Pregnant During An Apocalypse [BL]

Chapter 253: Chapter 253 - With the others

Jai awkwardly sat up, pulling his short that had dropped down to his waist up. He cleared hso throat loudly. His mouth was still dry and... still had the taste of the other man.

His eyes couldn’t help but flick downward—right where Shao’s bulge still stood tall and stubborn beneath his pants.

He quickly looked away, only to glance down at himself. The comparison made him cringe internally. ’I’m just a small baby radish compared to him...’ he thought bitterly.

Shao let out a loud cough, trying to ease the suffocating tension that had settled between them.

”Jai... we should go,” he muttered, his voice rough and low as he reached for the door and gently pushed it open.

Jai stood and walked past him, swallowing hard. The overpowering scent of agarwood hit him the moment he brushed close—thick, heady, and almost intoxicating. That scent... it had been there earlier, wrapping around him like a physical force, pulling him deeper into Shao’s kiss, into that moment. For a brief stretch of time, he’d forgotten the entire world. The supermarket, the danger outside, even the fear—they had all vanished beneath that smell and the warmth of Shao’s mouth.

Now, walking into the sunlight again, it clung to him. His clothes reeked of it. His hair too. Jai subtly brought a strand close to his nose, sniffing. It still smelled like Shao.

He glanced back quickly, only to find Shao watching him with that same look—dangerous, unreadable, like he was two seconds away from pulling Jai back in and finishing what they started. Jai quickly looked away, heart thudding.

”Mnnn... Zei. Zei and the others must be close,” he said hastily, trying to shove down the heat bubbling up inside him.

And then it hit him like a slap—Zei had seen it. His whole body went stiff with horror.

Zei had walked in on them.

His face flushed even redder, the memory of that heated moment flashing behind his eyes.

That kiss. Those pair of caressing hands.

The way Shao had pushed him up against the shelves and ravaged his mouth like he couldn’t breathe without tasting him.

He had been completely lost in it. He hadn’t noticed a thing. Not even a third person stepping into the aisle.

’Zei saw it all!’ he screamed internally, burying his face in his hands. ’Why the hell did we even kiss here? In a goddamn supermarket, for gods’ sake!’

He dared a glance toward the aisle, that familiar one now seared into his memory like a scar. His heart skipped a beat and then began pounding harder. The shelves looked so normal—cans of soup, instant noodles, dusty cereal boxes—but all he could see was Shao pinning him against them, all he could feel was the lingering weight of those arms and lips.

A wave of heat crashed over him, embarrassing and intense. He had to get out of here. Now.

He turned on his heel and quickened his steps, practically power-walking out the automatic doors. The sun was still out—high in the sky, casting sharp shadows on the cracked pavement. The air was hot, dry, and the streets were deserted as ever, echoing silence through the hollow city.

Shao followed silently behind, matching his pace but not speaking. Jai could feel the man’s presence behind him, large and warm, each step unhurried like nothing had happened.

Jai scanned the road, hoping—dreading—to see Zei.

”Huh... where’s Zei?” he mumbled aloud, his voice cracking with tension. ”I thought he would wait for...” But the sentence died halfway. He couldn’t even say the rest. His ears turned hot, remembering what Zei had walked in on.

”Aghhh this is too mortifying!!!” he screamed internally, rubbing his face vigorously with both hands. How the hell was he supposed to face Zei now? Would he tease him? Pretend nothing happened? Or worse... look at him with disgust?

Shao came up beside him quietly. ”The others must be close. Let’s search around,” he said, his voice gentle.

Jai was about to nod when he felt it—the light touch of Shao’s fingers brushing against the back of his hand. A question without words. A request for permission. The touch was hesitant, almost shy.

He turned to look up at the man. Shao was already gazing down at him, his eyes unblinking, steady. There was no smirk, no arrogance, no teasing. Just an earnest look that made Jai’s heart skip a beat.

He bit his lip, then slowly wrapped his fingers around Shao’s hand, squeezing it tight. ”Let’s go search around,” he said quietly, voice slightly trembling but sure.

They walked for several blocks, scouring the abandoned street for any sign of life. Just as Jai began to lose hope, they heard the faint clatter of dishes and a familiar hum drifting out of a nearby house. Shao’s body tensed. With practiced ease, he pulled Jai behind him and stepped silently toward the door.

Inside, they could hear someone moving—faint humming mixed with the unmistakable sound of metal against ceramic. Shao raised a hand and knocked gently.

The sounds stopped instantly.

Seconds later, the door flung open with a creak. A gun was raised, its barrel inches from Shao’s forehead.

”Muchen,” Shao said calmly.

Recognition dawned like lightning. Muchen blinked once, then twice. His tense shoulders dropped.

”Shao! Oh thank God,” Muchen gasped, lowering the gun and rushing forward, arms outstretched.

To his surprise, Shao subtly leaned back, avoiding the embrace. Muchen hesitated but didn’t press. Instead, he stepped aside, holding the door open.

”Come in. Are you two okay?”

Jai stepped in hesitantly, still not quite able to meet anyone’s eyes. Muchen’s gaze swept over him, and then halted.

”Why is your shirt torn... and...” His eyes narrowed.

Jai blinked and glanced down.

There, all too clear, were the marks. Red, flushed, vivid prints trailing over his collarbone, curling toward his neck and jaw. His shirt was askew, loose and rumpled, the top few buttons gone.

His heart leapt into his throat. His mind screamed.

Oh no. No. No no no no.

Panic rushed up his spine. He wanted to vanish.

Just as he was about to pull his shirt together himself, a warm hand reached out from behind. Shao’s fingers gently closed the torn fabric, pulling it protectively over Jai’s chest.

Jai stood frozen, chest rising and falling as shame and something dangerously close to warmth battled inside him.

”He’s tired,” Shao said evenly. ”Is there a free room?”

Muchen looked between the two of them. His eyes flicked from Jai’s blushing face to Shao’s calm expression. The corner of his mouth twitched.

”Y-yeah,” he said slowly. ”The last room down the hall. It’s empty.”

Shao nodded his thanks. He took Jai’s hand again, firmer this time, and led him past Muchen without another word.

Behind them, Muchen stood silently in the doorway, his eyes following them until they disappeared down the hall.