Chapter 22

Dinda had been in the rental house that Agus rented. The house consists of four rooms for rent. Inside each room, there is a living room, bedroom, and bathroom. As well as a small kitchen.

"I'm sorry Dinda! If I can only afford to rent this simple house," said Agus with a sad face looking at Dinda.

"It's okay, baby. This is more than enough for me!" retorted Dinda smiling.

"Thank you for understanding my situation. If we have enough money in the future, We will move out of this house."

"No need to think about it, Agus!" replied Dinda clasping Agus's hand tightly. Show if there is no problem for him.

"You're working in Mr. ido's workshop?"

"Yes, Dinda. I'll work there. It's not bad to be able to finance our lives." retorted Agus in a low voice.

Dinda did not answer. She is also thinking of ways to get more income so that she can finance Agus's treatment. If you only rely on her work in the restaurant, it will not be enough.

"Baby, have you eaten yet? Just now I bought a meal for you."

Agus picked up a plastic bag containing the rice wrap he bought.

"Eat it, it's cold later!" Agus smiled and opened the rice wrap for Dinda.

"I'm sorry if it's just an omelet and chili sauce," said Agus after giving the rice to Dinda.

"It's okay, baby. It's already very delicious." Dinda smiled.

Dinda fed the rice into her mouth with gusto. However, the movement of his hand stopped when he saw Agus's face that kept looking at him sadly.

"Baby, why? You want me to feed you?" said Dinda.

Agus just shook his head.

"Then, where is the rice for you?" Dinda's eyes searched. But the black plastic bag was already empty and there was no more rice.

"No Dinda. I have eaten at the rice stall just now when I bought rice for you," Agus replied.

"Are you sure?" Dinda raised both eyebrows. Agus nodded and smiled.

But unfortunately, Agus's lies did not last long enough. The sound of his starving stomach exposed his lies.

"You lied!" said Dinda. "You haven't eaten yet!"

"No Dinda. This is simply...!" Agus couldn't answer. His hand held her hungry belly.

Dinda smiled and was about to bribe food to Agus. "Then we eat together!" said Dinda.

"No, Din! You just eat." Agus continued to reject it.

Dinda's face turned resentful. "Well, if you don't want to eat. I don't want to eat either!" Dinda wrapped the rice given by Agus again.

"Well, I'll eat with you!" said Agus after a long silence. Immediately Dinda smiled happily.

Agus unwrapped the rice and started scooping.

"Open your mouth baby!" said Agus feeding Dinda.

Dinda opened her mouth wide. But his eyes watched Agus sadly.

"You have to eat a lot!" said Agus on the sidelines of feeding Dinda.

Suddenly Dinda burst into tears. Tears quickly ran down her cheeks.

"Baby, why? What's the matter?" Agus looked very panicked. He immediately placed the spoon.

Dinda did not answer.

His face was downcast and kept crying.

"I'm sorry baby. I will keep trying to make you happy!" said Agus taking Dinda in his arms.

*******

Almost a month more Dinda is living her new life in a rental house. Every morning until late afternoon Agus will work in Pak ido's workshop which is not too far from his home. While Dinda is still busy with her work at the Chinese restaurant where she used to work.

These few days Pak's workshop has been so crowded with visitors. Many customers are waiting for their vehicles to be serviced or replaced with damaged equipment. Although now Mr. ido has added more manpower to work in his workshop. But Mr ido's workshop is still short of manpower.

"Agus, are you sick?" Mr. Ido asked when he saw Agus's pale face, who was busy with his work.

"No, sir! I'm fine," Agus replied to continue his work.

Indeed, in the past few days, Agus has been home late at night more often. The work of the workshop a lot made him have to complete it immediately. Because usually, the next day the vehicle will be immediately picked up by the owner.

"You're sure, Gus?" Mr. Ido doubted as if he didn't believe Agus's answer.

"Yes sir, I'm okay!" replied Agus turning a glance at Mr. Ido.

Once done with the work. Agus immediately packed up the workshop tools and was about to take them to the display cabinet. But it hadn't arrived at the storefront cabinet yet, Agus suddenly fell unconscious.

"Agus!" shouted Mr. Ido in panic. Likewise with some customers who happen to be in the workshop.

"Gus, wake up, Agus!" Mr. Ido shook Agus's body. Patted on his cheek. But Agus still didn't wake up.

"Let's just take it to the hospital, boss!" said one of Mr. Ido's other employees.

"Quickly, you quickly prepare the car!" exclaimed Mr. Ido in a panic tone.

******

The cell phone that was in Dinda's trouser pocket kept ringing. Dinda, who was still busy with the pile of dishes in front of her, was forced to ignore it.

Again that long tremor still rocked Dinda's pants pocket. Irritably Dinda immediately grabbed her phone from inside the trouser pocket. It's not uncommon for anyone to contact him during working hours.

"Mr. ido!" Dinda said after seeing the name flashing on the screen of her phone.

"Hello," Dinda said after pressing the green button on the phone screen.

"Din, come to the hospital quickly! Agus fainted," said Mr. Ido in a voice that sounded nervous.

"Huh? Fainted?" The look on Dinda's face instantly turned into worry.

"Okay sir, I'll be there soon!" replied Dinda quickly.

Dinda quickly changed her work clothes and said goodbye to the restaurant owner.

Half an hour passed, and Dinda was still at the bus stop not far from her place of work. Her mind was getting more and more frantic, and the bus that used to cross the big road suddenly did not pass by. Even though he had to rush to the hospital.

"What's going on with you, baby!" said Dinda frantically. Tears occasionally broke through, falling on the cheeks.

A BMW car stopped in front of the bus stop where Dinda was. The driver lowered the glass of his car slightly until he was able to look at Dinda who was sitting on the bus stop bench.

"Din, what are you doing?" greeted the man with black glasses who was on the chair to.

"Doctor Firman," Dinda replied between surprise and delight.

Dinda hurriedly got up and came to Doctor Firman's car.

"You have to help me, Doctor!" said Dinda opening the door of Doctor Firman's car and entering immediately.

"Please what, Dinda?" The man looked confused.

"Please what, Dinda?" The man looked confused.

"Hurry up and take me to the hospital now!" replied Dinda with a panicked face. The woman showed me the address that Pak Ido sent in her short message to Doctor Firman.

Doctor Firman again obeyed Dinda's request without any question. The man immediately drove his car to the hospital Dinda was referring to.

****

Dinda walked quickly down the corridors of the hospital. His gaze kept watching around the place to search for Mr. Ido's whereabouts.

While Doctor Firman just stood in the lobby of the hospital noticing the departure of Dinda who left him. However, his heart felt heavy if he had to leave Dinda who looked so scared alone. Finally, the man with black glasses caught up with Dinda.

"Din!" Shouted Mr. Ido who was standing at the door of the ICU room.

"Mr. Ido!" said Dinda. She immediately stepped her feet toward the ICU room.

"What's wrong with my husband, Mr. Ido?" asked Dinda frantically. While adjusting her breathless breath.

Mr. Ido looked unable to bear it. "The Doctor said it hurts' your husband's HIV is getting worse!" said Mr. Ido.

Dinda's body instantly went limp without power. Her ups and downs of breathing were now increasingly claustrophobic as a heavy object fell right on her heart.

The woman almost fell over because she lost her balance. Luckily Doctor Firman's burly arm soon caught the body until the woman fell into his arms.

Dinda cried. "What should I do now, Doctor!" said Dinda with tears in her eyes.

____

Continued...