12. Again?

Javin stared at the letters that made up the sentences in the book that was open in front of him, but none of the letters managed to stick in his brain into something he could remember.

Desperate, he finally closed the book and stood up from his chair, heading for the counter where they made ramen and coffee.

He needs coffee to help his brain relax. The wind chimes at the convenience store door rang loudly and Javin's heart jumped.

He quickly returned to the counter and was disappointed when he saw a girl enter. Javin served the girl kindly and returned to the counter after the girl left the mini market with her groceries.

Javin thought about what Wine--Forth's brother had said to him on campus two days ago. He didn't say anything about their conversation before finally Wine left with his rubicon after slipping his business card into Javin's hand and telling him that his wife really liked Javin's car.

Leon and August asked Javin what Wine wanted from him and for the first time in his life, Javin lied to his two best friends. He must protect Forth.

Javin clutched his left chest and felt his pulse quicken as he recalled Forth. He hadn't seen him in five days and to be honest he was really worried about how the older man would feel and think of him after their kiss.

It was Javin's first kiss and he wasn't sure it was Forth's first kiss, because after all, the man was much older than him and there was no way at that mature age, Forth had never had a girlfriend or at least kissed someone.

Javin was scared, Forth didn't want to see him again because it was awkward or worse, he didn't like Javin who he might have despised for responding to his kiss.

Javin should have the right to ask why Forth kissed him, but the fact that Forth really only found out recently made him shrink. He felt inferior and ashamed.

Despite what Wine explained and asked him to do, Javin still felt he should know better because in reality, Wine never knew about the kiss.

Wind chimes tinkled and Javin quickly finished his coffee before returning to the counter.

"Hi, Nong," said Forth as he grabbed a pack of roasted seaweed.

Javin's heart skipped a beat and he was stunned, to see Forth walking towards him.

The man was very handsome, with sharp eyes and in exotic tan skin, and a tall, well-built body.

"H-hi, Phi," Javin replied nervously.

Forth tilted his head and looked at Javin with a very charming smirked. "Why are you so stiff? Did I scare you?"

Javin hastily swallowed hard to relieve his nervousness. "No no Phi I was just surprised. I thought you would never come here again."

"Hmm?" Forth's eyebrows rose. "Why not? Where else am I going? You're my only friend at night and your ramen is delicious."

Javin smiled shyly. God, he didn't want to deny his own little heart that screamed that he missed this man in front of him.

"You haven't come for five days, since ... umm... that night you took me home." Javin blushed.

Forth sighed and his hand reached out, stroking Javin's hair. "Yeah, I'm sorry. I have a lot of work to do lately and the last two days I wasn't feeling well either."

"How are you now, Phi? Are you all right?" Javin asked worriedly.

"I'm fine," Forth replied with a smile. He pinched Javin's sharp nose. "Add this seaweed to my ramen tonight and I want soda instead of coffee."

Javin smiled broadly and came out from behind the counter. Forth walked to the table he usually occupied and sat in one of the chairs, watching Javin make ramen for you.

He admired Javin's agile movements and his handsome face that always smiled kindly. Forth subconsciously touched his lips, recalling the taste of Javin's lips a few days ago.

The young man looked very beautiful and cute, when Forth invaded his lips and he closed his eyes tightly, but let Forth open and enter his warm and soft mouth.

Forth had never kissed anyone in such an intimate way. Just a kiss on the cheek or forehead, or a quick peck on the lips to a woman who approaches him, maybe, but not a kiss with a caress that involves the tongue and hardens the center of his body.

Forth tried his best to suppress his desire to fondle Javin further that night because he was afraid Javin would refuse and be angry with him.

He didn't want to scare and lose the young man. What he felt for Javin might not just be a feeling of liking because he admired the young man's effort and hard work, but Forth had to admit that seeing Javin's face that looked sad when he came home after they kissed, made him feel upset and disturbed.

Was Javin mad at him, because of what he did? Javin could have felt abused after he came to his senses, despite the fact that he was responding to the kiss.

"Phi, your ramen," said Javin while serving the ramen on the table.

Forth's thoughts were interrupted and he looked up, saw Javin's eyes looking at him gently. The young man also made ramen for himself and pulled up a chair in front of Forth.

"How are you, Nong?" asked Forth while stirring the ramen. "Did you accept Wine's offer to buy your car?"

Javin stop stirring. "Ah, about that Phi, I haven't thanked you for taking care of it. I'll pay for the repair fees I owe you with the money from the car sale, Phi."

Forth's eyebrows rose. "You're going to sell it?"

"Yes, Phi. I need the money to rent a studio apartment near the hospital when I do my internship."

"Hm? Why? Can't you just stay here?"

"Yes, but yesterday Mrs Drew said the building was sold. I thought the buyer might not be happy if I stayed here, so I better know myself and move before the new owner kicks me out," Javin replied with a chuckle.

"What about the stuff in this mini market? Mrs Drew gave it to you, didn't she?"

"I'll do the sorting and bring some food in can to stock up at my new place later, I'll give it to August and Leon too. There's plenty of canned food, drinks, and everyday necessities that I can use. Most packaged foods will I donate to the orphanage in Mrs Drew's name."

Forth looked at the young man in front of him with mixed feelings. He stared at the open red lips tasting the ramen soup and was tempted to taste it again.

"I'm going to buy all the cigarettes and booze and supplements," Forth said, trying to distract from Javin's seductive aunt.

"For what, Phi? I intend to return all the cigarettes to the supplier."

"Hm? Why? I'll share it with my employees and staff. Many of them smoke."

"I'm not selling them to you, Phi. I'm going to return all those cigarettes to the supplier for free. You can't make your employees and staff poison themselves with nicotine, Phi. They might get sick and make you lose money by paying medical bills. But you can take all those vitamins and supplements for them, so they stay healthy and work well for you. It's free!"

Forth was stunned to hear Javin's words and saw his charming smile. Forth put down his chopsticks and reached across the table, taking Javin's hand.

"Javin? Can I kiss you again?"

***