Apocalypse: Apparently, I Can See Zombies

Chapter 90- Manifesting Abilities

Jin-woo lay on his back at the back of the cafeteria, the doors to the back rooms were to his right while the entrance to the cafeteria was to his left. He had his hands folded on his stomach while he stared up at the blurry ceiling above.

The cafeteria was dark with the only source of light being the moonlight that filtered through the rows of windows going across the top of the wall, which was across from Jin-woo. The moonlight shone on him as a result, however, he didn't mind.

Despite the little light in the cafeteria, the students who had taken up different sleeping areas hadn't settled down yet and were still muttering to each other.

Jin-woo was alone in this area, and with the muttering of the students filling the cafeteria as a cover, he asked Seong, who was resting his head on his stomach, a question.

"So, are you ready to talk? Why didn't you tell me Ye-jun was provoking you?"

Seong paused looking at the moon through the windows to respond.

"I didn't think it mattered whether he was provoking me or not, he's been like that since we've met."

Jin-woo picked up on the meaning behind the latter part of Seong's sentence, and his voice rose slightly as he asked.

"Wait, don't tell me you two were secretly friends before we met as well?"

Seong scoffed upon hearing that and then explained.

"Nothing of the sort, it's just that my father is distant cousins with his mother, and they keep in touch. We met for the first time when I was six during a family gathering my parents organized. He didn't like me as soon as we met."

"Why was that?"

Jin-woo asked curiously, and Seong answered.

"It's because he has an abysmal amount of inferiority complex. You know how I have a photographic memory?"

"Hm."

Jin-woo made a noise of agreement before Seong began retelling past events.

"Well, back then my mom would always show off to the other parents by giving me a random coordinate and then have me recite the country located there. But Ye-jun's inferiority complex kicked in after all the parents at the gathering started praising me and he smacked my juice cup to the ground when I was trying to make friends with him."

Even though Jin-woo thought that sounded rather childish, he also felt it indicated that Ye-jun was never a good person even when he was younger.

Jin-woo frowned. He lightly slapped Seong's forehead and said

"What were you thinking doing something like that? If you were sent to a juvenile center, what would your parents think?"

Still smiling, Seong casually responded.

"I was thinking clearly. After I killed him, I would have gathered evidence of him bullying me, as well as evidence that he tried to harm you by switching your medication. With my dad pulling some strings with the prosecution office in addition to this, the case would have likely been dismissed as self-defense or I'd only gotten a few months of probation."

Jin-woo stared at Seong speechlessly, not knowing how to respond.

"It's because that bastard knew this and that I would truly kill him that he backed off."

Jin-woo didn't respond for a long time and only patted Seong's forehead. In truth, he couldn't reprimand his best friend, because he too had shot at Ye-jun and almost committed murder.

"Hm, you're really cold."

Jin-woo suddenly said while rubbing Seong's forehead. Even though he had a few heat packets in his jacket, he still felt a frigid sensation seeping into his jacket from Seong's head.

"Remember my soul is in the same state as I was when I died, it was winter then. Wait, that's right, now it's your turn. Why am I affecting you so much?"

Seong suddenly looked at Jin-woo worriedly.

"Honestly, I'm not sure. Maybe it's because I'm getting more familiar with my abilities. That foreign feeling of having them is getting fainter."

Seong went into deep thought for a moment then said.

"If that's the case-- that it's because your abilities are fully manifesting-- then does that mean I'll become flesh and blood?"

After a pause, Jin-woo responded.

"Maybe you'll become like that only when interacting with me. After all, there's still no one who can see, touch, or hear you besides me."

Suddenly, after Jin-woo said that a voice echoed out from someone approaching.

"Freak, what are you mumbling about to yourself in the dark?"