"Javin, why are you so excited? Aren't you tired, working all night?" Leon asked confused. "You still have the energy to prepare a presentation? What are you? A robot?"
Javin chuckled. "I'm just glad that my application for an internship at St Varin's hospital was accepted. I just got the news this morning."
"Oh? They announced it?" asked Leon in surprise. He nudged August who looked sleepy. "Have you seen the announcement?"
August squirmed lazily and yawned. "You and I are accepted too."
"Ooo... you guys want to play a trick on me by keeping the news to yourself?" Said Leon annoyed.
Javin laughed again. He hit Leon's shoulder. "Usually you're the first to know about things like this. That's why I'm a bit confused because you haven't talked about this since."
"I'm a bit distracted because of an assignment regarding the lungs that I need to fix. Professor Nani really stresses me out with the details he asks for," Leon complained with a deep breath. "That's why I'm surprised to see you so excited when you still have to work nights."
"I'm excited because an internship at St Varin means that my path to achieving my goals will be faster," replied Javin simply. "I want to be a real doctor soon."
August patted Javin's shoulder. "You'll be successful, Jav, don't worry. Your hard work will pay off soon. You are the smartest among us, dilligent, and hard worker."
"Hm, I thought so too," said Leon. His brow furrowed and he looked deep in thought. "But what about your job at the mini market when you've started your apprenticeship? How about you get a night shift?"
Javin gasped. Why didn't he think about it at all? The feeling of pleasure he felt when he saw the announcement of the admission of apprentices at St Varin's hospital made him think of nothing else.
"Ah! I even forgot about it," replied Javin languidly. "Looks like I have to stop working there. I have to tell Mrs Drew about it."
"You'd better tell your boss early so she can find a replacement for you," suggested August. "But you might find yourself in trouble because there's nothing else to do."
"It's fine. I'll think about it later. Maybe I can offer the services of tutoring for juniors. Even though the payoff isn't much, the timing can be more flexible."
"Let us know if you need help," Leon said firmly. "Don't force yourself to think and endure all the hardships alone. You have us to help."
Javin is very grateful to have friends like Leon and August, who are reliable and always there for him. However, he knew enough to not bother them all the time.
He must immediately find a new job before the internship starts and he must stop working at the mini market. Mrs Drew was very nice to him and he felt bad to tell her that he has to leave.
The internship period will start in four months, but he also had to prepare well. St Varin Hospital is one of the most selective hospitals in selecting interns. They will choose the incompetent intern to be kicked out in the first three months and that means the intern will have to repeat looking for a hospital that will accept him in the following academic calendar.
For Javin who has to work hard so that he can continue to study until he finishes, time is very valuable. He must not fail his apprenticeship as that would hinder all his plans.
St Varin's hospital will usually offer interns with the best grades to continue working there after graduation and not just anyone is lucky to get such an offer.
Javin must admit that he has ambitions to get that opportunity and he has to work hard to seize it.
Leon and August's parents are very rich and they can choose anywhere they want to work after graduation.
Leon's parents had even prepared a plan to build a clinic for Leon to lead himself.
August is also thinking about continuing his specialization in internal medicine in Australia, following his uncle.
Javin wasn't as lucky as they were in terms of material things, so he had to work harder than his two best friends did.
Leon patted Javin's shoulder as he stood up from the chair. "Let's eat before we go home. Its on me. I'm hungry."
On Wednesday, Javin and his two best friends only had one class and they could go home early.
Usually Javin will just go straight to his place in the mini market warehouse, wash or just take the time to rest more before starting work. However, he had not hung out with his two best friends in a long time, so he agreed to Leon's invitation.
After arguing with August as usual about which restaurant they should go to for lunch, they finally set off for Blue Sea, Leon's favorite sushi and sashimi restaurant.
Leon was ordering menus at the counter when a man sitting behind Javin greeted him. "Excuse me, Nong, may I borrow the menu book for a moment, when you have finished reading it? They have run out of the menu book and my friend is very impatient to order," said the man while pointing at his phone.
Javin gave the menu book and accidentally looked at the man's phone screen. "Hey, isn't that Phi Forth?" Javin asked, pointing to the phone screen.
The man looked at Javin, then looked at his phone screen. "You know Forth?"
Javin smiled awkwardly, noticing the surprised tone in the man's voice. He may be considered impolite.
"S-sorry, Phi, I didn't mean--"
"Hey, Javin, is that you?" reprimanded Forth over the phone. "Kwan, give the phone to the boy behind you."
Kwan handed his phone to Javin with a smile. August looked at Javin confusedly and took Leon's hand when his best friend returned to the table after finishing ordering.
"H-hi, Phi," said Javin nervously. "I'm sorry, accidentally interrupted."
On the phone screen, Forth smiled faintly. "It's okay. By the way Kwan is ordering food for a client's banquet this afternoon, can you help him choose a good menu? Kwan isn't a big fan of Japanese food and he's a little confused."
Javin looked up and saw the man named Kwan pointing his thumb at him while nodding.
Javin smiled and looked back at the phone screen. "Alright, Phi, I'll help him choose the menu."
"Who were you there with? Don't you have class?"
"I'm with Leon and August, my best friends. There's only one class today and we're going home early because the professor just asked us to collect assignments."
"Okay. I'm glad to see you in the day, Nong," Forth said with a laugh.
Javin also laughed and felt his heart beat faster than usual seeing Forth's loose laugh.
"I have to go, Nong. Thanks for your help and I'll be visiting for some ramen sometime."
Forth ended the conversation and Javin returned the phone to Kwan sheepishly.
"Ah, I'm glad that finally someone can help me," said Kwan in a relieved tone. "Well, Nong, come on, help me choose the menu. I don't know what's good."
Javin, Leon, and August helped Kwan choose the menu. The tall man again thanked them before he left after all the menus he ordered were ready.
The Waiter came to the table where Javin, Leon, and August were sitting, bringing three large boxes and one smaller box to their table.
"What's this, Phi? We didn't order takeout," August asked confused.
"Oh, this was ordered by the man you helped earlier. This extra little box is for Nong whose name is Javin, that's what he ordered. He said Phi Forth paid for everything."
Leon and August looked at Javin with wide eyes. "Jav, who's the benefactor who bought all this? He's the one you talked to on the phone, right?" August asked curiously.
"Who is he, Jav?" Leon insisted.
Javin smiled widely, staring at the boxes of food on the table. "He is a good man," he replied happily.
***