15. Willing To Be Anything

Javin smiled, when Forth handed him a large, heavy box. He brought the box to the dining table, then approached Forth again to take his bag.

"So you've met Jock," Forth said in a happy tone that he didn't hide at all.

"Yes, Phi," Javin nodded shyly. "I signed a work contract for six months."

Forth looked taken aback. "Six months? Why?"

"According to Phi Jock, this is a new company rule to make it easy for management to evaluate employee performance," Javin answered innocently.

Forth cursed Jock and Shone in his head. They must be making a joke about him always losing assistants before the sixth month.

Javin walked into the kitchen and took out two cups. "Phi Jock let me have a look around while studying the place, he said to get me used to it because it's a big house. Your old assistants lived in their own apartment because you live in an apartment, so they don't take care of things like your food and clothes."

Ford nodded. "Yeah. You don't have to either."

Javin stopped pouring the coffee he had made from the pot into the cup. "But, Phi, I can do that too if I want to, said Phi Jock. After all, the salary I receive is huge, so I have to do more than what your assistant used to do."

Again, Forth cursed Jock and Shone. How could they trick a young man as innocent as Javin by giving him extra work with the same salary as an old assistant who was actually unreliable. Forth will call or call them later.

Javin brought a coffee cup for Forth and placed it on the dining table. He also pulled a chair and sat near Forth.

"Phi Jock has sent me a list of everything I asked to take care of you, so from now on, you must trust me to do it for you," Javin said cheerfully. "Besides ramen with toppings, I'm pretty good at cooking too, Phi. You just tell me what you want to eat and I'll make it."

"I don't eat much," Forth said softly.

"You will have to eat a lot if you trust me as your assistant. Our work pattern is different from other people and it requires more energy."

Forth took his coffee cup and drank the black liquid in the cup slowly, while looking at Javin over the cup. "I was worried before," Forth said softly after putting his cup back on the table.

Javin's eyebrows rose. "Hm? What are you worried about?" asked Javin.

"You will probably turn down my job offer," Forth replied.

Javin smiled gently. "How could I refuse. This is a good opportunity for me. I receive enough money, get housing and free meals three times a day, and my work pattern is also not difficult to adjust to my daily life."

"Yes. I considered all of that before offering you this job."

"Unfortunately, once these six months are over, I may not be able to continue this work, Phi."

Forth saw Javin's face which turned sad. "Hey, what's wrong? It's only your first day and you've been thinking about quitting your job?"

Javin smiled awkwardly. "Like I said earlier, I'm going through an apprenticeship and I don't know if I'll be able to fit my late night shift schedule at the hospital with my job here."

Forth clicked his tongue. "Don't think about it too much. We'll talk about it later."

"Yes, Phi. Now, do you want to take a shower first or eat first? That box contains food from your mother?"

"Jock told you?"

"Yes. We can organize a lunch party with all your friends to finish it off tomorrow."

"They will come uninvited, Nong."

Javin laughed and opened the big box that Forth brought and took out various foods from inside the box.

"I'm going to take a shower for a while, then eat. Are you going to campus tomorrow?"

"No. I'm working on a report assignment, but it's almost done. If you want to work after dinner, I can help you. I am proficient in almost all computer programs and applications, speak three foreign languages, and am proficient in accounting and taxation."

Forth stared at Javin for a moment, then smiled broadly and reached out to stroke Javin's head.

"I know that I was not wrong to offer you to be my assistant."

Javin's face turned pink and he pretended to be busy with the food boxes from the big box. Forth smiled and walked upstairs to his room.

Javin stared at the entire room in front of him in disbelief. He was used to sleeping in a place or in a narrow room. The scholarship dormitory that he lived in until his third year of college was also not a spacious room with first-class furnishings.

Scholarship recipient students cannot choose the apartment they want because everything has been arranged by the university.

Being in this wide, open and brightly lit room, where you can see everything from any angle you want, feels like a dream for Javin.

In fact, the room reserved for him, on the second floor, next to Forth's study, felt like a penthouse to him, with a bed, wardrobe, sofa, carpet, and balcony overlooking the lovely back garden.

Forth came down from the second floor with his hair still half wet and he just rubbed a small towel on his hair.

Javin looked at Forth and his feelings were turbulent. His chest felt hot, which radiated to his neck and face. His heart was beating faster than usual, and he thought back to Jock's words before he left this afternoon.

"Are you gay?" he asked.

Javin was shocked and felt nervous. "I-I don't know, Phi. Why would you ask something like that? W-would it affect your judgment of me if I'm gay?"

Jock laughed and patted Javin's shoulder gently. "Of course not. How could I do something like that, when I love Shone and have been with him since we were in college?"

"P-phi Shone is your... lover?"

"We got engaged last year and are planning a wedding late next year. We will do it in Amsterdam."

"Oh congrats Phi. I'm so happy for you guys. But why are you asking me?"

"What do you think?"

"I've never had a lover before, male or female, and have never been in love with anyone."

Jock nodded. "Forth is the same way. He's still looking for someone from his past, but I don't know if one day he meets that person, his feelings will still be the same or not."

"Wh-who is that person, Phi?"

"I don't know. Only Forth knows exactly who he is looking for. However, Nong Javin, the point of my question was, in anticipation that perhaps you and Forth might be more suitable than his assistant and employer, feel free to accept it."

Forth shook Javin's arm gently. "Javin? Are you daydreaming?"

Javin woke up from his reverie and quickly grabbed the towel from Forth's hand.

"Sit down, Phi, I'll help you dry your hair. You can get sick with damp hair for too long."

When Javin's hand touched Forth's hair, he said in his heart, I am willing to be anything for you, Phi Forth.

***