Chapter 12: Chapter 12 : Ike's Neighbors
The head of the complex lived next door to Ike and had a two-story house with a pond, garden, and a solar water heater that was currently rendered useless due to the absence of sunlight.
The community manager's name was Fred, and he had a son named Jack. Fred was a single man who had failed to find a wife.
Almost every morning, the men in the neighborhood would gather at Tom's house to exchange mostly hearsay information from other neighbors. Ike had never joined these gatherings as he found them uninteresting.
Tom had once shared with Ike that Fred's wife hadn't passed away; she had left him for another man. His son Jack also had a girlfriend who had run off with someone else, leaving both father and son living as bachelors.
Across the street from Regus, it appeared that his wife had also left with someone else. Disheartened, he had accompanied his daughter to university, and Ike had seen her twice—beautiful but somewhat distant, giving off a cold vibe.
Then there was Tom's grandmother, an elderly woman with a peculiar character.
Lu Wei, another neighbor, had lost his wife during childbirth. Lu Wei was a dedicated individual, having never pursued a second marriage. His son was named Ralph, and while Ike and Ralph had been close as children, their bond had weakened over the years.
Another neighbor was an elderly man named Kang Wen.
Kang Wen, also known as Cripple, had worked at the same company as Negan. This fact had surprised Ike, as he had never observed Negan and Ramey Kang communicate much.
Kang Wen had suffered a leg injury in a truck accident and was generally disliked due to his violent tendencies, including physical abuse towards his wife and daughter. He had also developed vices such as gambling and excessive drinking. Legend had it that a nervous breakdown following the accident had led to drug addiction.
Yingli, however, had a different perspective, viewing Kang Wen as a kind-hearted person who had helped her significantly.
Ike had some memories of the young Kang Wen, who had been handsome in his youth.
With too much time on their hands, trouble often arose when neighbors got to know each other better. At the mouth of the alley, there were two sets of 7-story commercial housing inhabited by women who worked at KTV hotels. While these men were relatively well-off, they didn't seem to grasp the severity of the situation and frequently visited Negan's house to buy supplies.
Negan was known for being warm, optimistic, and open-minded. However, he refused to venture out in the wind and rain for the meager money offered by these visitors. While he was willing to help people in need, making a profit was another matter.
He declined without hesitation, leaving some of the women displeased. Yet, there were men willing to pay for the service, like Kang Wen, who was short on money and eager to help with errands. With the neighbors' introductions complete, it was time to address the issue at hand.
Ike's water tank had been purchased a few years ago, but it had been turned off for most of that time. Now, with the water supply
disrupted for over ten days, Kang Wen's water had run out. He asked Yingli to open their water tank so he could take a bath. Ike was flabbergasted. Was Kang Wen really expecting to use their hot water when it had been raining incessantly for half a month? Ike didn't even bother to respond; he simply ignored the request.
Ike began to worry about another problem. As people ran out of cash, they would have less money for shopping. With heavy rain causing transportation disruptions and a shortage of police presence, what would happen to the city?
On the morning of the twelfth day, darkness still enveloped the world. Ike was sleeping beside the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room when he suddenly sensed a bright light. Could it be light? Electricity? Ike's heart raced with hope.
Half-awake, he wondered if this was the return of power, a long- awaited relief. The anticipation filled him with an emotion he hadn't allowed himself to feel since the blackout began—hope. In his drowsy state, Ike called out instinctively, "Mom."
"Is it back on?" he asked as he opened his eyes, seeking to share his newfound optimism or perhaps to find comfort.
As Ike slowly regained his senses, he saw a column of light piercing the darkness, and his heart leaped with joy. He jumped up from the couch, elated at the prospect of power being restored.
This moment was one of sheer happiness for Ike, a stark contrast to the grim reality of the blackout. It made him realize just how much he yearned for the return of normalcy and the end of this disaster.
While he had maintained a practical and prepared mindset throughout the blackout, he hadn't truly allowed himself to feel the depth of his emotions. Those emotions had been buried deep within him, suppressed by the daily struggle for survival.
"Is it finally happening?" Ike wondered aloud, his eyes fixed on the distant source of light.
However, his excitement was short-lived. It wasn't electricity; it was a moving beam of light cutting through the darkness, dispelling the nearly two-week haze.
Disappointment washed over Ike, but he couldn't let go of his newfound hope entirely.
He turned to Yingli and Anna, who had also awakened, and asked, "Is it back on?"
Yingli, ever cautious, responded, "Are you sure? What if it's just a generator in some mall?"
Ike quickly dressed in his raincoat and backpack, determined to investigate. "I'm going with Tom this time. You two should stay home."
Anna, still apprehensive after their previous outing, countered, "You two might look thin enough to be blown away by the wind. Maybe we should go with you."
Ike, well aware of the dangers outside, made a convincing argument, "There will be a lot of people there. Safety in numbers. You don't have to worry."
This time, Yingli didn't object to Ike's decision.
Yingli and Anna helped Ike put on his raincoat, and the three of them made their way downstairs.
The loud announcement from the street drew them closer to
their destination. "Get food relief with ID!" The words echoed through the rain, amplified by a loudspeaker or radio.
As they listened, the three of them stopped to eavesdrop on the lively discussion outside, leaning closer to their large French window.
Anna, wanting to hear more clearly, cracked the French window open slightly, but a powerful gust of wind nearly knocked her off her feet. Struggling, they managed to close the floor-to-ceiling window, though it left behind a puddle from the rain.
The excitement outside was palpable as people gathered to hear more about the food relief. The street was filled with neighbors, many of whom Ike had never seen outside their homes before. "Get food relief!"
"Really?"
The conversation among the neighbors drowned out the relentless rainstorm. Even Carter who had been guarding their door, ventured outside.
Carter, Kang Wen's daughter, emerged with her family. Two years older than Ike, she was slim and attractive but known for her sharp tongue.
Ike had never been close to her, considering her sharp demeanor. The Negan family squeezed into Tom's convenience store. When Tom noticed Ike's arrival, he immediately said, "Ike, let's go check it out."
Linda, however, was worried. She had been concerned ever since Negan couldn't save the man hanging from the pole on the first day of the blackout. The sight of the man's body hanging for days before being blown away by the wind had left Linda with a heavy heart.
With the current downpour and the abundance of supplies they had accumulated before the power outage, Linda didn't want Negan to risk going outside.
Ike didn't interrupt the conversation. Tom chimed in, "We need to gather information. The typhoon has been raging for almost half a month; it's unusual."
Negan agreed, "Yes, it's not just about the food; we need to understand what's happening."
Carter, standing outside, suddenly looked up and shouted, "Are you guys going to get the relief supplies? Can you get some for me?"
Carter handed Tom three IDs.
Tom hesitated for a moment, glancing at Ike, but then quickly agreed. "We don't know what they're distributing, and it could be heavy."
Carter explained, "I've got three IDs, and there are three of you. Can't you help me grab some supplies?"
Ike supported Tom's decision, "We don't know what they're handing out. It might be too much for one person to carry."
Negan felt a pang of embarrassment when he heard this, and his mind drifted to a young girl across the street named Carter. He knew Kang Wen, and he suspected that she needed to go out to collect relief supplies. How could he, as an elder, stand idly by and let something like this happen?
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