Absinthe

"Wow. What should I do to catch up to you?" Jiwoo said as soon as we arrived at the private parking area dedicated to penthouse owners, Faye and I.

"Errrr, so which one are we taking?" I asked.

"Which one's the cheapest?"

I had three cars parked – my BMW SUV, an uber expensive Benz from my boss that I rarely use, and an equally expensive Jaguar that I only bought when Faye and I were splurging on new clothes, thinking that I needed a sexy car to go with my new look. I regret that decision until now because there's practically no reason for me to use it. I'll probably try and sell it to Faye's husband.

"This one," I said, pointing at the BMW. "This is definitely the cheapest."

"Don't you have a Toyota Vios or something?" Jiwoo asked, scratching his head, a weird expression on his face.

"Uhm, no. Sorry." I said, worried about that weird expression still plastered on Jiwoo's face. "But if this makes you feel uncomfortable, we can stay at home and do other stuff..."

Jiwoo shook his head and surprisingly, he started grinning. "As much as I enjoy being naked and doing naughty things to you, I still want to do other things with you."

"..."

"Fully clothed, I mean." Jiwoo added. "And in broad daylight. Maybe sober, even. Those kind of things, you know?"

Jiwoo took my hand and locked his fingers with mine, before pulling it towards his lips for a slow kiss on each of my knuckles.

"I still want to do the less fun stuff," Jiwoo continued, winking.

I felt my cheeks getting hotter and I took my hand from him. "The keys are inside, you're driving."

because it looked the plainest and the least luxurious of the three. Despite not having driven one, Jiwoo didn't feel uncomfortable driving it as we wound our way towards Ortigas. I was thinking he might make comments about the interior of the car

have some trouble finding a spot to

I frequented and I had so many things against this mall, starting from their parking area, their layout, and their washrooms! But since this

Jiwoo held my hand and started swaying our now interlocked fingers and linked hands to

as cringe-worthy as I thought it

I could feel people pointing at us with their heads and their lips and a gazillion other gestures they probably were thinking to be the subtler

first time doing this," Jiwoo said,

go

I meant this," Jiwoo raised our interlocked hands to shoulder level.

never crossed your mind that most of these people are ready to stab me with their knives just because I'm holding

turned to face me. "What do you

around." I said, signaling to him with my eyebrows. "These people, both the women and the gays, I'm telling

escalators for a bit, until we came across a group of buff-looking gay guys. You know the ones who frequent the gyms (in search of their next hookup) to take care of their physiques. There were three of them, muscles bursting out of their ultra-tight, color-coordinated t-shirts

more openly than everyone else we've encountered so far. Their eyes were

fact that two of them were bottoms. Don't ask me how I know. My gaydar is special that way. I may not be able

their eyes lusted for the semi-visible lines underneath Jiwoo's white shirt confirmed

of them was staring at me. The one in lime green, or

the back of my neck stand up.

was addressing Buttercup, aka the sole guy who

Did he seriously not notice that Buttercup wasn't the problem here. The other two gay buffs were obviously eyeing him and

guys look good together. More

power?!" laughed the two dudes with him. All three of them were now laughing in high-pitched voices as