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Coming back home requires ten-day hotel quarantine + a four-day home quarantine. I knew it was a ‘working quarantine,’ and I had books anyway, but I also subscribed to Netflix (finally) because I know I’d have a lot of free time.

Death by Jasmine Rice

The hotel provided our three meals. They’d ring the doorbell at certain times of the day: 730am, 1130am, and 530pm. I’d open the door and see the food on the chair outside my door.

I loved the breakfasts because I haven’t eaten tocino and longganisa for over a year. But funnily enough, one of the breakfasts was canned tuna, and I laughed and didn’t dare touch it. I have seen tuna for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the past year and almost a half, and it wouldn’t hurt me if I’d stay away from it for weeks.

But what surprised me was the amount of rice they put into the container. Usually, it’s half, and sometimes, it occupies the whole container.

Dance Like No One’s Watching

I needed exercise with the amount of rice I have been eating. And the only activity I found fit and enjoyable was Zumba. I danced in front of the floor-to-ceiling glass window because there was no other area where I could do it. I knew no one would see me since I was on the 20th floor unless someone from the other buildings has binoculars.

So I danced, from Material Girl to Bye Bye Bye, from Dahil Sa’yo to Senorita. I danced, like no one’s watching. I hoped so.

Netflixing

The Umbrella Academy

The Umbrella Academy revolves around a dysfunctional family of adopted sibling superheroes born on the same day and same year into different mothers who suddenly got pregnant mysteriously. They reunited upon the death of their father and tried to resolve an imminent apocalypse.

This was the first and foremost on my to-watch list. When I found out that the writer of this series is Gerard Way, I almost fainted (an exaggeration, of course), but, really I was super excited (imagine me saying this in a fangirling way).

 I researched the series (when I was still not subscribed to Netflix), because I thought it might be just like another version of Marvel Heroes. But, as always, nothing is new. We read or watch the same stories over and over again. The difference lies in the storytelling.

The characters are all unique. Each one has strengths and weaknesses. They might have powers, but their flaws make them human. I am trying to choose my favorite, but I cannot. However, I have a very soft spot for Klaus and Five. Five was an a*hole, but I still like him.

I like the concept of The Commission, controlling timelines and stuff. Brilliant.

It’s so dark. I feel it’s so My Chemical Romance, especially when I saw the war that Klaus went into. It reminded me so much of the music video of The Ghost of You.

Lupin

Lupin is about the story of Assane, who sets out to get revenge for his father’s unfortunate frame up and untimely demise, using strategies inspired by Arsène Lupin.

I watched the Lupin III Japanese cartoon series where we had Lupin, Zigen, Fujiko, and Goemon, so I wondered why this was in French. So after further research, it is originally French.

I love the series and its unpredictability. Although, I wonder why they chose Omar Sy as Lupin. Lupin should be able to blend in well. That’s why it wasn’t easy to catch him. But Omar Sy was so distinctive, even if he was in disguise.

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before is a story about a shy high school girl Lara Jean, who wrote secret love letters to her five crushes and kept it in her closet. Surprise, surprise! Her younger sister sent it to the five guys, and you can already imagine how it goes from that.

I have wanted to watch this because it looked so cute. And it is cute, but I am too old for this movie. It’s a good movie if you want something light, refreshing, and maybe if you’d like to reminisce your high school days. But I won’t watch the part 2 and 3 anytime soon. It’s too cute for me.

The Queen’s Gambit

The Queen’s Gambit is about an orphan, Elizabeth Harmon, a chess prodigy. Elizabeth’s aim is always to win and to be the world’s greatest chess player. That, while battling emotional problems and drugs and alcohol dependency.

I wasn’t interested in this series before because why would I watch a series that is all about chess? Please. Why would a person like me who gets a checkmate just after three moves want to watch it? But then, since it’s a free play and pause and exit, I watched it. And surprise, surprise! I couldn’t stop watching it.

I cried when Mr. Shaibel died. I loved their relationship, an orphan in a women’s dormitory and a school janitor who spent time in the basement storage playing chess.

I liked the series. But that doesn’t mean I’ll meet the chessboard anytime soon.

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So apart from working, dancing, eating, sleeping, Netflixing, reading, and writing, I watched the world pass by from my window. And there went my ten days.

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All the images above are not mine.

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