Act 11

It.

I don’t want it, but Chanwoo wants it. I don’t know why he wants it. I’ve seen other zombies with it; some love it, some hate it, and I absolutely despise it. What good will it brings? It will only become a third wheel at best. But he wants it, and how can I say no to that honest and beautiful smile, especially with our first anniversary coming up.

Oh well, just have to smile and bear, it’s not like I can change his mind. Here we go…

“Welcome to Zoombie Pet Shop!!!”, the shopkeeper enthusiastically said when we enter.

Yup, you hear that right. Pet shop for zombie… Don’t ask me how they zombify all these animals.

Well, just need to grab a zombie dog or zombie cat and leave, easy.

“We specialize in totally safe world’s-first-class predators! How can I help you today?”, the shopkeeper continued.

Did he just say predators?

“Oh wow!!! These are so cool!”, Chanwoo exclaimed happily as he browses around the shop.

“Look at this zombie grizzly bear!”, he continued.

Yeah right, it will totally not shred someone’s neck sooner or later.

“You don’t like it?”, Chanwoo asked.

“Then what about this zombie great white shark?”, he asked again.

“… They have a shark!?”, I asked.

“Of course we do.”, the shopkeeper interrupted.

“Oh! How about a zombie killer whale?”, Chanwoo asked even more enthusiastically.

“I would appreciate it if you choose something that doesn’t have ‘killer’ on its name.”, I said.

“A king cobra?”

“Nope.”

“A school of piranhas?”

“Not happening.”

“Oh… Tarantula!”, he said as he points at a huge tarantula.

“Is tarantula supposes to be that big?”

“I know right… It’s so cool!”

“No, it’s not! It’s dangerous.”

Geez, this kid is hopeless.

We browse around the huge shop for a little more, before our eyes are captured by one creature… A zombie wolf. Lone wolf.

A lone wolf is harmless… right?

And that’s how we chose it (or more like, I let Chanwoo chose it).

“Oh… A wolf. Nice choice for beginner!”, the shopkeeper commented.

“I would have chosen that killer shark… but Junhoe didn’t let me…”, Chanwoo said.

“Did he? I can give you a baby killer shark as a bonus.”, the shopkeeper offered.

“Real…”

I close Chanwoo’s mouth with my hand before he can continue.

“Nope, no thanks.”, I said as I drag Chanwoo out from the store, together with our new zombie wolf (and it’s apparently a male).

“What name should we give him?”, Chanwoo asked on our way home.

Name, huh?

Zomwolf? Wolfbie? Pupbie? Nope… Let see… He is big, and he is a wolf, and I don’t like him…

“What about ‘Big Bad Wolf’?”, I asked.

“Big Bad Wolf? But he’s not bad!”, Chanwoo answered.

“Umm… Big Dead Wolf?”

Chanwoo stares at me for a while, before turning his stare to the wolf, “Ok, from now on, you’re ‘Big Dead Wolf’!”

Oh, seriously…

…

Well, Big Dead Wolf is apparently not really that bad, he gets along with Chanwoo really well. He also gets along with Hanbin and Jinhwan.

But he doesn’t seem to like me…

As I was thinking this, I am staring at his aggressive pose, like trying to keep me away from ‘his territory’.

Nope, he definitely doesn’t like me.

“Let’s go, Big Dead Wolf! Time for our walk.”, Chanwoo said.

The wolf quickly goes to follow Chanwoo, while I am left alone. He never likes taking a walk with me. Whenever I insist on walking with them, the wolf will keep walking between me and Chanwoo, trying to separate us.

Is he playing with me?

But today I’m feeling a bit naughty, so I decided to follow them. I wait for about 5 minutes after they have left, and start taking the path that they usually take.

They usually stop at a nearby park to play for a while, and it doesn’t take long for me to catch up.

When I approach the park, there is some noticeable shift on Big Dead Wolf behaviours. He noticed me. But, as if trying to prevent me from meeting Chanwoo, he dashes away, leaving Chanwoo trying to catch him. “Wait! Where are you going!?”, Chanwoo exclaimed as he tries to follow Big Dead Wolf.

That wolf is seriously…

Well, no time to waste, I won’t let him outrun me. I start running toward them as fast as I can, trying to catch up.

As I start to get nearer… they stop. Wait, what!?

When I catch up with them, I can finally see what the wolf see.

Another zombie wolf. A female one, I suppose. And our wolf just sits there looking at her like an idiot.

So a zombie wolf can fall in love, eh?

“Oh, you come?”, Chanwoo asked when he finally notices me.

“Look at him.”, I said as I point at our wolf.

Then, our wolf starts moving toward the female wolf, trying to catch her attention. But alas, when he is near, another bigger zombie wolf comes toward her and take her away… Ow, poor Big Dead Wolf, heartbreak at first sight.

He looks visibly devastated, laying on the ground lifeless (not that he has a life to begin with).

“That’s ok. There is always next time.”, I said as I pat our wolf’s back. And for the first time, he looks at me with a non-aggressive look.

“Come, let’s go home.”, I said.

We turn around and start walking back home, when suddenly someone calls us from behind.

“Oh, Chanwoo!”

“Donghyuk? What are you doing here?”

“Just walking my wolf… Oh! My favorite co-worker also has a wolf! Unbelievable!”, he said with an exaggerated excitement when he notices our wolf… How annoying…

“You have a wolf too?”, Chanwoo asked, with an obvious interest in his voice. Then Chanwoo and Donghyuk starts talking among themselves.

Here we go again… Should I call Bobby?

But I noticed something.

Donghyuk’s wolf… is the big zombie wolf that took the female zombie away!

Oh my, my (sort-of) rival’s wolf is my wolf’s rival!

From what I can observe, it seems that our wolf is acting aggressive toward Donghyuk’s wolf, while Donghyuk’s wolf is giving a wolf-equivalent of smug smile.

Things sure are getting interesting.

…

When we finally get home (Damn Donghyuk and his ability to keep Chanwoo occupied for hours), I sit next to Big Dead Wolf.

“So, got a rival, eh?”, I asked.

The wolf looks at me with what I suppose is a nod.

“If I help you compete with him, will you help me oppose that jerk Donghyuk?”, I offered.

Then, the wolf stares at me with a (somewhat) meaningful look.

I guess that's how you start friendship with a wolf.

“And to start the deal… for God’s sake stop third-wheeling me when I tried to get into Chanwoo’s pants!”

He looks at me for a while, then he walks away. He quickly returns though, dragging Chanwoo with him. “What is it?”, Chanwoo asked.

Suddenly, with one swift movement, the wolf rips Chanwoo’s pants…

Well, I didn’t see that coming… But I’m not complaining.

Author's note: Sorry for making Donghyuk the sort-of-bad guy, I didn't mean to :P (Well, I don't even know where to take this story, let's see where my imagination will go).