Bittersweet Arrangements : A Sugar Dady Affair

“Papa, eat first,” said Erick, greeting Devan, who had just woken up.

“Papa hasn’t done his morning prayers yet, Erick,” answered Devan while holding his head which was still throbbing with pain.

“It’s 11 o’clock in the morning, Dad,” explained Erick, making Devan’s eyes widen instantly. Ignoring the pain that wracked his entire body.

“11 o’clock. Seriously Erick?” Devan asked then looked at the bedroom window which looked brightly lit.

Devan fell silent, trying to recall everything that happened yesterday. The last thing he remembered was meeting Elena across the street, and then the accident occurred. Devan closed his eyes again, feeling his stiff body. Unfortunately, he couldn’t move his left leg at all. Devan quickly pushed aside the blanket covering part of his body. His gaze immediately focused on his left leg, now wrapped in a cast.

Seeing Devan looking panicked at the sight of his leg, Erick spoke up.

“Dad, you slept so soundly last night that you didn’t even realize how cramped your room was,” Erick explained with a smile. He tried to remain as calm as possible to prevent his father from getting more anxious. Devan was still unaware of his condition after the accident, so it was understandable that he was confused and questioning now.

Erick was very grateful because his father was fine. Last night, his father’s blood pressure had dropped, and his heart had had some issues. However, according to the morning examination, his father’s condition was now stable. But it didn’t mean his father’s leg was fine. According to the doctor, his father would need quite some time to heal his leg. His father also had to undergo regular check-ups and therapy after leaving the hospital. For Erick, it was not a problem. The most important thing now was that Erick could still see and be with his father.

“Do you want something, Dad?” Erick offered, sitting in a chair after tidying up Devan’s and his own clothes in the available wardrobe. Last night, Arul had delivered all their necessities to the hospital.

“Dad wants to go to the bathroom,” Devan said, opening his eyes again.

“If Dad needs to pee, you don’t need to go to the bathroom,” Erick explained, making Devan start to feel frustrated.

Devan took a deep breath and exhaled slowly to calm himself. “What’s wrong with Dad’s leg? Is it still intact?”

Erick burst into laughter, replying, “Just a broken bone. Probably two or three months until Dad can ride Blacky again.”

“Just a broken bone?” Devan snorted. It was unbelievable how calm Erick could speak, as if there were no burdens at all. Two or three months was not a short time.

“Well, so Dad can rest. Besides, working a whole lifetime, isn’t Dad tired? Like this, it’s nice. Dad can take a long break,” Erick replied, reaching for breakfast for his father.

Devan sighed again. His son was truly annoying this time. Devan squinted suspiciously at Erick. In his mind, he began to flash back to yesterday, ending up on the painful hospital bed. For the first time in his life, Devan had an accident resulting in a broken bone. Devan began to remember that his purpose in coming to the scene yesterday was not to meet Elena but Erick, his son.

“Yes, I’m the one at fault, Pa. I’m the one who planned the meeting between you and Elena,” Erick confessed, placing Devan’s uneaten food back on the table.

Devan was shocked to hear Erick’s confession. He didn’t expect that his son had planned to bring him together with Elena, something he deemed impossible given Erick’s clear rejection of Elena all this time.

Erick’s eyes began to well up with tears, his head hung low with regret. His good intentions ended tragically. Erick never wanted to hurt Elena, let alone his own father. He genuinely wanted to unite his father with that girl.

“Forgive me, Pa. I didn’t mean to hurt you and El,” Erick began to sob.

Realizing all his mistakes, Erick cried even more. Regardless of the reasons, lying was still wrong. Lying was still a sin. And now, Erick had received his punishment.

“I just wanted to see you happy, Pa. I didn’t want to see you sad all the time,” Erick continued between sobs.

A smile appeared on Devan’s lips. Could this be a sign that Erick had accepted Elena as a potential stepmother?

“Don’t cry. Men shouldn’t cry,” Devan chuckled, then held Erick’s hand. “I’ll always be happy if you’re happy, Erick. You mean everything to me.”

Instead of stopping, Erick’s tears flowed even more after hearing his father’s words. All his desires were always accommodated by his father. Never once did the man disappoint him.

“Why are you crying louder now?” Devan chuckled with relief, realizing that his son’s heart was starting to soften.

“Forgive me, Pa. Because of me, you’re like this. I’m scared, Pa. Scared that something might happen to you…” Erick hugged Devan tightly, pouring out all the burdens in his heart. He couldn’t even dare to think about something happening to his father.

“Enough, you offered Papa food earlier. Come on, let’s eat quickly; Papa’s hungry now,” Devan untangled their embrace and tousled Erick’s hair affectionately.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Erick hurriedly prepared food for Devan after wiping the wet traces on his face with a tissue. Devan, with enthusiasm, began to accept each spoonful of food from Erick’s hand, making his son happy and not worrying about him anymore.

***

Unbeknownst to them, the time had entered the Dhuhr prayer. Due to his condition, which made it impossible to perform ablution in the bathroom, Devan used mineral water to fulfill the prayer requirements with the help of Erick.

Sitting down, Devan performed the Dhuhr prayer in congregation with Erick. Just as they finished the prayer, a knock on the door was heard. It turned out to be a hospital staff member delivering lunch for the patient. Erick accepted it while thanking the staff. He then brought the tray containing the food and placed it on the table. Full of enthusiasm, Erick offered the food to his father, who promptly declined. Just an hour ago, the man had eaten heartily. So, Erick didn’t insist.

“Here’s Papa’s phone!” Erick took Devan’s slightly scratched phone from the cabinet.

Devan accepted it immediately. He began to enter the passcode to unlock it. The first thing Devan wanted to do was call Elena to make sure the girl was okay.

Devan began typing a series of sentences there, but before the message was sent, Erick spoke again.

“El has to rest, Pa, if she wants to come here tomorrow.” Erick’s statement surprised Devan. “Mommy called me earlier. So, today, Papa also has to rest,” Erick added with a look that Devan couldn’t decipher.

Due to the effects of the medicine, Devan fell asleep again not long after. Erick felt relieved now. Although what he did had put his father in danger, in his heart, Erick felt satisfied with the decision he made. He approved of his father marrying the woman of his choice.

At half past five in the afternoon, Devan woke up when Erick had just finished bathing.

“Erick, Papa wants to wash his face and brush his teeth,” Devan said, feeling uncomfortable.

“Wait, I’ll get them for you!” Erick replied, then went back into the bathroom.

Soon, Erick came out carrying a basin of water and tools for brushing teeth. Devan had to do what he wanted as much as possible because his movements were limited.

“Thank you, Erick,” Devan said, not expecting his son to care for him so patiently and diligently.

“Don’t mention it, Papa, no need to exaggerate. It’s my duty as your son,” Erick replied, not liking his father’s words. Being able to do this was something the man had taught him, and now it was Erick who was performing his duties as a son.

“Oh, Pa, Grandpa and Grandma, along with Uncle Dion, will be here soon. Right now, they’re still at home getting ready,” Erick added, carrying the basin to the bathroom and returning.

“Why do they have to know? Papa doesn’t want to bother everyone, Erick,” Devan said in frustration, feeling guilty. He looked at Erick, who was drying his hands with tissue. His elderly parents had to travel back and forth between Yogyakarta and Jakarta, and they had just visited a month ago.

“Imagine if they didn’t know, wouldn’t they be angry with me?” Erick’s response successfully silenced Devan’s lips.

Devan chose to remain silent. It seemed his son had grown up enough and was now adept at debating with him. Devan then leaned his back against the pillow that Erick had prepared. He reached for the TV remote to find a channel that might entertain him. And true enough, their family arrived right at 5 in the evening. Devan was very happy to meet his complete family again.

***

Yesterday, on the second day of Devan’s hospitalization, none of the Seivaz family visited him. But in the evening, almost the entire Alfarizi family came. Devan was very happy because his friends cared so much about him. Nevertheless, Devan still felt something was missing. He really wanted to meet Elena. He wanted to make sure the girl was truly okay, although he was sure she wasn’t. After the operation yesterday, Devan fell into a deep sleep due to the effects of the prescribed medications. In the evening, he woke up, but he couldn’t move any part of his body. So, he just listened to the conversations of the people in the treatment room. Devan vaguely heard Elena’s voice talking before everything fell silent again.

This morning, Devan felt much better. He could now sit up on his own. The pain throughout his body that he had felt since yesterday was gradually subsiding. Currently, he had just changed his clothes, still with the help of others.

Devan felt very enthusiastic because today his beloved girl would come to visit. Even though he didn’t know the exact time, Devan wanted to look fresh. It had been three days since he last bathed. So, he didn’t want to look messy and bad in front of the girl.

Devan also eagerly finished his breakfast and took his medicine. Erick, who was wearing his school uniform, couldn’t help but smile. Of course, Erick knew the reason. Devan’s behavior was now like a teenager.

“Erick, let Uncle take you to school,” Dion said as he came out of the bathroom.

“Okay, Uncle,” replied Erick, sitting on the sofa. He grabbed a box of hot chicken porridge on the table. Homemade porridge by Mommy, of course. Mommy’s cooking had been Erick’s favorite since childhood.

“Later, Erick, take Om’s makeup exam too. So Erick will come home a bit late,” Erick continued, sipping the delicious aroma of the just-opened chicken porridge.

“Ok. Later, just call Uncle when you’re done,” Dion replied, enjoying the chicken porridge.

After finishing his chicken porridge, Erick quickly said goodbye to his grandparents. Lastly, Erick said goodbye to his father with a meaningful smile.

“Why, Erick?” Devan asked, feeling puzzled.

“It’s nothing, Papa. Erick just wants to say goodbye,” Erick replied, then quickly grabbed Devan’s hand. He kissed the back of Devan’s hand, which was free from the IV tube. “Do you know, Pa? Papa is like a teenager in love!” Erick whispered and hurried away before Devan could protest.

After the doctor’s visit, Devan started to feel anxious as he waited for Elena to arrive. So, when he heard a knock on the door, he immediately asked his mother, Fatimah, to open it.

“Good afternoon,” greeted someone in front of Fatimah. Devan instantly recognized the voice, a woman’s voice whose presence he did not expect.

“Afternoon,” replied Fatimah warmly.

“Dinda!”