XG 17 - Did he think she wouldn't feel indebted?

Wong Xue Guo found herself missing the monitoring room. If she was still there, she could see how her mother and Nurul Hanani were doing as long as they were still on the same floor.

Moving her weak legs to a chair, she did not mind her image and collapsed onto it. Her body which does not feel like hers anymore immediately relaxed once there was support, and let herself sink deep into the surprisingly comfortable chair that was provided for guests.

Tomorrow, she could already predict her body would have terrible muscle pain where a small movement would have her screech like an offended monkey.

Feeling the disgusting stickiness on her clothes that clung to her skin, she wanted to change her clothes but was too lazy to move. What if danger comes knocking and she does not get enough rest except for looking clean? She would rather regain some of her energy than be clean. She doubts she would die cleanly with her whole body intact with how vicious those zombies were with their teeth.

With the world heading to chaos, bathing and having extra clean clothes would soon be a luxury, so she would need to get used to living miserly. Thinking to this point, she no longer has any opposition to fully committing to resting with her filthy attire.

But Low Lin Ya clearly disagreed by bringing a set of clothing she picked from the store. She even brought an energy bar for her to regain her energy.

"Thanks." Wong Xue Guo eyed the clothes tiredly but made no move to take them. Her eyelids were getting heavy and her breathing was gradually becoming slower. "Let me… sleep first, 'kay?"

Low Lin Ya let out a heavy huff. "How could you just ignore how dirty you are! What if the monster's blood is contagious?"

Blinking tiredly, Wong Xue Guo gazed down at her favourite t-shirt filled with blood. With the dark colour, it was hard to distinguish which spot has bloodstain, except through the texture. Even with heavy washing, she doubted the blood could be completely removed from her shirt.

Before, it would cause great pain to think of throwing this shirt away if discovered by her mother. Now, she does not need to consider twice throwing it away for another clean shirt.

"Nah, that won't happen."

"How would you know?" Low Lin Ya retorted.

"I just know." More accurately, her mother knew.

It was obvious that Suzie Yap was not bothered by zombies’ blood on her, or else she would have immediately wiped them away from her skin. Wong Xue Guo also belatedly realized her mother often pushed the charging zombies from reaching her with bare hands without fear when she was not in the right position to stab their hearts.

Currently, Wong Xue Guo could confirm the infection was spread by biting. Perhaps it was the saliva that carried the virus? But how was saliva any different from blood when both were body liquid? Most of the zombie movies she watched never explained the exact catalyst that caused the infection to spread, only survivors needed to fear being bitten. They would remain fine even when their whole face was drenched with the zombie’s blood.

The art stream student Wong Xue Guo does not want to think about that complicated stuff and could not resist yawning.

"Gentlemen, would you mind leaving the room for a moment?" Low Lin Ya asked the males in the room politely, but her eyes were demanding them to give her the room.

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"Not a problem. I will need to take this kid to find some clean clothes as well." Vihaan patted Kim Sung-Ho's head with a cordial smile.

Kim Sung-Ho's baby blue shirt was dark from blood and dirt. His shorts did not protect his exposed legs and earned some cuts and bruises that stood out on his fair skin. Even Vihaan looked terrible himself.

"Call us when you are done. I prefer waiting with light than in darkness," Chen Jiang An said and left the room with his cousin.

Most of her sleepiness left when Low Lin Ya suddenly lifted her shirt to help her change.

"What the heck?!" Wong Xue Guo quickly dodged her friend's hands. "I will change myself!"

"Then do it quickly!" Low Lin Ya tossed the clean clothes at her and looked away to give her privacy.

Although Wong Xue Guo was grumbling, she still moved to change, but slower than usual thanks to the drenched clothes. It feels the same as removing her wet bathing suit.

Low Lin Ya suddenly said, "My daddy had dispatched a rescue helicopter to bring us out."

Mr Low worked in the embassy, unknown what position he had. But it was high enough to be able to order a helicopter for his private use.

"Do you think Hani will make it?" Low Lin Ya's voice was low, afraid of the answer. Her hands clutched onto the office table's edge with an unforgiving grip, for once not caring if it will harm her beautiful nails.

"I trust my mother," Wong Xue Guo responded, her speed in changing unconsciously slowed down. "But it will depend on Hani's body whether she will survive or not."

There was no proven fact that everyone's body reacted differently to the bite. Yet Wong Xue Guo could only come up with that idea when her mother chose to help Nurul Hanani after asking when she was bitten. Those that change slowly might have something in them that could slow down the infection.

That might be why her mother says it was alright not to kill those that were bitten but yet to turn. She should not be the one that decides their final fate when they still have a chance to fight against the virus.

After finishing changing, Wong Xue Guo tossed her dirty clothes with a sense of loss when she heard Chen Jiang An's voice which was much louder than he should be.

Opening the door hurriedly with her weapon in hand, she looked around, expecting to see something shocking, but the only unusual thing was Kim Sung-Ho's bare chest. It truly painted a bad and spicy picture with three guys staring at a young boy with a naked chest.

"What? Is he bitten?" Low Lin Ya asked fearfully, her body itched to lock herself away in safety.

Wong Xue Guo wanted to laugh at herself. What indifferent? She had moved so quickly when she heard their raised noise, thinking they were in danger.

No. That’s not it.

She comforted herself that it was because they were her classmates and Vihaan and Kim Sung-Ho were useful, hence the concern coming from her.

Vihaan tugged Kim Sung-Ho back into the smaller room and had him stand under the bright light. Low Lin Ya took in a sharp breath when she saw the beginning of purple bruises on his shoulder and arms. There were also reddish bruises on his wrists and elbows as if sprained.

Wong Xue Guo stared at Kim Sung-Ho doubtfully, where the latter’s face showed no expression of pain. Instead, he only had wariness in his eyes and his slightly hunched shoulders showed his discomfort at being stared at like a monkey in a zoo.

"Are there any bite marks?" Chen Jiang An asked anxiously, yet did not dare to get close to see for himself.

"No. He's clean," Vihaan confirmed and pulled the first aid kit box over.

"Is that spot from when he pushed the zombie away from me?" Wong Xue Guo could not help but ask, pointing at the deep red bruises similar to internal bleeding on Kim Sung-Ho's shoulder.

Kim Sung-Ho eyed the spot on his shoulder, thinking for a moment before hesitantly nodding. His palms were a little swollen and red from holding his baton too tightly.

"Thank you for helping me back then." Wong Xue Guo’s tone and expression were completely sincere but it surprised Kim Sung-Ho. His gaze on her under his fringe was coloured with doubt.

Did he think she wouldn't feel indebted?

She started to wonder if she had acted rather unfeeling towards Vihaan and Kim Sung-Ho's plight that he would develop that kind of perception towards her.

"Oh my God. Don't you feel pain? If I'm you, I would be screaming in pain." Low Lin Ya looked horrified.

Chen Yibo answered the question. "He's born with insensitivity to pain. That's why we checked if he had any bites on him."

Low Lin Ya gasped. "No wonder!"

Lowering his head, Kim Sung-Ho shifted his feet uncomfortably under the pressure of everyone's gazes, which he was familiar with for most of his life.

Because of his special disability, he had been treated differently from others. After their teachers had told everyone to take care of him, no one dared to play with him for fear of being scolded if he got injured. Even his PE teacher treated him special and would not let him join certain rough sports.

Kim Sung-Ho does not feel pain, not that his wounds will not heal. Why were they so afraid as if he was a fragile glass?