Zeke and Jihyo go bowling! Or so they thought.
After a lengthy discussion, Zeke and Jihyo have decided to go to the closest area in the settlement where Koul'in activity has been high recently--- a bowling center located near Sinnam Station.
Hyungwon described the area as a multiple floor bowling alley that has recently been infested with snowmen. He doesn't know if there are still survivors inside, but there is something inside the area that Hyungwon has taken interest in.
"So... apparently this is a place where snowmen are a little... different," Hyungwon said.
"Why? I don't get it." Zeke said
"Remember how snowmen activate? They start by forming around a crystalline cube, right? Well, sometimes, they activate around earthly items, and they become part of the snowman itself. Sometimes it's just for decoration... but sometimes the snowmen can utilize this as a weapon or tool. In this case, you may encounter snowmen with bowling balls or bowling pins fused to their body that may serve as their armor or weapon."
"Oh, wow. That looks dangerous." Zeke said.
"It is, but you know very well that they're clumsy so they're still a bit easy to destroy. The one you should be watching out for is an unidentified entity inside the center itself."
"U..unidentified entity?" Zeke said.
"Yes. We haven't seen what it actually looks like because the entrance is barricaded and we weren't equipped for combat. But we recognize it's existence, given the constant roars we've been hearing while we scouted the area."
Zeke shuddered and turns to Jihyo.
"Can we pick another area, Jihyo...? I don't wanna die as a bowling pin there..." Zeke said.
"Hey, we decided upon this through an intricate voting process. And this is the outcome of that process so we're going with it." Jihyo replied.
"I told you the first one is easier. Plus... Rock-paper-scissors isn't an "intricate voting process"! It's a game!" Zeke exclaimed.
"...it's a game that can declare a clear winner, right? And I'm the winner, so I choose this! Zeke, you just horribly suck at Rock-paper-scissors, just admit it. Pabo." Jihyo remarked.
"Alright alright, you win, boss." Zeke said as he groaned.
"Yay~ Anyway, anything else we should know?" Jihyo said.
"Well... There's nothing else I could advise you." Hyungwon said. "If there's any machinery or some power source in there, please bring it to me so I may assess it. It might be of help in our fight against the Koul'in."
"Okay, we got it. Zeke, you ready?" Jihyo said.
"I guess," Zeke replied. "It's still scary, but I'll give it a go."
"Good luck!" Hyungwon said as he has begun carrying a stack of papers back to his workshop.
"Oh, and one more thing, Hyungwon!" Jihyo suddenly said.
"Hmm?" Hyungwon looked at Jihyo.
"Let's hang out sometime! You, me, Zeke, and Minji. I'd like to get to know you more! We dont talk often since my birthday, so... Yeah."
"O-oh." Hyungwon was caught off guard by what she said as he blushed a bit, and almost dropped his papers. "Yes! D...Definitely! Any time."
Hyungwon hurriedly leaves the area as Jihyo giggles.
"You didn't have to catch him off guard like that," Zeke said.
"Well..." Jihyo confidently flipped her hair. "Not my fault that I'm absolutely stunning and cute. Tee-hee."
Zeke just looks at her.
Jihyo giggled. "What? What's with that face? I'm just saying facts. Anyway, we should ready up, I don't want another battle in the dark..."
April 5, 2023, 11:11 am Minhyuk's Settlement, Daegu, South Korea.
Zeke and Jihyo took their time readying up back in their apartment.
"So, you're going to a bowling alley?" Seojun asked.
"Yep! Honestly, I missed going to places like those. If this apocalypse didn't happen, I would totally go for an actual bowling session with the girls." Jihyo said as she sighed. "My last one was with them and it was sooo much fun..."
"I missed going to bowling alleys too," Seojun said. "Sometimes I'd take my late wife there and we'd have some fun. How about you, Zeke? Do you have any good memory of bowling?"
"I don't have any fondest memory of me going bowling, honestly..." Zeke said as he looks down. "I don't even know how to. I've been busy my whole life, so I don't really have the time to do recreational activities."
"Oh. I see..." Seojun replied.
"Well, let's go bowling after all of this ends, then! I'll do my best to teach you!" Jihyo said.
"Eh? What?" Zeke was taken aback by what Jihyo said.
"Yeah! Although I can confidently say that I maaaay not be a good teacher..." Jihyo chuckled as she scratched her head. "I still haven't gotten the ropes on how to actually do it properly so we just might end up putting the bowling ball on the gutter every time..."
"That's fine. I wouldn't pass up on a Korean idol teaching me bowling regardless of how good or bad she is, right?" Zeke chuckled.
"Believe me, Zeke. If I teach you, it's going to be more of a stress than a strike." Jihyo laughed.
Zeke chuckled as he finished his preparations. "Anyway... You ready?"
"Mhm!" Jihyo nodded. "Seojun-nim, we're going. Please take care, alright?"
"Alright. Good luck on your expedition!" Seojun said as Zeke and Jihyo went outside, where they were met by Minhyuk.
"Finally off, I see," Minhyuk said. "Are you two sure you do not need any assistance? I could send in a few of my men."
"It's okay, Minhyuk-nim. We can do it!" Jihyo said as she flashed her gummy smile.
"Yeah. I think we can handle five Koul'in generals at once now!" Zeke proudly said as he took a heroic stance.
"Zeke... no." Jihyo nervously chuckled. "We're not that strong yet..."
"Okay, okay, okay, I agree, five is too much. Maybe four Koul'in generals?" Zeke joked.
They all laughed as Jihyo facepalmed.