Chapter 278: Chapter 278: Drake’s Past

Fear.

Drake felt it firsthand. He couldn’t bear to and never wanted to witness Ronak dying!

Especially after those terrifying dreams, where all that greeted him was Ronak’s lifeless body and bloodshed.

His hands and feet were cold.

After being disowned by his own parents at the tender age of 14 due to his sexuality, he constantly met bad partners. Bad partners with worse circumstances.

Life had been a blur of haze to him. He desperately struggled to claw his way up, but without a formal degree, his fate was sealed.

Destined to struggle in mud while staring at the sky with admiration.

In those dark, muddy years, he met a light named Ronak. Though the same age as him and also disowned by his parents, Ronak had worked hard to attend a university.

He watched him slowly advance toward what society will call... a successful life.

Midway through his university, he started a venture, cut off all his ties with his family members, and hardly ever spent money on himself; he has saved a considerable sum of money.

When they met again, Ronak was planning to inherit the land left by his grandparents and open his grocery stores.

Drake often visited Ronak’s grocery store and watched as Ronak slowly planned to build a resort at the inherited place.

If successful, Ronak would never have to worry about money again.

Completely opposite to Drake, who was even struggling to make ends meet. Drake could only hide his one-sided crush and drop by every day to see Ronak once in a while.

He thought everything would go on like this until the gap between him and Ronak widened, and he wouldn’t even have the right to see him one day.

Hence, his surprise was palpable when Ronak approached him one day and shyly asked for his number.

Though Drake thought it was some kind of joke at first, the way Ronak scratched the back of his neck, looking away with a faint blush dusting his cheeks.

"Hey, uh... I was wondering if you’d like to hang out sometime," Ronak had said, voice awkward yet sincere. "You always help me stack boxes when you don’t even buy anything. I figured I owe you a coffee, at least."

Drake remembered freezing for a full second, his brain refusing to process what had just happened. Then he laughed, nervously and stupidly, and almost dropped his phone while exchanging numbers.

That small moment became the turning point of his life.

Their meetings started as casual hangouts, coffee after work, short walks around the block, and helping Ronak manage the store inventory.

But slowly, those small moments stitched together something deeper. Ronak’s calm, steady warmth became the anchor Drake didn’t know he needed.

For the first time, someone saw him without judgment. Ronak never asked about his past relationships or the scars that trailed down his wrists.

He just listened, sometimes offering quiet advice, other times sitting beside him in silence.

What was even funnier was... Ronak was the one who had asked him out first.

Drake had agreed by rejecting Ronak’s pursuit many times, but everyone in Ronak’s circle got to know about Drake way before Ronak and Drake made anything official.

Silas even used his connection to get Drake into the university.

And though he was directly enrolled in the third year of the university, with his good IQ, Drake caught up, and eventually, he started to rebuild his life.

He knew everything in his life was because of Ronak’s help. His dark future transformed into a bright one, all because of him.

Ronak became the light and love of his world. So how can he let Ronak go?

Just at the thought of seeing Ronak dead, Drake felt a lump in his throat. Hence, in his anger, he provoked Ronak. Because he knew... Ronak’s possessiveness wouldn’t allow it.

Sure enough, Ronak roared, "You dare!"

"I dare! I can dance on your head! So why not cheat? Go ahead! Leave me alone! Zane wants to be with me anyway!" Drake shouted back.

A trace of panic flashed in Ronak’s eyes before he gritted his teeth. "Good! Good! Drake! Once I deal with the situation at hand, see how I will deal with you!"

With that, he stormed off.

However, Drake had already gained the assurance he wanted.

Ronak can throw off whatever threat he wants; as long as Drake coaxes him, everything will be fine.

In a better mood, he returned home.

....................

A day later.

The situation became even more dire.

Ronak was on the brink of exhaustion when suddenly he received a call from his best friend, Silas.

"Ronak, create an opening for me and my wife’s people, and we have a solution!"

Hearing Silas’s words, a glimmer of hope flashed in Ronak’s eyes.

Bypassing the zombie horde and connecting to the outside world would be difficult, but momentarily opening the path won’t be a problem.

However, when it was time to create the path... Ronak was dumbfounded.

What did he see?

He saw Ivy and Silas driving a car straight to the entrance of the base.

The issue was that the zombies parted ways for the car as if they were escorting it.

Ronak’s eyes widened in disbelief. The horde that had been relentlessly battering the walls just moments ago suddenly parted like a living sea, their grotesque bodies swaying aside to clear a direct path for the vehicle.

The soldiers manning the defense towers froze.

Even when the door opened and the car rushed out, the zombies obediently stayed behind.

Once the car entered, the soldiers closed the door quickly.

Silas, Ivy, and her family members alighted while Ronak rushed to their side. His expression seemed a bit off, and he opened his mouth to voice his doubts when Silas suddenly laughed.

"Ronak, what method did you use? Those zombies acted so obediently! Teach me too! My military is in dire need of such tactics."

Ronak: (o_0?) Eh? Eh?

Ivy: "..." Wow! My husband is excellent at blaming others!