By Zephyria 
An awkward silence flowed between the two men facing each other. After consciously letting some silence pass, Ha-jin, swallowing a sigh, opened his mouth.
“I’m sorry, Jeffrey. I was short-sighted.”
He gripped Jeffrey’s shoulder tightly and then released it, making a short sound in his throat.
“Whatever was said, I shouldn’t have left it all to Jeong Tae-geon. I should have talked to Jeffrey sooner.”
As Ha-jin made a dispirited expression, Jeffrey snorted briefly.
[Don’t speak so fast in Korean. I can’t understand.]
At the sulky reply, Ha-jin gave a weak smile and nodded. In the distance, Jesus, who had been gazing at the nailed cross, finally seemed to make up his mind and began to speak.
[Actually, to make a small excuse, I’m still confused by this whole situation. So I couldn’t even think about talking to Jeffrey first. Um, I mean, it’s not that I don’t value Jeffrey.]
As if he were a believer quietly confessing his sins to a priest, he hesitated and carefully chose his words, and Jeffrey’s eyes, which had been sharply raised, gradually began to soften.
[I think about Jeffrey more than anyone else. We’re friends, and we’re a team. I mean… I’m really sorry.]
[Ah, it’s okay. It’s not like you committed a mortal sin, so one apology is enough.]
[Will you forgive me?]
At the word “forgive,” Jeffrey flinched and blinked his long, camel-like eyelashes. He couldn’t speak for a while, then let out a groan and shook his head.
[It’s not even a matter of forgiveness. When you think about it, I wasn’t so great either. When I first heard Eden say he would stay in Korea, instead of just fighting between ourselves, I should have tried to talk to Ha-jin too. Sulking childishly… I’m sorry about that too.]
[Thank you for saying that.]
[Damn, it’s tickling me to death.]
Jeffrey shuddered as if he couldn’t stand it and frowned. He scratched around the scratch on his left cheek for no reason and glanced at Ha-jin.
[That Eden bastard has a natural eye for people.]
[Suddenly?]
[I’m saying you’re too good for him, Ha-jin.]
Ha-jin smiled mischievously for a moment and replied playfully.
[I know that.]
[…Now that I see it, it seems like you guys met because you’re similar.]
The two stared at each other intently, and then burst into laughter at the same time. The sudden burst of laughter made Eden and Byeol, who were sitting far away, turn their heads with puzzled faces. Feeling their gaze, Ha-jin quickly composed himself and straightened his slumped shoulders.
[No, that’s not it… Actually, there’s something I wanted to ask you, Jeffrey.]
[What is it?]
Ha-jin waved his hand at Eden, who was still watching him, as if it were nothing, and whispered in a ventriloquial voice.
[Just from listening to Jeffrey, it sounds like Eden said he would follow me and stay in Korea no matter what, is that right?]
[Yes. He says he’ll stay here with you no matter what. He said if you wait a little, he’ll return to America late.]
[You didn’t talk about the Transport plane separately?]
[Transport plane? What Transport plane?]
…I’m going crazy. Ha-jin put his hand on his forehead, where sweat had dried, as if something terrible had happened.
It was as expected. Even if there was no spare Transport plane prepared, Eden seemed to be thinking of following him recklessly. It was clear that he had no intention of keeping the promised conditions.
Even last night, which could have been their last night together, Eden didn’t hold him. He, who had been constantly poking his lower hole with his fingers and confidently promising to stick it in deep, didn’t do anything at the crucial moment. As if there would be plenty of opportunities to be together in the future.
[What’s wrong, Do Ha-jin? Wasn’t this something you two agreed on?]
Jeffrey met his eyes with a puzzled expression at Ha-jin’s unusual demeanor. Ha-jin, who had been sighing deeply, wet his dry lips with his tongue.
[If there were more than two Transport planes left, Jeong Tae-geon’s plan was to send Jeffrey and Byeol on one and take the remaining one to Neverland with me. I refused because it was dangerous, but he wouldn’t listen.]
Ha-jin lowered his voice once more.
[So I added one condition. If there’s no spare Transport plane, don’t even think about following me empty-handed. Jeong Tae-geon agreed to that too. The conclusion is… if there’s only one Transport plane available, Jeong Tae-geon won’t stay in Korea and will go to America.]
Jeffrey, who had been listening silently, raised his thick eyebrows as if he were dumbfounded.
[What, that Eden bastard kept this important thing from me and just insisted on staying in Korea?]
Ha-jin tilted his head towards the ceiling. He rolled his eyes along the high, gentle arch and managed to speak.
[Actually, I can’t stand to see Jeong Tae-geon making a dangerous choice either. If he insists on staying in Korea even though there’s no Transport plane, I’m thinking of running away secretly then. If that situation happens, Jeffrey, help me. Help Jeong Tae-geon get to America safely. If possible, take Pie with you too.]
Jeffrey’s expression became strange at Ha-jin’s unexpected remark.
[Are you serious?]
[I’m serious.]
Ha-jin took a small breath and continued to speak.
[Instead, if the situation comes where I can get on a Transport plane and go to Neverland… then I hope Jeffrey will understand just this once. I’m in a position where I have to save my brother too.]
I’m sorry for being selfish. At the added words, Jeffrey shook his head and washed his face with his hands. With his face buried in his large palms, he let out a groan.
[What’s so selfish about that?]
A nagging mixed with annoyance continued like a monologue. It sounded like he was quietly chewing on a curse word.
❖ ❖ ❖
The group rubbed their eyes for a long time, unable to believe it even after seeing the blue sign that read ‘Dragon Cloud’.
From Sangwon City to Nokwang City to Hwajeong City, and finally Dragon Cloud City. After a long journey, they had finally arrived at the Dragon Cloud Tollgate, their common destination. It was a remarkable feat achieved in three hours of diligently moving their feet out of the cathedral.
“Dragon Cloud….”
Ha-jin panted and uttered Dragon Cloud as if reciting it. It was a moment when he missed Chun-beom and Mi-so, who were not by his side, dearly.
The group first hid in the roadside bushes and surveyed the road below. At first glance, numerous vehicles were densely filling the road.
Several cars were tangled and broken in the Hi-pass lane, and the central pillar supporting the tollgate roof had collapsed and covered a truck. The urgent scene at the time seemed to be drawn in his head as it was.
Only a few zombies were wandering among the spiderweb-like tangled vehicles, and there was no sign of survivors anywhere. Hot haze shimmered like a mirage.
Jeffrey muttered.
[Hmm… it seems like everyone had a lot of business in Dragon Cloud City…?]
“I guess so.”
Ha-jin fiddled with the band-aid on his ankle and looked down at the road with uneasy eyes. Pie was circling around, sniffing, as if looking for a bathroom.
[How long do you think it will take to get to the Maintenance Depot from here?]
“It’s not that far in terms of distance. It’s about two hours if we walk diligently… maybe four hours if we detour to avoid zombies? Anyway, we can definitely arrive before sunset.”
The group opened their umbrellas to create shade and took a break. They were planning to have a simple lunch with the chocolate and hot mango juice they had brought from the independent bookstore’s kitchen. However, the chocolate they had brought was all melted and gooey, and the mango juice tasted strange.
“Ew, it’s not good.”
Byeol complained briefly and pouted as if he envied Pie, who was happily eating the feed he had brought from the animal hospital.
Ha-jin, who had been staring at the scene, took out the two cans of vegetable tuna that were left in his bag. It might be their last meal together, and he somehow felt uneasy about filling their stomachs with only a piece of half-liquid chocolate and spoiled mango juice.
“Should we just eat this all now too? There might not be time to eat anything when we get to the Maintenance Depot.”
It was the moment when he was rummaging through the pocket on the front of his bag to find the plastic forks he had packed separately. Byeol widened his eyes and waved his hands in the air.
“Uncle. You have to save that for you and Eden Uncle to eat together!”
“…Huh?”
“To eat for dinner later! Jeffrey Uncle and I are leaving anyway.”
“…….”
“I heard everything earlier. Eden Uncle is coming later with Ha-jin Uncle, right?”
Ha-jin, flustered, couldn’t speak and blinked his eyes, and Jeffrey let out a frustrated sigh.
Jeffrey glared fiercely at Eden as if to say, ‘Did you have to tell the kid too?’ Ha-jin, who belatedly came to his senses, waved his hand at Byeol.
“Uh, well, Byeol. It’s not certain that Eden Uncle is staying here….”
It was then. Pie, who had been burying his nose in the feed and devouring it, suddenly barked at the air. At the same time, everyone’s movements stopped.
In less than 1, 2…. 3 seconds, the group picked up their weapons and straightened their crumpled bodies.
Eden put his remaining hand around Byeol and held him in his arms, while Ha-jin and Jeffrey held their weapons forward and surveyed their surroundings. However, no sign of zombies could be felt anywhere. They, who had been in attack mode, belatedly raised their heads to the top, where Pie’s gaze was directed.
“…….”
“…….”
Soon after, Jeffrey’s exclamation and Ha-jin’s mouth slowly opened.
“Could that be….”
In the blue sky above, a plane revealing its huge belly was flying leisurely towards Dragon Cloud City.