After arriving in Guadalupe, near the church, Reese took a moment to place himself in the bustling neighborhood. With the sound of church bells ringing in the distance, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, dialing the number of Mrs. Nida Ramos, the landlady of the boarding house he was interested in.
"Hello, Mrs. Ramos? This is Reese. I'm here to check out the boarding house," Reese said as Mrs. Ramos answered the call.
"Ah, Reese! You're already here. Wait for a moment; I'll be there shortly," Mrs. Ramos replied warmly.
Mrs. Ramos arrived at the designated meeting spot within minutes; her friendly smile was very welcoming. "Reese," she said warmly, extending her hand in greeting. "I'm glad you could make it. Follow me." Reese nodded as he followed Mrs. Ramos from behind.
As Mrs. Ramos led Reese through the bustling streets of Guadalupe towards the boarding house, Reese couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation building within him. He had expected another typical boarding house with shared rooms and communal facilities, so when Mrs. Ramos stopped in front of a gated small house, Reese couldn't hide his surprise.
His eyes widened in astonishment as he took in the quaint exterior of the house, its colorful facade standing out amidst the surrounding houses. "Wait, this is the boarding house?" Reese asked, unable to conceal his shock.
Mrs. Ramos chuckled warmly at Reese's reaction. "Yes, Reese, this is it," she confirmed, unlocking the gate and leading him inside. "I know it's not what you were expecting, but trust me, it's a hidden gem."
As they stepped into the cozy interior of the house, Reese's surprise only grew. He took in the small but well-appointed kitchen, the tidy bathroom, and the comfortable bedroom. The space was small but impeccably maintained, with modern furnishings and tasteful decor giving it a cozy yet stylish ambiance.
"This is incredible!" Reese exclaimed, his eyes darting around the room in amazement. "I never would have guessed that this was a boarding house."
Mrs. Ramos smiled, pleased by Reese's reaction. "I'm glad you like it, Reese. I've always believed in offering my tenants the best possible living experience," she explained. "And I think you'll find that this little house has everything you need and more."
As Reese stood in the cozy interior of the small gated house, marveling at its unexpected charm, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement tempered by curiosity. Turning to Mrs. Ramos, he hesitantly broached the subject of price, fully expecting the small house to come with a hefty price tag.
"Mrs. Ramos, this place is amazing," Reese began, his voice tinged with awe. "But I have to ask, how much is the rent?"
Mrs. Ramos smiled warmly at Reese's question, sensing his apprehension. "I'm glad you like it, Reese," she replied, her tone reassuring. "And don't worry, the rent is very affordable. It's only 3000 pesos per month."
Reese's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpectedly low price. "3000 pesos?" he repeated, unable to hide his astonishment. "But why is it so affordable? Is there a catch?"
Mrs. Ramos chuckled softly at Reese's reaction, understanding his skepticism. "No catch, Reese," she assured him. "You see, many people in this area rent out similar small houses as boarding houses. If I were to charge more than the others, no one would come to rent from me."
Reese nodded slowly, processing Mrs. Ramos's explanation. "I see," he murmured thoughtfully. "So it's more about staying competitive in the market than anything else."
"Exactly," Mrs. Ramos confirmed with a nod. "I believe in offering quality accommodation at an affordable price. That way, everyone wins."
Grateful for Mrs. Ramos's transparency and honesty, Reese felt a wave of relief wash over him. "Thank you, Mrs. Ramos," he said sincerely. "I really appreciate your honesty. This place is perfect for me."
With a warm smile, Mrs. Ramos handed Reese the rental agreement to review. Reese scanned the document and signed it.
After signing the rental agreement with Mrs. Ramos, Reese felt a surge of excitement as he realized he was one step closer to moving into his new rental home. When Mrs. Ramos asked him when he planned to move in, Reese surprised her with his response.
"I'd like to move in now, if that's alright," Reese said, his tone eager.
Mrs. Ramos looked at Reese skeptically, her eyebrows raised in surprise. "Now?" she repeated, glancing around the room. "But you don't have any belongings with you. Not even a bag."
Reese then realized that he did not take his things out of the Amethyst Orb while still in the cab. 'Shit!' Reese thought as he tried to figure out what to say to Mrs. Ramos.
Reese grinned sheepishly, realizing that he hadn't thought this part through. "Uhm, I know it's a bit unconventional," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "But I will return here after I take my belongings in the cab," Reese lied.
Realization dawned on Mrs. Ramos. "Oh, so you left it in the cab; why didn't you say so?" she said. "Wait here; I will call someone to help you carry your bags here," Mrs. Ramos said thoughtfully.
Panic surged through Reese as he realized he had dug himself into a deeper hole. "Oh, um, actually, Mrs. Ramos, I forgot to mention... uh... the taxi... it, uh, left already," he stammered, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
Mrs. Ramos raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "The taxi left already?" she repeated, her tone dubious.
"Yes, yes, that's right," Reese babbled, trying to think of a plausible excuse. "You know how it is, taxis are always in a hurry, right? They just come and go like... like... like taxis!"
Mrs. Ramos couldn't help but suppress a laugh at Reese's flustered attempt at an explanation. "I see," she said, trying to hide her amusement. "Well, in that case, just call me when you need anything."
Relieved that Mrs. Ramos seemed willing to let the matter drop, Reese let out a sigh of relief. "I will, Mrs. Ramos. You're very understanding. Thank you," he said gratefully.
With a knowing smile, Mrs. Ramos patted Reese on the shoulder as she walked out of the door. "No problem, Reese," she said as she closed the door behind her.
As Mrs. Ramos closed the door behind her, Reese heaved a sigh of relief, finally feeling the weight of the day's events begin to lift from his shoulders. With the privacy of his new rented home, he wasted no time retrieving his belongings from the Amethyst Orb.
With a flick of his wrist, Reese quickly rummaged through the contents, pulling out his bags filled with clothes, his trusty mattress, fluffy pillows, and essential items like his electric fan.
With practiced efficiency, Reese began unpacking his belongings, carefully placing his clothes in the wardrobe and arranging his mattress and pillows in the bedroom. The electric fan found its place in a corner of the room, ready to provide cool relief during the warm Cebu days.
As Reese finally settled onto his bed, feeling the weight of the day's events slowly melting away, he couldn't resist the temptation to spread his spiritual sense to get a sense of his new surroundings. It was a habit he had developed over time, a way to gauge the energy of his environment and ensure his own safety and comfort.
But as his spiritual sense extended beyond the confines of his cozy little house, Reese was met with a surprising sight that caught him off guard. His neighbors were engaged in an intimate moment that Reese had not anticipated witnessing.
'Damn it! This is exactly why I don't use my spiritual sense at home.' Just thinking about it makes his hair stand on end.
A blush rose to Reese's cheeks as he quickly retracted his spiritual sense, or he might see things he shouldn't see, feeling a mix of embarrassment and discomfort at intruding on his neighbors' privacy. He hadn't meant to stumble upon such a private moment, and he couldn't help but feel guilty for inadvertently invading their space.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Reese resolved to be more mindful in the future and respect his neighbors' privacy. As he closed his eyes and tried to push the unexpected sight from his mind, Reese couldn't help but chuckle softly at the absurdity of the situation. It was certainly a memorable introduction to his new neighborhood in Guadalupe, one that he would not soon forget.