A few minutes later, Stel arrived at the large supermarket. Although he had just cleared out the zombies around the area yesterday, there were already a few more zombies present.
Stel parked the tricycle at the supermarket entrance and first checked the chain on the door.
There were no signs of tampering.
"Good..."
Clank!
Stel unchained the door and pushed it open.
The supermarket was still dark and seemed deserted. However, Stel could faintly hear the sound of rapid breathing.
"It's me," Stel called out.
His voice echoed through the supermarket, causing a shadow behind the shelves to stir.
"You're back again?"
Trista emerged from behind the shelves, still holding the wooden stick she had used to try to ambush Stel the day before. She looked surprised to see him.
Stel had already taken many supplies yesterday, enough to last him a while. Why had he returned so soon? Was he going back on his word?
"Yeah, I just felt uneasy and wanted to check," Stel replied.
"There's nothing to be uneasy about. I'm fine here by myself," Trista said, her face showing a hint of annoyance. She feared Stel, a rough and unreasonable man, more than she feared the zombies outside.
Stel grinned, tilting his head back slightly.
"Who said I care about you? I'm only concerned about my supplies being stolen."
"Your supplies? This is my family's supermarket!" Trista retorted, her temper flaring.
How shameless could this man be? He had taken countless supplies yesterday, and now he was claiming the supermarket as his own. Next time, he'd probably be even more outrageous!
"Sweetheart, who cares about ownership now? Even if I take over this place by force, what are you going to do about it? Call the market bureau for help?" Stel taunted.
"..."
Trista was at a loss for words.
Though Stel's words were brutish, they weren't entirely wrong.
Before the zombie apocalypse, your family's supermarket was indeed protected by the government. But now, the government has collapsed worldwide. Who the hell cares about your family's order anymore? People will do anything to survive.
"Well, let me tell you, nothing has happened to the goods here. No one came to take anything after you left. Is that good enough for you?"
Trista was fuming. It was her family's supermarket, but she was relegated to being its gatekeeper. And Stel had taken over it so easily.
"And another thing, I remember you saying you have a woman at home. Shouldn't you be with her?"
The woman at home? Trista must be referring to Elsie. Can she even be considered a woman? More like a pet.
"That woman doesn't need my company; she's safe at home," Stel replied nonchalantly.
"You're really strange. Leaving your girlfriend alone and risking zombie attacks to come here."
The more time Trista spent with Stel, the more she couldn't understand him.
"What? Are you moved?"
"Pfft! Who would be moved by a scumbag like you?"
"Hahahahaha..."
Stel ignored Trista and started wandering around the supermarket. Yesterday, he was in a rush to gather supplies and leave, but today was different. Since this supermarket would be his resource depot from now on, he decided to take a good look around.
Strangely, Stel had never been interested in shopping in a supermarket before. But now, during the apocalypse, he found it quite enjoyable.
Trista, fearing Stel might cause trouble, had no choice but to follow him closely. She hated Stel, but for some reason, when he was around, she felt the safest.
"I didn't know your supermarket sold clothes too..."
As they walked, Stel and Trista arrived at a women's clothing section.
The store was filled with a dazzling array of women's dresses, pants, and even swimsuits. It was very comprehensive.
"My family's supermarket is a large chain store. If we didn't sell all this stuff, how could we even stay in business?" Trista said proudly, her beautiful eyes glancing upward with confidence.
Heh...
Stel found it amusing. He had only made a casual remark, and she immediately responded with such pride. Didn't she say she didn't want to talk to him just a moment ago?
"But with the human apocalypse, these clothes will never be worn by anyone again," Stel said, picking up a light chiffon skirt. It felt nice to the touch, and he couldn't help but imagine what Elsie would look like in it.
"Says who? I'll wear a different one each day, changing it up. I'll wear them all eventually," Trista retorted, now in the habit of countering anything Stel said, especially if it involved her family's supermarket.
"Are you sure?" Stel asked.
"Of course I'm sure. I, Trista, swear it!" she declared confidently, as if she were standing in front of her own wardrobe.
"Alright, then try on this one," Stel said, handing her a particularly skimpy outfit.
Trista froze for a couple of seconds, almost unable to comprehend what he meant.
"What do you mean?" she asked, her eyes wide with confusion.
"Isn't this what you said? You need to change every day. Weren't you wearing that outfit yesterday? So it's time to change," Stel replied.
"You...!" Trista was stunned. She had only said that to counter Stel, not expecting him to take it seriously.
"Who in their right mind would play dress-up in the middle of an apocalypse?" Trista muttered, incredulous. She hadn't expected Stel to take her offhand remark seriously.
"No, I can't wear this now," Trista protested, seeing that Stel was holding out a set of light, thin clothes paired with ultra-short denim shorts. She had confidence in her figure and could definitely pull off the outfit, but why should she wear it for Stel? Especially when he was the person she disliked the most.
"Seems like you were just boasting. Afraid to wear it because you think you're too fat, huh?" Stel taunted.
"What did you say?! There's nothing I can't wear!" Trista snapped back.
"I think you're just too scared. Otherwise, why would you be hesitating so much? Little fatty, if you can't do it, just shut up."
"You...!" Stel's words had thoroughly infuriated Trista. He could insult her in many ways, but calling her fat was crossing the line. Before the apocalypse, Trista had been a renowned beauty on her college campus.