Chapter 21

The morning air felt so cold that it pierced into the pore pores. It has become commonplace in every dry season that the air will tend to feel colder than usual.

Dinda was still busy moving her clothes into the suitcase that was on the bed.

"Din!" Agus grabbed Dinda's wrist.

"Why baby?" Dinda turned to look at Agus who was beside her.

"Why did you put all your clothes in the suitcase?" asked Agus, who was now sitting on the edge of the bed.

"yes, baby, it seems that we better just go back to our hometown. Stay with Papa and Mama." Dinda tidied up all her clothes in the suitcase.

"Don't be dear, we'd better just stay here. I don't want to trouble your Papa and Mama. Be patient, I will immediately find money to pay the rent for this apartment," said Agus with a weakness.

"Agus, the rent of the apartment is not cheap, we'd better just go back to our hometown." Dinda looked at Kasian at Agus and gave the envelope containing the bill to Agus.

Agus immediately grabbed the envelope and opened it. After reading it, Agus looked back at Dinda.

"I know, I will try to find another job so that we can still pay the rent for this apartment," said Agus with a disappointed face. "But I beg you, we don't go back to your hometown."

Dinda did not answer. Looking at her husband.

"Alright baby, if you don't want to," Dinda replied throwing a smile on Agus's lips. "How about we just move to a rental house. It seems that it can save us finances," Dinda suggested.

"Don't you mind?" Agus raised both eyebrows.

"No baby, I don't mind at all!" Dinda stroked gently on Agus's face.

Agus and Dinda both smiled at each other. "I will sell my car to rent the house you want," said Agus. Dinda nodded her head.

"I'm sorry baby, if I can't make you happy!" Agus hugged Dinda's body standing in front of him.

"Don't say that, Agus. Just by being with you I'm already happy!" Dinda rubbed Agus's head.

____

Agus toured the city of Surabaya with a new motorbike that he bought. The motorbike resulted from him selling his car. He will use the rest of the money to rent a cheap house like what Dinda wants.

Today the sun is very hot. A day around made Agus feel very thirsty. He decided to stop at a tavern.

"Mom, order one sweet iced tea!" said Agus to the tavern owner.

"Fine, please wait a moment," the tavern owner replied.

Moments later the tavernkeeper's woman handed over a glass of iced tea that looked fresh. Before drinking it, Agus stirred first.

"It seems that you are not a local person here, sir?" the tavern owner asked Agus.

"Yes, ma'am, I am indeed not a regional person here," Agus replied smiling kindly.

"No wonder it feels foreign to me. If you can tell, where are you going?" the woman asked Agus again.

"I want to find a rental house with cheap property, mom," explained Agus. He hoped that the tavernkeeper's woman could help him.

"Oh the rental house. Try to go to the end of the road there. There are many rental houses with various prices." The tavern owner pointed at the end of the big street.

"Thank you mom, I'll try it!" retorted Agus happy that he had been helped.

"Mom, iced tea one!" said the customer who walked into the tavern.

"Okay!"

The big man sat on the same long stool as Agus.

" What's mr. Agus here?" said the man surprised when he saw Agus.

"Mr. Ido!" replied Agus between surprised and nervous.

"We haven't seen each other for a long time, Mr. Agus. What about how are you?" asked Ido.

"I'm fine," Agus replied. "What about Mr. Ido?"

"Of course I'm very nice," Ido replied smiling warmly.

"Oh yes, sir, how did you get to this area?" asked Ido.

"I'm looking for a rental house, Ido!" replied Agus.

"Rental house? Don't you live in an apartment?" Ido looked surprised.

"Yes, that was it first!" replied Agus listlessly. "I've quit my job." His face now looked even more sad.

Ido stared concerned. "Then Mr. Agus is now working where?" asked Ido.

"I'm not working, Mr. Ido. I'm unemployed," Agus replied sounding sadly.

Ido felt kasian. After all, Agus used to be the one who had helped him when he worked in the same company.

"If Mr. Agus wants to, you can work in my workshop. But the result is not much," said Ido.

"Really?" Agus looked happily.

"That's right, Mr. Agus. Tomorrow morning you may come to my bangkel," Ido replied.

"Uh, Mr. Agus already knows the news about Dimas?" Ido asked.

"Dimas who?"

"It was Dimas who worked in the finance department of the company first. Have you forgotten?"

"Remember Mr. ido, why?"

"Dimas is dead, Mr. Agus," Ido said with a sad face.

"Inalillahi wa innailaihi rojiun, is it still young?" replied Agus incredulously.

"Yes, sir, but the HIV disease he suffered from made his life very short," explained Ido.

Agus's face suddenly turned pale. He remembered the illness he had suffered. Just like with his best friend named Dimas. Agus couldn't imagine what if his life was as short as Dimas'. Then Dinda? Only Dinda is now in Agus's mind.

*******

"Din, Dinda!"

Agus circulated his gaze throughout the room. But he didn't find Dinda anywhere. He searched all the rooms inside his apartment. But in Dinda it remains non-existent.

Many times Agus tried to contact Dinda through his cell phone. However, it was always the sound of the robotic machine that answered his call. Made Agus even more desperate.

"Where are you, baby?" said Agus worriedly.

"Does Dinda return to Doctor Firman? Did Dinda really leave me? Because I am now poor and sick like this?" Agus thought.

The sound of someone opening the door of the apartment. Agus immediately ran over to take a look.

"Dinda!"

Agus hugged the newly arrived Dinda. Immediately Dinda was shocked.

"What's wrong, baby?" asked Dinda a little panicked.

"I'm looking for you, baby. I thought you were leaving me!" said Agus, who was still hugging Dinda.

Dinda smiled, pulling Agus's body from his arms.

"I'm not going anywhere, baby. No matter what happens I will always be there for you," said Dinda looking at Agus who looked worried.

____

Continued...