-haired girl into was larger than we thought.
It was like one of those big houses where many relatives live together during the holidays in the countryside.
We couldn’t take a moment to look around due to the urgency, but even in a rush, the house’s size was surprising, fitted with multiple bathrooms and even a bathtub, shocking not just me but also Jeong-eun and Yeon.
Naturally, we were too stunned to even consider surprised.
“Waaah… Jeong-eun mama, I’m tired. Water!”
“….Get away, you brat. And stop being cute. I might just kill you? I’ll throw you to the zombies?”
Rustle, rustle—
We all collapsed onto the fuzzy carpet spread across the living room floor since that was the priority.
All the food for a week and various weapons, including wooden sticks.
And wearing thick leather clothing wrapped tightly around our bodies to prevent bites was more than enough to make us tired even in the cool spring weather.
“—Ta-da! Older sisters, Hi-a brought water… huh…? Hey, older sisters, are you hurt!? Why is everyone lying down!?”
“Ah, Hi-a’s here. Thanks… but we don’t have the strength to move our hands right now, so if you just leave it there, we can eat it later. And don’t worry about those two over there.”
Thus.
Roll, roll, Jeong-eun and I were sprawled on the carpet like a couple of college students who had just drunk way too much at a dinner party, wriggling around like caterpillars.
Beside us, Yeon had her bright red face buried in her hands, looking down.
Sorry, Hi-a. I showed you something embarrassing.
So, please don’t look at us like that.
“Really, what shameful seniors to put out in public…..”
“……Hehe.”
Hi-a, seeing this, chuckled awkwardly.
And so.
After a moment’s rest where we could feel a peaceful daily life, which was somewhat eventful,
It felt like we had been craving a new encounter amidst our isolated and stagnant lives.
“We—”
We pitifully started our story while gulping down the water the young child brought over, with Hi-a seated in front of us.
Starting with a simple introduction of Jeong-eun, Yeon, and me, we shared how we ended up here and the urgent situations we went through.
Also, what made us run from the zombies just moments ago.
The entirety of that horrifying past.
Looking back now, those stories were something we should never have spoken of in front of a child.
Stories that only evoke discomfort, dark and painful memories, are not something to be shared in front of a child not even ten years old.
The child, too, must have witnessed such sights herself.
However.
In a situation where we couldn’t allow such obvious thoughts, we were cornered back then.
Whack.
“—So while hearing people scream from the rooftop… we… we…!”
“…Yes. I’m listening, Hwamun unnie.”
Despite knowing it better than anyone else,
What was uttered as a peevish remark, flowed out like water bursting from a hole in a dam.
Caught in a storm of emotions surging uncontrollably, we began to pour out everything we had, forgetting that a child was listening to our tale.
“I…! We wanted to save you… we wanted to…!”
“I see.”
As we spoke, overwhelmed by emotions that rose with each word, tears escaped without us even realizing it.
Sometimes, we cuddled the child, who embraced us to listen, bursting into tears and shouting.
Feeling the warmth of the child’s body, as if it were hot, we realized we were alive.
We poured out our stories, venting our grievances to that girl we had met not even two hours ago.
I had it hard.
We’ve walked such a difficult path.
Simply for wanting to voice that.
Wanting to receive comfort for the journey so far.
“—So, that’s how I met you.”
“…Ah. I see.”
Without throwing a tantrum or complaining about anything, the child smiled brightly and listened intently to our stories.
In that moment, we all released the sad emotions we had been holding inside and shared the pains and suffering that had built up in our hearts.
But there was something we missed back then.
“You really must have had it tough.”
“……Hah… Hah….”
“—It’s okay now. It’s okay, unnie.”
None among us, not even one.
Not even a single person thought about listening to the child’s story.
At that time, we didn’t notice, but in this wide house, there wasn’t even a trace of presence aside from us.
Only when time passed, allowing us to regain tranquility and gather our thoughts, did we feel the unease while quietly wandering around the house for curiosity’s sake.
Among other things, the place where the bright ivory wallpaper was applied neatly stood out the most.
A family photo, radiant and shining, captured the image of three people.
On the left and right ends, two people, apparently the child’s parents, were standing in neat clothes.
With black hair and black eyes. Those two, who appeared to be typical Koreans, seemed shy, turning their heads slightly away from each other, avoiding eye contact.
Yet, the faint blush on their faces and the natural distance and innocence between them were something that couldn’t be hidden even if they tried.
And then.
“…Hi-a?”
In between those two stood a girl with white hair, a child I recognized as the earlier girl, grinning as she tightly linked arms with them.
Snatch. It was so firm that you could tell just from the photo that her grip was strong, showing clear wrinkles on their arms.
It made me think that it was probably the girl who insisted on taking this picture, not the two embarrassed people beside her.
With dimples on her cheeks, the child seemed to be the one most delighted at creating a beautiful memory with her family.
That alone resembled a work of art demonstrating familial love.
[“──■■■■■■!!!”]
“………”
Perhaps just the existence of it was a work that evoked the bittersweet tale that tightens one’s heart.
Why was the young child living alone in this spacious house?
Where did the two people, presumed to be her parents, run off to leaving her behind?
How could this child continue to smile so brightly in this large house?
Questions that would have returned ordinary answers in bright, everyday life—like saying they went on a trip or a business trip.
Knock!
“—Older sisters, you can use this room! Hehe, I hope I have enough blankets?”
“……..”
But belatedly realizing, taking too long to catch on to reality.
The chilling truth that everyone, including me, had reached.
None of us.
Had the courage to speak to the child who was busily pulling out blankets from the closet, with a smiling face.
Perhaps, we felt a heavy weight of guilt for having missed the moment we should have asked.
Or simply for the reason that we didn’t have the guts to say it at that moment.
“…….Yeah, it should be enough here.”
We merely watched as time passed, having already missed the opportunity to ask Hi-a if she was okay.
Silently keeping our mouths shut.
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