Chapter 1 — Summer Never Ends

By the end of May, temperatures were approaching 40 degrees. I was lying at home with the air conditioner on, but I accidentally came across a short video about the end of the world:

"I am a person born in 2027. On June 1, 2024, there will be an apocalyptic disaster due to global heat. I hope everyone will prepare in advance, I'm not kidding. Start stocking up now, as much as possible!"

At first, no one paid attention to this video and criticized the blogger for making up an apocalyptic conspiracy theory. Until the 40-degree heat continued for more than thirty days, residential areas lost water and electricity, and the number of people suffering from heat stroke increased more and more. As a hoarder and a recluse, I had a feeling this wasn't right. Hastily accumulated up to ten large trucks. But as soon as I finished ordering, the end of the world quietly descended… …

"Oh my god, it's really going to be so hot! This weird weather is just getting more and more unusual."

“It's not like that, when we were young, we still had to wear long sleeves in May, now it's 40 degrees, we really want to die!”

"Oh right? Does your son's company have a hot allowance? My Dong's unit gives him five hundred each month, so it turns out that civil servants are still better..."

At the door of the building, a few retired aunts were chatting, holding fans in their hands, and the sweat on their foreheads gathered in small streams, wetting their shirts. I raised my hand to look at the clock. At 6:42 p.m., the outside temperature was 37 degrees, and this was only the late May evening. For many consecutive days of hot weather, the once bustling residential area suddenly became quiet, dancing in the square stopped, and trucks selling fruit were nowhere to be seen. Besides the older ladies who like to chat, everyone is probably huddled in the house with the air conditioner on.

“Oh my, Tieu Lam, you still willing to go out to the supermarket, that's really rare.”

I carried two bags full of groceries, nodded shyly, walked around them and went home. After graduating, I rented a private house and worked as a freelance artist. The work is hard but the freedom and benefits are much better than working for the capitalists. Furthermore, as an artist, my daily work is done on the computer, my normal hobbies are just playing games and raising cats. If it is said that the world of "living in seclusion" also has levels, then I am definitely the highest level. Besides, I'm the type to stay at home anyway, so it's okay to buy a few more things. Since the mask epidemic, I've had a habit of hoarding. I laid out all the things I just bought at the supermarket on the table and started counting them. Human resources are limited, I only buy things that can be used in the near future. The fresh vegetables, meat, custard, steak and large shrimp that I like to eat are, of course, frozen. I also bought a big bag of dried meat, sausage, canned food, and things that could be preserved for a long time. I haven't shopped in a store for a long time. I felt like the prices were even cheaper online, so I bought a few more household items on sale. Add some drinks that I like. Turning on the air conditioner in the living room, adjusting the temperature to 18 degrees, then spending another ten minutes sorting and storing both bags, I was so hot that my forehead was covered in sweat. I quickly took a cold shower, then opened a can of iced coke and drank it all in one gulp, only then did I feel alive again. Opened the phone and saw a red sun warning message The heat lasted for a week, with daytime temperatures approaching 45 degrees. Experts recommended that area residents limit going outside and pay attention to sun protection to cool down. 45 degrees? This is already anti-human temperature, isn't it? At this moment, at this exact moment, the doorbell rang.

"May I ask, are you Miss Lam? The items you requested to be delivered to your home at the supermarket today are all here, please help me check." The delivery man was covered in sweat.

I quickly shook my head: "Thank you, no need, just leave it at the door."

“It's still a bit heavy, do you need me to help you carry it in?”

I saw on the screen the delivery man panting, looking very enthusiastic, but still resolutely refusing. Last night I did some research, considering the hot weather and fear of losing water and electricity, so the things I tried to buy were all vacuum-sealed. Mainly rice, noodles, cooking oil, bottled water, canned foods, along with dried meat, salted meat, long-lasting ham, compressed biscuits, freeze-dried vegetables, and also medical hygiene items, anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-diarrheal drugs, mouthwash, disinfectant solution, alcohol, etc. After arranging the things, I raised my head to look at the time, it was already half past eight. As usual, I called my grandmother.

“Hello, ma'am, do you feel better today?”

"I've given birth many times, Gia Bao, lately the temperature is high, if there's nothing to do, don't go out and run around, we're very healthy, don't need you to worry, just take care of yourself well, you're not young anymore, so find someone..."

The familiar voice of my grandmother, muttering and urging us to get married, came from the phone. I sighed softly, but the corners of my lips suddenly curled up.

"Yes, I know, I'll see for myself. Oh, I've already bought the original Patchouli medicine for you by ordering online, to combat the heat, remember to turn on the air conditioner during the day, don't always think about saving electricity."

“When this heat wave passes, I will return to the village to stay for a while. Remember to take care of your health. It's hot these days, don't go out to the fields anymore, you understand?”

“Okay okay, good boy, your grandfather also misses you, sitting next to me, stick your head over here, say a few words to him…”