The boy next door

Ten years ago

Standing outside the creepy-not so-creepy neighbor's house contemplating whether or not to ring the bell. After a solid two seconds of thinking there I am crossing the road back to my house because the idea of communicating with a human species scares me to the core. In case you haven't understood yet I don't do humans, I never have and don't think I ever will. They're the reason for the downfall of......THEMSLEVES!

As soon as I enter, I hear my dad shouting "DAE I NEED YOU TO GIVE THESE FREASHLY BAKED CUPCAKES TO THE NEIGHBORS". Great, just great. What did I ever do to you universe, why do hate me so much?

I follow my dad's voice to the kitchen and find a huge trail of flour and a bunch of baking supplies laid out messily on the kitchen counter. As soon as I look up from the counter, I let out a loud shriek from the sight in front of me.

My dad, covered from head to toe in flour and dressed in a pink, polka dot apron that looks like it belonged to a toddler with an obsession with unicorns, barbies and glitter. Urgh! Just the thought of it makes me gag.

My dad looks at me slightly offended "Hey! I don't look that bad"

"Of course, you would think so your eyes are covered in flour dad! What happened?"

"I was trying to make cupcakes for the neighbors as a gift" he said trying to defend himself like a toddler who just broke a glass vase playing football inside the house.

I look at him and sigh "And how did that work out?" I asked already knowing the answer. But I was surprised when he took out three trays of a dozen of freshly baked cupcakes out of the oven with a proud smirk dancing on his face "What were you saying huh?". I looked at the cupcakes wide-eyed and mouth agape. Right when I was about to accept my dad's victory, I noticed something "Right, so you put the cupcakes in the oven in a PLASTIC tray?" I questioned sassily. My dad snaps his head down to look at the cupcakes. He slowly looks back at with a forced smile and chuckles awkwardly.

"OK fine! I got these free from the Chinese place that we went to yesterday." Well, that's what my dad called me downstairs for yesterday, apparently, he found some kind of coupon for this Chinese place two blocks away. That reminds me of- oh shit I can't give these cupcakes to them.

"Dad I can't give this to neighbors" I say in a hurried manner and tried to sprint upstairs but my dad holds me by the hood of my hoodie "You're not going anywhere until you give these to the neighbors young lady. I have to get dressed and go to work now" my dad says hopping upstairs like a child.

I mentally brace myself to face the consequences of yesterday's interaction with the unknown guy and pick up the cupcakes from the counter. Just when I turn around, I notice a cook book. Not just any cook book, my mom's cook book "Dad must have taken this out for the cupcake recipe" I mumble to myself. A storm of memories come rushing into my brain, I can hear giggling, chatting and clapping but the one voice that stands out from the rest is hers, my mom's.

No, I shouldn't think about it. It'll only increase the pain. I shake my head to clear my mind and stride along the hallway to the front door.

-

Here I am standing in front of the house in front of mine. I gave the cupcakes to the other neighbors who live beside our house just this one's left. I sigh to myself and bottle up enough courage to ring the bell with shaky hands. Gosh! I have major social anxiety.

I wait there for someone to open the door but no response, I ring the bell once again and wait but no response again. Just when I was about to ring the bell once again a middle-aged woman walking by calls out and says "Sweetheart I think you have the wrong address, no one lives there".

Eh? I just saw a guy in there yesterday "Um... you wouldn't know when the previous owners left would you?". She thinks for a second and says "Not quite sure but I think about ten years ago"

TEN YEARS!?!