27. New Car, Newcomer

"Javin, have you completed the paperwork for the residency? They're only giving time until next week," August said as he put his books into his bag. "I still need to find the second and third semester grade reports that were tucked away somewhere."

Javin turned and smiled. Among the three of them, August, Leon, and himself, August was usually the most careless. He is always missing something or forgetting something.

"You probably forgot, tucked the grades report somewhere," said Javin.

"Hm. I guess so. Do you have any plans this afternoon?"

"As usual, go home, prepare the paperwork Phi Forth needs for a conference with some of his clients later tonight, take a nap, then make dinner."

"Hey!" Leon suddenly tapped Javin and August on the shoulder from behind, making his two best friends surprised. "You two should come with me."

"Huh? Where? And why did you disappear immediately after receiving the call?" Augustus asked annoyed.

Leon chuckled. He liked to surprise August the most because his best friend didn't like being surprised the most.

"My cousin called. He will be here in a minute and I want you to meet him. He is a student majoring in geology and will be doing research on scholarship proposals at the engineering faculty at our university," August replied.

"I have to go home quickly," said Javin.

"Phi Forth is a bit busy today as some new clients need to be seen later tonight."

Leon grabbed Javin and August's hands together and pulled them up from their seats. "Just a moment, stay with me. I need to introduce my cousin to you so that if he needs help here and I'm not around, at least he won't be confused and can contact you."

Javin and August could only surrender when Leon pulled them and followed him out of the library and led them to the cafeteria.

Leon ordered food and drinks while they waited for his cousin to arrive, as it was already lunch time.

"This cousin of yours, younger or older than us?" asked Javin while stirring the ramen that Leon bought.

"Younger. Maybe three or four years apart," Leon replied. He blew on the rib soup he ordered. "He's my aunt's--my mother younger sister--youngest child who lives in Canada."

They were just starting to eat their lunch when someone approached the table.

"Phi Leon!"

The three men at the table turned around and found a tall, large man standing with a big grin beside the table.

Leon smiled and stood up, opening his arms for a hug. He looked the man in front of him from head to toe and shook his head in amazement.

"Tim? What have you been eating all this time? Why have you grown so big?" he asked.

He patted his cousin on the shoulder and turned to August and Javin who were watching him. "Guys, this is Timmy, my cousin. He has been living in Canada for a while and is planning to move here."

Timmy smiled broadly at Javin and August then reached out to shake them. Leon then made Timmy sit next to Javin, across from him and August.

"I think you are younger than us," August said, looking at Javin. "But you are huge."

Timmy laughed. "My family owns a farm in Canada and I used to work there to help my parents. Maybe my body got trained on its own, because it's not easy to work on a large enough farmland," Timmy replied in a light tone.

"You didn't look this big when we met a few years ago," Leon said. He pointed at Timmy's shoulder. "You didn't even have any muscles back then."

Timmy chuckled. "That was when I just graduated middle school, Phi."

Javin didn't say much, even when Leon, August, and Timmy chatted happily. He looked at his watch after a while. His lunch was over and he should be back soon.

"Leon," said Javin interrupting Leon and Timmy's conversation. "I'm sorry, but I have to go home now. I have to quickly prepare the documents Phi Forth needs for tonight."

Leon nodded and pointed at Timmy. "Can I give Timmy your number so he can call you when I'm not around and he needs help?"

Javin turned his head and locked eyes with Timmy who was looking at him with a smile.

Javin nodded. "You can call me if Leon or August aren't around to help you," Javin said kindly.

"Thanks, Phi," Timmy replied politely.

Javin came home and saw Forth in the garage when he arrived.

"Phi Forth, what are you doing?" asked Javin, getting out of his car. "Any car damaged?"

Forth took Javin's hand and held it tightly. He pointed at the white car in front of him, which he was inspecting when Javin arrived.

"Javin, what do you think of this car?" asked Forth in a serious tone.

"Good," said Javin lightly. "Out of all the cars here, this one I like the most."

"Why? This is an ordinary car and one of the longest."

"This car is different. All your cars are black and limited edition, luxury and class. Only this car is white, not too flashy, but tough. That's why you keep this car among all your luxury cars."

Forth looked at Javin with a gentle gaze and leaned his face towards Javin, then kissed the side of his head. "You're meticulous and pay attention to detail. That's good."

Javin smiled shyly. "I've often noticed you taking the time to wipe the windows of this car with your own hands, before getting into another car, or stroking the top or sides of this car. I think this car has a special value for you. You love this car the most."

Forth nodded his head. "This is the first car I bought with the money I got from my first tender winning, competing against a big company. I used this car for a year until I could buy more expensive car, but I kept and used the car this once in a while, because to me this car is special."

"You intend to sell it now?"

"Huh? No. Why do you ask that?"

"It's nothing, Phi. I just thought it was it because you don't usually wonder things like this. Or was there some damage?"

"Not at all. In fact, this car is actually the most well-maintained so far, because I asked Phi Rain to send people from his repair shop to do routine maintenance every month."

Javin smiled and squeezed Forth's hand that was holding his hand. "Have you eaten lunch yet? I made lasagna and stir-fried broccoli before leaving for college this morning."

"Yeah. I finished half a plate of that good lasagna."

Javin smiled broadly, feeling happy that Forth liked what he made.

"Javin, this car is yours now," Forth said while opening Javin's hand and placing the car keys in his palm.

Javin stared at it, then turned to Forth. "Phi? This--"

Forth smiled and kissed the tip of Javin's nose. "For you."

"But, why? I have my own car and I think--"

"Nothing in particular. I just feel that you suit this car. You and this car, are my first, both have special meaning to me and are different from the others."

Javin felt his throat constricted by a turbulent emotion. He ventured, reached out and hugged Forth. "Thank you, Phi."

Forth rubbed Javin's back. "Come on in. You should get some rest before we start putting together documents for tonight's conference."

Forth and Javin were walking hand in hand towards the house, when Javin's phone rang in his bag. Javin took it and saw an unknown number on the screen.

"Who?" Forth asked.

"I don't know. The number I don't recognize."

Javin didn't take the call and after a while the call stopped, replaced by a message notification. Javin opened the message.

[Hi, Phi Javin. It's me, Timmy. I've been interested in you since the first time Phi Leon introduced us. May I know you a bit more?]

Then another message.

[You are so pretty. Don't forget to save my number, Phi.]

Javin gasped, reading the bold message. Forth took the phone in Javin's hand and read the message.

His voice was sharp and cold, as he shoved the phone back into Javin's hand. "Who's Timmy?"

***