14. The G Question

"This..." Jock nodded. "As agreed, you have to stay here. I think you have been told by Phi Wine about Forth, in general terms, about his daily activity pattern, work pattern, what he likes and what he doesn't like. So, so you can work comfortably, given your non-normal working hours, you should stay near Forth."

"Ah, I understand Mr Jock," replied Javin with a smile.

Jock looked at the young man in front of him and thought, that he understood why Forth liked Javin. This young man was handsome, but it would not be wrong to describe him as a beautiful young man, with smooth white skin, big eyes under thick eyebrows and curled eyelashes, even his lips were red and wet.

"Don't be so formal. Just call me Phi, like the others. If there's a problem, you can tell it to me, or to Shone, or because I think you're a little close to Kwan, just tell him. Don't hesitate."

"Err... can I ask you something, Phi?" asked Javin doubtfully.

"Of course."

"Does Phi Forth's former assistant also live with him?"

"Forth used to live in an apartment, so everyone who used to be his assistant lives in the same apartment, next door or one floor above or below him. Now, since he moved back here, so automatically you have to live here too."

"I understand, Phi. What about his regular schedule of activities? Does he have any food allergies, what is his daily diet and are there any important phone numbers I should call if anything happens?"

Honestly, Jock doubted about Wine and Kwan, when they said they might find the perfect candidate for Forth's new assistant.

So far, Jock himself has been involved in checking, giving written tests, and interviewing the assistant candidates for Forth.

They are graduates of top universities with high grades, some even have a lot of previous work experience.

They passed the tests and interviews very well, happy with the generous salaries on offer and the flexible working hours.

At first, the first month or two, they still enjoy those flexible working hours and receive a generous salary.

However, entering the third or fourth month, they will start to get overwhelmed because flexible working hours are not something easy.

Forth is a rigid person, disciplined at the time he has planned, and does not like to repeat orders.

The problem was, the times he planned to work and complete his chores were the hours outside of a normal person's activity.

Forth could not work optimally during the day and only when it was late at night could he work properly.

The assistant will use the time during the day to do other things as he wants and what he likes because the boss only gives him light tasks.

However, when night falls, the assistant will work like a slave to keep up with the work rhythm of the boss who suddenly becomes serious, diligent, and eager to finish the work during the day that is delayed.

The person who was able to survive as Forth's assistant broke the record of working for six months, with a sick record and had to undergo home treatment five times, leave for thirty-eight days of rest in six months, and at the end of his tenure he was diagnosed with symptoms of kidney disease.

Kwan and Wine conduct a discreet investigation of Javin, whom Forth later frequently mentions by name with awe and much praise.

They both hoped that, after some deliberation, because Javin was also a medical student and he was known to be intelligent, he might be able to treat it little by little or at least help reduce Forth's condition which prevented him from doing activities during the day.

Jock and especially Shone, weren't sure about that, but hearing what Javin said just now, made Jock's view of Javin change slightly.

This young man is very humane and detailed. He didn't even ask what his formal duties were first, but instead thought about his future boss privately.

Jock knew that previous Forth assistants had never been told about Forth's condition because they had to avoid speculation and scandal, but in fairness they had been told about how Forth's work patterns and hours were usually used as a reference for them in assisting Forth.

Javin, who had not even graduated from college, immediately understood what Forth was dealing with, with a statement from Wine that Forth was a nyctophile. He new instantly what he could do to help Forth.

"I will send complete documents about everything you asked about," Jock replied with a feeling of relief. "Do you have any objections regarding the salary you will receive, at least for the first three months? We will monitor your work and evaluate after three months," said Jock calmly.

"Err..., actually I feel that the salary I'm going to receive is too much considering I have a lot of free time during the day and only work at night. here. I've never worked a task as simple as this for such a salary."

Jock was stunned. Actually, he felt a little guilty because the salary he offered to Javin was only half the value of his previous assistants and without any benefits.

It was Shone who arranged this because he was still unsure about Javin's future performance. Now this young man thinks he's got too much?

Jock patted Javin's shoulder more kindly and smiled broadly. "For that kind of salary, you can do extra work, do the groceries for Forth and the house and do regular health checks at least once a week. You're a medical student, right?"

Javin's face beamed. "Sure, Phi, my pleasure. I'd even be more than happy to do routine health checks for Phi and the others, if you want. I can do simple checks like blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and if you're feeling a little unwell, just tell me."

"Ohoo, that would be so nice, especially for Kwan who gets cut or bruised so much," Javin said with a laugh. "Well, now, you arrange your room so that you are comfortable living here. If there is anything you need, just tell me."

"What time will Phi Forth be back, Phi?" asked Javin.

Jock looked at his watch. "For sure tonight. Why?"

"I'll get dinner ready, in case he hasn't eaten when he gets home."

"I don't think there's a need. Usually, Aunty Leah, his mother, would stuff Forth with tons of food every time he came back from his parents' house and then for a week after that, Forth would force us to eat here to keep it all out."

Javin listened to Jock's story with a big smile and chuckled at the end. Jock thought, how sweet Javin was then.

"Nong," asked Jock later, after a moment's thought.

"Yes, Phi?"

"Excuse me for asking this, but... are you gay?"

***