How are you today?

[Jay]

The first guy goes to the same gym. I know him for months but lately we have become really close. I'm not sure if the latest update affects our chance to go further though. I just found out that he is 8 years younger than me. He thought I was around his age. I thought he was around my age. He is a medic student.

I was comfortable to be with him. He is a 6 ft muscle beef. He doesn't mind my previous surgeries and he also knows that I still have few surgeries to go. He doesn't mind seeing my stretch marks. He respects me. He thinks what I have achieved is amazing. I don't mind showing my dorky side to him. I only display my dorky side to the people that I truly trust and comfortable with.

Crappy Workout in the Gym

Crappy day in the gym. Actually to think of it, it has been a crappy week in the gym. Nothing went smooth for one whole week. Whilst my strength has increased tremendously, my former personal trainer criticized me for losing muscularity. "Your shoulders don't look good as before. Not as rounded like before. Your biceps have stopped growing. Your lats (back) has stopped developing and improving ..." And so on.

I sighed.

I wanted to change my workout as my body is so used to it. It needs a new challenge and excitement. But my former personal trainer doesn't allow me to do so. "You don't need to follow a different workout suggested by the others. Just stick to what I have taught you before."

"I think he's doing a reverse psychology on you." My muscular friend pointed out. "He wants you to hire him back as your personal trainer. He makes a lot of money from you, doesn't he? Don't forget the supplements, gym bag etc. that he asked you to buy from him"

I nodded. "I know. It's easy to manipulate me because ... I'm still a gym rookie and well, 'softhearted'."

"Well you can always hire him back. It's just $1500 ..." He teased me.

I punched his shoulder. "Ha, ha ..."

"Patience, Jay. Building fat in your body is much easier than building muscle. It will takes years. It took you long years to lose weight. Same thing goes with building a muscular body." He smiled.

Donkey Workout

"Jay, can you help me with the Donkey Calf Raises?" My muscular friend asked me. I'm going to name him, Mr T.

"Erm...okay." Oh, crap - I honestly thought.

Do you guys know what Donkey Calf Raises is? This is the workout.



I don't wear underwear when I do workout in the gym. So you get the idea why I was hesitant to do it.

"It's okay, Jay. Don't laugh. Stay serious. Stay blank. Don't think with your lower component..." I kept telling myself.

We didn't do the workout in the gym since our gym doesn't have the machine above. We used (building) stairs.

"Okay, climb on top of me ..." He said.

"Uh ... okay so you want me to climb on top of you." I echoed. Oh, my god ...

"Yes, come on."

"Are you sure? I'm 71 kg (157lbs). Maybe I'm too heavy for you..." I was hesitant.

"Jay, I lifted 150 kg (330 lbs) before. Now, come on." He urged me.

I sighed.

I slowly climbed on top of him. Oh crap, my balls touched his back. I adjusted the way I sat on top of him. "Oh, god ... oh my god, too much movement, Jay..." I told myself.

"I'm not going to fall am I?" I asked him whilst he was about to start his workout.

"No."

So I rode him. Eheheheheh. "This is like a funfair ride ..." I made a silly joke when I was on top of him.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" He asked whilst he did his workout.

No answer from me.

We did the workout three times. Surprisingly I was able to 'control' myself. Probably because I'm used to see buff shirtless guys in the gym every single day. Beside I go to gym to do workout. Not for sexual stuff and to be a pervert.

"Jay, at what time will I see you on next Monday?" He asked before he left the gym. He wanted to give me a ride home but I still haven't finished my workout.

"The usual..."

"After working hours." He helped to finish my sentence.

"I'll text you." I smiled at him.

I don't dare to say anything about my relationship with Mr. T. We are good friends now. That's what matters. I'm happy to have him as a friend.

Margarita
[COLOR="DarkRed"]
Warning - Whining Alert[/COLOR]

My work schedule is slowly going back to its busy schedule. My boss has 'reserved' me for a new property project. As usual, I have to design the marketing and advertising materials. We are going to launch this project in early March.

Two days ago, I received an email from Stu, a CEO of a Melbourne development company. Our company has launched his project many times before. I designed all of his projects.

I have a weird relationship with Stu. Whilst he is our client, he treats me like his brother. He thinks I am the hardest worker in the company. I once joked, "When you are in Venice, please bring me back a gondola."

And he did. He and his wife bought me a handmade crystal gondola. In blue color. Blue is my favorite color.

Stu also knows that I am gay. He's fine with it but boy, he has a big mouth. Now my company's CEO also knows that I am gay. He's fine too.

My former and current colleagues don't like him that much. He knows that. He once sent me a private email to ask if I dislike him too. "You can be a bit difficult but I do like you." I told him.

I think the reason why my colleagues dislike him is due to his very direct and open attitude. If he's not happy with the project's performance, he will directly tell everyone that he is really unhappy. In the harshest way, if it needs to be.

I am used to interact with people like him. So he doesn't bother me at all. If I'm unhappy with him, I just directly tell him. In the most respective way of course. He likes it that way.

Anyway back to Stu's email. "Jay, my company is going to launch a new project code name, Margarita in Malaysia on early March. Can you please design the project for us?"

I discussed with my boss regarding to Stu's proposal. My boss told me to decline his project if I am not able to handle two projects at the same time.

So I sent him an email to decline. I explained to him why I wasn't able to produce his project.

His last email went like this, "Jay, I want to cry!"

Ok. I thought.

I received a morning call from my boss on the next day. "Jay, Stu wants you to do his project. He will delay his project to late March."

"He delayed because of me?" I was surprised.

"Yes."

Everyone kept telling me that I am the asset of the company but if so, why do I feel so under appreciated?

I worked my butt off for 4 years straight for the company. I occasionally work on Sat, Sun and public holidays without overtime payment. I occasionally go home late until 10 to 11pm. I often had to skip my sleep to do my work. I rarely take a day off. I even came to work when I had a terrible fever (Eventually was kicked out my boss. She asked to go home to rest).

I gave so much to the company but got so little in return. I love my boss and colleagues. I love working in the company that I'm working with right now. It's just the reward and appreciation can be so much more.

Once, Stu caught me updating my resume and portfolio after working hours. He was in my office at the time. "If you resign from this company, I will hunt you down and drag you back." He joked. I think.

I'm 29 years old. I think it's time to re-evaluate everything. Finance. Profession. Life. But I'm not going to foolishly quit my job right now. Everything needs to be planned carefully.

I honestly hope that I can expand my career successfully. As lame or tacky this may sound, I would like to be financially successful so I can support other people in need. I like the idea of hiring people and taking care of their wellness.

Oh yeah, another thing. As I've mentioned to PrinceAlbert, I am honestly getting frustrated with the delayed surgery. Plus I still have another two surgeries to go. I feel like I cannot proceed with my life properly until I have completed all of my surgeries. The surgeries affect everything. My life and also my finance. PrinceAlbert asked me to be patient. I'm doing my best by not thinking about the surgeries. It can be hard sometimes. I am a human after all.