Chapter 1
Jasmine's fingers hovered over her keyboard, the glow of multiple browser tabs reflecting off her glasses. The same property listing had stayed open for the past hour - a cozy villa nestled in the mountains of Sagada. Pine trees framed the wraparound porch, and morning fog drifted through the valley below like nature's own screensaver.
She minimized her work project, a half-finished sound file for the game studio's latest RPG. The piece needed something - maybe the ambient sounds of actual mountain winds rather than synthesized ones. Her mind wandered to the thought of composing with that view before her.
"This is crazy," she muttered, adjusting her messy ponytail while scrolling through more photos. The interior showed a modern workspace, fast internet according to the listing, and a kitchen that made her heart skip. The stone countertops and gas range would be perfect for experimenting with local ingredients.
Her phone felt heavy in her hand as she pulled up the owner's contact information. Three months in Sagada. It could work - she'd been doing remote work for over a year now. Why stay cooped up in her apartment when she could...
The phone rang twice before a warm voice answered.
"Hi, I'm calling about the villa rental?" Jasmine's voice cracked slightly. She cleared her throat. "The one with the mountain view?"
"Ah yes, the Pine View property." The owner's cheerful tone helped ease Jasmine's nerves. "For weekend stay po ba miss?"
"Actually..." Jasmine's fingers drummed against her desk. "I was hoping for something longer. Three months, maybe?"
She outlined her needs - stable internet, quiet workspace, kitchen amenities. With each requirement checked off, the dream solidified. Not just Sagada either - why not explore more? The Philippines had so many hidden corners she'd never seen.
"Available po ang property next week." The owner's words sent a flutter through Jasmine's stomach. "Shall I send over the booking details?"
Jasmine glanced at her current view - a concrete wall outside her window, the hum of city traffic below. Then back at the villa photos, where morning light spilled across wooden floors and mist clung to distant peaks.
"Yes," she said, surprising herself with the firmness in her voice. "Yes, please, pa-send nalang po. Thank you."
She opened her calendar and started blocking out dates, her mind already racing with possibilities. The sound of rushing mountain streams for her next soundtrack. Local coffee shops for working sessions. Maybe even some hiking trails when she needed breaks.
The confirmation email arrived with a soft ping. Jasmine clicked it open, a smile tugging at her lips as she began filling out the booking form.
»
The coffee shop buzzed with afternoon crowds, but Jasmine found comfort in the familiar corner booth where Coleen and Mia waited. Their hairstyle today and coordinated outfits made them look like they'd stepped out of a couple's Instagram post.
"You're going where?" Coleen's eyebrows shot up over her iced americano.
"Sagada." Jasmine pulled up the villa photos on her phone. "I already booked it for three months."
"Patingin!" Mia bounced in her seat, nearly knocking over her frappuccino. She snatched the phone and scrolled through the pictures. "Oh my god, Jas, ang ganda naman ng place!"
Coleen leaned over her girlfriend's shoulder, her expression shifting from skeptical to thoughtful. "Mhmm ganda din ng kitchen. Pero three months? Na ikaw lang mag-isa?"
"Kailangan ko ng inspiration for work." Jasmine fidgeted with her glasses. "The current project needs authentic mountain sounds, and I thought-"
"Kaya naisipan mo umakyat sa bundok at mag-stay ng tatlong buwan doon?" Coleen's tone carried that familiar big-sister concern. "Remember freshman year mo? 'di ka nga maka-order ng food delivery without having me talk to the driver?"
"That was four years ago! Ang tagal na nun, Ate Coleen." Heat crept up Jasmine's neck. "Kaya ko naman na ngayon."
Mia placed a gentle hand on Coleen's arm. "Babe, ayan ka na naman. Malaki na si Jas. Look how excited she is."
"I've been doing remote work anyway," Jasmine continued, drawing confidence from Mia's encouraging smile. "The internet's solid there, and the kitchen..." She pulled up another photo. "I could try all those local recipes we talked about."
"The ones from my lola?" Mia's eyes lit up. "Magsend ka ng pictures if you make her pinikpikan recipe!"
"That's assuming she doesn't burn down this beautiful villa," Coleen smirked, but her eyes softened. "Gusto mo talagang gawin 'to, huh?"
Jasmine nodded, her ponytail bobbing. "I need... something different. Something real for my music."
"Then you should go." Mia squeezed Coleen's hand before her girlfriend could protest. "But you better video call us at least twice a week."
"Every other day dapat," Coleen corrected, pointing her straw at Jasmine. "And text us when you arrive. And share your location. And-"
"I will, Ate." Jasmine laughed, the tension in her shoulders easing. "I promise."
Back in her apartment, Jasmine opened her closet and pulled out her largest suitcase. The burgundy case had gathered dust since her last trip - a quick weekend getaway to the beach two years ago. Her reflection in the mirror caught her eye as she reached for the top shelf. The messy ponytail had come loose, strands of black hair falling around her face.
She dragged the suitcase to her bed and unzipped it, releasing a puff of musty air. Three months. The reality of her decision settled in her stomach like a stone. What did one pack for three months in the mountains?
Her laptop came first, nestled in its protective sleeve. Then her audio interface and compact midi keyboard - essential tools for capturing those mountain sounds. She folded her favorite oversized sweaters, perfect for cool mountain mornings.
The kitchen tools were harder to choose. Her beloved chef's knife, carefully wrapped in a kitchen towel. The small digital scale for baking. Her collection of spices...
"Doon nalang ako bibili ng spices," she told herself, but still tucked a few essential blends into a ziplock bag.
Her phone buzzed with a message from Mia: "'Wag mong kalimutan hiking boots mo! 🏔️"
Hiking boots. Right. Jasmine dug through her closet until she found the barely-used pair she'd bought for a team-building event last year. They still looked new, the brown leather unmarked by adventure.
She sat on her bed, holding the boots. The city lights twinkled through her window, a view she'd looked at every night for the past two years. Soon it would be stars instead, unobstructed by skyscrapers and pollution. The thought both thrilled and terrified her.
Her computer chimed with a new email - final confirmation from the villa owner, along with detailed directions and local contact information. Jasmine read through it twice, adding important numbers to her phone. The owner had included photos of nearby hiking trails and a list of local markets.
The markets. Her heart quickened at the thought of exploring them, finding ingredients she'd only read about in Mia's lola's recipes. She could almost smell the mountain coffee, the fresh vegetables, the...
Another message from Mia interrupted her daydream: "Gumagawa si Coleen ng safety checklist for you 😅"
Jasmine smiled, imagining her friend's detailed spreadsheet. She typed back: "Tell her I already packed my first aid kit."
She hadn't, actually. She added it to her mental packing list, along with her prescription medications and extra contacts. The suitcase was already half full, and she hadn't even started on her clothes yet.
»
The morning sun painted long shadows across Jasmine's driveway as she tetris-ed the last box into her car trunk. Her audio equipment took up most of the space, carefully cushioned between sweaters and towels.
"Wait!" Coleen rushed over with a thick envelope. "Emergency contacts, local hospital numbers, and printed maps in case mamatay phone mo."
"And snacks!" Mia appeared with a canvas bag full of chips and drinks. "Road trip essentials."
Jasmine accepted both, touched by their concern. "You guys didn't have to-"
"Checklist time!" Coleen pulled out her phone. "Prescription meds?"
"Front pocket of my backpack."
"First aid kit?"
"Under the passenger seat."
"Portable charger?"
"Two of them." Jasmine pointed to her glove compartment.
The list went on until Coleen ran out of items. They stood in awkward silence before Mia broke first, wrapping Jasmine in a tight hug.
"Ingat sa pag-drive, okay?" Mia's voice wavered. "Text us at every stop. If may time kami, bisitahin ka namin."
"At kumain ka ng maayos," Coleen joined the hug. "Not just coffee and chips."
The drive north stretched before her, familiar cityscape giving way to green hills. She stopped at a gas station after three hours, stretching her legs and sending the promised update to her friends. The bathroom mirror showed her disheveled reflection - hair escaping her ponytail, glasses slightly askew.
Four hours and two wrong turns later, Sagada's mountain air filled her lungs. The GPS signal wavered between peaks, and the villa's address led her down three dead ends before she called the owner.
"Follow mo lang and path na may maraming pine trees," the owner guided her. "May makikita ka na stone wall on your right."
The villa emerged from behind tall trees, more beautiful than the photos. Wooden steps led to that wraparound porch she'd dreamed about, and the afternoon light caught the glass windows like fire.
Movement caught her eye - a car pulled into a driveway further up the hill. Through the trees, she glimpsed another villa, larger and more modern than her rental.
"Ah, you noticed the Arceta place," the owner said, following her gaze. "Ganda ng property na 'yan, pero minsan lang may bumibisita. Sayang, ganda pa naman ng view."
Jasmine nodded, still taking in her surroundings. Pine needles crunched under her feet as she followed the owner up the steps, the mountain air already feeling like home.
»
The morning mist parted as Jasmine stepped onto her porch, coffee mug warming her hands. Her first week in Sagada had settled into a comfortable rhythm - early mornings with her laptop, afternoons exploring local trails, and evenings experimenting in that dream kitchen.
Her phone buzzed with Coleen's daily check-in. "Nag-breakfast ka na?"
Jasmine snapped a photo of her coffee and the fresh pandesal from the bakery down the road. The old couple who ran it had already memorized her order, throwing in extra pieces whenever she stopped by.
The sound of rushing water from the nearby stream filled her headphones as she recorded. Perfect for the game's river crossing scene. She adjusted her microphone settings, capturing the subtle variations in the flow.
"Fresh gulay!" A voice called from the road. The local vendor, Mae, waved from her small truck. Jasmine had discovered her on day three, drawn by the scent of fresh herbs.
"May ginger ka po?" Jasmine called back, already heading down the steps.
"Special price para sa'yo." Mae's weathered face crinkled with a smile.
Jasmine selected ginger, lemongrass, and whatever else caught her eye. Her kitchen counter soon overflowed with produce, inspiring another attempt at Mia's lola's recipes.
Her video call with Mia that evening showcased her latest culinary experiment.
"Wow! Mukhang masarap ah." Mia leaned closer to her screen. "But did you remember to-"
"Toast the garlic first?" Jasmine lifted a spoonful. "I learned after last time."
Between work sessions, she discovered hidden coffee shops tucked into the mountainside. The owner of Mountain Brew recognized her laptop setup and offered her a quiet corner with the best wifi signal. She'd spend hours there, mixing game soundtracks while sipping their house blend.
"You're looking more relaxed," Coleen noted during their next call. "The mountain air suits you."
It did. Even the occasional power outage didn't bother her anymore. She'd light candles, open her windows to the pine-scented breeze, and work on composition ideas in her notebook.
Her morning hikes grew longer as she mapped out the local trails. The sound of birds calling through the mist, the crunch of pine needles underfoot - all found their way into her audio files. The game studio loved her latest submissions, praising the authentic feel of her nature sounds.
"Just don't get too comfortable up there," Coleen warned during their weekly group chat. "Remember you're coming back in three months."
Jasmine glanced at the view outside her window, at the mountains turning gold in the sunset. Three months suddenly felt too short.
»
Avery's eyes darted between multiple screens, tracking the volatile movements of her crypto investments. The markets had been a rollercoaster lately, but she'd learned to ride the waves with practiced calm. A notification popped up - another 20% gain on her latest position.
Her phone buzzed. Shay's contact photo lit up the screen.
"Ate!" Shay's voice burst through before Avery could say hello. "I need a huge favor."
"Let me guess - money?" Avery minimized a trading chart.
"No, no. Remember our villa in Sagada? The one we never use?"
"The mountain property? What about it?"
"Well, Gil, Starr, MJ and I were thinking of spending summer break there. But Mom and Dad-"
"Won't approve of four college students alone in a mountain villa?" Avery's lips curved into a knowing smile.
"Exactly! But if someone responsible was there..." Shay's voice took on that pleading tone she'd perfected since childhood.
Avery glanced at her trading screens. She'd been cooped up in her penthouse for weeks, living off delivery and market analysis. The thought of mountain air and a change of scenery...
"So gusto mo akong mag-babysit?"
"Supervise naman! Sige na, Ate. You can do your crypto stuff from anywhere naman. And the villa has great internet now."
Avery leaned back in her chair. "Kailan ba?"
"Next week? Please?" The hope in Shay's voice was palpable. "Gil's already planned all these hiking trips, and MJ found this amazing coffee place-"
"Okay."
"Wait, talaga?"
"Why not? I could use a vacation." Avery pulled up her calendar. "Pero kayo magluluto."
"Deal! Gil's going to be so excited. Thank you, thank you!"
After hanging up, Avery opened the villa's photos on her laptop. The last time she'd visited was years ago, before her crypto success, before the responsibility of being the "sensible" older sister.
She texted her assistant to arrange for the villa's preparation. Maybe a mountain break was exactly what she needed - fresh air, quiet mornings, and the entertainment of watching her sister and friends attempt to adult.
»
Avery's hands gripped the steering wheel as her SUV wound through the mountain roads. The morning sun filtered through pine trees, casting dappled shadows across the hood. She glanced in the rearview mirror, catching Gillian's peaceful expression as she leaned against the window, headphones in place.
"I spy with my little eye..." Shay bounced in the passenger seat.
"A tree," MJ deadpanned from the back.
"How did you know?"
"Because that's all we've seen for the past hour."
Avery adjusted her sunglasses. "Speaking of survival in the wilderness, who's handling the cooking duties?"
The car fell silent. Even Shay stopped bouncing.
"I can make binangkal," Gillian offered, pulling out one earbud.
"That's... bread. A very hard bread." Avery's dimples appeared as she fought back a laugh. "What about actual meals?"
Shay raised her hand like an eager student. "I've mastered the art of pancit canton! And hotdogs. I can cut them into octopus shapes."
"We're not living off instant noodles for two weeks." Avery merged onto a narrower road. "Anyone else?"
"Sinigang," Starr said, examining her nails. "But only if someone else cuts the vegetables."
"I thought you said you were a cooking expert?" Shay twisted around to face her.
"I am. At eating."
"What about you, MJ?"
MJ just smiled, mysterious as ever.
"Great." Avery pinched the bridge of her nose. "So between the five of us, may noodles, hotdogs, sinigang at matigas na tinapay."
"Very aesthetic kaya ang octopus hotdog," Shay protested. "I learned it from TikTok."
"Mag-order tayo?" Gillian suggested.
"From where?" MJ snorted. "The nearest restaurant is few minutes away."
"Pwedi naman tayong mag-noodles," Shay brightened. "I packed like, twenty."
"Of course you did." Avery caught Gillian's eye in the mirror. "Your girlfriend's going to get scurvy."
"Bold of you to assume she doesn't already have it," Gillian replied with a straight face.
"Amaccana!" Shay swatted at Gillian, nearly knocking Avery's arm.
"No assaulting the driver!" Avery swerved dramatically, sending everyone sliding in their seats.
"At least we'll die before we have to cook," MJ muttered.
"Kaya ko nga magluto ng hotdog," Shay offered helpfully.
Avery pulled into the villa's circular driveway, gravel crunching under the SUV's tires. The property looked exactly as she remembered - a modern glass and wood masterpiece perched on the mountainside. Someone had maintained the gardens at least, the carefully trimmed hedges framing the entrance.
"Home sweet home!" Shay bounced out before the car fully stopped.
"Careful-" Avery's warning came too late as her sister stumbled on the uneven ground. Gillian caught her with practiced ease, as if she'd done this a thousand times before.
"I meant to do that." Shay straightened, brushing off her jeans.
Avery grabbed her designer weekend bag from the trunk, letting the others wrestle with their overpacked suitcases. The villa's key felt cool in her palm as she approached the front door. She paused, noticing movement at the neighboring property through the trees.
A figure in an oversized sweater stood on the porch, head bent over what looked like recording equipment. Dark hair pulled back in a messy ponytail, glasses catching the morning light. Not the usual type of neighbor Avery expected up here.
"Ate! Ang door?" MJ's voice snapped her attention back.
"Right." Avery unlocked the villa, breathing in the familiar scent of pine and polish. The cleaning service had done their job well - everything gleamed, from the hardwood floors to the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the valley.
"Dibs sa master bedroom!" Shay darted past.
"Nice try." Avery caught her sister's collar. "That's mine. I'm the responsible adult here, remember?"
"Since when?" But Shay's pout turned to excitement as she spotted the pool through the back windows. "Gil! They fixed the heating!"
Avery watched them scatter to claim rooms, feeling both amused and exhausted. Her gaze drifted back to the neighboring villa. The figure had disappeared, but soft music drifted through the trees - something haunting and beautiful that made her pause.
»
Avery stared at the sad remains of their latest culinary disaster. The kitchen counter held evidence of their collective failure - burnt fried rice, mysteriously tough chicken, and whatever that green thing was supposed to be. Even Shay's famous octopus hotdogs couldn't save them tonight.
"I can't eat another bowl of instant noodles." MJ sprawled across the couch, arm draped over her eyes. "My sodium levels are probably toxic by now."
"We could try the sinigang again-" Starr started.
"NO!" Four voices shouted in unison.
"It wasn't that bad," Starr muttered.
"Nasunog mo yung sinigang. How do you burn sinigang?" Avery rubbed her temples. Three days of takeout and failed cooking attempts had left them all cranky and hungry.
"Look!" Gillian pressed against the window. "The neighbor's back. May dalang groceries."
Avery joined her at the window. Through the trees, she spotted their mysterious neighbor juggling what looked like fresh produce and a cloth shopping bag.
"Oh yeah, I saw her buying stuff from a vegetable truck yesterday," MJ sat up. "She got really excited about something."
"Wait." Shay's eyes lit up with that dangerous gleam Avery knew too well. "What if we asked her to cook for us? Magbabayad lang tayo!"
"We can't just ask a stranger to cook for us," Avery protested, though her stomach growled at the thought of real food.
"Why not? Rich people hire personal chefs all the time." Shay bounced on her toes. "And I heard amazing smells coming from her place yesterday."
"That's because some of us know how to use a stove without setting off smoke alarms," Starr grumbled.
"One time lang eh!"
"Three times," Gillian corrected. "Ngayong araw lang."
"I still think we could try the sinigang again-"
"Starr, I love you, but if I see another bowl of that soup, I'm throwing myself off the mountain," MJ declared.
Avery watched their neighbor disappear inside her villa. The thought of another night of instant noodles made her stomach revolt. "Fine. Pero ako kakausap sa kanya. The rest of you stay here."
"But-" Shay started.
"Remember the bubble tea incident? When you tried to befriend the owner?"
Shay slumped. "She only banned me for a week."
"Pinaiyak mo siya."
"I was being friendly!"
"You asked if she was single and tried to set her up with our cousin. In front of her husband."
Avery smoothed down her silk blouse and checked her reflection in the hallway mirror. Her dimples appeared as she practiced her most charming smile - the one that had closed million-peso deals. This was ridiculous. She was just asking a neighbor for help, not negotiating a merger.
The gravel crunched under her boots as she made her way down the winding path between properties. Pine needles scattered across her path, and the evening air carried the scent of something amazing cooking. Her stomach growled again, reminding her why she was here.
She climbed the wooden steps to the neighbor's porch, noting the recording equipment still set up near a comfortable-looking chair. The haunting melody she'd heard earlier played softly through headphones left draped over the microphone stand.
Avery knocked on the door, then stepped back. Movement inside - footsteps approaching. The door opened, and she found herself face to face with their mysterious neighbor. Up close, the woman was prettier than she'd expected, with delicate features partially hidden behind oversized glasses.
"Hi!" Avery flashed her practiced smile. "I'm Avery. Avery Vivienne Arceta, from next door. I noticed you seemed to know your way around a kitchen, and I have a somewhat unusual proposition for you."
The woman blinked, clutching the door frame like a shield. A smudge of flour dusted her cheek, and something that smelled divine wafted from inside.
"I'm not trying to sell you anything," Avery added quickly, realizing how she must sound. "It's just... my sister and her friends are staying with me, and we're all completely hopeless at cooking. We've nearly burned down the kitchen three times today alone."
A small smile tugged at the woman's lips, and Avery felt a flutter of hope.
"Would you consider cooking for us? Magbabayad kami, of course. Honestly, you'd be saving us from a diet of instant noodles and questionably shaped hotdogs."
The woman's dark eyes widened behind her glasses. Avery caught the faintest scent of ginger and spices from inside, making her mouth water. The silence stretched, and she fought the urge to fill it with more words - a habit her business professors had worked hard to break.
"I'm Jasmine. Jasmine Celine Robles," the woman said at last, her voice soft but clear. "And... you want me to cook for you?"
"Yes. Please." Avery's dimples deepened. "I promise 'di kami serial killers. Just five disaster-prone individuals who shouldn't be allowed near open flames."
A hint of a smile crossed Jasmine's face. She brushed a loose strand of black hair behind her ear, revealing a row of small silver earrings. "I'm actually in the middle of making dinner now. Would you like to try it first?"
"That would be perfect." The words tumbled out before Avery could maintain her usual composed demeanor. The prospect of real food had her practically bouncing on her toes like Shay.
"Give me ten minutes?" Jasmine gestured vaguely inside. "I'll bring some over."
"You're a lifesaver." Avery resisted the urge to hug her. "Literally. I think one more night of instant noodles might kill us."
Back at the villa, Avery found everyone pressed against the windows like eager puppies.
"Well?" Shay bounced over. "Pumayag ba siya? Is she coming? Nakita mo ba niluluto niya?"
"Down, girl." Avery shooed them away from the windows. "She's bringing over samples in a few minutes. Try to act normal."
"Define normal," MJ drawled from the couch.
"Just... less..." Avery waved her hand at their collective eagerness. "Less everything."
A knock at the door sent them all jumping. Avery smoothed her expression and opened it to find Jasmine holding a covered dish, steam curling from the edges.
Jasmine stood in the doorway, looking even more ethereal in the villa's warm lighting. The covered dish in her hands sent tendrils of an aroma that made Avery's mouth water - something rich with garlic, herbs, and spices she couldn't name.
"Pasok ka," Avery stepped aside, hyper-aware of the others trying (and failing) to look casual. Shay perched on the edge of the couch like she might explode from contained excitement, while Gillian kept a steadying hand on her girlfriend's shoulder.
Jasmine moved with unexpected grace to the kitchen counter, her oversized sweater sleeves pushed up to reveal delicate wrists adorned with thin silver bracelets. She set down the dish and removed the cover with a practiced motion.
Steam rose from what appeared to be some kind of braised meat dish, the sauce dark and glossy. The scent hit Avery full force - complex layers of flavor that made their earlier cooking attempts seem like child's play.
"It's braised beef short ribs," Jasmine explained, her voice soft but clear. "With roasted vegetables and..." She trailed off as she noticed everyone gravitating toward the counter like moths to a flame.
"This looks incredible," Avery managed, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity while her stomach did backflips. The meat looked perfectly tender, falling off the bone at the slightest touch of the serving spoon Jasmine produced from somewhere.
MJ let out an actual whimper as Jasmine plated small portions for each of them. The vegetables were arranged with an artist's eye - carrots and mushrooms glazed in the same rich sauce, nestled against perfectly cooked greens.
Avery took her first bite and nearly forgot how to breathe. The meat melted on her tongue, the sauce complex and perfectly balanced. She caught Jasmine watching their reactions, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth.
"So," Jasmine tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "about that cooking arrangement..."
"Name your price," Avery said immediately, not caring if she sounded desperate. After days of burnt offerings and instant noodles, this taste of real food had broken any pretense of playing it cool.
Jasmine shook her head, dark hair swaying. "I couldn't take your money. It's just cooking."
"But-" Avery's protest died as Shay dove past her, snatching up a plate like it might disappear.
"Rice!" Gillian called from the kitchen. Thank god for rice cookers - the one piece of kitchen equipment they hadn't managed to destroy. The machine beeped its readiness, and Avery watched in mild horror as her sister practically threw herself across the counter to get to it first.
"Careful, it's still-" Jasmine started.
"Hot!" Shay yelped, juggling her overflowing plate.
MJ didn't even bother with ceremony, eating straight from her plate while standing at the counter. Her usual cool demeanor cracked as she made sounds Avery had never heard from her before.
"This is better than sex," MJ declared between bites.
Starr choked on her rice. "Andito ako."
"You heard me."
Avery felt her cheeks flush as she watched Jasmine take in their collective descent into chaos. The composer's eyes widened behind her glasses as Gillian, usually the voice of reason, elbowed Shay out of the way to get seconds.
"We're not usually this..." Avery gestured vaguely at the feeding frenzy. "Actually, no, this is pretty normal."
"Three days of instant noodles will do that," Jasmine said, a hint of amusement in her voice. She perched on one of the barstools, watching them devour her cooking with the fascination of someone observing a rare species in the wild.
"Okay naman yung octopus hotdogs na niluto ko," Shay mumbled through a mouthful.
"They were looking at me," MJ shot back. "Food shouldn't make eye contact."
Avery caught Jasmine hiding a smile behind her hand as they bickered. The composer's shoulders shook with silent laughter as Shay demonstrated her hotdog-cutting technique with increasingly dramatic gestures, nearly taking out a wine glass in the process.
"See? This is why we need you," Avery said. "Before someone gets stabbed with a fork over the last piece of beef."
"Huli ka na," Gillian deadpanned, pointing to where Starr and MJ were engaged in an intense standoff over the final short rib.
Avery's eyes widened as she realized their collective rudeness. "Oh god, they haven't even introduced their selves properly. These savages are-"
"Hey!" Shay protested through a mouthful of beef.
"That's my sister Shay, and her girlfriend Gillian." Avery pointed to each in turn. "And that's MJ and Starr, our neighbors from the city who followed us up here like stray cats."
"We brought wine," MJ said, finally victorious in her battle for the last short rib.
"What do you do?" Gillian asked Jasmine, ever the practical one.
"Hi, I'm Jasmine. I compose music for video games." Jasmine's voice was soft but clear. "I just finished the soundtrack for Ethereal Echoes if you guys play that game."
The reaction was instant. Shay dropped her fork with a clatter. MJ's jaw went slack.
"No way." Shay scrambled closer, nearly knocking over her chair. "The one with the haunting piano piece in the crystal caverns? Where the notes echo off the walls and change based on your character's emotions?"
Jasmine nodded, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
"I cried during that scene!" MJ abandoned her plate. "The way the music built up when-"
"When you find your sister's ghost?" Shay finished. "Same!"
Avery watched in amusement as her usually composed friend and hurricane of a sister bombarded Jasmine with questions about the game.
"What about you all?" Jasmine asked, clearly trying to deflect attention.
"I'm a professional chaos agent," Shay announced proudly.
"She means student," Gillian corrected.
"I invest in crypto," Avery said. "Which basically means I spend my days watching numbers go up and down while screaming internally."
"Sometimes externally," Shay added helpfully. "The neighbors called the police once because they thought someone was being murdered. It was just Ate watching Bitcoin crash."
"That was one time," Avery felt her cheeks warm.
"Three times," everyone corrected in unison.
"So how long are you staying up here?" Avery asked, trying to steer the conversation back to practical matters while Shay and MJ continued gushing about boss battle themes.
"A few months at least. I'm working on the soundtrack for the game's sequel." Jasmine gathered empty plates, stacking them with practiced efficiency.
"Perfect! Then you can cook for us the whole time-" Shay bounced in her seat.
"Just dinner would be fine," Avery cut in. "We can handle breakfast and lunch in town."
Jasmine shook her head. "Actually, I usually cook three meals. It helps me think between composing sessions. You could just... come over when the food's ready?"
"We can't impose like that," Avery protested, even as her stomach did a happy flip at the thought of never facing another burnt egg.
"It's no trouble. I always make too much anyway."
"At least let us pay for ingredients," MJ insisted. "Or we could do the shopping for you."
"And clean up!" Shay volunteered, earning skeptical looks from everyone who'd witnessed her attempts at dishwashing. "What? I can clean!"
"You broke three plates yesterday. While they were dry." Gillian patted her girlfriend's hand.
"They were slippery!"
"They were sitting in the rack."
Jasmine's quiet laugh interrupted their bickering. "How about this - you can handle ingredients and cleanup, and I'll take care of the actual cooking?"
"Deal!" Avery stuck out her hand before anyone could argue. "Though I warn you, letting this lot loose in a grocery store is like unleashing toddlers in a candy shop."
"I resent that comparison." MJ crossed her arms. "I have excellent impulse control."
"You bought seventeen types of instant noodles yesterday."
"They were on sale!"
Jasmine gathered her things, still smiling. "I should head back. I'm thinking tocino for breakfast tomorrow? Around eight?"
The collective cheer that went up could probably be heard across the mountain. Avery felt her cheeks flush at their enthusiasm, but Jasmine just laughed again, the sound light and musical.
"Eight it is then. Try not to burn anything down before morning."
"No promises!" Shay called after her as she left.
Avery watched their new chef disappear down the path, then turned to find everyone staring at her with identical grins.
"What?"
"Nothing," MJ drawled. "Just noticed you couldn't take your eyes off our new neighbor."
"I was being polite!"
"Mhmm. Very polite. Especially when she was reaching for those high shelves-"
Avery threw a dish towel at her friend's face.
Avery tried to focus on cleaning up, but her friends' knowing grins made it impossible to maintain her composure.
"Those short ribs though." Shay sprawled across the couch, patting her stomach. "Ate, you need to wife her up immediately. Like, noong isang araw pa dapat."
"I just met her!" Avery stacked plates with more force than necessary.
"But did you see how perfectly that meat fell off the bone?" Starr's eyes glazed over at the memory. "I second the motion. Put a ring on it."
MJ stretched lazily. "Plus, she's gorgeous in that quiet, mysterious way. Those eyes behind those glasses..." She trailed off as Starr's head snapped toward her. "What? I'm just stating facts."
"Keep stating facts and you'll be sleeping on the couch," Starr muttered.
"Gillian bro, back me up here." MJ dodged a throw pillow from her girlfriend.
"She is pretty," Gillian shrugged. "In an ethereal sort of way."
Avery's mind wandered to Jasmine's delicate features, the way her hair fell across her face when she cooked, those subtle light brown flecks in her eyes- She shook her head. Nope. Not going there.
"See?" Shay bounced up. "Even Gillian agrees! And you're the only single one here, Ate. Time to make landi!"
"I am not going to flirt with our neighbor just because she can cook," Avery protested, even as her brain helpfully supplied images of Jasmine's graceful movements in the kitchen.
"Sure, just keep staring at her like she's the last piece of short rib," MJ smirked.
"I wasn't-"
"You totally were." Shay grinned. "You had the same look you get when watching crypto prices spike."
"That's... that's not even close to the same thing!"
"Right, because this time you were practically drooling," Starr added.
"That was because of the food!"
"The food, or the chef?" MJ waggled her eyebrows.
Avery threw another dish towel, but her aim was off - probably because she couldn't stop thinking about the way Jasmine's sweater had slipped off one shoulder as she plated their food.
"I hate all of you," she declared, but her dimples betrayed her as she fought back a smile.
"No you don't," Shay sang. "You love us. Almost as much as you love our new neighbor's-"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence!"
"-cooking," Shay finished innocently. "Ano ba iniisip mo na sasabihin ko?"
Avery busied herself with cleaning the kitchen, trying to ignore the knowing looks from her friends. The dishes clinked together as she stacked them with more force than necessary, her mind wandering back to Jasmine's quiet grace in the kitchen.
"So what's the game plan for tomorrow's grocery run?" MJ stretched out on the couch, her feet propped up on Starr's lap.
"We are not letting Shay anywhere near the vegetable section after last time," Avery said, pointing a soapy spatula at her sister.
"That old lady started it!" Shay protested. "She was squeezing all the tomatoes!"
"You lectured her for ten minutes about proper tomato handling!"
"Someone had to stand up for those poor abused tomatoes."
Gillian pulled Shay back down onto the couch before she could demonstrate her point with increasingly dramatic gestures. "How about MJ and I handle the shopping? We're the only ones who actually read recipes."
"Excuse you, marunong ako magbasa ng recipes," Avery huffed, though the smoke detector incident from yesterday suggested otherwise.
"Reading them and following them are different things, Ate." Shay grinned. "Remember the salt and sugar mix-up?"
"Isang beses lang 'yun!"
"The cookies tasted like the ocean," MJ deadpanned. "And not in a good way."
Avery threw her hands up, sending soap bubbles flying. "Fine! You two handle the shopping. But no more seventeen types of instant noodles."
"Naka-sale nga kasi!" MJ and Shay protested in unison.
The conversation devolved into a debate about proper noodle-to-human ratios while Avery finished the dishes. She found herself glancing out the window toward Jasmine's villa, where warm light spilled from the kitchen windows. A shadow moved across the glass - probably Jasmine working on her next culinary masterpiece.
Not that Avery was watching. She was just... being observant. Of their new neighbor. Who happened to be an amazing cook. And composer. And...
"Earth to Ate!" Shay waved a hand in front of her face. "Baka maubos mo na sabon kakahugas ng isang plato."
Avery startled, realizing she'd been scrubbing the same spot for several minutes. "I was thinking about... groceries."
"Sure you were." MJ's knowing smirk made Avery want to throw another dish towel at her. "Groceries with long black hair and composer hands."
"That's it, you're banned from wine nights," Avery pointed the sink sprayer threateningly at her friend. "Forever."