painkiller // namhyeok

2: NEW GUY

Dr. Kang arrived at Hyosan High School's clinic after a while, with Yoobin following behind her. She was already carrying her first-aid kit with her while Yoobin brought a bag for Namra and Cheongsan's dinner.

"He just appeared out of nowhere?" Yoobin asked, staring at the sleeping boy on the bed. "Gwinam said he's all bloody when you saw him." She tilted her head and smiled. "Guess you two couldn't clean him without feeling hungry. But he definitely has an actor's face." She touched her chin twice with the back of her head.

Not having Yoobin's appreciation, Dr. Kang lightly pushed her aside to check on her new patient. "Yoobin, you might want to step back. I don't want you eating a person in front of me."

Yoobin gladly stepped away. "Whatever you say, Chungya." She then approached Namra and Cheongsan, who were both eating their dinner on the floor. She sat down beside them. "Are you sure he's not infected?"

The two nodded. "Namra and I felt the urge." Rice came out of Cheongsan's mouth when he spoke, so Namra gave him a disgusted look. He gulped his food before speaking again. "Anyway, he's not a normal person either. Wait until Doc flips-"

Namra suddenly placed her Tupperware down and stood up, eyes locked on the boy who sat up on the bed. "Dr. Kang-"

"I'm okay," the doctor assured them. She bent down a little to meet her patient's gaze. "I'm a doctor. Kang Chungya. I'm here to bandage your wounds." The boy didn't reply. He was just staring at the wall behind the doctor, his eyes hooded.

"No one followed me, right?" the boy spoke for the first time, his voice soft, almost like a whisper.

Dr. Kang looked over her shoulder, silently asking the teens. Cheongsan shook his head. Namra shrugged. Sighing, she returned her gaze on the boy. "We're not sure. But you're the only one who these kids saw on the rooftop."

The boy raised his head and scanned the room until his eyes fell on Namra. Cheongsan saw the staring so, he looked up at Namra since the girl was still standing. Suhyeok's going to go feral when he sees this, he thought. Damn, I miss them. He frowned. Onjo, when will you visit us?

"You have cuts and grazes," Dr. Kang tried getting the boy's attention back. "I'll clean them first then wrap your torso around with this," She showed him the roller bandage she was holding. "Let's talk after this, or when you have the strength already."

What is he? she thought.

Cheongsan poked Namra's leg. "Your food's getting cold." Namra was back on her senses after that and sat back down to continue eating. Her friend leaned closer to her. "You like him or something? Should I go find Bare Su and tell him about this?"

Namra pushed him away. "Don't be immature. I think he's dangerous. More dangerous than us or the normal zombies."

"Thought so too," he munched his food then gulped. "But if he's not hostile with us, then that's a good thing, right? Maybe he'd help us clean the neighboring cities from zombies."

"Are you sure about that? Chungnam has eight cities and seven counties. We haven't even started traveling yet."

"Come on." He placed down his now empty Tupperware. "You're the one who wanted to save him. What changed?"

"I don't feel any pity anymore," she said, almost a whisper as she was feeling embarrassed.

"Wow," Cheongsan chuckled. "Is this... how you were before or is this a new Namra influenced by the outbreak and befriending us?" Namra didn't want to answer. "Give him a chance. I wanted to kill you before but you turned out fine and more useful for the group later on. So, I died corrected. Hehe. Now, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he'll be useful too. Who knows?"