Beyond You, Life Is So Much Better

"I'm tired, Curt. Let's go," Brenda said.

Naturally, Curtis treated every word Brenda said like it was the law. He immediately picked her up princess-style and left, not caring about the fact that I wasn't done talking to him yet.

Curtis had only just taken a few steps away when I suddenly caught sight of Brenda mouthing the words to me in glee. "He's all mine."

I smiled back at her.

"Really? Let's find out."

…

After that day, I stayed home to prepare for the wedding. However, even though I had no interest in it, I still caught wind of plenty of gossip as it came my way.

"I heard that Hazel Falken made a fuss about only ever marrying Mr. Granger, but he disagreed with her and took off with Brenda."

"Isn't Hazel the commander's daughter? Why is she the one making a fuss about this?"

"Mr. Granger has been childhood friends with Brenda since they were young, but Hazel kept trying to break them apart because she knew she was a bigshot."

When my best friend, Jessie Ryder, told me about the rumors, I got so angry that my eyes turned red.

"If Commander Falken hadn't saved Curtis' life back then and brought him back to the base, Curtis would've been dead a long time ago!

"He was the one who also agreed to be one of your husband candidates in return. But look at all the rumors he's spreading! He's gone overboard!"

I smiled softly. Just as I was about to reply to Jessie, Curtis suddenly barged in.

"Hazel Falken! What have you done to Bree?"

I didn't understand what Curtis was talking about and looked at him with a clueless expression.

However, that only seemed to anger Curtis even further. He roughly grabbed me by the arm and said, "Bree's having a high fever! Don't tell me that you weren't the one who infected her with the zombie virus!"

I froze in shock.

"What zombie virus?"

"You got jealous of her because I liked her and not you, so you infected her with the zombie virus! Let me tell you this, Hazel Falken. Even if Bree turns into a zombie, I'll still marry her, not you!"

I felt my chest squeeze painfully when I heard his words. My eyes turned red, and my voice shook as I tried to explain myself.

"I didn't! And the person I chose isn't—"

However, Curtis wasn't interested in my explanation. Instead, he pulled me to my feet and forcefully dragged me out of my room.

When I entered Brenda's room, I immediately saw that her face was looking a little dark and purplish.

The doctor wouldn't stop shaking his head as he looked at her.

"I'm afraid that Ms. Carlton's been infected by the zombie virus. I don't know where the virus came from, but if she can't get the antidote in time, she'll transform into a zombie by tonight. I hope you'll prepare yourself for that."

Curtis' face turned ashen when he heard what the doctor said.

"But how could that be? Brenda has never left the base before!"

I glanced at Curtis suspiciously when I heard him say that. It was impossible for Brenda to have never left the base before.

The base was a shelter that the remaining people had built together during the zombie apocalypse. And to keep the base sustainable, the commander had laid down a rule that every adult had to go out and forage for food and supplies every week.

Even I hadn't been exempted from that rule before I had gravely injured my leg. So, how could it be that Brenda never left the base before?

Just then, I caught sight of the ring on her finger again. I immediately looked at Curtis as realization dawned on me.

Brenda would never have had to leave the base if someone else had foraged her share in her place.

It just hit me then, like a truck in my face.

That explained why Curtis was always the one putting himself in great danger and leading the way when he went out foraging for food and supplies each time.

The people who went out in the same team as him would always praise Curtis and call him a role model. I had also fallen in love with his bravery and responsibility toward the rest of the people at the base.

But now, I finally realized that he had only done all this for Brenda's sake…

Even though I was the one who had saved his life.

I was beyond shocked. My knees buckled as I staggered out of the room.

Curtis finally took notice of me.

"Hazel Falken. If I remember correctly, you have a dose of antidote with you."

I immediately turned around when I heard him and gave him a disbelieving look.

"My dad exchanged all of his military merits for that antidote so that I could save myself when I needed to," I said. "If I gave it to her now, what should I do if I get bitten by a zombie next time?"