I peered carefully outside. Water vapor covered the window and due to the height of the 35th floor, visibility was limited. I could only vaguely make out that the ground seemed to be clear of water. It appeared that the city’s sewer system hadn’t been overwhelmed yet.
I left the curtains open and turned on the lights. The power system was still operational.
Sitting on the sofa, I listened to the relentless rain and looked at the piles of supplies in the utility room. A sense of security washed over me, knowing I was prepared. The contrast between now and the past was stark.
Suddenly, my stomach rumbled, reminding me that I had been so focused on preparing for the storm that I hadn’t eaten.
I hadn't eaten for almost a day. Feeling the rumbling in my stomach, I got up, went to the utility room and retrieved a box of self-heating snail noodles. I carefully poured water into the container and set it aside to cook.
As the noodles heated, I grabbed a comfortable spot on the sofa and turned on the TV to continue watching the series I had been engrossed in. The simplicity of the meal, combined with the fact that I didn’t have to wash any dishes afterward, made the experience oddly comforting. It was a small pleasure amidst the chaos and for a moment, I almost forgot about the storm raging outside.
Just as I was finishing my meal, another message popped up in the group chat.
Harry: [Rosie, it’s raining too hard. You have to be careful and don’t go out if it’s not necessary. Don’t rush back; safety is the most important. @Rosie, take care of yourself.]
Rachel: [Rosie, it’s raining so hard, I can’t leave tonight. I’ll stay in your love nest first. Don’t worry, we won’t do anything.]
Rachel had even added a smiley face with her mouth covered.
I couldn’t help but feel a pang of frustration. Why was she trying to cover up her actions so blatantly? It was already late into the night and the situation seemed more complex than she was letting on. I decided not to reply and instead focused on savoring the last bites of my snail noodles.
As I finished my meal and began cleaning up, I glanced outside the window. The storm had intensified since I started eating. The ground below was already covered with water and the street lights cast an eerie glow over the rising flood. A few pedestrians were still out, braving the storm.