episode_0242

I once heard that a person’s life is a continuous series of choices.

Love or success.

To be bound by the past or to step into the future.

Or conversation or fists.

Thus, big and small moments of choice that can affect our lives await us.

Or even in daily life, small moments of choice can always be encountered.

Are you a pour-on or a dip-in person?

Do you scramble an egg into your ramen or just drop it in?

Spicy cold noodles or watery cold noodles?

Cute moments of choice that follow individual preferences and trends.

“Oppa!”

“Han!”

“……”

I quietly looked down at the swaying soju glass and beer glass in front of me.

There were no peaceful and excellent options like half-and-half chicken or jjamjjamyeon.

Two beautiful women, simmering, almost about to burst into flames, and me placed before them.

With everyone watching with interest, I was urged to make a choice.

They were smiling, but their eyes were not.

Nevertheless, a large, beautiful pair of eyes glared at me.

Deep blue, clear, and unwavering eyes.

Moist, calm black eyes mixed with light brown.

The moment I met those beautiful, silently pressing gazes, I instinctively knew.

That future peace depended on this very moment.

Gulp-

As someone swallowed dryly, I made my decision.

Snatch!-

“!!”

“!!”

“Give it to me.”

I snatched the beer glass and took a sip, then snatched the soju glass and poured its contents directly into the beer. I stirred it once with chopsticks and tilted the glass, now a clear golden color.

Gulp- gulp-

Ohhh~

I heard the admiring sounds from Hyung and CEO Choi, who had been watching with annoying glee.

But the drink I was currently consuming was delicious, so I pretended not to notice.

“Ahhh~~~~~”

Delicious.

I felt sorry for the two beauties sending me hollow glances, but it was just delicious.

I don’t know why mixing beer and soju made it go down so smoothly.

It was a magical taste that called for the next glass, as if one drink called for another.

Before drinking any more, I mixed the same drink into both glasses.

And I pushed them towards the two culprits.

“Drink. Bottoms up.”

“……”

“Ugh…”

As if coming to their senses, Shia and Heize hesitantly took their glasses and looked around.

“What? If you don’t want it, give it here.”

“?!”

As I tried to snatch the glasses, applause erupted for the beauties from East and West who promptly gulped them down.

“Ahhh~~”

“Khhh~~~”

The two beauties emptied their glasses refreshingly, like protagonists in a liquor commercial.

Not missing a beat, I launched a counterattack.

“Here. Open wide~”

“Oh, Oppa….”

“Wait. Han, this is….”

“Shut up and open wide~~~”

While they were emptying their glasses, I quickly made ssam.

Packing three thick pieces of meat into it.

When I held the considerably large ssam to their mouths, the two beauties looked flustered.

And no wonder, both of them had naturally small faces. How big could those mouths possibly be?

But choices have consequences.

‘Feel my pain.’

I forced them to eat ssam that was clearly too large for a single bite.

“Come on. Quickly. Open wide~”

“Ugh…”

“Oh my…”

Perhaps it was the alcohol.

Open wide-

Open wide~

With their faces flushed red, the two, unable to move, finally obediently took the ssam and bit into it.

I subtly spoke to the two, who were mumbling with the ssam that was too big to fit entirely in their mouths.

“You know, right? Ssam should be eaten in one bite.”

“Hahahahaha~”

Laughter erupted at the pitifully tearful expressions of the two women.

Only after suppressing the ‘rebellion’ of the two women did the meal continue.

Everyone ate their fill, drank happily, and became pleasantly tipsy.

In the good atmosphere, despite being dissuaded, Grandmother continued to grill meat without rest.

“Dear. Open wide~”

“Th-this old man, really….”

Grandfather and Dong-woo stayed by Grandmother’s side.

“How is it? Is it delicious?”

“O-of course it is! I grilled it!”

“It’s not because this husband fed it to you, is it?”

“Such silliness in old age!”

“Uh-huh-huh-huh~”

“Well… give me another one then.”

It was a joyful time for everyone.

Byeongcheol-ssi and Bomi-ssi were being sweetly affectionate, a little shyly.

Young-cheol-ssi was teasing them, saying it was sickeningly sweet to watch.

Sohee-ssi and Incheol were eating until their stomachs swelled.

Miri’s dad was clinging tightly to Miri, who was like a rabbit, and his wife, who was like a fox.

Dr. Jang and Reporter Kim were deeply engrossed in conversation with the entertainment agency family.

“……”

I approached Lawrence, who was diligently eating meat by herself.

Her chopstick skills were so deft they could rival a Korean’s.

She seemed to be in a good mood, a faint smile lingering on her face.

“Is it delicious?”

“Han~ The meat is delicious. Thank you very much.”

“That’s a relief. There’s plenty, so tell me anytime if you want more.”

I poured fruit juice into her empty cup and observed Lawrence.

“Are you feeling okay?”

“My body? Ah~ I’m okay. I’m okay now.”

Lawrence, who answered with a bright smile, truly didn’t look sick.

Her emaciation would heal with good food and rest.

Fortunately, the food seemed to suit her taste.

Her dull hair and skin also looked healthy, as if they were regaining their vitality.

As if sensing me observing her, Lawrence put down her spoon and smiled faintly.

“Really, I’m okay. My body is good.”

Her Korean was clumsy and stiff, but her voice was warm.

The unfamiliar tenderness in her expression made me wonder if it was because she was pregnant.

“I’m sorry for being late. Han. Thank you.”

“Ah.”

“Thank you for everything. I sleep well at night now.”

“Haha. It’s okay.”

“Everyone is a good person. My heart is good.”

“…I see.”

I exchanged a few more words with her as she continuously smiled, thanking me for bringing her.

Just as I was about to subtly get up, sensing an opportunity.

“Han.”

“Yes.”

“Touch it.”

“Uh…”

I was slightly flustered by her sudden words.

And no wonder…

“It’s okay. Say hello to the baby.”

Lawrence pulled her chair back slightly and showed me her large belly.

It showed its presence over her comfortable, loose-fitting clothes.

I couldn’t rashly extend my hand.

It wasn’t my first time seeing a pregnant woman.

But was it okay to touch a body where a new life was growing?

‘…With these hands…?’

As I looked down at my hands and hesitated, Lawrence gently guided me.

“It’s okay.”

Slide-

“……”

What I felt through the thin fabric was warmth.

It was a warmth similar to when I held Miri, perhaps a little higher in temperature.

Thump- thump-

Even without concentrating, I could clearly feel the pulse of two individuals at my fingertips.

The strong, large heartbeat of the mother.

The small, somewhat weak heartbeat of the fetus.

As Dr. Jang had said, the fetus was indeed weak.

As a worried feeling rose within me, Lawrence spoke softly.

“Is it amazing?”

“…Yes.”

“Hehe~ There’s something even more amazing.”

“What’s that—”

Tap-

“?!”

“Hehehe~”

A very small touch felt on my palm.

I was truly surprised, so much so that I flinched significantly.

“The baby kicked.”

“Ah… so this is that…”

“Mommy is tired.”

“Haha….”

“But the baby is strong.”

Lawrence gently placed her hands over mine on her belly.

And she sent me a bright smile without a word.

“…Please take care of Eva too.”

“?? Ah….”

I gave a small nod at her request to take care of Heize.

At the same time, Lawrence subtly showed a hint of relief.

It’s also a great impoliteness to keep one’s hand on a woman’s body for too long.

Just as I was about to slowly withdraw my hand.

“Eeeehhh!!!”

I turned my gaze at the loud booing to see people gathered together.

It seemed they had been in the middle of a conversation…

“No! I’m telling you, it’s true!”

“You, Hyunwoo?”

“Yes!!”

“Hey. There’s a limit to how much you can lie!”

“Wow~! This is driving me crazy!”

“Uhahahahat~”

Hyunwoo was spinning a tale among the people, but it didn’t seem to be believed.

Listening quietly, I realized he was recounting what had happened in Sangildong.

Jihyeok Hyung, who had been laughing for a while, saw me and beckoned wildly.

“There’s a witness, so we can just ask him directly, right?”

“Oh, right! Hyung-nim! Please tell them!”

I leisurely refilled my glass and slowly sauntered over.

“What about?”

“That I just like, exactly! With a gun! Evacuated people. No one believes me!”

Hyunwoo, his face flushed from alcohol, clung to me, complaining about his frustration.

“Seonghan. Is what he’s saying true?”

“Yes.”

“What? Really?”

Not only Hyung but everyone’s eyes widened.

“Seonghan-ssi. Are you sure you didn’t misinterpret him crying…?”

“He’s gentle and easily scared, so it seems unlikely…”

“Wow!! CEO-nim! Sunbae-nim! Aren’t you being too much?!”

“It’s true.”

“Hoooooo…”

At my confirmation, everyone marveled and shook their heads.

“See?!”

“Kim Hyunwoo couldn’t possibly have…”

“Young-cheol Hyung!”

Seeing Hyunwoo, who was about to bounce around like an elementary schooler, I recounted a bit of the story from that time.

“When he was trapped, he spoke to me.”

“Hyunwoo? What did he say?”

I cleared my throat and began to imitate him as best I could.

“Save me! Save me!”

“Hahahahaha-!!”

“Nooo! When did I ever say that!”

I laughed heartily at Hyunwoo, who was almost on the verge of tears.

“But once we got outside, he was brave.”

“Huh?”

“We must protect our own lives!”

“What???”

“Hyunwoo? Really?”

Everyone reacted as if they couldn’t easily believe it.

Just how scared was he, anyway?

I then added to it.

“I won’t force it! But I will live!”

“Hooo….”

“Hyunwoo? Is that true…?”

“He did shout that.”

“See?! I told you it was true!”

“It’s hard to believe…”

“Since Seonghan-ssi is saying it, we can’t disbelieve it either.”

Hyunwoo chugged cider, soothing his burning insides.

“No, I’m telling you, it’s true!”

“Yes, yes.”

“Listen. Like this! Those villains were just about to shoot us!”

“…Shoot?”

“Yes! But then! Hyung-nim here just appeared and wiped them all out, didn’t he?”

‘…Oh dear.’

Hyunwoo was excited by everyone’s reactions, as if they were listening to his story.

However, everyone’s expressions hardened.

The gun they heard about in the story, and the situation where they almost died.

Especially CEO Choi and Hyung’s expressions were tinged with a quiet anger.

Hyunwoo, realizing the atmosphere a beat late, closed his mouth.

“Uh… Did I make a mistake?”

“Ah. No. Keep talking.”

“Hmm….”

“Hyunwoo. We just got lost in thought for a moment, so please continue.”

“Yes, CEO-nim. So, what happened was…”

After that, Hyunwoo enthusiastically recounted his story, mixing in hand gestures and foot movements.

The people who ran away, pretending not to know anything, the giant zombie he’d glimpsed, and my fight with it. And even how I knocked him out.

“But when I opened my eyes, I was here, you know? And seeing everyone here, I thought it was a dream!”

“Hehe~”

Hyung, who had been quietly listening to the story, asked Hyunwoo in a calm voice.

“Hyunwoo. How did you end up there?”

“Ah, well…”

Hyunwoo scratched his head and rolled his eyes.

“While, while running away….”

“Running away?”

“Sunbae-nim. Do you remember me filming that drama?”

“Of course I do.”

“On the day that incident broke out, I was filming in Yangjae-dong.”

Hyunwoo said that on the day the zombie apocalypse broke out, he was at a luxury foreign car dealership in Yangjae-dong for a drama shoot.

‘…No way…’

Listening to his story, it turned out to be one of the foreign car dealerships at the Holy Sale Yangjae Branch that I had raided.

“At first, I thought a war had broken out. It was so scary and chaotic…”

“Mm.”

“My manager ran with me like crazy. We tried to get into a car, but there were too many people…”

“Yes. That was good.”

CEO Choi saw it as a good thing that he hadn’t insisted on taking a car in the chaotic situation.

“So I ran to a department store nearby. But then…”

Countless people took refuge in department stores or other buildings.

At first, they were in utter panic and trembled with belated fear, but the aftermath was the problem.

The problem was that once things became a bit more livable and the outside grew quiet, they lost their fear.

“There were so many people. They all said they had to go home and meet their families, so they just left.”

“…Outside? In that situation?”

“…Yes.”

Listening to Hyunwoo’s story, I could roughly grasp the atmosphere of the time.

“So it was out of control.”

“Oh? That’s right.”

“…I see.”

Hyung and CEO Choi also soon nodded.

“It seems the biggest factor was that informing people about the situation was too late.”

“Since the situation wasn’t understood, it must have been difficult to calm people down.”

“They likely didn’t recognize it as a crisis. Or their reactions were slow.”

At my words, Hyung furrowed his brow.

“I also received disaster alerts, but they came too late. The content was insufficient to convey a sense of crisis.”

“Just phrases like ‘don’t come outside’ weren’t enough.”

I stood quietly and listened to their conversation.

“When we told them not to go outside, they got angry and caused a ruckus…”

“……”

“Many department store employees stepped up, but they all gave up before long.”

One characteristic of people.

When you try to restrict or command something, they become rebellious.

‘Obvious.’

Lack of crisis awareness, slow response, complacency, and selfish rebellion.

The situation Hyunwoo experienced was a difficult one where all these factors combined.

It was very different from me, who spent the initial period alone.

The zombies outside must have been terrifying, but the living humans inside must have been difficult too.

If someone who didn’t know about this heard about it, they might say,

“People aren’t idiots, what nonsense is that?”

But it was true, and it really happened.

Hearing about something and actually experiencing it are completely different.

Listening to Hyunwoo’s words, the number of zombies that filled the roads at the time became understandable.

It’s regrettable that people who didn’t have to die senselessly turned into zombies.

Of course, looking back now is nothing more than meaningless rumination.

Hyunwoo, continuing his story, also didn’t seem to dwell on it.

“There were still quite a lot of people in the department store, you know.”

“Hmm. That’s a relief.”

“But one day, there was a huge explosion outside.”

“…An explosion?”

“Yes. And there was a huge fire…”

I tightly closed my mouth.

“We didn’t know the cause, but anyway, the number of zombies drastically decreased. So people even went outside to scout.”

“Hmm…”

“Anyway, thanks to the explosion, people gained some energy.”

According to Hyunwoo, they were able to endure thanks to the supplies in the department store.

Additionally, thanks to the zombies that had collapsed due to the large fire, they were able to go outside and collect discarded items.

Thanks to this, people somewhat united and created a positive atmosphere.

But at some point, factions divided.

Starting with that, disputes broke out for various reasons.

The biggest issue was the dwindling food supply.

The amount they could acquire was limited, and long-term storage was difficult.

Even if it was a department store, there weren’t many foods with long expiration dates.

Disputes turned into violence, and violence turned into war.

Amidst that, Hyunwoo chose to escape.

“It must have been dangerous…”

At CEO Choi’s sympathetic words, Hyunwoo’s expression hardened.

“I had no choice. If I stayed there, I was sure to be caught by a gay man.”

People were dumbfounded by words that couldn’t possibly be ignored.

“It just so happened that the leader of the largest faction was gay… He always looked at me strangely whenever he saw me! Ughh…”

“……”

“Eventually, he started targeting me openly, and I thought it would be better to die than stay, so I ran away.”

No one among our family hasn’t experienced a crisis.

But the crisis Hyunwoo went through was truly…

“…You’ve been through a lot.”

“Sniff… Sunbae-nim, please give me a drink….”

“Yes, yes. Drink slowly.”

I asked Hyunwoo, who was emptying his glass with teary eyes.

“What about the manager who was with you?”

“……”

Hyunwoo didn’t open his mouth easily to my question.

Only after emptying his soju glass repeatedly did he finally manage to speak with difficulty.

“…The gay leader… He sided with him and tried to hand me over. That’s why I ran.”

“Oh…”

“While running away recklessly… I got caught by those guys and was dragged around everywhere.”

“And the last place you went was there?”

“Yes. Really, if Seonghan Hyung-nim hadn’t come… Phew…”

The fear of almost being defiled by a gay man, Hyunwoo said in a passing tone.

“Originally, there were many prisoners. But everyone was sent to various places, and I was scheduled to be sent somewhere else too, you know? But then it was suddenly canceled, so I kept waiting. Eating only that tasteless bread and water… Ugh!!”

“…Do you happen to know where you were scheduled to be sent?”

“I don’t really know. I think it was either Gangwon-do or Hanam. That’s all I heard from the guys guarding us, so I don’t really know.”

“I see.”

Gangwon-do and Hanam.

It was a fragment of information, barely more than breadcrumbs, but it was useful.

His untraceable whereabouts had been completely cut off.

Hyunwoo was like someone who had handed me a single thread.

Just in case, I subtly asked about this and that, but there was no useful information.

There was nothing to glean from his imprisoned state or the guards’ trivial conversations.

Hyunwoo’s tale of hardship ended there.

Everyone comforted Hyunwoo, who had suffered and endured in many ways.

In particular, CEO Choi sincerely apologized for the manager’s betrayal.

As an employer, he seemed to feel a deep sense of responsibility for putting his artist in danger.

Of course, Hyunwoo dismissed it with a dog-like smile, saying it was fine.

He seemed too open-minded to be considered simply lighthearted.

If it were me, I might have frothed at the mouth [been extremely angry].

Regardless, Hyunwoo showed infinite trust in the entertainment agency family.

“It’s okay because I trust CEO-nim and Sunbae-nim the most.”

“Hyunwoo….”

“You… *ahem*. Want more meat?”

It was then that the two moved men pushed large pieces of meat towards Hyunwoo.

“Oppa! Have some fried rice!”

Shia and Heize called out with eager gestures.

“Wow… someone’s lucky.”

“……”

“You should eat a lot. Definitely.”

“Woah… It’s my first time seeing Shia Nuna talk to a guy.”

At the entertainment agency family’s intense interest, I subtly slipped away from my seat.

And when I returned to my seat, a large plate was filled with fried rice.

That final fried rice after grilling the meat.

That truly delicious dish, despite being deadly for one’s health.

‘……’

The fried rice, steaming as if just moved from the grill, was heart-shaped.

A large, beautiful heart, topped with a half-cooked fried egg.

I unconsciously looked at Grandmother.

Wink-

……I was speechless.

“Here, Oppa. Open wide~”

“Han. Eat.”

“Oh, come on….”

Shia and Heize held spoons out to me, who was dumbfounded.

In the end, I couldn’t leave my seat until I had completely finished the fried rice.