On My Birthday, My Boyfriend Cheated On Me

I was jolted awake by a thunderous sound. When I opened my eyes, it was already raining heavily outside the window. It wasn’t a dream; the storm had begun.

I reached for my phone and checked the time. I had stayed up all night watching a TV series and now it was dark again. My phone was flooded with more than 50 missed calls, which made me click my tongue in surprise. Luckily, I had set my phone to silent mode.

A notification from the property group caught my eye:

Dear owners, the Meteorological Bureau has issued a red warning for heavy rain. Please close the doors and windows and do not go out unless there are special circumstances to avoid unnecessary trouble. Thank you for your cooperation!

The message continued with additional details:

Red rainstorm standard: Rainfall will reach more than 100 mm within 3 hours, or has already exceeded 100 mm and may continue.

In the group chat with Harry and Rachel, there were a flurry of messages:

Rachel: [Rosie, where are you?]

Rachel: [Didn't we say we would celebrate your birthday today?]

Harry: [Rosie told me yesterday that she went home to accompany her mother. Could it be that she hasn't come back yet?]

Rachel: [It looks so delicious! @Rosie]

Harry: [@Rosie]

Harry: [@Rosie]

Harry had also posted a photo of a full table of dishes in the group.

As I looked at the photo, I noticed that almost all the dishes were Rachel’s favorites. Rachel didn’t eat spicy food, but I loved it. I almost couldn’t live without chili. Yet, there wasn’t a single spicy dish on the table, which made the spread look rather bland to me.

It hit me that this was exactly how things had been in my previous life. I barely touched the food because it didn’t suit my taste. I had consoled myself then, thinking that Harry was catering to Rachel’s preferences as a guest and had ended up drinking too much, retreating to my room in a drunken haze.

I reminded myself that Harry’s intention was likely to make Rachel feel special. But as I watched the rain pour down and the storm rage on, I couldn’t shake the feeling that things were eerily similar to before.

Rachel: [Your friend poked you.]

Rachel: [Your friend poked you.]

Rachel: [Your friend poked you.]

Rachel: [Rosie, reply, if you don't reply, we will call the police @Rosie!]

The message from Rachel, sent just two minutes ago, shocked me. The thought of wasting police resources and the possibility of being exposed made me anxious.

I quickly typed a response.

[Oh, oh, I’m here. I watched drama all night and just woke up. Sorry for making you worry]

[I’m still at my mother’s house. It’s raining too hard now and she won’t let me go home. Don’t waste this table of food. Eat it. I’ll treat you to a big meal later to make up for it.]

Harry and Rachel’s responses came almost immediately.

Rachel: [Okay, Rosie, then we won’t call the police.]

Harry: [Hey, there’s also cake. You’re out of luck.]

Harry: [Just kidding. I’ll make it up to you when you come back.]

I sneered and tossed my phone aside.

The news broadcast crackled to life.

“According to experts' predictions, this heavy rain will last for about three months. Please pay attention to safety, go out less during heavy rain and protect your personal and property safety.”

I got up and opened the curtains. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled outside. The rain hammered against the window like stones, making it tremble under the force. The sight was both mesmerizing and nerve-wracking.

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.

I grabbed the telescope I had bought the day before and set it up by the window. Through the lens, I saw a man struggling through the water, which had already reached his ankles. He was holding an umbrella and carrying a bag of food, clearly fighting against the storm’s fury.

I frowned, realizing that in such severe weather, an umbrella was virtually useless. It could easily be blown away or collapse under the relentless wind. As I watched, the man stumbled and fell, his head dipping into the rising water. For a moment, he lay motionless and my heart tightened with fear. If the storm was already causing such difficulties, how much worse would it get?

Fortunately, the man managed to get back on his feet, albeit with great effort and continued to trudge forward, carrying his supplies. I let out a sigh of relief and stepped away from the window, feeling a mixture of concern and gratitude for his perseverance.