Guontiveros: Vivid

Chapter 10

It was already afternoon when Alice decided to continue unpacking and organizing her things. She was determined to finish today because tomorrow she planned to explore Manila and visit a few colleges to personally submit her enrollment documents. Fortunately, some schools were still accepting students, as their semester didn't start until October.

While she was sorting through her belongings, a soft knock broke the silence. She paused, listening closely. The knock came again, a little louder this time. Curious, Alice walked over to the door and looked through the peephole. Outside stood a woman, likely in her forties. Alice cautiously opened the door a crack, just enough to peek out.

"Hello! You must be new here. I live next door. I'm Leni, by the way." The woman smiled brightly and introduced herself.

Alice, never comfortable with social interactions, especially with strangers, hesitated. She had always been shy, with no friends, except for Theresia, of course. Offering a small, awkward smile, Alice replied, "I-I'm Alice. And yes, I just moved in yesterday."

Leni beamed and presented a container of cookies. "Nice to meet you, Alice! I bake cookies for all the new neighbors as a welcome gift. Please, take these."

Alice hesitated, unsure whether to accept a gift from a stranger, but Leni's kind demeanor and bubbly personality made it hard to refuse. Reluctantly, she accepted the cookies. "Uhm, thank you. I appreciate it," she said with a small smile.

"No problem! If you need anything, just knock on my door. I'm always happy to help," Leni chirped before saying goodbye and returning to her apartment.

Alice closed the door and took the cookies to the kitchen. The container still felt warm to the touch, and she suspected they were freshly baked. She sat down and opened the lid, releasing a comforting, sweet aroma that filled the room. For a moment, Alice closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, the scent reminding her of home.

She picked up a cookie and took a bite. Her eyes widened as the soft, perfectly balanced sweetness melted on her tongue. They were just the way she liked cookies—not too sweet, but deliciously tender.

Before she knew it, the entire container was empty. She laughed to herself, feeling a bit like a child again, happily devouring cookies without realizing it. Yet, a small pang of sadness hit her as she gazed at the remaining crumbs.

Satisfied and with renewed energy, Alice resumed organizing her things. After two hours, everything was in its place. She sighed contentedly as she scanned her now-cozy apartment.

After a brief rest, she showered and went to bed, ready for her exploration of Manila the next day.

•••

Alice woke to the sound of her alarm. It was 7:00 a.m. She sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. After a few moments, she got up, brushed her teeth, and took a shower.

Feeling refreshed, she slipped into a pastel pink dress and tied her hair into a ponytail. She headed to the kitchen for her morning coffee. Once finished, she applied some light makeup, gathered her bag and documents for enrollment, and left the apartment.

Settling into her car, she placed her things on the passenger seat, buckled her seatbelt, and set up her phone for navigation.

•••

Alice spent the day exploring Manila, visiting famous landmarks like Intramuros, Fort Santiago, and the National Museums, thoroughly enjoying her time.

Later, she arrived at one of the universities. After parking, she was directed by a security guard to the admissions office, where she sat on a bench, waiting to be called. Several other students were also waiting to enroll.

As she waited, Alice pulled out her phone and got lost in a book. She was so engrossed in her reading that she barely noticed someone approaching.

"Excuse me, is this the line for admissions?" A soft voice interrupted her.

Alice looked up from her phone, her gaze meeting the girl in front of her. A strange sense of familiarity washed over her, though she couldn't quite place it.

"Uh, hello?" the girl repeated, looking slightly puzzled at Alice's expression.

Snapping out of her daze, Alice felt a wave of embarrassment. "What was that about?" she scolded herself silently. Clearing her throat, she answered, "Y-yes, this is the line. They’ll call us after the other enrollees finish."

The girl smiled and sat down next to her, extending her hand.

"Hi, I'm Sinta."