[Today's news is about developments in the technology sector. Scientists have successfully strengthened the Valkyrie mecha. Using Arcanox as the main material, the Valkyries now have nothing to fear from the ultimate attack of Genesis Mars!]
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[It has been raining continuously for the past few days. Scientists believe this is due to unstable weather. The presence of rocks from the destroyed moon in Earth's orbit also contributes to the chaotic climate. Everyone—]
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[Hello, everyone! It's me again, Charlie Chaplin! I—]
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Beep!
In the living room, Morgan pressed the "➜" button on the remote, repeatedly changing the TV channels.
The sounds shifted incessantly until he finally pressed the off button and threw the remote onto the right side of the sofa.
He grabbed a blanket and covered his entire body.
"Melissa…" he muttered, tears streaming down his face.
It had been seven days since Melissa's death.
Although he had said at her grave that he would continue living until the end, in reality, it was nothing but nonsense.
He had no will to live and instead wished he could simply die.
After crying for a few minutes, he slowly calmed down, though his chest still ached.
He pulled the blanket back slightly and looked toward his younger sister's room, which was tightly locked.
To help himself forget his sister's death, he had deliberately tidied the room and locked it.
Unfortunately, it didn't work. Sometimes, he still went inside and looked around, letting the memories of her come back.
"I'm really… trash," he muttered weakly, lowering his head.
He had lied to his sister—and also to himself. The thought made his heart ache even more.
Sighing deeply, he folded the blanket, then got up and walked toward the refrigerator.
He opened it and found nothing inside—not even a single egg.
"Looks like I have to go buy some food."
He grabbed his coat, wallet, hat, and face mask, then left the apartment.
When he opened his wallet, he realized he had only a little money left.
If he kept living like this, he would surely starve one day.
After leaving the apartment building, he walked leisurely down the dark, quiet street.
The slum area where he lived was not as busy as other districts.
It felt deserted and lifeless, as if no one lived there at all.
When he reached a busier area, he headed to Grandma Tina's bakery to buy a meat sandwich and a chocolate-filled sandwich.
But suddenly, he noticed the shop was closed. It was completely dark, without a single light on.
"What happened? Why is the shop… closed?" Morgan scratched his head in confusion.
Grandma Tina's bakery was always open every night. It had been that way since he was a child.
But now, for the first time, the shop was closed.
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't find an answer and eventually decided to go to the nearest ramen shop.
It wasn't far—only about thirty meters away. The place was clean and well maintained, though it was a bit empty, with only a few customers inside.
"Welcome, customer," the ramen shop owner greeted him politely.
She was a middle-aged woman, around forty years old. Her face was a little wrinkled, but she still looked healthy.
Morgan nodded slightly and ordered a jumbo ramen with pork slices and an egg.
After placing his order, he walked over to an empty table near the door.
He took off his coat, placed it on the empty chair beside him, and leaned back.
"Looks like I have to work tomorrow," he muttered.
Jack had called him several times, but he hadn't answered.
He knew the man was deeply concerned about him. After all, Jack was a good person, even if he could be annoying at times.
"Your ramen is here, customer. Here you go."
The shop owner came over carrying a tray with a jumbo-sized bowl of ramen and a glass of cold water.
She carefully set them on the table, then said, "Enjoy your meal, customer."
Morgan smiled. "Thank you."
As the woman was about to leave, Morgan stopped her.
"Wait a minute."
"Hmm?" She looked at him curiously. "Do you need anything else, customer?"
Morgan shook his head. "No. I just want to know—do you know why the bakery not far from here closed? Where did the owner go?"
At his question, the woman's face immediately darkened.
"Do you mean Aunt Tina's bakery?"
"Yes, that's the one." Morgan nodded weakly. Watching her expression, a sense of foreboding crept into his chest. "Did something happen to her?"
The woman was silent for a moment before answering sadly, "Aunt Tina had a heart attack a few days ago and passed away."
When he heard the words "passed away," Morgan felt as if his heart had stopped beating. His breathing grew heavy, and his hands clenched tightly.
"Grandma Tina… passed away? Where is she buried?"
"She was buried in another city. I heard that someone claiming to be her grandchild came and took her away. Since then, I haven't heard any news."
Morgan was left speechless, distress and sorrow clear on his face.
However, he quickly steadied himself and said softly, "Thank you for the information. You can go back to work."
The woman simply nodded and left.
Morgan stared blankly at the hot ramen in front of him.
"Grandma Tina is dead, and so is Melissa. It seems I'm really alone now," he whispered with a mocking smile.
He had always regarded Grandma Tina as family. But now, she too had left this world.
Tears welled up at the corners of his eyes, but he quickly wiped them away and began to eat the food in front of him.
It tasted good, but after hearing the news of Grandma Tina's death, his appetite was gone.
After ten minutes, he managed to finish the meal and gulped down a glass of cold water filled with melted ice.
He stood up, paid the bill, and walked out with a tired expression.
"I have to go to the minimarket to buy groceries," he mumbled.
Turning right, he headed toward the nearest minimarket.
***
"I'm home," Morgan said as he opened the door to his apartment.
In the past, Melissa's voice would have answered from her room.
She would run toward him and hug him tightly.
But now, that warmth was gone.
The apartment felt dark and quiet, as if it had lost its light and life.
Morgan stepped inside, but suddenly—
Boom!
Thunder roared across the sky. He turned around and muttered softly, "Is it going to rain soon? It's the same as usual…"
He took off his shoes and closed the door.
After putting away the groceries, he went to take a shower, cleaning himself after seven days without one.
Twenty minutes later, he came out feeling refreshed.
He took a carton of chocolate milk and walked toward the sofa to relax.
Suddenly, his phone rang loudly. When he saw the caller's name, his expression remained unchanged.
"Jack…"