painkiller // namhyeok

11: TRAINING WHEELS

The other team was off to a great start when they got out of the subdivision's gates without many zombies trying to get in. Dr. Kang was the one who escorted them to the gate, making sure the zombies outside doesn't come in as Junwoo's group went out with one of their vans.

Inside the van were five hambies, Suhyeok, and Onjo. Junwoo, the driver, has Gwinam sitting beside him while Cheongsan and Namra sat behind with their friends. Youngsoo, on the other hand, was busy looking outside the window, where new zombies were walking around the city.

"Do you think there are still survivors out there?" Youngsoo asked them, eyes still on the road.

Namra followed the boy's gaze. "Should we check?"

"We'll check after we get all the things we need," Junwoo said without looking back at them. "You all know who you'll be with once we reach the store, don't you?"

"Yes," they said in chorus.

"Namra, Cheongsan, keep a close watch on your friends, alright?" he added. "I only agreed to bring them with us because they volunteered. Otherwise, I wouldn't want any uninfected coming with us so I'm sure no one would be hurt."

Youngsoo placed a hand over his chest in mock hurt. "You don't think we'd be hurt?"

"Zombies couldn't care any less when we pass them by," Namra stated the obvious.

The younger boy looked at her in betrayal. "I just wanted to feel loved, Namra. Thank you very much for the concern, geez."

Suhyeok smiled beside Namra, finding it funny that she stayed being as straightforward as she was before.

"You're still the same President who only speaks bluntly," Onjo voiced out.

Namra gave her an unapologetic look. "People like me when I'm like that."

Onjo grinned at her, gone was the jealousy she felt back then. At this point, she feels comfortable to have friendly banters with her. "I know."

"We're almost there," Junwoo announced. "Please ready your weapons."

Namra checked Suhyeok's safety vest and the pads around his arms before patting his side in approval. "You're good to go." She turned to Cheongsan and Onjo, who was also done rechecking the latter. "All good?"

Cheongsan nodded. "Always stick with the hambies, okay?" Suhyeok nodded while Onjo gave him a thumbs up.

The van was parked just outside the department store, where a few zombies were roaming around near the entrance. Upon hearing the van's door opening, the zombies all turned to run towards them.

Cheongsan was the first one to knock out a zombie who aimed for Onjo, beating him with his golf club. "Don't touch her!"

"Suhyeok and Namra will be in the apparel and food section," Junwoo said as he opened the glass door. "Cheongsan and Onjo will grab some bath necessities, while me, Youngsoo, and Gwinam will be for household wares and electrical supplies."

The three teams nodded before dispersing, the department store still oddly familiar for them - this was where they buy most of their items, if not from online stores and designer brands (in Namra's case).

There were still a few zombies wandering inside the place. Suhyeok and Namra didn't have to fight much of them, and the former was able to grab as many baby clothes and items as he could for Nabi, not caring if they'd fit her or it was too big for her. She'd grow into them, anyway, he thought.

After killing the last zombie around them, Namra casually grabbed a towel from a rack and cleaned her arms and face with it. "Look for anything denim and leather," she told her boyfriend. "Zombies still have the same human teeth as ours, they can't bite through those fabrics."