Loving Paralyzed Men
Akira's House

The next day, various medical devices start coming to Akira's house. Starting from the hospital bed, various kinds of supporting devices to do therapy for Dimas.

The devices are neatly arranged in Akira's living room, the sofa, desk, and Akira television are no longer there.

At the hospital, Akira had a conversation with Dimas.

"How are you doing after a day with Sofia? You didn't kill him out of annoyance, did you?" Ask Dimas.

Akira laughed, "of course not. Sofia seems to be getting better now." Answer Akira.

"What's the chat you two are connecting?" Ask Dimas again.

"Oh, yeah, we talked a lot."

When Dimas doesn't talk about Akira's house being a place for rehabilitation, Akira tries to talk about it.

"Why didn't you tell me about the scheme you guys were doing?"

"The scheme? Mean you?" Ask Dimas in surprise.

"About my house being the place for you to do rehab." Answer Akira.

"What do you mean?"

Akira squeezes her hair.

"It looks like we've been bullied! Your brother asked me to let you stay in my house to serve as your rehabilitation and therapy. He said you agreed, and you said it was a good idea." Akira Obviously.

"He never said anything! He said he had found a suitable place in the city for me. Your house? Oh God!" Speak Dimas with a fairly loud intonation.

"What's the problem with my house? You haven't even seen him! My house is perfect!" akira's words came to a halt as he realized, "why should I try to convince you, when I myself thought that this was a crazy idea, you would stay in my house? Oh my...." Akira shakes.

"I don't know. Then why did you agree?"

'Because I want to give our relationship another chance!' of course this was just an expression in Akira's heart.

Akira should have rejected the idea. Their relationship during life under one roof, never went smoothly. Why do we have to live together again? Akira was completely confused by himself.

'What if he never gets well? Will she stay with me forever? Oh God!'

Akira's thoughts about Dimas are not just about his recovery, but about the fate of their future relationship.

"about? Akira?" Call Dimas disperse Akira's daydream.

"sorry. I'm just thinking."

"I said, 'thank you for accepting me at your house.' But I know Sofia's decision can be changed. You can say no now, without feeling bad for me."

"No. I'm not asking you to back off. Sofia was right about my house. There is already a room that suits you there, even Sofia has hired ART services to help all your needs. It's just that it would be a little strange for me to be used to living alone at home, seeing you in my house with some other strangers" Akira said. "But I'm sure it'll be fun."

"In this kind of situation, a guest should say 'don't make yourself bother because of me, ' but I'll trouble you a lot Akira."

Akira can see from Dimas' eyes that Dimas did not want to make himself too bothered by his presence. But on the other hand, it is clear that Dimas hopes to get out of the hospital and stay at home, like a normal life.

********************

Dimas's belongings that had entered Akira's house had already exceeded what Akira had expected. Sofia is seen commanding some of the workers just by shaking her hands, leaving Akira astonished.

When Dimas had entered the room that had been the family room, Sofia's expression seemed dissatisfied with something.

"Dimas honey, I'll call my designer to ask him to renovate this room for you."

"No! You can't do that." Reject Akira.

"This room is so ugly and boring." Sofia.

Someone was seen entering carrying a new wallpaper to cover the walls of the room whose paint began to peel. One more person looks to be changing the window model of the room from the outside.

Akira rolled his eyes lazily.

"I'm the first person to know that this house is a mess, Sofia. That's why I bought it, because I wanted to design the interior myself. Painting the walls, buying new lights, installing curtains, installing new ceramics, installing carpets with my favorite designs, because this is my own home, so I want to renovate it myself."

"Dimas," said Sofia, "you can't live like this."

"Look at me, Sofia. I thought I'd feel really comfortable being here." Dimas rolled his eyes towards Akira.

Sofia took a long breath.

"Alright, if you say so." Sofia.

"To calm you down, Sofia, I'll stop renovating my bathroom and will work on this room to make Dimas feel more comfortable."

'I can spend my time with Dimas here as long as I want, but I have to keep my attitude and emotions from getting carried away.'

******************

Satisfied with her strategy, Sofia finally returns home to her hometown. As Akira closes the door of the house after Sofia's departure, she feels awkward. Nurses, therapists, and ARTs will start work tomorrow. So today he was alone with Dimas in the house.

A few minutes later, Akira came with a large box in black and white that was also patterned on the left and right sides. When opened there are various forms of pawns made with wood. Everything is big.

"Giant chess board?" Dimas said in disbelief. "Where did you get it?"

"Opa made it for me Dim." Reply Akira.

"To celebrate your freedom from the hospital. Do you want to play?"

"Against myself?"

"Hahahaha not this time. I've learned a lot over the last three years Dim. This time you're gonna lose." Akira said confidently.

Akira sits beside Dimas' bed and starts playing. "Your turn."

"I don't know, my hands feel weird and move slowly, even with this tool I can't make my hands feel stronger."

Akira laughed again, "Chess is not a game that pits speed. Come on, I'm sure you can."

Akira held his breath as Dimas began to direct his hand to move the chess pawn and finally he succeeded despite having to limp.

"Yeeeaaahhh I finally made it." Shouted Dimas girang.

"I told you, you can." Reply Akira.

The game continued, both of them sat facing the warm light from the circular lights illuminating the two, forgetting the outside world that had begun to darken.

Akira felt his chest thump even more, when accidentally their hands touched, and their eyes looked at each other.

'If only all this had happened in the past. If only we were both alive. If only this atmosphere would still occur in the future. If only....'

Dimas moved slowly and said, "scarf mat."

"Yeah." Shouted Akira.

"You've played very well.".

"Thank you very much Sir." Reply Akira lowered his head, then stuffed the chess pawn into his box.

"I expect a reward from my victory, Miss. A kiss of victory, for example." Dimas.

Akira still remembers the last time they kissed and he didn't want to get too deeply involved.

"Take this as a friendship kiss." Akira said as he kissed Dimas' lips quickly.

"It's a gift from me." Dimas replied to Akira's kiss.

"The...."

"And this one's for....." Dimas starts kissing Akira again.

Akira let go of himself, "It's dinner time." Akira said as he walked slowly to the kitchen.

"Eat dinner?"

Akira turned around and nodded then kissed Dimas' cheek, "I'll cook dinner for you."

"Thank you." Dimas.

"Together," replied Akira.

Akira is eager to avoid Dimas' touch, but a romantic evening leaves him lulled. She kissed deeper with Dimas.

"It's been more than Ra's friendship kiss."

"Emm..." Reply Akira while continuing to kiss Dimas' cheek.

Dimas groaned, "Lord, I hate to say this."

"What?"

"Not tonight, baby. I'm too tired. You better go to bed."

Akira's face flushed with embarrassment, "you're right." Her speech. "Here, let me help you first."

'Once again I can't help myself.'

Akira lowered Dimas' hand hanging from the iron rod, then tidied up his blanket to cover up Dimas' chest.

"I'll check on you every two hours." Akira. "Good night Dim." Further.

"Next time kiss me like it's a friend." Dimas.

Akira just laughed and walked into his room.

As he said, once every two hours, Akira came to see Dimas' condition. When he confirmed that Dimas was completely asleep, Akira returned to his room and slept quietly.