Absinthe

The whole place was a maze of tables and benches, people carrying trays of food while dodging each other as they find their seats, random kiosks spaced unevenly across the wide hall, buss personnel pushing their trays of used plates and utensils, and...

"Wait a minute," I said after making sure I scanned the whole area for at least three times. "What happened to the drinking fountains? There used to be drinking stations for the customers, right?"

"Oh that?" Jiwoo answered. "Gone. Years ago. They now sell ZM Mall branded bottled water."

"Capitalism." I joked. "Never mind that. What are we eating?"

Jiwoo scratched his head with his left hand, his right still holding mine. "What do you feel like eating? There's all sorts of food here: Sizzling Plate, Pao Tsin for Chinese snacks, you name it, they have everything here."

"Where do you want to take your boyfriend for a date?" I asked Jiwoo teasingly.

Jiwoo let go of my hand and started scratching his head faster and harder this time around.

"Fuck! I swear I wanted to take you somewhere better. But I don't really have a lot of cash on me right now. I thought I could cook you something special for lunch, but I screwed up that plan because –"

"You were screwing me," I finished his sentence for him, laughing.

It was Jiwoo's turn to blush, and slowly, he returned my smile.

"I'm really sorry, BJ. You deserve better."

"Oh, shut up." I said, taking back Jiwoo's hand and dragging him towards the Sizzling Plate corner. "Stop worrying about that stuff, alright?"

To be honest, I got scared for a second there. I was really just teasing Jiwoo when I asked him which fast food he'd like for us to eat. I wasn't expecting him to be all sensitive about getting me fancy stuff.

I guess that's something we should work on for this relationship to work.

I fell in line to order food with Jiwoo right beside me. A dozen other gay guys and ladies suddenly changed their store choices and started lining up after Jiwoo.

And as usual, Jiwoo seemed oblivious about it and I'm not sure whether I'm okay with that.

"Hello sir, what would you like to order?" the lady at the counter asked.

Right in front of her was an array of fake sizzling plates with amazingly realistic models of the different dishes they sell. I gave it a quick scan and immediately chose that one thing I've been meaning to eat ever since I came back home.

"Pork Sisig, please." I ordered, pointing at the replica to the far left. "And a tall glass of pineapple juice, please."

"Two hundred five pesos, sir. You can get a free banana from the central counter if you present this receipt."

"I'll pay for that," Jiwoo told the lady at the counter as she gave me a spoon and a fork wrapped in tissue paper. Jiwoo slid a brown tray towards me and motioned for me to follow the person to my left.

I could hear Jiwoo ordering a pork chop set and a tall glass of root beer. I heard the lady telling Jiwoo the total amount as well as her spiel about the free bananas.

placed the sizzling and smoking plate of Sisig with the most amazing half-cooked egg on top. "And here's your tall

my tray

I guess it

said. "And here's our

thanks!" I

brownie, courtesy

for this to happen, actually. I kind of expected it. But I think I'll just allow Jiwoo to handle it and decided to go ahead

We should have grabbed a seat first and let one of

out of those ladies at the counter. I turned and saw him already sitting in one of the tables near

a little bit to the elderly couple sitting side

Jiwoo whispered as soon as I made it beside him. "They agreed to let

thanked the couple in front of us before starting on my lovely and fragrant sisig, diving first into the runny yolk to let it mix

take in my first bite when I felt Jiwoo's arm wrapping

post," he explained,

complained, "I'm starving. And what's the big deal with you and your IG posts, anyway? Gossip Gay's

giving me the world's most annoying set of

things, and now I'm pretty sure

the money from your followers," I said, grateful that I was able to

money so I can buy good things for you, take you out to

looks like this issue of me wanting fancy stuff

these things from you," I started, not taking my eyes off his. "I don't need

know that," Jiwoo said. It felt like he had more to say but he didn't

down and started playing with his food. He was literally making circles with his fork

guy is like the lovechild of annoying and adorable.

closer until our bodies were practically touching and I lifted Jiwoo's arm and placed it across my shoulders. I also took a

said, feigning annoyance. "Take your IG pic now. Let the world know you

pout slowly eased into a sheepish grin as he turned on his phone camera. He spent but a few seconds looking for a good angle, and as soon as he found one, he opened his mouth wide and posed like a

eat the sisig. I wanted to

at the caption Jiwoo wrote. "You're too good at

Jiwoo suddenly stole a kiss on my cheek

it and proceeded to devouring my now cold sisig, all thanks to Jiwoo's shenanigans. "You know, if you really want to earn money off of IG, why not post

to swallow. I handed him his

yellow rice to the elderly couple in front

answered, "everybody can see my face, but at least I can

was talking about thirst-trap pics! You know, topless photos? Showing off your abs? Showing off

to see it?"

going to upload it on IG? Fan service for all your

out his phone, tapped here and there, before finally putting it back down on the table. I felt my phone vibrate and I fished

"What's this?" I asked.