There are, I think, 27 units in each floor of the building I live in. There certainly are 27 units in this floor, mine included. And I do not know anyone who lives in those other flats.

At one point I did. I met a neighbor when we found ourselves evacuating the building due to a stronger-than-usual earthquake. All I knew is that her family owns two adjacent units and had the walls knocked down, essentially turning two one-bedroom units into one big two-bedroom one. With two baths. Well, that's a typical two-bedroom unit here, but there would also be two kitchens, unless they had that changed too, which suggests the family has a lot of money... but I digress.

I only met her one more time, when we bumped into each other in the elevator lobby. I introduced her to... the former occupant of this flat, in an attempt to be neighborly, and... I suppose she found it awkward. I haven't seen her since, although I don't think it's because of that encounter. I think the unit (or units?) got rented out instead.

It's partly one of the reasons why I don't know my neighbors. Most of the units here are for rent, and thus there was a revolving door of occupants. We - well, not me; I hadn't moved in yet - used to live next door to a bunch of Chinese men, likely working in one of those POGOs. The former occupant complained to security once because the neighbors were smoking so much that the smell of cigarettes crept into this flat - and considering there was a stairwell between us, that must have been a lot of smoke. (Also, smoking is not allowed here, even in your own unit, which I think is odd, even if I'm not a smoker.)

They eventually moved out in the early days of the pandemic - and that's probably also why I don't know anyone else who lives near me; because the units were empty for a good while, because no one could go anywhere. I've been here for over three years and the only consistently-occupied unit that I remember is this studio unit occupied by a family of three. Yes, I know, it's not a lot of space. Also, I'm not a stalker, but they always leave their door open and I can't help but see how... full their space is. Also, we do ride the same elevators. You cannot help it.

Only recently has there been some sort of stability in the occupancy rate of the units in my floor. In the last few months two families moved in, and they both have the same habit of keeping the door slightly open. Air circulation, likely. One always seems to be cooking, because whenever I walk past I smell... roast chicken? Or is it the air fryer? At one point I smelled binagoongan, which reminded me that, yes, I can cook with seafood now that no one who lives here is allergic to it. Only it wouldn't be worth it because I'm the only one who lives here. (And Bonkey, but then, his dietary requirements are vastly different.) The other, well, I don't know much, but their door is much more open, so you cannot help but really see inside. - and then you realize that they have more furniture than you. Or it's my insecurity talking.

The unit directly in front of me has also been empty for years. Sometimes I'd see some people tour it - potential renters, I assume - but nobody really moves in, at least not for long. Only a few months ago did someone move in and not leave after a few weeks or so. The unit owners seemed optimistic about it. I once struck up a conversation with them, and they said as much, that someone was moving on - and there was glee in their voice.

My cross-corridor neighbor is a couple. Domestic partners or married, I don't know. All I know is that they work at home and they go to the gym to work out at the time I have dinner. I've seen them a few times. In fact, I shared an elevator with one of them earlier, just before I wrote this; we both got food delivered. But I have never struck a conversation with them.

I feel they know me though, and probably have decided to avoid me. I mean, I scream in the flat, even if I try so hard not to, especially when Bonkey has the zoomies and almost breaks something and I'm in a terrible mood and just want to sleep. Why trust that guy? There's a reason why he's living alone, most likely... but anyway.

As for me, I will find it a little unsettling when I take a shower and see that their bathroom lights are also on. Again, I can't help but see it. I'm tall, I can see out the window, and my window is directly aligned with theirs. But the shower never seems to be on. Seated in the toilet, perhaps? Why should I care?