Regressing Through the Apocalypse with the Third Male Lead
Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Chapter 16

December 17, 2024

Tuesday

East Rembo, Taguig

8:00 AM

---

Monica let out a yawn as she got out of bed, stretching her arms before heading to the bathroom for her morning routine. Just as she opened the bathroom door, Gwenette stepped out, a cloud of steam trailing behind her.

Gwenette’s short hair was damp, beads of water dripping down her neck. A towel hung loosely over her shoulders.

"Morning," Gwenette greeted, her voice soft but cheerful.

"Morning," Monica replied with a nod, stepping inside the bathroom.

"I’ll whip up some breakfast. Freyah and the others are coming back today. Anything specific you want to eat?" Gwenette asked as she paused by the door.

"Pancit Canton, chili-mansi flavor," Monica yelled, her voice muffled as the bathroom door clicked shut behind her.

"Nope. You’ve been eating that since yesterday," Gwenette countered, a hint of exasperation in her tone.

"It’s a calamansi and classic flavors, yesterday not chilimansi!" Monica shouted back over the sound of running water.

"Same. Guess I’ll make something else," Gwenette muttered to herself with a shake of her head.

"Whatever. Why even bother asking? I’ll eat anything," Monica replied, her words barely audible over the rush of the shower.

Gwenette shrugged and ran a comb through her damp hair before heading to the kitchen, a small smile tugging at her lips as she began planning their breakfast.

She started marinating the chicken and pork, preparing them for cooking after breakfast. For now, she kept it simple: fried rice, hotdogs, scrambled eggs, and slices of spam.

In moments like this, it almost felt as if the world was still normal. As if, once she stepped outside, life would resume as it had always been. She could imagine returning to her routine—working from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., coming home to unwind with a series, a warm cup of hot chocolate, and a simple sandwich.

But that wasn’t her reality anymore.

"I went back in time," Freyah’s words rang to her mind.

It was a notion far more absurd than the chaos around her, yet somehow, the three of them—being the otakus they were—didn’t seem all that shaken. The initial shock had passed quickly, and they had accepted it almost as swiftly.

Gwenette’s thoughts wandered as she sliced the pork and chicken, her hands working instinctively. Freyah... the world has been chaotic since the first day this happened. I don’t know how far back you’ve gone, but...

Her mind wandered to Freyah’s expression, catching the lingering sadness in her gaze, a heaviness that hadn’t been there before. The way you look at us... and how you keep saying you missed us... In that past life you’ve returned from, we didn’t make it, did we? Monica and I... we didn’t survive until the very end.

She placed the chicken and pork into a container, pouring soy sauce, spices, and flour over them. "I wonder..." she murmured to herself.

"What are you wondering?" Monica asked, leaning against the doorframe. She grabbed a cup, filled it with hot water, then scooped some instant coffee into it.

Taking a seat at the table, she stirred her coffee lazily.

"Hmm... The first day—it’s been so chaotic. Seriously," Gwenette said, letting out a small laugh. "Yesterday, it was just us sitting here, worried sick, sending message after message and waiting for any kind of update. Haha."

"Once Freyah gets back, this will probably be the first time she’s had a decent meal in a while. I can’t even imagine what it’s like in the past she’s talking about. Supplies must’ve been so scarce... people probably survived on instant food that lasts longer."

"Which explains the feast you’re preparing," Monica remarked, glancing at the counter stacked with food Gwenette was preparing.

"I’m just cooking the things that spoil quickly," Gwenette replied with a small shrug. "Better to cook and eat them now than let them go to waste."

Monica smiled. "Then we’ll have a feast when they return."

"Yes, a feast," Gwenette chuckled. "Funny, isn’t it? Thinking about a feast in the middle of an apocalypse."

"Yeah, how carefree of us," Monica said, standing up. She moved toward the stove. "I’ll handle the frying. You go prepare the rest. They could show up anytime now."

Nearly two hours had passed, and the two were finally finishing up the food preparations.

"Did we overdo it?" Gwenette asked, eyeing the table now overflowing with dishes. What started as a simple menu of adobo, fried chicken, and fried pork had grown to include spaghetti and lumpia as well.

"That panda hasn’t had proper food in who knows how long. She deserves this," Monica replied with a satisfied smile.

"Well, I hope so. Otherwise, she might scold us for being wasteful."

Ding dong...

The doorbell’s sudden ring startled them both. They immediately rushed to check the camera. The moment they saw who it was, huge grins spread across their faces.

Gwenette bolted toward the gate. "Freyah! You’re back!"

Monica trailed behind, unlocking and opening the gate. That’s when they noticed something unexpected—Freyah’s initial group of three had grown to include four more people.

"Monica, Gwenette," Freyah greeted, pulling both of them into a hug as soon as she stepped inside and the gate was closed.

But the embrace was cut short when both of them recoiled, covering their noses.

"You stink, Freyah..." Gwenette and Monica grimaced, their gazes shifting to the newcomers behind her. They all looked equally dirty and smelled no better.

"You’re just in time, though. Food’s ready," Gwenette said, hands still over her nose. Then her tone turned firm as she addressed the group. "But none of you are stepping into the kitchen until you’ve all washed up."

"Do we really smell that bad?" Freyah laughed, though the others looked a little embarrassed.

"Yes, you do!" Gwenette exclaimed, grabbing Freyah by the arm and dragging her inside. "Everyone, follow me. This house has four bathrooms. Ladies, take the ones upstairs. Boys, downstairs."

"Aye, aye!" Freyah chuckled, letting herself be pulled along. The others quickly followed, eager to comply.

After roaming in the apocalypse for so long, things like cleanliness and the chance to bathe were often the last things on anyone’s mind. But now, for a brief moment, normalcy was just within reach.

***

Moments later...

Monica and Gwenette exchanged nods of approval as they watched everyone, now clean and refreshed, gather around.

"Perfect! Now, let’s all eat!"

Their attention, however, was quickly drawn to Florence, who had changed into fresh clothes. He now wore ripped pants and a fitted black shirt that subtly outlined his well-built physique. His hair had been trimmed, giving him an even sharper and more otherworldly appearance.

The two couldn’t help themselves—they surrounded him, their eyes practically feasting.

Florence offered them a polite smile. "Is there something I can assist you with, ladies?"

"You look fresher with those new clothes and haircut," Gwenette managed, clearing her throat.

"Yes... even more handsome than before," Monica added with a nod of agreement.

"Thank you for the kind compliments," Florence replied, entirely unbothered by the attention. It was clear he was used to such reactions—a byproduct of his charm even before he had ventured down the path of rebellion.

"Lady Lima was the one who helped me choose these clothes, and for that, I’m grateful," he continued, glancing toward Freyah.

"Oh, I see..." Gwenette said, her gaze shifting to Freyah.

"Oh, I see..." Monica echoed, also turning to Freyah. Their eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"What now?" Freyah asked, raising an eyebrow at them, clearly confused.

"Nothing," Gwenette replied with a shake of her head.

"Nothing," Monica repeated, mirroring her.

Freyah suppressed a laugh. She had missed this—the way the two of them always jumped to the same conclusions and shared silent conspiracies without saying a word.

"Alright, let’s eat," Freyah said, stepping in to break the moment. "We’ll do introductions properly once we’re at the table."

"Oh...kay," Gwenette and Monica said in unison, drawing out the word.

Their synchronized response made it clear that Freyah would have to endure a round of interrogation later. Whatever they were suspicious about, they wouldn’t let it go anytime soon.

***

Moments later, everyone stared at Freyah, Florence, and the twins in astonishment. They were piling food and plates one after another, as though they hadn’t eaten in years. For Freyah, that wasn’t far from the truth—before she regressed, she had survived by eating mostly herbal plants and drinking river water.

Food had become a luxury in her previous life.

Back then, there wasn’t much to scavenge, and she rarely had time to eat during the chaotic first days of the apocalypse. She had been too busy trying to save as many people as she could.

Now, for the first time in a while, she could relax. At least for tonight, before their journey to the airport the next day.

"See? I told you I was right. I’m glad I prepared this much food," Gwenette whispered to Monica.

"Our poor panda," Monica replied softly, shaking her head. "How long has she been starving in the wilderness to eat like this? She’s like a beast."

"I can hear you both," Freyah muttered, pausing mid-bite. She looked at everyone watching her. "But if you’re all going to just stand there gawking, don’t complain if there’s no food left for you. Eat now."

"Right, right!" Tatay Timothy chuckled. "Who knows when we’ll have another feast like this."

"Thank you for the food! If I eat another cup of noodles, I think I’ll turn into one!" Cherellyn exclaimed as she piled fried chicken and rice onto her plate.

"The food is amazing, Ate Monica and Ate Gwenette," Cheral chimed in, grinning as he reached for another pork chop. "Not only are you two beautiful, but you’re also incredible cooks! And Lolo, stop just watching us. Eat with us! Don’t give us that I’m full just watching you all eat."

"True, true. You should eat too, Lolo!"

"These brats..." Tatay Timothy laughed heartily before finally grabbing some food for himself.

As for Florence, though he had been eating this world’s food since the start of the apocalypse, this was the first time he had a home-cooked meal. And he couldn’t stop. The dishes they called lumpia and adobo were particularly irresistible.

Monica, Gwenette, and Harley exchanged glances, shrugged, and finally joined in. While the other classmate of the twins, whose name was Agnes, quietly ate in the corner.