31st Death - Part

"Telling me to wait outside..." Jang sighed as he looked up to the clear noon sky with a sigh as he looked back at the house again.

"Those Daniel and Eunhee must've been two pieces of shit." He murmured himself as he looked at his fingers.

'Though, I doubt they even come close to you...' He thought as he narrowed his eyes, seeing Joon-Seok before him, stepping on his dog's head and killing it before his eyes.

'Joon-Seok. You fucker. I masturbated and came at the thought of slithing your throat. When other people got addicted to porn, I came over the thought of murdering you. Motherfucker...'

He clenched his teeth.

'You're gonna fucking pay.' His fingers then scratched at the wall behind him, his fingers nearly cracking the concrete.

'Haah... It's refreshing to get angry without worrying about this bullshit.' He thought as he looked at his screen. Seeing the [Zombification] meter on 100%.

[NECRO MODE AVAILABLE!]

'Good think that bitch told me about it ... All I had to do was just kill a zombie as it reached 100. Even got an achievement for it which gave me some new skills...' He thought as he scanend through his status window. His gaze eventually leaving it.

'I'll use them once I go back to the quarantine zone. I got fuck to look for here, other than revenge.' He thought as he recalled Ji-yeon's meal and the futon he slept it.

He gently clutched his stomach.

'...Should've asked for a second serving. And where she bought that fucking thing.'

'...It was the best fucking thing I've ever eaten...' He pursed his lips, staring down at the ground.

"I think that's him," a voice reached Jang's ears, snapping him out of his thoughts. His gaze flickered upward.

"Good... Haah, it's a relief we found him here. Thank god for that ListaGram post," the voice continued. Two people in suits approached Jang, their expressions serious.

"Who the fuck are you?" Jang's voice boomed as he stood upright, towering over the man and woman before him.

"Hey, kid, watch the fucking to—" the man began, his expression twisting into a grimace, but the woman beside him swiftly raised a hand, cutting him off.

"Jang Seung-Jae, right? You being here means Mister Jiho An is here too, doesn't it?" she asked, her tone calm yet firm.

"Yeah? What's it to you?" Jang shot back, his words sharp and unyielding, his gaze steady.

INSIDE THE HOUSE

"I see... That kind of thing happened," Ji-yeon sighed softly.

"Yes," Jiho replied, his voice low as he looked down. Defeat shadowed his expression. "She just... said that. And then, when I asked Daniel about it... he spun this story that I manipulated her. And she just believed him. I'd... rather not talk to either of them." His voice faltered, fading into a murmur.

"How terrible..." Ji-yeon whispered, her hand gently resting on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry, baby."

"That's uncalled for. And cruel, regardless of Daniel's reasons," she continued, her tone firm but empathetic. "Do you want me to talk to hi—"

"Mom," Jiho cut her off abruptly, his voice sharper than before.

"Jiho...?" Ji-yeon's brows furrowed as she looked at him, sensing the sudden shift in his demeanor. His face, once downtrodden, now seemed resolute. Stoic, almost.

"I'm strong now, you know?" he said evenly, his eyes locking onto hers. His voice carried an unsettling calm. 

"I'm built. I can fend for myself. I don't need your protection. Or your pity," he said, his words clipped and deliberate.

"Jiho... What are you trying to say—"

"That's why," Jiho snapped subtly, his eyes trembling, the facade of calm cracking.

He took a shaky breath, his voice lowering but thick with emotion. 

"If something happens to you. Something you're not sure about... If someone tells you anything about me... Please. Please just tell me about it. Don't keep it from me. I don't want someone to take you away too." His voice wavered, his gaze pleading.

"Baby, I'll NEVER let anyone—"

"EUNHEE SHUT HER MOUTH!" Jiho burst out, his teeth clenched, his fist shaking at his side. Ji-yeon froze, startled, her hand slipping from his shoulder as she stared at him somberly.

"Ten years. Ten years I knew her," Jiho said, taking a breath. "Ten years. And she just... kept that from me. For months. And then she believed that MOTHERFUCKER." His hands trembled, and his breathing quickened, his rage barely contained.

His voice softened suddenly, turning hoarse, almost broken. 

"So... just... promise me. Please," he whispered. "Don't... don't let anyone take you away from me too." His eyes glistened as he looked down, his shoulders trembling.

Ji-yeon hesitated for a moment, her chest tightening as she saw the vulnerability in her son. Slowly, she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a firm embrace despite his resistance. 

"I promise, baby," she murmured. 

"I'll always tell you. Always."

Jiho didn't reply. He stood stiff for a moment before his shoulders sagged, and he buried his face against her shoulder, his breath uneven.

Ji-yeon let out a soft chuckle, running a hand lightly over his back.

"You're so tall now," she said with a gentle smile as she pulled back slightly, her hands still on his shoulders. "And any girl who looks at you and thinks it's okay to hide something from you is just stupid. And unworthy of you."

Jiho's shoulders loosened at her light tone and comments, his breathing gradually returning to normal.

"Stupid...?" Jiho murmured, his voice laced with doubt. "But... You and Eunhee are friends—"

"Any girl," she cut him off gently but firmly. 

"Anyone who hurts my son like this is no friend of mine. Whether she was lied to or not, she should have told you straight away. Pretending nothing happened is cruel and disrespectful." Her voice hardened slightly, her eyes narrowing. 

"Unfortunately, that's how most girls your age are—especially at your age. Stupid. Brainless."

"...Doesn't that make you brainless when you were my age?" Jiho asked with a tilt of his head.

Ji-yeon let out a soft, amused chuckle, 

"There he is," she said with a playful smile. "Well, I was stupid for marrying your father. Much better men were around."

Her hands moved to cup his cheeks, and her voice softened. 

"But I was lucky—because I had you as my son."

Jiho exhaled deeply. All the tension that had gripped his body seemed to melt away.

Then his eyes tensed again as he looked into hers. 

"Aren't... you gonna ask?" he murmured.

"Ask what?"

"Why... I'm so... different?"

"Ah," she replied, tilting her head slightly. "I figured you'll tell me when you're ready. You weren't experimented on or something, right?"

"No, I wasn't," Jiho said quickly. "It's not... uh... it's just not something simple—"

"Jiho," she interrupted gently but firmly. "You're my son. I trust you. If you don't want to tell me right now, that's fine. I'll wait. After all..." Her voice trembled slightly as she pulled him into another embrace. "I'm still constantly thanking God that you're alive. My baby... my baby boy..."

Jiho exhaled again.

'Hah.. I really am lucky. Aren't I?'

Ji-yeon stepped back slightly and gave him a knowing look. "As for Eunhee and Daniel... I won't say a word until you're ready to. Though, Jiho. School is starting soon, you know."

"School...?" Jiho repeated, his tone confused.

"Yes," Ji-yeon nodded. "A new place for people who were hit by the outbreak. At some point, the world will have to know that you're alive, and you'll have to go back to school. You will most likely be with Daniel and Eunhee."

Jiho hesitated, his gaze flickering downward. 

"Yeah, I know. Then..." He sighed heavily. "I'll handle Eunhee and Daniel when I get there. If they come near me. I just don't want to talk to them right now." His voice softened, almost to a murmur. 

"I already told the government my name when I left the quarantine zone. No point in hiding it from the school staff or the world. I don't know... I'm just talking nonsense."

Ji-yeon reached out and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Just leave it to me, okay? I Now, go call your new friend. He seems nice!" she said with a warm smile.

Jiho nodded, his smile lingering as he stepped out of the house, heading toward Jang.

Jiho tilted his head in confusion as he spotted Jang speaking with two people. One of them appeared to hand Jang a phone.

"Oh, you must be Jiho, right?" The woman turned to him, her gaze sharp yet professional, while Jang continued talking to the man beside her.

Jiho narrowed his eyes as she approached.

"Here is your brand-new phone, ID, and my number for anything else you might need," she said, holding out the items.

"H-huh?" Jiho blinked, accepting the items with evident confusion. "The government, right? Insurance for the things we lost...? Don't we have to contact you first?" His gaze swept over the woman and her impeccably tailored suit.

"Well... in part, yes," she replied smoothly. 

"But in reality, it's a very long process to reclaim lost items. When you get the chance, please thank the person who made this possible. She made sure her number is also in your phone."

"Right..." Jiho muttered, his voice low as he examined the items in his hands.

As he glanced at his new belongings, the woman couldn't help but think, 'My, what a stud. The young lady sure has good taste...' Her gaze lingered on him a beat too long.

"Céleste!" the man called out sharply, "Allons-y!"

'French...?' Jiho's eyes narrowed again, lifting his head to look at the woman.

"Ah, j'arrive !" she replied quickly, snapping out of her thoughts as she turned toward her colleague.

"Then, Monsieur Jiho—"

"..!!" Jiho stiffened slightly at the way she said his name.

Amélie? he realized.

"... Monsieur Jang. Have a pleasant day! And please, be sure to call the number in your phone!" she added with a polite smile before walking away.

Jiho approached Jang, the two of them standing side by side in silence, holding their new phones and IDs as they watched the suited couple retreat.

"..."

"..."

"They arranged me a place to crash. I didn't ask for that shit," Jang spat.

"Can't you just say thank you? You haven't even seen it yet," Jiho replied.

"Probably dogshit, considering I almost killed their missy and her butler," Jang said with a scoff.

"... Good point," Jiho hummed thoughtfully. He glanced at Jang's phone before adding, "Want me to unlock it for you? Just in case there's no explosives or whatever?" His tone was perfectly deadpan.

"You fucker... I ain't bitch made! I AM THE ONE WHO UNLOCKS!" Jang growled, his voice booming as he aggressively unlocked his new phone.

Jiho quietly unlocked his phone, his finger scrolling through the contact list.

All his familiar contacts were there: his mother, father, Eunhee, Daniel...

And then, a new name stood out: Amélie.

...Call and thank her, huh? Jiho mused, his gaze lingering on her name.

"This is where we part ways, bitch," Jang suddenly announced, breaking the silence.