Chapter 23

"The guardian of the patient Agus?"

"Yes!"

Dinda immediately broke free from the arms of Doctor Firman. The woman who looked frantic walked quickly to the nurse who was standing in the doorway of the doctor's room.

"Please come in, the Doctor has been waiting!" said the nurse kindly.

Dinda stepped her feet into the Doctor's room located next to the ICU room. While Doctor Firman followed Dinda behind.

"Please sit down mom!" A female Doctor invited Dinda to sit down.

"So this way, regarding Mr. Agus's illness, did you know before that Mr. Agus had HIV?"

"yes doc, I know," Dinda replied with a quivering lip.

"Because Mr. Agus's condition is very dropped, so for a while, Mr. Agus had to be treated here first. Please mom pay attention to the diet, Rest, and administration of ARV drugs should be on time. To avoid things we don't want," explained the Doctor looking seriously at Dinda.

After the doctor who treated Agus finished delivering his explanation. Dinda immediately left the room and walked towards the room where Agus was.

Dinda sat on a stool next to Agus's bed. The woman grabbed Agus's hand that closed her eyes. His gaze noticed Agus's thinner and paler face.

"Baby, you have to be strong!" said Dinda looking at Agus. Tears already filled Dinda's eyes.

"Dinda!"

Call someone standing next to Dinda's seat. The man grabbed Dinda's one hand that was behind the rhopaper.

Dinda turned to look at Doctor Firman who looked at her so quietly.

"You have to be strong too, Din!" said Doctor Firman.

"Din!" The voice of Agus's call was weak. The man with a pale face slowly opened his eyes looking at Dinda with a smile.

"Yes!" replied Dinda turning her gaze to Agus. Now both hands are in the grasp of different people.

"I'm sorry to trouble you!" Agus moaned with a sad face.

"Don't say that, it's my obligation to take care of you, Agus!"

There was a pain in Doctor Firman's chest. The man slowly released the grasp of Dinda's hand hiding behind the bed. Dinda's remarks resuscitated that his love had been unrequited.

Dinda turned her head. She was a little surprised when Doctor Firman released her hand.

"Thank you, Doctor Firman, so far you have helped us a lot," said Agus looking at the man standing next to Dinda.

"Get well soon, Mr. Agus! I said goodbye first," said Doctor Firman forcing a smile on the corners of his lips.

Dinda's eyes were still staring at Agus. However, her fingers again grabbed the back of Doctor Firman's hand which was under the bed, wanting to restrain the man.

"Doctor!" said Dinda. She doesn't find doctor Firman's hand.

*******

"This is the bill that mom has to pay for the treatment of Mr. Agus."

Sister presented a memorandum of payment to Dinda. Dinda's eyes flashed instantly at the sight of a row of numbers with such a large number.

"There's so much bill, nurse? Is it okay if I pay in installments? For now, I haven't had that much money." Dinda's face looked very pitiful.

"Sorry mom, can't it! The administration must be completed before the patient is taken home." explained the nurse kindly.

Dinda snorted harshly, " Fine! I'll try," Dinda replied then walked away from the payment counter.

After that, Dinda immediately returned to Agus's inpatient room. It must be that at this time Agus is ready to pack his things to take home.

Dinda paused for a moment before entering Agus's room. Took a deep breath and then exhaled it softly. Dinda patted both cheeks gently so as not to look sad' in front of Agus.

"Din! I'm ready," Agus said when he saw Dinda coming.

Dinda smiled, Then sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Baby, just now the Doctor told me that your return was postponed tomorrow. For your situation to improve," Dinda said lying.

Agus looked confused. "But the doctor just came from here and said if I'm allowed to leave the hospital."

Dinda ran out of words. His face was flat looking at Agus. He didn't know what to do, let alone keep Agus in the hospital. At least until he can pay off all the hospital expenses.

"Oh? But why did the doctor say so to me just now?" Dinda scratched her head but didn't itch.

"You're not lying, are you?" said Agus.

"No baby, I didn't lie. Just now I met the Doctor just right in the hallway want to come here!"

Agus was silent with a thoughtful face. "Yes never mind!" he said listlessly. He placed the bag containing his clothes back on the bedside nightstand.

Dinda breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, she was able to hold Agus. At least until tomorrow and tonight, he will find money to repay the debt of that hospital.

******

Dinda walked along the streets of Surabaya. The money left only a few sheets is a pity if he uses it to take public transportation with uncertain purposes. Her head kept thinking about how to earn money to finance Agus's hospital. But, in that big city, Dinda didn't have anyone just...

"Doctor Firman, why don't I just ask him for help?" Dinda's eyes lit up. Remembered the man who had always been there for her.

"Okay, I'll come to the Firman doctor's apartment. I'm sure, surely Doctor Firman can help me!" Dinda was very excited. She immediately stopped the taxi that happened to pass by.

Dinda hesitated to knock on the door of Doctor Firman's Apartment. She was afraid of disturbing the man's rest. Because the time is already midnight. However, Dinda also really needs the money. And there is no other option.

Dinda took a deep breath, gathering all her strength to knock on the door of the apartment.

Tok! Tok! Tok!

"Assalamualaikum," Dinda said quietly.

The atmosphere felt so quiet. There is no law inside the apartment. Dinda again repeated her beat. However, it was still quiet.

Dinda bowed listlessly and looked desperate. "It seems that Doctor Firman is already asleep, am I coming tomorrow!" said Dinda to herself.

Dinda stared at the door of Doctor Firman's apartment before she left. Dinda accidentally turned the doorknob, and...

"The door is not locked?" said Dinda surprised. "You sloppy!" then ranted.

"Doctor Firman!"

"Doctor Firman!"

Dinda walked in and called the name of the owner of the apartment. But the apartment was deserted and there was no one. Dinda stepped more and more into checking several rooms. But Dinda found no one.

Dinda felt even more strange. If Doctor Firman sleeps, the man should be able to hear her call. But there was no answer whatsoever.

Only Doctor Firman's room has not been in Dinda checked. The woman was even more curious. Especially when bad thoughts come to fill his head.

"What if there is a robbery?" That's one of them.

Tok! Tok! Tok!

"Doctor Of The Word!"

"Doctor of the Word!" called Dinda from outside the bedroom door. But still, there was no answer.

Dinda was getting scared even more. "What's the case, Doctor Firman is confined in this room?"

Dinda's mind was getting more and more chaotic.

The sound of an object falling from the room made Dinda startled. Soon she opened the door of the room.

"Oh my god, Doctor!" Dinda was surprised when she saw fragments of alcohol bottles scattered on the floor. Doctor Firman, meanwhile, was lying on the bed, in a state of severe intoxication.

"Doctor, are you okay?" Dinda approached Doctor Firman. The smell of alcohol made him almost want to vomit.

"Dinda!" said Doctor Firman. Apparently, the man was still half-conscious.

Dinda breathed a sigh of relief. Then smiled.

"Doctor is drunk, no wonder Doctor didn't answer my call," Dinda said looking at Doctor Firman. She sat on the lip of the bed where Doctor Firman was now lying.

The man just closed his eyes. Didn't answer anything.

"It seems that I will be back here tomorrow!" Dinda was about to get up. But Doctor Firman suddenly pulled her body until she grabbed Doctor Firman's body and the man kissed Dinda wildly. Without being able to Dinda fought back.

_____

Continued...