I'm still alive

I was relaxed and sat on the floor. There was a complicated and subtle feeling, but there was no word that came to mind exactly. I just wanted to take a good rest today. Neither did the party members, nor did they even think to unpack their luggage and all sat down there.

When I checked the watch the old man gave me, it was way past lunchtime. I should check the inside of the mart quickly and unpack. I barely got up and looked back. Then for a moment, I looked at the group without saying anything. There was a strange silence among the party.

Everyone seemed to be unable to adjust to the sudden peace.

I clapped once for the absent-minded party and said in a cheerful voice.

'Come on, let's do what we have to do.’

* * * * * * *

The inside of the mart was not as big as I thought. However, it was not entirely small. The interior was full of boxes, perhaps on the day the goods came in. After looking at the boxes with a strong heart, I checked the doors first. The front door we entered was tightly blocked with glass doors and security windows. But I didn't know, so I thought it'd be better to set up a barricade. Just in time, heavy items such as detergents and fabric softener were left alone. I'll put it in a box and block this door tightly.

But there was not one door. As I headed to the back of the mart, there was a small iron door that was used by employees. There were no signs of opening and when I looked out a little through the window, I saw a narrow alley. There was no one around, and I carefully checked the lock, putting the doorknob down.

And I figured out the internal structure by opening the rooms inside the mart one by one. The internal structure was simpler than I thought. There was a room that looked like a staff lounge and dressing room, and a large warehouse where goods were stacked. There were also boxes of various items piled up.

Other than that, there was a bathroom, but I couldn't find anything that seemed useful. There were so many bags in the mart that I thought it would be better to leave a bag here and clean up the mess.

First of all, he led his party into the staff lounge. And tell the party to unpack here. I thought it would be better to let women and children sleep in this room. Above all, there was a floorboard on the floor and it was located inside the mart, so I was psychologically relieved.

They were already anxious children. And I could see Chae-yeon getting tired without realizing it. Children who cannot remember their names due to trauma and those who still stutter needed special care.

I should talk to Oh Hye-yeon and Kim Si-eun, who are taking care of the children.

Before we knew it, we gathered round in the lounge. We were leaning naturally, feeling each other's warmth despite the cold weather. I gulped down and picked up my watch to check the time. After eating beef jerky, I couldn't drink a sip of water or a bite of food.

Perhaps this moment is the time for everyone to wait.

I found a paper and a pen in my hand and said, looking at everyone. And I stammered, shaking my voice unconsciously. The saliva naturally collects and falls into the neck.

'Order.'

Then a storm of words poured out from here and there. Starting with ramen, warm rice and various side dishes, and children's favorite instant foods to snacks. And back there, the old man timidly raised his hand and said makgeolli, so I lightly ignored it.

The supplies were abundant. In the long run, it was necessary to plan a systematic diet and save food. But I will eat as much as I want today. It is a company dinner and a commemorative party with the party that has suffered. Seeing the bright side of the party made me laugh by myself. Chae-yeon also raises her hand from one side and shouts, "Kkaja!" I nodded and smiled.

* * * * * *

I listened to the shopping basket with the mind of shopping. The women offered to help, but I left the lounge alone after telling them to take a breather. When I thought about eating food soon, even this movement felt pleasant. Once I checked the food condition by walking diligently inside the mart.

As long as the electricity is cut off, there will be no device to maintain freshness, and of course time has passed. Although the weather was cold, there was no reason to eat foods with short expiration dates.

When I checked the expiration date, I clearly divided what I could eat and what I couldn't. I decided to take a rest today and deal with it all at once tomorrow. And I started to put food in my shopping basket as I walked diligently.

Though not on a large scale, there were many kinds of goods. Once I had my hands full, I put food in a pot, butane gas, and even a portable gas stove. The shopping basket was already heavy and my heart was reassured even though it didn't turn much.

I went back to the lounge and quickly opened the door and unpacked the food. When I saw the food I brought, the faces of the group brightened and soon each moved and quickly began to prepare the meal. Women skillfully turn on the gas stove to prepare food and children distribute bowls and spoons with bracken-like hands.

The old man and I flinched and looked for work to do and ended up hearing a word from Kang Soo-ryeon. And I sat in the corner and watched it. If I were to describe a group of people preparing for a meal......... in a word, it was good to see.

Soon there began to smell delicious. Although most of the instances were, this kind of food was also sensual in this situation. He accepted instant rice one by one and opened all the side dishes he brought. And in the center was a delicious ramen.

We sat in a circle, holding a spoon in both hands, and still swallowing our saliva and looking at the food. And soon all eyes were on me. I crouch my head once like a pious ceremony. And said in a cheerful voice.

'Thank you for the meal.’

Then the group all followed me in chorus and nailed my nose into the bowl. I used hot water to take off the wrapper with both hands of warm rice. My saliva naturally went over the grain of rice, which was curly and glossy.

We had a warlike meal. It was a proper meal for the first time in a long time. Warm rice and warm soup. I was so thankful that I could never forget the touching moments of the two. There was a strange silence among the party during the meal.

There was no conversation and only the sound of chewing food and frantically swallowing noodles rang out in the room. And among them came the sound of weeping. It was clear that someone was shedding tears, not to mention first.

The women put down the bowl for a moment and wept. And the children swallowed their tears and runny noses as they stuffed food into their mouths with a clumsy spoon. The old man looked dimly at the figure and laid down the bowl for a moment.

And I slowly put down the bowl along the old man.

The party was crying silently. In a safe room, people huddle together to eat warm food. I thought I'd never do it again since they showed up. However, as such a dream-like situation was just around the corner, the group felt joy, sorrow, and sorrow.

And they looked at each other, not to mention anyone else first, and expressed their gratitude without saying anything. It was less than a month ago, but it seemed like a year had passed. It was such a long and arduous journey. The party confirmed their bond in the name of us.

And we were gradually changing into what the old man said to be an ant.

* * * * * * *

The sun began to set when the meal was over. The children were so excited that they tore the cookies and the women began to clean up the dishes they had been eating busily eating. But it didn't last long. Tiredness was accumulating in our bodies like dirt.

The children, who smiled brightly and ate snacks, quickly fell asleep among them. I watched Chae-yeon quietly, stroking her head even if she was asleep. As soon as the old man ate, he said he would look around for a while and I fell into a long thought in a quiet room.

And soon the door opened and the old man called me carefully.

I put Chae-yeon on the blanket and covered her with several blankets to keep her from getting cold. Then the party got up carefully, opened the door, and left the lounge. They opened the door and left the lounge. The old man looked at me with calm eyes as he came out. Then the old man brought up his horse quietly.

'You're not tired?'

'I'm tired.'

Of course I was tired. Looking back, I could only remember running and fighting all day long. I didn't feel comfortable with capital, nor did I remember eating properly. As such, my body had nothing strange to do with exhaustion right away. The old man nodded slowly, as if he knew everything.

'There's a rooftop. If you're there, you can see clearly around you."

As soon as I heard that, I noticed the old man's intentions. The old man also yawned long and put gum in his mouth, which he didn't know where to take out. And gave me a piece of gum as if to wake me up. I took the gum and put it in my mouth.

'You've got to be on guard. It's not a completely safe place.’

I nodded my head and agreed to the remark. There was a crime prevention window. However, the window is easily opened when a group of them flock to it. And we had to be wary of possible raids by survivors. No matter what they say, this is a storehouse of food.

And the old man had been asking me for a wristwatch and began to pack up his shotguns and blankets. And he told me with a portable tent and a huge flashlight in both hands that he didn't know where he had brought it from.

'Let's go up.'

I nodded, took my gun, and climbed up along the old man.

The stairway to the roof was right next to the bathroom. The old man opened the door and began to climb the stairs, and I followed him slowly. The sun was hanging in the twilight and the world was turning dim.

The rooftop was not much different from other buildings. However, on the right side of the rooftop, there was a small building that was only a few pyeong, and when I opened it, there were tools and paint cans. Maybe they were using it as a temporary storage.

We decided to use this place as a guard post.

The old man took out the tools and paint canisters from inside the storage room and set up the tent. Then, put a blanket on it and shake the hot packs enough to put them around. This should be enough to keep the cold night safe.

Unless we were ironmen, sentries had to take turns. One person walks around the rooftop and looks around, and the other one sleeps here. The advantage is that the distance between shifts is getting closer and each other is in the same space. The old man snuck into the tent with a satisfied smile. And he looked at me and said,

You know the Jiang Yu Book, right?’

Do you want to go watch first?’

'No, I'm going to bed first.'

The old man said so and covered himself with a blanket. It was tempting, but I couldn't say anything. I ticked away for no reason and took a blanket, a gun, and a flashlight. Then he came out of the guard post and looked around the dark rooftop.

And slowly, I sat in one place and watched the front of the mart.

Looking down the road, they were moving actively, unlike the day. In the dark, the red eye glowed like a firefly. They started their journey without a destination, walking around everywhere in a whirlwind.

I gave a long sigh, staring blankly at the figure.

About an hour has passed. I rubbed my sleepy eyes while chewing gum that had run out of sweet water.

Then I open my eyes wide to the small noise that comes from the moment.

Tatak

I was wondering if I heard it. But then, surprised by the dull sound that came back, he grabbed the gun and jumped out of his seat and began to look around. However, darkness was all around him and nothing was seen.

But there was another sound. I lowered my posture and loaded my gun. And the moment I approached the guard post slowly to call the old man, a little stone darted on my head and crashed.

The main culprit of the sound was this little stone.

I grabbed the little stone by hand with a stupid face. However, a little bigger stone flew in front of me and fell to the floor. I quickly covered the floor. Then he looked all around again and kept his eyes on guard.

And looking at the fallen stones, there was something white tied up. On careful examination it was a small piece of paper.

I reached out carefully and grabbed the stone and pulled out the tied paper and opened it. And I read the letter using the subtle moonlight.

[Let's talk.]