Chapter 2. Unexpected Reunion

Fan Chang stared at the calendar in disbelief. He blinked his eyes a couple of times then slowly and carefully looked at the day, then the month followed by the year written in the calendar. He stared at the calendar for a long time hoping the date would change and would go back three years before the apocalypse.

Fan Chang could already feel his vision getting blurry as he stared at the calendar without blinking. Tears were slowly forming in the corner of his eyes.

Don't tell me... tomorrow is the start of the apocalypse?

He sat on the chair and gripped the armrest of the chair he was sitting in trying to balance his emotions. He tried to think hard about what preparation he needed to do and what preparations could he make for the upcoming apocalypse. He thought of his previous plans like buying some seeds and also some chickens to place in the space. He also thought of the hut he would build in his space.

Fan Chang's head hurt thinking of the time that these things would consume, not to mention the cost.

Fan Chang took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He remembered the horror of what the apocalypse brought not only to his life but to every person's life. He recalled how innocent people who could not fight became zombies and those who were healthy were found lumbering in the streets with some parts of their skin rotten and others having gunshot wounds on their bodies. Fan Chang hoped that the apocalypse that happened was just a nightmare of his.

Fan Chang was so immersed in his thoughts and was brought back to reality by a knock on his door. He opened his eyes and looked around his room. That's when he noticed the sound of the pitter-patter of the rain outside.

Fan Chang tried to calm himself and rubbed his eyes; he lazily stood up. He slightly opened the door. He was taken aback and looked at the familiar face of the person in front of him and his eyes widened when he saw who it was.

Fan Chang tried to close the door again but the other man blocked it with his umbrella that was dripping wet. He even felt some of the water droplets hit him when the man moved his umbrella to block the door. He shivered as the droplets of water hit his skin and the cold wind outside entered his room.

Why is he here? Fan Chang thought but was excited to see the other person. He did not expect to see him again. He looked at the water droplets on the floor. Even wetting my floor ah. Fan Chang looked outside and saw the heavy downpour wetting the once-dry ground. The branches of the trees outside were swaying as the wind hit them. There were no people outside and some stalls had already closed. The once lively atmosphere was replaced by gloominess brought by the weather. Fan Chang felt loneliness slowly creep into his heart. Then he shifted his attention to the man in front of him.

Having seen the other person in front of him, Fan Chang was even more convinced that the apocalypse that happened in his previous life was not just a figment of his imagination but it really happened.

Fan Chang took a deep breath and cleared his throat. He pretended to ask like it was the first time meeting the other person, "Who are you?" He consciously looked at the man, waiting for his reply.

The man saw that Fan Chang no longer tried to close the door and was asking him a question, he slowly retracted his umbrella that was blocking the door and gently pushed open the door wide enough for him to face Fan Chang. Fan Chang subconsciously took a step back, he looked at the umbrella the man was holding which was still dripping with water droplets, his attention was caught by the wet shoes the man was wearing. The pair of shoes he often saw the other man was wearing during the apocalypse. Then he looked at the man's familiar face and was waiting for his answer but the other man just looked at Fan Chang and faintly smiled, seeming not to answer.

I'm not asking for a smile ah. I'm asking for your name. Fan Chang did not know what the other was thinking. He tried to calm himself and would from time to time glance at the clock. Was that a difficult question for you to answer? Or maybe he didn't hear my question because of the sound of the rain?

"May I know, what's your name?" Fan Chang patiently asked again waiting for the familiar name to escape from the man's lips but the other was standing in front of him with an unreadable expression on his face. There was an awkward silence between them. Fan Chang was still holding the doorknob ready to close the door anytime soon and with vigilance looked at the other man.

If I hadn't seen him during the apocalypse, I might close this door with no hesitation a long time ago. This is indeed awkward, opening the door to a supposed stranger and standing with a suspicious person you have just met is dangerous and others will have already closed the door. But this person is not a stranger.

Fan Chang glanced at the clock and remembered the preparations he needed to make. He also wanted to warn others of the upcoming apocalypse. He was aware that others might not believe it and would think that he was too obsessed with watching apocalyptic movies but at least he tried to warn them. Maybe posting something on social media. Also, I still need to fill my space ah. I only have limited time to do it and this man in front of me already took some of my time. Even the weather won't cooperate with my plan.

"If you won't answer me, then I will close the door now." Fan Chang impatiently said.

The man's smile grew bigger.

(... to be continued.)

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Author's Notes:

Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoy it. ^^

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