Anthology

The New Neighbor

Another first meeting AU featuring Roldan and Kesh! <3

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Prompt: "i wanted to give you a warm welcome to the neighbourhood by baking you a cake but turns out you're hella allergic to something i put in and yOU LOOK LIKE YOU'RE ABOUT TO DIE HOLY SHIT I FEEL HORRIBLE" au

Everyone in the apartment complex loves Kesh Manzano. Well, what's not to love about her? She maybe the youngest and newest tenant but she sure won the hearts of her neighbors since Day 1. Bakit? Bukod kasi sa bubbly at funny personality ni Kesh, she treats everyone like her family. (Nasa US na kasi ang buong pamilya niya at mas pinili niyang magstay dito para tapusin ang masters degree niya.) Sa two years niya sa complex, she gained a positive reputation among the neighborhood. The kids love her at siya nga ang naging official babysitter ng lugar nila. Siya na rin ang counselor, vent machine at all around kachikahan ng mga nanay at elders.

Hindi lang naman personality ng bala ni Kesh sa mga kapitbahay niya. She also won their hearts by baking.

Her love for baking is serious. Namana niya sa dad niya ang baking skills noong 8 years old siya at hindi na siya tumigil ever since. She loves to bake everything: cakes, cupcakes, browines, pies.. you name it. (Namigay niya siya ng triple chocolate brownies sa buong building on her second day). And that's the day everyone fell in love with her.

Since then naging taste tester na niya ang mga kapitbahay niya. They even gave her suggestions na nagpa-improve pa sa creations niya.

Gustung-gusto ni Kesh na makitang masaya ang mga kapitbbahay niya sa mga binebake niya. Sobrang laking fulfillment para sa kanya na makarinig ng simpleng thank you mula sa kanila. Pinangako niya sa sarili niya na tuluy-tuloy lang siya sa pagbe-bake para sa mga kapitbahay niya.

**

But that changed one day, nang dumating ang bagong tenant sa building.

Galing siya sa isang week long vacation sa Cebu kaya hindi niya nawelcome ang bagong tenant. Sa tapat ng apartment niya titira ito after magmigrate ng Diaz family sa Taiwan two weeks ago. Maraming nabigong applicants para sa apartment dahil sa higpit ng owners. That piqued Kesh's interest more. Bilib na siya sa kung sinumang nakakuha ng unit na 'yon.

She ended up baking one of her popular creations: butter pecan cake.

Chinika sa kanya ng guard sa baba na mga 7:30 PM usually dumarating ang bagong tenat, kaya nagdecide siya na puntahan it at exactly 7:45 PM. Balancing the freshly baked cake on her right hand, she knocked on the door using her left and patiently waited. Doon lang niya narealize na hindi niya naitanong sa mga kapitbahay niya kung babae o lalaki ang iwe-welcome niya ngayon. Masyado kasi siyaang naexcite sa paggawa ng favorite cake niy-

"Just a minute!" she heard a faint masculine voice behind the door. Oh shit, it's a guy.

Bigla siyang kinabahan. Yes, she's charming and all pero ibang usapanna ang pagdating sa mga lalaki. She's a bit awkward around them.

Shit, here goes nothing, sabi niya sa sarili habang unti-unting bumubukas ang pinto. Flashing her best smile, she looked up at the open door and whoa.

"Yes?"

Wow. So he's her new neighbor.

He's damn attractive. As in. marami siyang kilalang gwapong lalaki pero may iba sa bagong kapitbahay niya. Judging from that quick peek she took, mukhang mayaman ito. How interesting.

"Uhh.. hi? Uhmm.. sorry to disturb you but.. I just want to welcome you here in our neighborhood. I'm Kesh Manzano, by the way. I live right across the hal," she said smoothly, offering her free hand. The guy hesistantly took it for a quick shake.