Absinthe

"Look!" I said, showing Jiwoo and the vendor the screen. "It unlocked using my Face ID!"

The vendor smiled at me and slowly turned to Jiwoo, who was frowning. Without a moment's notice, he bolted, leaving my phone behind. Within seconds, Jiwoo was a blur of white, running after him.

I didn't know what made me do it, but my feet started running on their own, as if afraid to get left behind. I ran and ran, trying to catch up to Jiwoo, bumping against pedestrians and sellers alike. I ran until my sides felt like they were being ripped apart, and my heart pounded like there was no tomorrow.

When I stopped, I bent over with my hands on my knees, trying my best to catch my breath and stabilize my heartbeat. My glasses and entire face were covered in sweat. I removed my specs and wiped them using the back of my now considerably wet shirt. My heart skipped a beat when I realized where I was the moment I slipped my glasses back on.

I was at the darker side of the district, that small stretch of dimly lit alleys right in the middle of Quiapo and Recto. The sky was blocked out by dilapidated tarpaulins and banners and crisscrossing balconies from the floors above. The alleys were filled with shabby-looking doors and an array of mostly murky liquids in glass jars of various sizes.

"Looking for something?"

I jumped, startled at the sound of a scary, pitchy female voice. I involuntarily made the sign of the cross even though it had been years since I'd given up on my salvation through Christianity.

"Relax," the vendor said, laughing. "Come. I'm sure I can get you something." She dragged me by the hand over to her stall and presented me with the products she had. There was an assortment of herbal medicine for diseases that don't have an FDA-approved cure—diabetes, all sorts of cancer, AIDS, and even Alzheimer's.

"Who's sick? Your father?"

"No," I answered, still out of breath. "I'm just lost."

"Nobody comes here lost," she answered back, smiling. I noticed that she had lost her canines, both left and right.

She then showed me a much darker collection of bottled liquids. "Maybe you'll find something you need from here."

I spotted a bottle with a deep purple liquid and whose label was Evil Spirits (Possession). The bottle right in front of me read Heartache. It was blood red, and it looked like congealed tomato paste.

"Ahh, that one's a treasure for those who were cheated on or left behind." She grabbed the bottle and placed it in my hand. "A tablespoon a day from one full moon to the next, and all your heartaches will be—" With her hand, she mimed the act of something disappearing into thin air.

"Whoa..." I said, mesmerized by the idea. Good thing the logical part of my brain activated at once, allowing me to say, "Sorry, but I don't think I need this." I placed the bottle back on the shelf.

"Why? No girlfriend?" the vendor asked bluntly.

or less," I

the liquid inside it pitch black and rich like the ink from a

label, and

hopelessly in love with you!" the vendor explained, her hands clasped together

need that anymore. He

be. His shirt was also sweaty, and parts of it stuck to his body. I saw the vendor absentmindedly licking her lower lip at the slightly visible lines on Jiwoo's torso. I realized I was doing the exact same thing,

handkerchief to wipe the traces of

are gay!" cried the vendor. "What a waste! You're both so

grinned at her. "Sorry, ate. Love wins, after all."

the wink wasn't meant for me, but I

through her wares and took out two matching necklaces with flattened metal donuts for pendants. "Here. These are among my most powerful

I reacted, but I'm quite

when will you give me a boyfriend as handsome as either of these two?" the vendor asked

one who needs the

now and be a happy couple. If you stay longer, I'll make

to keep up with him. At the end of the dark alley, we exited to the sunny streets of Recto, and just across the main

I told Jiwoo while showing him the phone that had been left behind earlier when the seller ran away. "What happened? I tried to

fast. I didn't even stand

shook my head. "It's not

"Still."

get something to

we crossed the street. We passed by rows and rows of small bookstores and photocopiers, printing shops and photography studios along what appeared to be the part of the district specializing in school-related products and services. A few more meters into the alley and

catch my breath. Why was I running out of stamina just following him around? It must have been the chase earlier that had robbed me of energy. I made a mental note to join the gym in my building and at least try to develop my endurance. I had not expected to be this tired

made sense. I'd wasted almost a decade ruining my liver with bottles and bottles of alcohol and kissing the asses of potential business partners,

waving his big, veiny hand

lightly slapped his hand away from

frisked by a total stranger. Add to that the fact that I was sweaty and dirty from walking

of getting your body touched here and there in search of hidden firearms and weapons is never pleasant. Maybe I would have enjoyed it better if Jiwoo had been the one patting