The forest was quiet except for the soft crunch of leaves underfoot as the group trudged along, exhausted from yet another scavenging run. The tension was palpable, as it often was when supplies were running low and everyone was on edge.

But amidst the silence, a voice rose from the back of the group.

“No, Ji-hyo, that’s a terrible idea. You’d trip over your own feet if you tried that!”

Everyone stopped and turned to look at Ji-hyo, who was walking casually, gesturing animatedly to… no one.

“Are you… talking to yourself again?” Glenn asked, raising an eyebrow.

Ji-hyo looked up, her expression nonchalant. “Yeah. Why?”

“Because it’s weird,” Daryl said bluntly, slinging his crossbow over his shoulder.

Ji-hyo shrugged. “It’s not weird. It’s therapeutic. Try it sometime.”

---

The Group’s Reactions

As the days passed, the group grew used to Ji-hyo’s habit of talking to herself. Whether they were scavenging, sitting around the campfire, or walking through the woods, she could often be heard mumbling or full-on debating with herself.

One evening, while they were sitting around a small fire, Ji-hyo suddenly blurted out, “No, Ji-hyo, you can’t eat all the canned peaches. That’s selfish.”

Everyone looked at her.

“What’s selfish?” Carl asked, confused.

Ji-hyo sighed dramatically. “Me, apparently. But only according to me.”

Tara snickered. “Do you… argue with yourself often?”

“Only when I’m wrong,” Ji-hyo replied, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

---

A Self-Debate

During one scavenging trip, Ji-hyo found an old, slightly worn dress in the corner of a dusty closet. She held it up, inspecting it with a critical eye.

“It’s cute, but do you really need it?” she asked herself. “It’s not practical.”

“But it’s so pretty!” she answered herself, holding it against her body. “And it might be nice to wear something nice for once.”

Rick, who had been rummaging through a nearby drawer, paused to watch her with mild amusement. “Ji-hyo, are you... negotiating with yourself?”

“Of course,” Ji-hyo said without missing a beat. “Sometimes I’m the only one who understands me.”

Rick chuckled, shaking his head. “Just don’t let it slow us down.”

---

The Group’s Concern

As endearing as Ji-hyo’s habit was, some members of the group were starting to get concerned.

“Do you think she’s okay?” Sasha asked one evening, pulling Rick aside. “I mean, talking to yourself isn’t exactly normal.”

Rick frowned, considering it. “She doesn’t seem distressed. It might just be how she copes.”

“Copes with what?” Abraham chimed in, overhearing their conversation. “She’s probably just bored. Ain’t nothing wrong with a little self-conversation.”

“Maybe she’s lonely,” Maggie suggested.

Glenn nodded. “Yeah, or maybe she just doesn’t want to deal with us all the time.”

The group laughed softly, realizing Ji-hyo’s habit wasn’t hurting anyone.

---

A Funny Moment

One day, while setting up camp, Ji-hyo was sitting on a rock, having one of her infamous “conversations.”

“Ji-hyo, you need to stop running ahead. It’s dangerous,” she scolded herself, wagging a finger.

“I wasn’t running! I was scouting!” she replied defensively.

“Scouting? Is that what you call tripping over a log and face-planting into the mud?”

The entire group burst out laughing. Ji-hyo looked up, startled, before realizing they had overheard her.

“Great,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Now you’re all going to think I’m crazy.”

“We already think you’re crazy,” Daryl teased, smirking.

“But in a good way,” Tara added, grinning.

---

The Lesson

Over time, Ji-hyo’s habit of talking to herself became less of an oddity and more of a comforting presence. Whenever the group was stressed or tired, her quirky self-conversations would lighten the mood.

One night, as they sat around the fire, Ji-hyo looked at the group and smiled. “You know,” she said, “I used to think talking to myself was weird. But then I realized, I’m actually a pretty good listener.”

Everyone laughed, and for a moment, the weight of the apocalypse didn’t feel so heavy.

In a world where silence often meant danger, Ji-hyo’s endless chatter was a reminder that sometimes, the best way to survive was to keep yourself company—even if that meant being your own best friend.