Absinthe

Chapter 37: Target

Before Robert and Jiwoo's argument got any worse, I volunteered to call it a day and tried to drag

Jiwoo and Derrick away. Rob had a different idea, so we ended up going together and leaving my

previous companions at Faye's.

"I'll pick you up after work tomorrow," Rob said as he parked the car in the guest parking slot of our

building.

"Huh?" I said with a slight frown. "What about my car? If you're picking me up, who's driving my car

back home?"

"Right," Robert said, scratching his head. "I did not think about that."

I laughed. "There's nothing to worry about, Rob. Jiwoo's straight."

"Are we talking about the same guy?" Robert chuckled. "There's no way that man's straight."

"He is," I answered back. "Trust me. He's just joking around saying those things. But he really is

straight."

"I'm not convinced," Robert said, still eyeing me suspiciously.

"Even if he weren't, are you seriously threatened by him?" My question seemed to catch Robert off

guard. And, as expected, he answered by dismissing Jiwoo's threat.

"Not really. Sure, he's handsome, but I'm hotter, right?"

I laughed and gently pinched Rob's cheek. "Yes, attorney. You're way hotter."

The following week was one of the most exhausting ones I'd ever had. Chef Maxwell's classes were

slowly turning more and more into technique refining tutorials. We were repeating dishes over and over

again, trying to master certain skills or the subtle changes we had to make on account of the subtle

differences in the quality of the ingredients.

"Culinary contest season is right around the corner," Chef Maxwell began. It was a Friday, and I could

clearly see from everyone's faces that they were ready to hibernate over the weekend. "And of course,

what better way to hone your skills than to face off with other up-and-coming chefs in the country?"

I caught Nico and Jiwoo exchanging excited looks. Vivi, on the other hand, looked disinterested.

"But before that, I have a treat for all of you," Chef Maxwell announced. "I want all four of you to visit

our one and only supplier farm in Benguet next week."

Um, no, thank you? Did he have any idea how hard it was to live on a farm? I did because Faye and I

have one. We tried spending one weekend there, but we ended up staying in a hotel. Don't get us

wrong— Faye and I have humble roots—but once we started earning money and experiencing

whatever comforts it afforded us, we couldn't be bothered living that way anymore.

"It should be fun," Chef Maxwell continued. "It's an opportunity for you guys to understand how food is novelbin

grown, get your hands dirty, and be intimate with food."

Nico and Jiwoo both laughed audibly at Chef Maxwell's choice of words.

"Besides, I'm sure you need all the relaxation you can get. It's a farm, yes, but it's also a posh resort."

"Okay. We're sold, Chef," Nico said, smiling. "Should be awesome."

At the parking lot, Nico acted like the leader and tried to make sense of how we were going to spend

our week in Benguet. "Maxwell said we're getting two rooms. I say us boys can share one, and Vivi

gets the other."

"Or, being the gay guy that I am, maybe I can share the room with Vivi and not crowd you two up."

"Will you be okay with that, Vi?"

"Um, no. I'm not okay with the fact that you're giving me considerations because I'm female. There's an

option for two single beds, you know!"

I swear I could feel Nico rolling his eyes, but he remained the ever gentleman. "What do you suggest

then?"

"We can draw lots," Vivi answered. "That way, everything's fair."

"Yeah," Jiwoo added. "Let's do that."

Jiwoo tore a piece of paper from his notebook and wrote two As and two Bs. He folded them multiple

times before shaking them up in his hands.

"Hey, you first." Jiwoo offered up his hands to me, four folded papers in his palms. Once I'd picked one,

he quickly went to Nico and Vivi.

"I got A," Jiwoo said.

I opened mine up, partly scared that I would be sharing a room with Jiwoo. Imagine the kind of torture

I'd be subjected to should we become roommates. But fortunately, I got B! I showed mine to everyone

and found out that I was paired up with Nico instead.

"Cool," Nico said. "I guess I'm partners with our patissier!"

"Are you going to be okay with this?" I asked Nico, afraid that he might not be happy about being

roommates with a gay guy.

"Of course," Nico said. "Why would I pass up the chance to spend a week with a hot guy?"

"Sometimes I wonder if you're really straight," I told Nico, chuckling as I opened my car door.

"Don't we all," Vivi said with a grin. "So what about transportation arrangements?"

"We can bring one car," Nico suggested. "I think we can all fit in that."

"Yeah, and we can take turns driving."

"Let's take my car then." Nico said. "I'll pick you guys up."

"I'll make some snacks for us to eat on the road," I volunteered.

"Great. Is 6 AM tomorrow good?" Nico asked Vivi, who nodded. He told me he was picking me up next

before turning to Jiwoo. "What about you, bro?"

Jiwoo was thinking. "Our place is far from yours. I'll go to BJ's place and wait for you there."

"Alright. It's settled then." Nico said.

"Okay! See you guys soon!" Vivi said.

All three of us boarded our cars, with the exception of Jiwoo. Vivi and Nico sped out of the parking lot,

and I felt bad about the guy who was always left behind.

I rolled down my windows and called out, "Hey, I'm going shopping for our snacks tomorrow. Wanna

come?"

Jiwoo smiled mischievously and jumped into the passenger seat in record time.

I drove us to the mall, which proved to be the stupidest decision ever—we weren't allowed to enter

because there were only 15 minutes left before closing time. Fortunately, Jiwoo had this way of talking

to the security guards that they allowed us to grab the stuff we needed to make some food for the road

trip.

"Wow," I said, impressed at his skills of persuasion. "I never pegged you for a people person."

"There's loads of stuff you don't know about me," Jiwoo said with a wink. "If only you took the time to

find out what those are."

I rolled my eyes in mockery. "Whatever, Mr. Garcia. Anyway, won't it be too early for you to come to my

place tomorrow?"

"It is," he answered back. "But I don't really have a choice, do I?"

"Um, you can sleep in my place," I offered, unsure why I was doing it. "I have a pretty big couch. Or we

can pull out the spare bed from the utility room."

"You sure?" Jiwoo asked. "Won't your overprotective suitor get mad or something?"

"Huh? We're not doing anything wrong. You're just sleeping over. Besides, Derrick's there. It's not like

it's only going to be the two of us."

"Oho," Jiwoo mused. "So you're worried that something might happen if we were alone."

"I'm already regretting inviting you over," I said.

Jiwoo laughed and ruffled my hair. "Just kidding. You mind if we pass by my house to get some

clothes?"

"Not at all."

We finished loading up the groceries into the back of my trusty BMW.

The drive back to Makati was quick as there were fewer cars at that time of night. Jiwoo started giving

me directions as soon as I had driven past the business districts along Ayala Avenue. I noticed the

roads getting considerably narrower and narrower. The cars beside me were soon replaced by tricycles

and motorbikes, and then suddenly mine was the only car on the road.

Both sides of the street were framed by stacks of houses in varying stages of neglect. Electrical wires

that had been expertly hidden from the skyline of the city were visible here in every turn of the road, to

the point that there seemed to be a big, black spider web everywhere you looked.

There weren't any tall buildings there, either. Instead, there was a small wet market called a talipapa

and dozens of provision stores and eateries. The road was also filled with parked taxis— it was safe to

assume that the drivers lived in the area.

"Sorry about the neighborhood," Jiwoo said. "Our house is just over there. There won't be any place to

park in front of it, so I guess I'll just get off here, pick up my clothes, and come back."

"What are you apologizing for? The place I grew up in is much worse than this," I said, assuring him I

was totally fine with the place.

Jiwoo got out of the car the moment I finished parking.

"Lock your doors," he reminded me. "I'll be back in a bit."

I didn't bother turning off the engine and decided to scroll through my IG feed while waiting for him to

come back.

I spotted a great selection of shoes from Louboutin. I was looking to get a pair each for Faye and Cass.

There was also an excellent collection from Gucci, which I was sure Derrick would appreciate.

Christmas was around the corner, so it wouldn't hurt to start buying stuff for my friends now.

I saw a couple of pics that Jiwoo had uploaded. His poses mostly catered to the ever-hungry gay

community: showing off his Adam's apple while he drank water, wiping sweat off his face with his shirt

and partially exposing his abs—

Knock knock!

I almost swore aloud in shock when I saw a rather cute guy knocking on my window. I didn't know why

he looked so familiar. He was wearing a school uniform from one of those Catholic universities in the

metro. I rolled down the window since he seemed harmless.

"Hey! It's BJ, right? What are you doing here?"

"Hi," I said, still unsure where I had met him before. "I'm sorry. I have a terrible memory. What's your

name again?"

"Oh, Jeremy," he said. "We met at the salon one time."

"Oh, you're Mowcah's boyfriend."

"Uh-huh," Jeremy said, nodding. "So what's up? What brings you to the neighborhood?"

Jeremy was a looker. He was fairer than most Filipinos, and he was tall for his age. Although he was

barely past twenty, he already had an attractively manly demeanor.

"Just accompanied a friend," I said. "He'll be sleeping at my place."

"Boyfriend?" Jeremy asked.

"No," I said with a slight laugh. "A friend."

"Listen: if you need a guy, I have friends in the university who...you know..."

"Oh, I'm not sure if I'm ready for that."

"Jem!" somebody shouted.

We turned to see Jiwoo approaching my car, a black duffel bag in hand.

"Kuya Jiwoo," Jeremy greeted back.

"I didn't know you guys knew each other," Jiwoo said, happily smiling when he reached us.

"We barely know each other," I said before explaining how I had met Jeremy.

"What a small world," remarked Jiwoo. "Jeremy here is my younger brother."

"Oh, so you're my brother's target."

"Shut up, Jem."