The Apocalyptic Heatwave

At the same time, I placed online orders for instant noodles of every flavor and self-heating meals. Basically, every kind of pre-prepared food you could think of.

Then, I stocked up on all my favorite snacks. Potato chips, nuts, chocolate cookies, beef jerky... Anything that came vacuum-sealed and didn't need refrigeration got stacked in the cool basement.

Since fresh fruits and vegetables wouldn't last in extreme heat, I bought many vacuum-packed vegetables and even ordered sun-dried vegetables from a northern farm online. All you had to do was soak them in water before cooking, and they would be nearly as good as fresh.

I got plenty of staples like grains and flour, too.

Next, I hit all the big supermarkets to buy my favorite food items. Fish, shrimp, steak, pork, lamb, beef, free-range chickens, ducks, geese, and every kind of frozen food such as raviolis, pastries, samosas, and my favorite chocolate eclairs.

Finally, I filled a giant freezer with ice cream. In my last life during the heat apocalypse, ice cream was something that only appeared in my dreams.

Other than food, I went to the pharmacy to stock up on Panadol and other essential medicine, making sure to ask for the newest batch. I even bought every fever patch in every store.

I know, I know. As an adult, I should be more mature, but I really couldn't stand the bitter taste of medicine.

On the way past a hardware store, I picked out a few sturdy machetes and some iron rods. Even though my defenses were solid, it wouldn't hurt to have something for self-defense.

To avoid suspicion, I told people I was buying for friends in other areas. I made all my supply runs late at night using a rented van to move everything myself, one load at a time.

After all that heavy lifting, I went from getting easily winded to actually building up some stamina.

On the last day, I felt satisfied as I looked at the villa packed full of supplies.

This time, I was sure I could hold out until the heatwave was finally over.

While I was busy stocking up, I also kept checking in on my dear sister.

Ever since I had messaged her that I wouldn't be coming over, I started ordering her favorite takeout meals every day, for all three meals.

I told her it was because the weather was too hot to visit her, so the least I could do was order food for my beloved sister since going out for groceries in this heat was just too much.

Sure enough, from the day I started sending her takeout, she stopped buying groceries and bringing food home.

That was exactly what I wanted.

On the last day before the apocalyptic heatwave arrived, I put on something comfortable and knocked on my sister's door.

"Who is it?" Katie's lazy voice sounded from inside, and the door creaked open as a trickle of cold air seeped out from the room. "Oh, Jennifer. It's you. What are you doing here?"

My sister frowned a little, dressed in her brand-new silk pajamas.

I smiled, taking a casual look around her apartment.

"I finished my work early today and asked my supervisor if I could leave early. I'm here to have a nice meal with my favorite sister."