Pregnant During An Apocalypse [BL]

Chapter 226: Chapter 226 - A strange walk

On the other side of the lodge, the soft hum of morning conversation had long since faded. Breakfast was done, and the lingering scent of toasted bread and tea was already dissolving into the late morning air. Hana sat cross-legged on a thin mattress, her cheeks puffed in barely contained excitement. She bounced slightly in place, her face glowing with curiosity and giddiness.

She hugged her knees to her chest and sighed dreamily. ”First, my brother falls in love with a superstar... Now this second couple...” Her lips curved into a sly grin. ”It really feels like I’m living in a romance novel.”

Still lost in thought, she tapped her chin thoughtfully. ”But... I have to make sure Jai feels the same. What if it was just impulse on his part? What if he doesn’t even realize what he’s feeling?” Her smile wavered for a moment before determination took over. ”I’ll make sure. I’ll find out for sure today.”

Springing to her feet, Hana dashed through the hallway with purpose. As she turned the corner to their room, she nearly ran into Shao, who was sitting outside the door with a pillow clutched to his chest, glaring at the floor like it had personally offended him.

”Hi, Brother Shao!” she chirped, waving with a mischievous smile.

Shao lifted his gaze and gave her a blank, unimpressed look before standing up and walking away without a word.

Hana pouted. ”He’s so silent and resistant... it’s cute but so infuriating,” she muttered.

She pushed open the room door with a creak. ”Brother Jai—” But the bed above was empty.

Frowning, she glanced around. Yuki was lying on the lower bunk, playing with the ends of her long sleeves, and Kailun sat on a nearby stool with a book open, though his gaze was distant.

”Where did he go?” Hana asked.

Yuki giggled, covering her mouth. ”Brother hid something in his pants and ran to the bathroom!”

Kailun’s face froze, turning visibly rigid.

”Let’s... not talk about that,” the old man said flatly, his voice tinged with weariness.

Hana blinked, then snorted, letting out a small laugh as realization dawned. ”Ohhh, so Brother Jai must’ve hid his toy inside,” she said with a teasing smile, nudging Yuki playfully.

Kailun sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose as if regretting every life choice that led him to this moment.

Still giggling, Hana launched herself onto the bed beside Yuki and wrapped her arms around the little girl. Yuki squealed in delight, and the monkey curled up on top of their backpack stirred but didn’t move, still clinging stubbornly to the strap in its sleep.

”Say,” Hana began, smoothing Yuki’s hair, ”how about we go for a walk, huh?”

Just then, the bathroom door creaked open.

Jai stepped out with a forlorn look on his face, hair slightly damp, his expression unreadable but clearly embarrassed. His shirt was slightly wrinkled from where it had been hastily pulled back on. He paused when he saw them all watching him.

”Ah, good timing!” Hana grinned, seizing the opportunity. ”Let’s all go for a walk!”

Kailun sighed deeply and dropped onto the edge of the bed. ”I’m too tired. You kids go ahead without me,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. Then his tone turned serious, eyes sharp with concern. ”But stay within the premises. If you see anything dangerous, run. Stay safe. Understand?”

Yuki and Hana nodded solemnly, though Hana’s excitement still twinkled in her eyes.

Jai blinked. ”I never said I was coming—”

”Oh, come on!” Hana cut in, grabbing his arm before he could finish. ”The fresh air will do you good. You’ve been hiding in that bathroom like a shy maiden all morning.”

”I was not hiding,” Jai muttered, ears tinged red.

”Then prove it!” she chirped and tugged at him again, dragging him toward the door with surprising strength.

As the trio made their way down the hallway, Yuki bouncing beside them and Jai quietly brooding.

The morning sun cast a mellow glow across the broken pavement and weed-covered stone paths circling the safe zone’s perimeter.

It was oddly peaceful—birds chirped somewhere in the distance, and the clang of someone hammering metal rang out at regular intervals, far enough away to not feel intrusive.

Hana walked beside Jai, their footsteps soft on the grass. Yuki skipped a little ahead, her tiny hands clutching the candy she’d just received, while Monkey clung firmly to her shoulder, watching everything with wide, round eyes.

Despite the sun, Hana couldn’t shake the slight unease sitting in her stomach.

She scanned the small groups scattered around the clearing. Most of the men were gathered in cliques, lounging against old crates and stone walls, smoking or laughing too loudly at jokes that didn’t seem that funny. One particular group stood out—their energy was too high. they were all jostling each other. And then there was the woman.

She sat among them on the edge of a bench, hunched forward with her hands limp in her lap, her eyes unfocused as the men around her shouted and shoved each other. Hana frowned. Something about her posture... it wasn’t exhaustion. It was something deeper. Resignation, maybe.

As if sensing her gaze, the woman slowly lifted her head and met Hana’s eyes.

Her expression was unreadable, but after a few seconds, she leaned toward one of the bulky men beside her and whispered something into his ear. Then, without waiting for a response, she stood up and started walking across the yard—straight toward Hana and her group.

Jai stiffened beside her.

Hana felt it too, a spike of wariness in her gut, though she kept a smile on her face.

As the woman got closer, the details came into focus—her cheeks were hollow, the dark circles under her eyes so deep they looked bruised, and her collarbone jutted out sharply against her shirt.

But they feed us here, Hana thought. Even if it’s just watery congee... no one’s starving. Right?

Still, she offered a friendly, ”Hey.”

The woman nodded shyly. Her voice was quiet. ”It’s nice to have another girl in the group.” Her gaze dropped to Yuki. ”Who’s this little one?”

Yuki instinctively moved behind Hana, clutching the edge of her shirt with candy-sticky fingers.

”This is Yuki,” Hana replied, her tone gentle.

The woman’s face brightened into a soft, shaky smile. ”Hi, Yuki,” she said, kneeling slowly. From her pocket, she pulled out a small, brightly colored candy and held it out. ”Want one?”

Yuki peeked out from behind Hana, hesitant, but eventually reached forward and took it. ”Thank you...”

The woman’s hand lingered for a second before she pulled it back and looked at the creature perched on Yuki’s shoulder.

”And this little one?” she asked, pointing to the monkey who was now cautiously watching her with narrowed eyes.

”That’s Monkey,” Yuki said softly, clutching the animal protectively.

”She looks... cute,” the woman murmured. But her tone was just... off. Like she was thinking of something else entirely.

Then she stood abruptly, brushing off her pants with trembling hands. ”We’re having sausage for lunch today,” she said, offering a smile to Hana. ”Come early, or else you’ll miss out.”

Before Hana could respond, she turned and walked away, shoulders hunched again as she headed back toward the loud group. One of the men—probably the same one she whispered to—glanced their way with a weird smirk before returning to his conversation.

Hana stood still, watching her go. A chill brushed down her spine. The woman’s words had been casual, her actions kind, but something about the encounter didn’t sit right.

She shook it off and turned back to Jai, forcing a light laugh. ”That was... weird.”

Jai didn’t laugh. ”She looked like she hasn’t slept in days,” he murmured, eyes narrowed in the direction the woman had gone.

”Yeah,” Hana said softly. She glanced down at Yuki, who was unwrapping the candy with innocent delight. ”But she was kind to Yuki.”

”She also stared at the monkey like it was meat,” Jai muttered under his breath.

Hana blinked at him.

”Let’s not go for the sausage,” he added, voice low.

She didn’t ask why. She didn’t need to. Instead, she nodded slowly, her cheerful mask slipping just slightly.

The three of them continued their walk, quieter now. The breeze rustled through the overgrown grass. Monkey reached out to gently touch Yuki’s cheek, and she giggled, as if to lighten the mood again.