The group trudged up a hilly road, the sun blazing down on them as their boots crunched against the gravel. They were exhausted, sweat rolling down their faces, but they pressed on. The promise of higher ground and a better vantage point to spot threats or shelter kept them going.

Jihyo, walking near the back of the group, adjusted the waistband of her pants. She was fiddling with her pocket when suddenly, her lip balm slipped out and tumbled onto the road. It rolled once, twice, and then began its descent down the hill they had just climbed.

"Ah! My lip balm!" Jihyo cried out, her voice full of alarm.

The group stopped and turned, their eyes widening as Jihyo bolted after it.

---

The Reactions

Rick: Rick's jaw dropped as he saw her sprinting back down the steep incline. “Jihyo, stop! What are you doing?” His tone was full of disbelief and concern.

Daryl: Daryl sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “Are you kiddin’ me right now? She’s chasin’ a damn lip balm?”

Michonne: Michonne crossed her arms, shaking her head. “I’ve seen some things in this apocalypse, but this? This takes the cake.”

Glenn: Glenn ran a hand through his hair, his voice incredulous. “Does she not realize how dangerous this is?”

Maggie: Maggie stared in disbelief. “I thought we were past caring about things like that.”

Carol: Carol frowned, concern etched on her face. “What if there are walkers down there? She doesn’t even have a weapon ready!”

Hershel: Hershel leaned on his cane, his expression a mix of concern and disapproval. “Chasing after trivial things in times like these… It’s reckless.”

Beth: Beth covered her mouth, half-amused but mostly worried. “I mean, I get it. Lip balm’s nice, but… really?”

T-Dog: T-Dog raised his eyebrows, baffled. “Man, this girl’s priorities are all over the place.”

Dale: Dale adjusted his hat and chuckled nervously. “Young people these days. Even in the end of the world, they’ll surprise you.”

Sasha: Sasha threw her hands up. “Unbelievable. We’re out here fighting for survival, and she’s fighting gravity for a tube of balm.”

Rosita: Rosita muttered under her breath, half-annoyed. “If she wanted lip balm so bad, she could’ve just asked for mine.”

Abraham: Abraham let out a loud groan. “We’ve got walkers, starvation, and god knows what else to worry about, and she’s worried about chapped lips? Unreal.”

Eugene: Eugene adjusted his glasses, speaking with his usual monotone. “While I understand the discomfort of dry lips, the risk-reward ratio here is highly unfavorable.”

Merle: Merle let out a loud, wheezy laugh. “That’s some princess-level nonsense right there. Chasin’ lip balm like it’s the holy grail.”

Sophia: Sophia looked confused. “Why would she run after something so small? Can’t she just get another one?”

---

Jihyo's Determination

Meanwhile, Jihyo sprinted down the hill, narrowly avoiding slipping on loose gravel. “Got it!” she shouted triumphantly, holding the lip balm high like it was a trophy.

As she turned to climb back up, she realized the group was staring at her in stunned silence, some shaking their heads, others with their mouths agape.

“What?” she asked innocently, jogging back up to rejoin them.

---

The Confrontation

Rick stepped forward, trying to keep his tone calm but firm. “Jihyo, do you have any idea how dangerous that was? What if there were walkers down there?”

Jihyo shrugged, slipping the lip balm back into her pocket. “But my lips were dry. This is my favorite one. I couldn’t just leave it.”

Daryl stared at her, dumbfounded. “You risked your life… for lip balm?”

She blinked at him. “You don’t understand! It’s not just lip balm—it’s hydrating! My lips crack if I don’t use it!”

Rosita groaned, throwing her hands in the air. “We’re in the middle of the apocalypse! Nobody cares about chapped lips!”

Michonne stepped closer, her tone calm but serious. “Jihyo, you need to think before you act. That kind of recklessness could get you killed. Or worse, get one of us hurt trying to save you.”

Jihyo’s face fell, and she looked down at the ground. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause trouble. I just… really like this lip balm.”

---

Moving On

The group sighed collectively, deciding it wasn’t worth arguing further.

“Let’s just keep moving,” Rick said, motioning for everyone to get back in formation.

As they walked, Daryl muttered to Michonne, “I’ve seen a lot of dumb things in my life, but this one takes the cake.”

Michonne smirked. “At least it’s a story to tell.”

Behind them, Jihyo applied a fresh coat of her beloved lip balm, blissfully ignoring the lingering stares.