3. The Adorable Man

"Medical, hm? That's great. How do you manage your time, working the night shift like this and your school schedules? Medical is busy, right?"

Javin smiled and opened another piece of cheese, then placed it on top of Forth's ramen. "You seem to really like cheese, Phi. It's free."

Forth was stunned and looked at the cheese on the half portion of the ramen and looked at Javin who was now cleaning up his food.

"I'm used to sleeping only briefly, Phi. It seems that, due to some reasons, my biological system has finally adjusted to the situation. Usually at night I only need to sleep for two or three hours, that's enough. During the day, I can sleep longer, if there's nothing I have to do," Javin answered at length.

"Is that why you took this job?"

"Yeah, Phi. I've been doing a lot of odd jobs over the years and they're all messing up my schedule a bit because it's out of sync with my class schedule."

"You think this job fits into your schedule? You still have to go to college, don't you?"

"Here I only work from 7 to 3 in the night. I can study while waiting for buyers and after closing, I can sleep more than three hours before leaving for campus."

Forth looked around the mini market where all the walls were made of glass. The area is not very crowded and there are many small apartments in the vicinity, as well as an academy.

"Why does this mini market have to be open until 3 in the morning?" asked Forth in surprise. "Is it safe here?"

"A lot of students look for cheap after midnight snacks, Phi, to fill their stomachs while they study. At this mini market the prices are relatively cheaper and Mrs Dew always provides them with extra cheese for ramen."

"Just like what you gave me earlier. However, I'm not a student, so I'll still pay for it."

Javin laughed softly. He liked this big man with a dark appearance. He was very handsome and although his manner of speech was flat and cold, but his curiosity made Javin tickle too.

"Where is your house?" asked Forth again.

"Right now, my house is in the warehouse behind this mini market, Phi. Mrs. Dew gave me a free place to live."

"You don't live in a dorm?"

Javin's face turned cloudy. "Free dormitories are only provided for scholarship students up to grade three. I'm already level four, so I can no longer live there without paying."

"Ah!"

Javin opened a bottle of mineral water for Forth and cleaned up the former Forth's meal.

The wind chimes above the mini market door tinkled and two girls entered the mini market.

Both of them were surprised when they saw Javin and looked around the counter.

"Mrs. Dew isn't there?" asked the first girl.

Javin smiled. "Mrs. Dew fills the day shift. I'll be on duty at night."

"Wow, that's great," exclaimed the second girl. "We can hang out here and eat. Can we, Phi?

"Of course you can, Nong, as long as you don't just buy mineral water."

The two girls giggled and quickly grabbed a cup of ramen from the counter and a piece of sausage for each.

Javin smiled happily and brewed the ramen for them and added cheese on top of the ramen. The two girls sat at the table behind Forth and whispered about Javin who was now back behind the counter.

Forth went to pay and took a bottle of vitamins from the box near the cashier.

"What's this?"

Javin looked at the bottle that Forth was holding. "Oh, it's a kind of supplement, Phi. Good for health because it contains various substances made from herbs, so it's safe for the body."

"You take supplements like this?" asked Forth as he picked up another bottle.

Javin laughed cheerfully. "No, Phi. I was only asked to advertise it because it's a new product. It costs a lot to me, but to you, it's definitely nothing."

"Huh? Why do you think so?"

Javin smiled shyly and for a moment Forth's heartbeat quickened to see that smile. So stunning. "Looking at your appearance and motorbike, you must be a rich man. As for me, the price per bottle is the same as my one week meal."

Forth laughed and Javin was blown away. This cold man in front of him had pretty eyes as he laughed and the sound of his laughter was warm.

"I'm sorry, Phi. Forget it. Sometimes I can be too direct about things."

Forth took the two bottles of supplements and handed them to Javin to count. Javin put everything Forth bought into a plastic bag and swiped at the silver card that Forth handed him.

There was no name on the card, only a series of numbers and the initials FLV logo in the upper right corner of the card, with a phoenix next to the initials.

Javin thought, this man in front of him must not be a random person, because he had never seen a card with a special design like this.

Javin gave the card and plastic to Forth with a smile. "Thanks for shopping here, Phi. Stop by again and next time I won't accept payment for the cheese I should have given out for free, even if you're not a student."

Forth tilted his head, observing Javin. "What's your name?"

"Javin, Phi. Javin Ziander."

"Where did you study?"

"University of Metronomia, fourth-grade medical."

Forth took three boxes of cigarettes from the plastic, put them in his jacket pocket while wearing his mask. He handed Javin a plastic bag.

"Take this supplement regularly. You're a medical student, at least you know better how to take care of your health, Javin."

Javin was dumbfounded and looked at the plastic Forth handed him. Inside the plastic were two bottles of expensive supplements that Forth had paid for with the cigarettes and ramen.

"But, Phi--"

Forth waved his hand as he walked out of the mini market. Javin came out of the counter to chase, but one of the girls who was eating ramen called him and asked for grilled sausage.

Javin could only see a black-looking figure on a big motorbike passing the mini market, through the darkness of the night.

***