The woman threw a bar of chocolate across the table towards Jim.
The man’s eyes glowed. For more than a decade, chocolate had become a
commodity rarer than coffee. In fact, one could only buy a chocolate bar in Mega-Manila
if he or she would venture out to enter the Golden Mosque of old Quiapo, or the now
forbidden area of the former Raon which had become the safe haven of colorum artificial
intelligence robotics and surplus of the branded and high-end kind.
“Where in Jesus’ good name did you get this? Do they sell this at the duty-free?”
“The duty-free has nothing to offer but a free cup of water! Anyway, you know
me.”
Jim smiled at Shol Mari and nonchalantly shook his head. The woman concluded
with a wink.
“I find ways.”
*
“There is no way I’m going to change my mind with th
