The New Home

March 5, 2023, 10:00 AM - Vertis North, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines - Penthouse Unit 001

The elevator doors opened to reveal a stylish and artfully decorated hallway that greeted Daniel as he stepped out. Paintings hung on the walls, each with its unique style, while sculptures were tastefully placed in every corner. The hallway's simple yet elegant design was carefully thought out, with clean lines and a muted color scheme that added to the sophisticated ambiance of the penthouse.

As Daniel approached his unit's door, he took out his key card to unlock it. However, he paused mid-insertion and retracted the card, suddenly struck with a thought. Setting his bags down beside the door, he took out his phone and opened the Grab app to order groceries. With a few taps, he selected some snacks and frozen goods and added a 5 kg sack of rice and a 1/2 kg bag of salt to the cart. Additionally, he ordered two appropriately sized containers to store the rice and salt.

He recalled his mother once mention that the first thing you put inside a new house when moving in is a container of rice and salt to ward off draught and financial hardship. Though he didn't necessarily believe in such superstitions, he decided to carry on the tradition.

Around 15 minutes later, the Grab driver arrived at the penthouse to deliver Daniel's order. He paid for it and gave the man a tip, thanking him for his quick delivery.

After the delivery guy left, Daniel took out the key card again and this time inserted it correctly, opening the door to his new home. He then took out the two containers from the grocery bags and placed them on the floor. He filled one with the 5kg rice and the other with 1/2 kg of salt. After filling them up, he picked up the containers and headed inside, making sure to place them somewhere safe before going back outside to get the rest of his things. Daniel chuckled to himself at what he had just done.

He returned to the hallway, where his bags still lay on the floor, waiting to be unpacked. As he started to lift them, he heard a loud crash, followed by a string of expletives from the other end of the hallway.

Concerned, Daniel walked towards the commotion, following the sound of rustling bags and muffled grunts. As he rounded the corner, he found a young woman with short, messy hair and a paint-stained shirt, frantically picking up art supplies that had spilled out of her paper bags. It was then that he realized she must be his new neighbor.

"Are you okay?" Daniel asked, approaching her cautiously.

The woman looked up, startled, and quickly wiped her hands on her shirt. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little clumsy," she said, forcing a smile.

"Let me help you with that," Daniel said in response. He then knelt down and started gathering the spilled supplies, placing them back in the bags.

The woman thanked him and they introduced themselves. Her name was Ellie and she was an artist who had just moved in a week ago next door. Daniel told her his name and explained that he had just moved in as well. They chatted for a few more minutes before parting ways, with Ellie thanking Daniel once again for his help.

After she had gone, Daniel went back to his bags and resumed unpacking. He took out his clothes, books, and other essentials, placing them in their designated spots.

Now that his things are unpacked, Daniel now toured his new home.

Daniel walked around the spacious living room, taking in the simple yet elegant furniture and decor. There was a comfortable-looking grey sofa, a coffee table, and a small TV mounted on the wall. The room was bathed in natural light, thanks to the large windows that lined the walls.

Next, he headed towards the kitchen, which was separated from the living room by a small island. The kitchen had basic appliances, such as a refrigerator, stove, and oven, all of which looked new. There was also a small dining table and chairs, perfect for intimate dinners or working from home.

As he walked towards the bedrooms, he noticed the large bathroom with a mini Jacuzzi. It was a luxurious addition to the already impressive penthouse. The bathroom was equipped with a shower, sink, and toilet, as well as a large mirror and plenty of counter space.

Finally, Daniel moved on to explore the bedrooms, curious to see how they were arranged. The master bedroom was the largest of the three, with a king-size bed taking up most of the space. The bed frame was made of warm wood, and the bedding was crisp white. Along one wall was a small wooden desk with a comfortable chair, and a closet door stood open, revealing ample storage space.

The other two bedrooms were smaller but still tastefully furnished. Each had a twin bed with a fluffy duvet, a matching bedside table with a lamp, and a desk that sat neatly under the window. Since Daniel would be living there on his own, he imagined converting one of these rooms into a personal office and a secret gaming room, while the other could be reserved as a cozy guest room for when friends and family came to visit.

Overall, Daniel was impressed by the quality of the furnishings and the attention to detail in each room. It felt like a comfortable and welcoming space, and he couldn't wait to start making it his own.

As he still had a few hours of free time before meeting up with Molly, Daniel decided to head to his kitchen to whip up a quick and easy lunch for himself. He opened his fridge, which he filled with the groceries he ordered earlier, and scanned its contents, looking for something to cook. He decided to make Tocilog for lunch paired with some ice-cold coffee.

Daniel pulled out a pack of tocino from the fridge and set it on the kitchen counter to defrost. As he waited, he put some rice in the rice cooker and measured out the water. Once the rice was cooking, he brewed some strong coffee and set it aside to cool.

After the tocino had defrosted, Daniel heated up a frying pan and started to cook it until it was slightly caramelized and crispy. He then cracked an egg onto the pan and watched as the white started to set. He didn't want to overcook the yolk, so he turned off the heat while the egg was still slightly runny.

By this time, the rice was done cooking, so Daniel transferred it to a bowl and left it to cool for a few minutes before frying it up with some garlic, onion, and soy sauce. Once the fried rice was done, he plated it alongside the tocino and egg.

Finally, he poured the cooled coffee over a glass filled with ice and added a splash of milk for a creamy touch. He sat down at the kitchen table to enjoy his homemade Tocilog meal and sipped on his refreshing iced coffee.

Daniel felt satisfied and was filled with anticipation for the rest of his day.