Absinthe

"Keep your voice down! You're going to wake him up." Jiwoo himself failed to keep it to a whisper, and I detected traces of anger and annoyance in his voice.

"That's the point, you idiot." It was Nico. "You need to wake him up. He hasn't eaten since lunch, and it's already 8 PM."

"I said keep it down!" Jiwoo hissed. "He needs rest. The least you can do is order food for him so he can eat once he wakes up."

"And you'd let him rest uncomfortably in my car? Give up the comforts of a hotel bed? Whatever, man," said Nico in defeat. "I'm going ahead."

I waited until Nico's footsteps were faint before I decided to make any movement. Opening my eyes proved rather difficult as they were covered in crusted tears around the edges. Jiwoo's shirt was damp against my cheek while my head rested on his thigh.

After hearing Nico mention food, I realized that I was indeed hungry, famished even. I also felt weakness creep up my arms, which were heavy and sore as I raised them to rub my eyes.

"Hey," Jiwoo said softly. "Are you awake now?"

I wanted to answer him, but my throat hurt, too. I gave him a gentle nod instead.

"You must be hungry," he said. "Can you walk? I'll take you to your room so you can relax a bit. I'll order food afterward."

Jiwoo helped me up and out of the car. It was already dark, so I must have slept for hours after the confrontation at the highway rest area. Unlike in Manila, the sky was splattered with stars, and before I realized it, I had stopped walking and had become hypnotized by the naked moon.

I shivered as a chilly breeze swept across the parking lot of the farm resort, the bamboo trees and their leaves singing a pleasant melody in response. And then warmth enveloped my body as Jiwoo wrapped his arms around me.

"I don't have a jacket," he said. "And you looked cold. Let's go inside before you get sick."

He squeezed me in a gentle manner, enough for me to notice he had done it. I nodded again and allowed him to lead me along a pathway decorated with small bamboo lamps sticking out of the soil.

My stomach growled when we were a few feet away from the grand entrance. Jiwoo laughed and assured me that he was going to get me something to eat. Once inside, Jiwoo sat me down on one of the armchairs in the lobby before he busied himself at the reception desk to get the both of us checked in. It didn't take him long because Nico had already done it for all of us.

Jiwoo was smiling as he walked back toward me, waving the key as he did so. We then exited the building together and followed the signs leading to the private villas.

The area was a sight to behold. It was full of leafy bamboo trees, ferns, all kinds of tall trees, and other luscious greenery. There were flowering lilies in the ponds dotting the walkways, and peacocks of different colors were serene in their sleep beside peculiar-looking stone structures.

At the center was a vast circle of gigantic trees towering high over the property. Behind one of the tallest ones was a suspended walkway made of ropes, with a sign saying This Way To The Spa hanging in bold letters.

The villas themselves were pure architectural genius. Their designs were minimalist and contemporary, yet the astounding amount of greenery surrounding them elevated them further for a sophisticated, classical look. Privacy was also guaranteed with high walls covered in fern and moss, despite floor-to-ceiling windows and glass panels adorning the villas.

"And here's us," Jiwoo announced as we came to a halt in front of a sign that read Mahogany Villa.

"Us?"

"Do you think I'm leaving you with Nico after what happened?" Jiwoo raised an eyebrow, and for a moment I thought he was getting angry, but his face eased up into a smile. "No, sir. You're stuck with me."

furnishings and the décor didn't register in my

protested. "Let's get

alone. He had been kind enough to accompany me despite what had happened earlier with JM, but for some reason, I didn't want

eat. I'm

I felt a hand ruffling my hair. I heard Jiwoo gently closing the door, leaving

when I heard my stomach growl, an embarrassingly loud groan of protest for not having eaten anything since the previous evening. My throat felt unbelievably dry, too, and I became aware of a stomachache coming on. I guessed

walking for minutes, unsure of where I was heading or what I was looking for. All I knew was that I wanted to go the opposite direction of the lobby where Jiwoo

explore tomorrow, but for now, I couldn't see them well because of the darkness

little hut sat at the far end of the area, and I was sure

a low fence. It barely reached my knees, and I didn't see it earlier. There was no signage anywhere, and the place was unusually quiet, save

continued to approach the door, which was ajar.

I called out warily, but there was no answer. What the hell was I doing? It was a

the walls, and brittle-looking rattan chairs and a table were spaced evenly in the

"Can I help you?"

turn back to the door to find an elderly woman holding a live chicken by the neck in her right hand. Her wrinkled skin was almost golden because of the

greeted. "I'm a guest of the

did not wait for my answer. She

the kitchen door

resting area for guests participating in the

at least I did not accidentally trespass in

added, as though reading

down on top of the stove. I counted four stools made of tree stumps around it and one low table made of coconut lumber. On the far left was a humongous eucalyptus tree, which I think was planted there

"I'll be on my

need nourishment. Come

I replied. "I'm a good cook—maybe

glued to mine. And while she was grinning,

moved her hand to the middle of my chest and tapped the bony area with her knuckle, shaking her head as though displeased by the sound coming from it. "Sit. The moon is full. Tonight is

to the stool that gave me a full view of the kitchen door and

lady asked, opting

my

this region is famous for.

sideways on the table, her right hand still gripping its neck firmly. The chicken's

a bamboo stick the length of my forearm on the table.

to pinikpikan than just being a chicken dish," the old lady explained.

What?

I follow," I told

Only this time, she appeared