Age of zombies

[26] Awkward

After finishing the meal, the exhaustion really hit. My whole body felt like it was made of lead, every muscle aching from the constant tension of the past two days. We hadn't had a proper moment to breathe since everything started, and now, sitting in Daisy's farmhouse, it felt like we were finally safe—at least for the night.

Yabe excused herself quietly, heading toward one of the spare rooms Daisy had offered. She looked drained, her eyes heavy with fatigue as she clutched her backpack tightly to her chest.

"Get some rest, Kohai," I said softly, giving her a reassuring nod as she disappeared down the hallway.

Ethan stretched out on the old, worn couch in the living room, his arms behind his head as he let out a long, contented sigh. "Man, I forgot what a real couch feels like," he muttered, shifting to get comfortable. "I don't even care if this thing smells like a dog's been sleeping on it."

I chuckled, kicking off my boots and sinking into the other end of the couch. "Hell, I'd sleep on the floor if it meant getting some proper rest. It feels like it's been weeks since I last slept."

"Two days," Ethan said, turning his head toward me. "It's only been two fking days."

I shook my head in disbelief, leaning back against the cushions. "Feels like a lifetime. Can't believe how fast everything went to shit."

"No kidding," Ethan muttered, staring up at the ceiling. "One minute, I'm worrying about exams. The next, I'm running from zombies, hot-wiring cars, and dodging biker gangs."

I snorted. "Yeah, welcome to the apocalypse, man."

Ethan was silent for a moment, then he glanced over at me, his expression more serious than usual. "Think we'll make it through this?"

The question hung in the air, heavy with uncertainty. I didn't answer right away, not because I didn't have an answer, but because I wasn't sure if my answer would be honest. I wanted to tell him, Yeah, we'll make it. We've got this. But the truth was, I didn't know. None of us did.

"I don't know," I finally said, my voice low. "But we've made it this far. We've just gotta keep going."

Ethan grunted in agreement, though I could tell he wasn't completely convinced. "Yeah, well... at least we've got Daisy now. She's a badass. That has to count for something."

"True," I said, nodding. "She saved our asses back there."

"Guess we owe her," Ethan mumbled, already sounding half-asleep.

I leaned my head back, letting my eyes close as the weight of exhaustion finally started to pull me under. The living room was warm, quiet, the soft flicker of the gas lanterns casting a comforting glow over the room. It was the first time I'd felt even remotely safe since this whole thing started.

"Get some sleep, man," I muttered, my voice barely audible. "We'll figure things out in the morning."

Ethan didn't reply, already drifting off into what I hoped would be a dreamless sleep. For the first time in days, I let myself relax, my body sinking into the couch as the quiet of the farmhouse settled around us.

It wasn't much, but for tonight, it was enough.

***

The sun barely peeked through the dusty windows when I heard Daisy's voice cutting through the stillness of the farmhouse. "Boys! Breakfast is ready. Get your lazy asses up."

Ethan and I groaned in unison, both of us still groggy from the first real sleep we'd had in days. I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, my brain still foggy from the exhaustion. Ethan rolled off the couch next to me, muttering something under his breath about needing five more minutes.

We were both still in our boxers, the cool morning air sending a shiver through my body as I stretched. Just as I was about to pull myself together, I heard the soft shuffle of footsteps. I glanced up—and froze.

Standing in the doorway, hands on her hips, was Daisy, dressed in nothing but a skimpy USA-flagged bra and matching underwear. Her tanned skin glistened in the soft morning light, her wavy blonde hair cascading down her shoulders, and her body was... well, let's just say she was the definition of a hot mommy type. The tight bra pushed up her large melons, and the low-cut underwear hugged her hips in a way that left very little to the imagination.

Ethan sat up beside me, blinking in disbelief. "Holy shit..."

Daisy smirked, completely unfazed by the way we were both staring at her like two stunned deer caught in headlights. "What? Ain't y'all ever seen a woman before?" she teased, her Texan drawl thick with amusement.

I felt my face flush hot, my body reacting before my brain could even process what was happening. A quick glance at Ethan confirmed that he was in the same boat—his eyes wide, his cheeks red as he tried and failed to look anywhere but at Daisy.

"Uh... yeah, we've... seen women," I stammered, my voice cracking slightly as I desperately tried to pull my gaze away. "Just... you know, not like this."

Daisy laughed, a low, throaty sound that sent a jolt through me. "Relax, boys. It ain't nothin' you need to be embarrassed about. Now, are you comin' to breakfast or you gonna sit there gawkin' all day?"

I could feel my face burning, and it didn't help that, well, things were starting to... react in a way that wasn't exactly subtle. I glanced down quickly, noticing the awkward bulge in my boxers, and cursed under my breath. Fk.

Ethan must've been dealing with the same issue, because he quickly scrambled to his feet, pulling at the waistband of his boxers to "adjust" himself as discreetly as possible. "Uh, yeah... we're coming. Just, uh... let us get dressed first."

Daisy winked, clearly enjoying the effect she had on us. "Well, hurry up. Breakfast's gettin' cold." With that, she turned and walked back into the kitchen, her hips swaying as she disappeared down the hall.

I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding, my heart pounding in my chest. Ethan stood there next to me, his face as red as mine.

"Dude..." Ethan muttered, shaking his head as he grabbed his pants off the floor. "What the hell just happened?"

"I don't know," I said, pulling on my own jeans and adjusting myself as discreetly as I could. "But let's not make it any weirder."

We both scrambled to get dressed, doing our best to "adjust" the situation before heading into the kitchen. Daisy was already seated at the table, sipping her coffee, a smirk still tugging at her lips. If she noticed anything awkward about the way we were walking, she didn't mention it.

"Glad y'all could finally join me," she said with a grin. "Dig in."

Q: What was the most awkward situation you been in?