JOBBING

[01] Bob

Do you believe in fantasy stories? What do you know about a novel, a movie, or from where do you know it?

Like ... Can we go to the past or to the future using a time machine? Or do we open a closet and it turns out that the closet is actually a door to another world?

Or magic? But if magic I'm sure you'll believe you're in this world.

And what about a creature you never imagined existed? These are not ghosts but other creatures, so you might think they come from an outer planet. Sure that doesn't make sense anymore, does it? And of course all of that would be hard to believe....

This time I will tell you how I faced everything ... To the future and to the past. Visiting the whole world even that hidden world. Fierce with my life and death while taking it ....

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It all started from what I didn't expect, because it could take me to a place I never knew before.

New York, in Albany. I was currently leaning against the front wall of the Qibo bookstore. A unique name is not. Make no mistake, even though the name is like that the most complete bookstore in the city. There will always be a new book in the store.

The fantasy genre book is currently in my hands. A little more, I'll finish reading it. It'll definitely connect. There is no final version in this store. Not only in this store, even in this country there certainly is no last book because the book I read today is a new book.

"Connected ... Is that really all? A vehicle that can take us anywhere? Hey, comeon! I know it's all fiction" I just closed the book and kept it in my coat pocket. I got out of my back and rushed to my house.

Now I saw a grandfather sitting cross-legged below. He was staring at something he was holding. I don't know what it is, I can't see it. But it seems he was talking to himself.

Since when was Grandpa there? My feeling from earlier was that no one was passing this sidewalk. Inner saying. Just three steps past him, he started talking and it seemed like the call was on for me.

"Hey young man!" he said it again. Makes me finally look back at that grandfather. "Did grandpa just call me?" I asked because it was just me and him on this sidewalk.

"True," he retorted, pulling his body to his feet and walking closer to me.

"What's the cake? Can I help you?"

"Uhuk–Uhuk ... Before that," the grandfather extended his hand towards me a sign of wanting to get acquainted.

"Oh yes. My name is Avleinsist Forqueto. Grandfather can call me Avlein," I said in return. The grandfather smiled at me and then he said, "I like your name young man. Jobas. Call me that, "he let go of his hand and showed me something from the other hand.

It seemed like it was something he had seen before. Suddenly the ladder moved wearing that thing around my neck.

"He wants to be with you. And he also wants you not to give him to anyone else" explained the grandfather.

"Is this cake?" I asked while looking at more of the thing he just gave it.

"This is your direction" he replied.

"My directions?"

"Yes ... Now go home. Take good care of him. Never give it to anyone" the grandfather explained once again.

I just nodded my head and turned my body about to walk home. But I remembered I had not said thank you or farewell, so I looked back at the old man. But Grandpa was no more. This really surprised me.

Until if my heart beats normally I conclude to hurry home.

Avleinsist Forqueto's. That's my full name. I don't know what that means, I never asked my parents. Because I from childhood did not know who my parents were.

Ever since I was a baby, I've been in an orphanage. And that name is already in my basket. When I was eight, I was taken by a very wealthy couple.

I am still considered a child by them. But since I finished school, I told them, I want to continue my life in my own way. That's why I'm here right now. Both of my parents are in Indonesia. Actually in Bali.

Despite being so far away from them, they never missed to tell me. And I have to be like that too. In fact, I was encouraged by them to send photos of my activities here.

Now I'm 20 years old. I didn't go to college, because I didn't want to study. I just want to live free. But make no mistake. I have a job.

I'm a writer. There are some of my stories printed in book form. My own book is non-fiction. Where one of them told me about my life that was a little difficult when I was eight years old.

I also sometimes take other jobs. Like editors, animators, and I'm also trained in electronics repair. No problem, I stopped and started my own life.

But I will not forget my life. Never stop learning something. And this is how I learn now, learning to survive in the wild.

I finally arrived at my house. Not too big but not too small. Two bedrooms, one bathroom, kitchen, living room, and one library.

You know, the library is the biggest of them all. I also like to collect books. Now I'm heading to that room. After buying a book, I must have come to this room immediately to add to my collection list.

"It's done. And this ... " I took out the thing that Grandpa gave me from my coat cage. "Why did he give you this?" Then I went to sit in my chair.

"Like an old watch. There was an arrow but strangely there were no numbers. This thing is not a clock. There's a strange picture in it. And the unique logic that regulates the movement of the needle is visible. Is this an old timepiece? What exactly is the name of this thing," I said more and more filled with questions.

Immediately take it off my neck and put it on the table. I got up from my seat to open the coat I was wearing. Then spread it over the chair. Conclude immediately leaving this room intending to clean myself up. But ...

"My name is Joba" said someone from behind me. I immediately turned my body firmly towards the sound.

"Who's there?!" my yelling.

"Here!" I went back to my desk. Because the sound was clearly coming from the direction of the table. Trying to find under the table but I found no one.

"Hey come out you fucking intruder!" my snapping began to pick up one thing that was near me—an umbrella, just in case.

"I'm here, on the table!" he answered and yes I looked directly at the object that grandfather had given me. His voice really came from that thing. Soon I grasped the thing.

"Are you the one who spoke?" I started to panic about what was happening.

"Yes, me!" reply again and yes the voice is right coming from that thing. And I am instead ....

"Yahoooo!!"