Chapter 1
Chapter 1: New Beginnings
New beginnings part 1
The town was too quiet. I wasn’t used to it. Back in the city, there was always noise, trucks honking, vendors shouting, cars revving. Here? Just the occasional chirp of birds and, oh, a random dog barking its lungs out in the distance. I stood in front of my “new” house, hands on my hips, staring at it like it had personally offended me.
Chipped paint? Check. Weeds tall enough to stage a protest? Double check. It wasn’t much to look at, sure, but hey, it was mine.
I caught my reflection in the front door’s glass. Medium brown complexion, short black hair plastered to my forehead with sweat, and a shirt sticking to me like cling wrap, yeah, I looked great. “Bagong bahay, bagong buhay,”(new house, new life) I muttered, wiping my brow.
I stared at the porch. It had seen better days, probably back when disco was still a thing. “Okay, Arkin,” I said to myself, rolling up my sleeves. “Let’s do this.”
The inside was, well, exactly what I expected: dusty, dated, and dimly lit. Sunlight filtered through the lace curtains, casting patterns on mismatched furniture that looked older than me. The smell of lavender hung in the air, though it couldn’t quite mask the woody scent of… decay? Nostalgia? Church pews? I couldn’t tell.
Armed with a broom, rags, and an unhealthy amount of determination, I threw myself into cleaning. Dust flew everywhere, into my hair, my nose, my life. By the time I was done, my hands were calloused, my shirt was filthy, and the living room looked somewhat presentable. I flopped onto the couch, which creaked like it was filing a noise complaint.
“Not bad for a day’s work,” I said out loud, grinning like I’d just won a reality show. My stomach growled in response.
Right.
Food.
I headed to the nearest grocery store, small but stocked with the essentials. I grabbed a week’s worth of supplies: rice, vegetables, instant noodles (my lifeline), and a few snacks for good measure. One paper bag later, I was on my way home, feeling victorious.
And then it happened.
The bag gave up on me. Groceries hit the ground like a bad plot twist, tomatoes rolling off into the gravel. I froze, staring at the mess, utterly betrayed by the flimsy bag. “Seriously?” I groaned, dropping to my knees to salvage what I could. A can of tuna decided to make a break for it, rolling just out of reach.
“Need a hand?”
I looked up and almost forgot how to breathe. Across the street stood a man, a tall, broad-shouldered guy with sun-bronzed skin and a face that looked like it belonged in a movie poster. Ruggedly handsome didn’t even begin to cover it.
“Uh…” My brain short-circuited. “You don’t have to—”
He was already crossing the road, hands casually shoved into his jeans pockets. “It’s no trouble. I’m Edward. I live next door.”
“Arkin,” I managed to say, my face heating up as he crouched down to help.
Between the two of us, we gathered the groceries. He even retrieved the runaway tuna can from under the gate. “This bag’s done for,” Edward said, holding up the torn remains with a chuckle.
I laughed, feeling the tension in my chest ease. “Yeah, I figured that out the hard way.”
When we got everything inside, I turned to him, brushing a strand of hair off my forehead. “Thanks, ah. Uh… would you like a snack? Iced tea? It’s the least I can do.”
Edward hesitated, then nodded. “Sure. I could use a break.”
We settled in the living room, which now looked clean enough to pass for “lived-in” instead of “haunted.” I poured iced tea into mismatched glasses, my hand brushing his as I passed one over. He didn’t seem to notice, but my cheeks warmed anyway.
“This place has potential,” he said, looking around. “A bit of work, and it could be really nice.”
“That’s the plan,” I replied, a shy smile creeping onto my face. “Though I might need a professional for some things.”
“Well, lucky for you, I’m a carpenter,” he said with a grin that should’ve been illegal.
I chuckled, feeling lighter than I had all day. Maybe, just maybe, moving here wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Edwards Point of View
The house next door had been empty for months. I’d gotten used to the quiet, just the occasional rustling of leaves, the distant hum of a passing truck, and the old fence creaking when the wind got too strong. But today, that changed.
A car pulled up. The new owner, I assumed. I watched from my porch as he stepped out, hands on his hips, staring at the house like it had personally wronged him.
Short, lean build. Black hair sticking to his forehead. Shirt clinging to him from the heat. He looked like someone who’d just realized he had way too much work ahead of him.
I shook my head with a small chuckle and went back inside. A new neighbor meant change, and I wasn’t sure yet if that was a good thing.
Later that afternoon, I caught sight of him again, this time outside the grocery store. I almost said something then but figured I’d let him settle in first.
It wasn’t long before I heard the sound of something hitting the ground. Groceries. I turned to see him kneeling on the pavement, staring at the mess in exasperation.
“Need a hand?”
He looked up, eyes wide for a split second before he scrambled for words. “Uh… You don’t have to—”
I was already walking over. “It’s no trouble. I’m Edward. I live next door.”
“Arkin,” he muttered, his face slightly flushed as I crouched beside him.
We picked up the scattered groceries together. A can of tuna had rolled under the gate, and I reached for it before he could. Holding up the torn bag, I smirked. “This bag’s done for.”
He laughed, shaking his head. “Yeah, I figured that out the hard way.”
Once everything was gathered, he invited me inside, offering iced tea and snacks as thanks. I hesitated for a second but then nodded.
The house was old, but it had charm. The scent of lavender clung to the air, mixing with dust and something else, memories, maybe. He’d done a decent job cleaning up, though.
“This place has potential,” I said, taking in the space. “A bit of work, and it could be really nice.”
“That’s the plan,” he replied, a small smile forming. “Though I might need a professional for some things.”
“Well, lucky for you, I’m a carpenter.” I grinned, watching his expression shift—surprise, relief, something else I couldn’t quite place.
He chuckled, looking more at ease than when I first saw him.
Maybe having a new neighbor wouldn’t be so bad after all.
***
Arkin's Point of View
The morning sunlight streamed into my room, warming the wooden floor and highlighting the bare walls. I stretched, feeling the dull ache in my arms and legs from yesterday’s cleaning spree. Sitting at the edge of the bed, I rubbed my eyes and sighed.
The house already felt a little more like home, though there was still so much to do. My mind, however, was annoyingly stuck on Edward, his easy smile, that deep voice that felt like it could ground me in the middle of a storm. I shook my head, forcing myself back to reality.
“Wag kang mag-ilusyon,” (don’t be delusional) I muttered, standing up and heading for the bathroom.
Over a breakfast of instant coffee and toast, my thoughts betrayed me again. The way Edward’s shoulders filled out his shirt, the way he carried himself, confident but not arrogant, played on a loop in my mind. I groaned, dropping my head into my hands. “Arkin, tama na,” (Arkin, enough) I told myself, using my inner voice to knock some sense into me.
By mid-morning, I found myself outside, battling the wilderness that had taken over my front yard. I’d found a rusty pair of shears in the shed, and with some gardening gloves, I dove headfirst into the chaos. Pulling weeds, trimming bushes, anything to stay busy and silence my overthinking brain.
I was so focused I didn’t even notice when someone approached until a familiar voice broke my concentration.
“You missed a spot.”
I jumped, nearly stabbing myself with the shears. When I turned, there he was, Edward, leaning casually against the fence, a steaming mug of coffee in his hand, and that same twinkle of amusement in his eyes.
“Morning,” he said, raising his mug in greeting.
“Morning,” I replied, trying not to sound as breathless as I felt.
He nodded at my shears. “Taking on the yard? That’s a big job for one person.”
I shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant. “Gotta start somewhere.”
Edward tilted his head, his gaze moving over the overgrown lawn. “I’ve got some tools you can borrow. Or better yet, I could help out if you’d like.”
The offer caught me off guard. Did I want his help? Yes. Was it a good idea? Probably not. But the thought of having him around was too tempting to pass up.
“If it’s not too much trouble…” I said, my voice hesitant.
He grinned. “Not at all. Let me grab my gloves.”
Within minutes, he was back, armed with heavy-duty gloves and a pair of hedge clippers that put my rusty shears to shame. We worked side by side, and to my surprise, conversation flowed easily. Edward told me about the neighborhood, pointing out houses and sharing little anecdotes.
“That blue house over there?” He nodded toward a cheerful home a few doors down. “Mrs. Lancaster lives there. She bakes cookies that are almost too good. If she catches you outside, expect to leave with a plateful.”
I chuckled. “Noted. I could definitely use some cookies in my life.”
“Who couldn’t?” he replied with a grin, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
As we worked, I found myself stealing glances, watching the way his muscles flexed with each movement, or how the sunlight caught the streaks of silver In his hair. I caught myself every time, silently scolding my wandering thoughts.
“Do you have family nearby?” I asked, needing a distraction.
“Just my daughter,” Edward said. “She’s sixteen. Thinks she knows everything.”
I laughed. “Sounds like a handful.”
“Oh, it is,” he said with an exaggerated grimace, though the fondness in his voice was unmistakable.
By late afternoon, the yard looked a hundred times better. Edward stepped back, surveying our work with a satisfied nod. “Not bad for a day’s work,” he said, clapping me on the shoulder.
That simple touch sent a jolt straight through me, but I managed to smile. “Thanks for helping. I owe you one.”
He waved it off. “Don’t worry about it. But if you ever get tired of eating noodles, let me know. I’m a decent cook.”
I laughed, though my stomach flipped at the thought of sharing a meal with him. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
As Edward walked back to his house, I watched him go, a mix of gratitude and something else I couldn’t quite name swirling inside me. He was kind, generous, a good neighbor. But the last thing I needed was to complicate this fresh start with feelings that I wasn’t ready to act on.
Later, as I sat on the porch steps, watching the sun dip below the horizon, I reminded myself of one thing: Edward might be the kind of man who felt like home, but for now, a kind neighbor was all I needed him to be. Anything more was a risk I wasn’t ready to take.
Edward's Point of View
The morning was crisp, the kind of coolness that made the first sip of coffee even better. I stepped onto my porch, mug in hand, and took in the view of the quiet street. It had been a while since I had a neighbor next door. The house had sat empty for months, gathering dust and weeds.
But not anymore.
I glanced toward the yard next door, where Arkin was already knee-deep in overgrown grass, wielding a pair of rusty shears like he was fighting for his life. His expression was one of fierce determination, and I had to bite back a chuckle.
Guy had guts, I’d give him that.
I leaned against the fence, lifting my mug slightly. "You missed a spot."
The way he jumped nearly made me spill my coffee. He turned to face me, eyes wide, his grip tightening on the shears. Then, recognition flickered across his face, and he relaxed, just a little.
“Morning,” I said, watching as he straightened up, trying not to look winded.
"Morning," he replied, his voice steady, but there was something else there, like he wasn’t expecting company this early.
I nodded toward the chaos of his yard. "Taking on the yard? That’s a big job for one person."
He shrugged. “Gotta start somewhere.”
I could respect that. The place needed work, but he was putting in the effort. That kind of determination wasn’t something you saw every day.
"I’ve got some tools you can borrow," I offered. "Or better yet, I could help out if you’d like."
For a second, he hesitated. I could see the wheels turning in his head, weighing whether to accept.
“If it’s not too much trouble…” he finally said.
I grinned. “Not at all. Let me grab my gloves.”
A few minutes later, I was back, hedge clippers in hand. We worked side by side, and to my surprise, conversation came easy. I told him a little about the neighborhood, pointing out who lived where, dropping tidbits of small-town wisdom.
I gestured toward a blue house down the street. “Mrs. Lancaster lives there. She bakes cookies that are almost too good. If she catches you outside, expect to leave with a plateful.”
Arkin chuckled. “Noted. I could definitely use some cookies in my life.”
“Who couldn’t?” I smirked, taking a swipe at a stubborn bush.
I noticed him sneaking glances now and then, but he probably thought I didn’t. I pretended not to notice, giving him space. I wasn’t blind, I knew what those looks meant. But I also knew when someone wasn’t ready to act on them.
“Do you have family nearby?” he asked after a while.
“Just my daughter,” I said. “She’s sixteen. Thinks she knows everything.”
Arkin laughed, the sound light and easy. “Sounds like a handful.”
“Oh, it is,” I said with a dramatic sigh. But no matter how much she drove me crazy, my daughter was my world.
By the time the sun was leaning west, the yard looked a whole lot better. I stepped back, nodding in approval. “Not bad for a day’s work,” I said, clapping him on the shoulder.
I felt him stiffen, just a little, before he masked it with a grin.
“Thanks for helping. I owe you one,” he said.
I waved him off. “Don’t worry about it. But if you ever get tired of eating noodles, let me know. I’m a decent cook.”
His laugh was short but genuine. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
As I walked back to my house, I felt his gaze on my back. I didn’t turn around.
I knew what he was thinking.
