XG 12 - Once you tasted paradise

"We will wait for your mother inside. She won’t want any distractions," Vihaan advised Wong Xue Guo, who quickly calmed down from his words.

Wong Xue Guo could see with her own eyes how different her mother was fighting during solo versus group fights. Suzie Yap was not fighting at her best because she needed to protect them.

Inside the store was dark, but they could see clearly what happened outside from the window but she could not see the area where her mother was at. With trembling limbs, Wong Xue Guo squatted beside the window, hugging her knees while praying for her mother's safety as she strained her ears to listen for her mother's arrival.

Vihaan had found a medical kit and was on standby in case Suzie Yap needed treatment. But none of them dared to think their strongest ally might be bitten, because it would mean their chance of leaving this place alive was lesser than half. Yet, it was unrealistic to think Suzie Yap would not be bitten with how many zombies had surrounded her.

Everyone tensed when they heard someone coming, but only Wong Xue Guo was overjoyed upon recognizing the familiar sound of her mother's footsteps. But she wisely held back her urge to rush out, in case she was mistaken in recognizing people, and pinned her eyes on the window.

When Suzie Yap appeared in view, none of them could identify if she was bitten or not. Her entire self was soaked with blood, and holding onto two bloody knives, she looked like a mass murderer released to society.

Suzie Yap stopped in front of the metal door that remained open and leaned over it. "Guo Guo?"

Tears sprang from her eyes and Wong Xue Guo does not want to think anymore. She ran to her mother and hugged her shapely waist tightly, trembling fiercely with overwhelming emotions. She does not mind the icky blood will get onto her, only wanted to seek comfort that her mother was still alive.

Hugging her scared daughter, Suzie Yap's eyes on her were like tender pools full of motherly love. Dropping a kiss onto Wong Xue Guo's head, she murmured, "Mommy is back."

The onlookers do not have the heart to break apart the mother and daughter even if they feared for the latter's safety. They could only assume Suzie Yap would not bring harm to her own daughter if she was bitten and relieved that their pillar was safe.

They closed the door, continuing to keep the lights off to avoid them being seen from the outside.

"Where are Lin Ya and Hani?" Wong Xue Guo asked as she got rid of her soaked face mask in disgust and replaced it with a new one. The sundry shop only sells in packs, but in this case, she was glad they did.

Earlier, Wong Xue Guo’s mind was full of her mother’s safety and had no interest in anything else. It turns out that there was a small office area inside the sports store where Nurul Hanani and Low Lin Ya were hiding inside.

They did not turn off the light in the office room and Wong Xue Guo could clearly see Nurul Hanani's state.

"Hani…" Wong Xue Guo trailed off. She looks bad. Real bad.

While Wong Xue Guo was glad that her friend was still alive, her current state was far from good.

Nurul Hanani originally had cute baby fats on her cheeks. But it was now gone, and her cheekbones were rather prominent on her deadly pale face and dry mouth. Even her previously fit clothing hung loosely on her frame. The area she got bitten was her upper left arm, which she got when she pulled Low Lin Ya away from danger. It was bandaged in an amateur manner, but it did the job temporarily. But blood still seeped out like an open paip, soaking the bandage.

"Glad you are okay." Nurul Hanani gave a feeble smile as she gazed up at Wong Xue Guo from her sprawled position on the floor. She does not look like she has the energy to move even a finger.

"I'm sorry. It's all my fault," Low Lin Ya apologized. Her eyes were red and swollen, clearly had cried for a while beforehand.

Whatever Wong Xue Guo had planned to say to her when they met up was swallowed back. She could see Low Lin Ya was beating herself up for causing Nurul Hanani to get bitten and would soon be a zombie.

Low Lin Ya was not a bad person, just a little side-tracked with her interest. Everyone could see that when she did not leave Nurul Hanani behind, and even dutifully cared for her without fear for her life.

Surprisingly, Chen Yibo and Chen Jiang An had also stayed behind willingly.

"Hey, look at me now. I feel like I’ve lost a lot of weight." Nurul Hanani wanted to laugh, but it sounded like an old woman wheezing instead. "My bro will be happy to see I lost my weight."

Nurul Hanani's second eldest brother was a military man and had a fit body ready to take down his enemies anytime, anywhere. He had been constantly nagging his little sister to reduce her fast food intake and start exercising, which was ignored.

"Bullshit! You are never fat, okay!" Low Lin Ya sniffled. "Those baby fats will be gone once you get older. Your brother is a muscle freak, just ignore him."

Nurul Hanani laughed or wheezed, again. "Guo Guo… bring everyone out, okay?"

Her eyes were pleading Wong Xue Guo to bring everyone out before she turns into a zombie and attacks them.

"No way!" Low Lin Ya protested loudly, tears emerging from her eyes. "We won't leave you."

Logically, Wong Xue Guo knew Nurul Hanani was right. But her heart does not want her friend to join the ranks of zombies. However, which would be better? Kill her before the transformation completes or after she turns into one?

There was never a right answer to it.

Vihaan pulled Kim Sung-Ho to his side, rubbing the boy's trembling shoulder as he fought back his tears. His parents were also locked inside an office by them, but it was his father's choice.

At that time, they did not know the bite was infectious. It was Mrs. Kim that got bitten first and her transformation was fast. Mr. Kim was bitten by his wife after she became a zombie and he knew he would become one too. Caging his ferocious wife in his arms, Mr. Kim begged Vihaan to protect their son, to which the latter agreed with helpless frustration.

Mr. Kim was a good supervisor, and Vihaan had nothing but respect for him. It was equally painful to pull the crying Kim Sung-Ho away while watching Mr. Kim slowly lost his vitality and underwent the process of becoming a monster.

"How long ago was she bitten?" Suzie Yap kneeled down beside Nurul Hanani, her eyes scanning her body.

"How long…?"

Chen Yibo answered when Low Lin Ya was puzzled by the question. "Before you messaged me to ask where am I."

Suzie Yap’s eyes brightened momentarily before she nodded with her usual composure. "There is a way for you to survive this, but it's risky. If it fails, I will have to kill you. Do you want to try it?"

If Nurul Hanani had not survived for this long, Suzie Yap would not have suggested this method to help her. This girl was either very healthy, or she had that gene, which would be good for her. But the first reason she offered to help was because this girl was her baby's friend and would be sad if she died.

As someone that no longer had qualms about human lives after experiencing ten years of the apocalypse with hope for a better future that was constantly destroyed, Suzie Yap had no thoughts of saving other people when she returned. But her responsibility as a mother had her accept Vihaan and Kim Sung-Ho into their team, in order for Wong Xue Guo to retain her compassion.

The selfishness that took over her for many years that does not want her daughter to resemble her was not easy to discard.

How could she not know her daughter spoke those words with thorns just for her sake? To reject helping others just to lessen her burdens? Suzie Yap's heart was overflowing with bittersweet and wondered how she had withstood the agony of needing to push her sweet daughter aside all these years.

Chen Yibo had told her that her baby died because she had run out to save her classmate, which showed her daughter was a kind person. That was the virtue she and her husband wanted their daughter to have, but it became a weakness in the new world.

It was good to put yourself first in this new world, but they could offer help if they could afford it and gain reliable allies. That was the type of person Suzie Yap wanted her daughter to be.

"I will take the chance." Nurul Hanani smiled. Wong Xue Guo had not realized Nurul Hanani's eyes had lost their luster until they sparkled again with hope.

"What method is it?" Low Lin Ya was the one that asked.

"It's better for you not to know, least you will foolishly lower your guard and disregard being bitten. Not everyone could survive with this method and it’s not something you should gamble your life with," Suzie Yap said.

Vihaan also knew that knowing there was a method to overcome the infection would play with human emotions. That was why he resisted his desire to ask, believing that prevention was better than cure. From Suzie Yap's tone, this method was to be used as a last resort.

"I will follow too," Wong Xue Guo offered when Suzie Yap said she will be bringing Nurul Hanani out.

"No, baby. It will be too dangerous for you if you follow. Stay here and wait for me, okay?"

"... Okay. Be careful. If it's too dangerous…"

Run. Leave Nurul Hanani if you need to.

It was a sound decision, but Wong Xue Guo could not speak such cruel words when both of them have a place in her heart.

Suzie Yap smiled and rubbed her daughter's head, knowing what she wanted to say.

It was clearly an urgent matter, but Suzie Yap still took the time to clean the cuts on her daughter's palm and bandaged them neatly. She even picked the softest gloves and had Wong Xue Guo wear them.

"Mother…"

"Baby will wait for mommy here, okay? Pick out a new attire for me to change to when we return?"

Her current mother, the mother that showed her affection and care, made her heart worried even more about her.

Once you tasted paradise, you will no longer want to return to your previous life.

Wong Xue Guo nodded with pursed lips. "Change your shoes first. And tie up your hair."

This sports store has everything needed for sports, from clothing to equipment. There were even energy food bars with weight gain powder. They could stay hidden here for a few days without needing to worry about food, but that was not a good plan.

She had browsed the internet and it was full of news about the police cars and military tanks surrounding the Diamond shopping mall. There were articles that the government wanted to curb the virus immediately, and will take drastic action like bombing if needed. They need to quickly leave before the government chooses a critical method to eliminate the threat completely.

Wong Xue Guo watched as the metal door closed once Suzie Yap exited the sports store with Nurul Hanani leaning heavily on her side.

Fight like a beast.

Survive like a king.

May Lady Luck bless you on your journey.