《Pengganti Paling Setia ✔》Bab 15 ~ Surprises ~
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ciptaan Yang Esa terbentang luas, mempamerkan kekuasaan-Nya. Keluarga-keluarga kecil yang berada di sisi, aku pandang sekilas. Turut berkongsi kebahagiaan mereka. Anak-anak kecil berlari terkedek-kedek bersama gelak tawa yang panjang. Itulah anak kecil, senyuman mereka mampu menghilang segala keresahan jiwa.
Meskipun sibuk dengan timbunan kerja, aku sediakan juga masa istimewa untuk menjayakan rancangan hari ini. Ada baiknya juga. Dapat aku nikmati keindahan alam di taman rekreasi. Kalau dikira-kira secara kasar, kali terakhir aku kunjungi tempat ini adalah pada zaman SPM. Itu pun sebab dipaksa kawan sekolah.
Tasik buatan manusia di sekeliling tempat, aku nikmati. Berbunga hati ini melihat orang ramai memberi makan ikan. Banyak peniaga bekerja keras, menumpang rezeki orang lalu lalang di situ. Sangat meriah.
"Where's my brother?" soal satu suara dingin bak salju.
Aku tersenyum. Orang yang aku nanti-nantikan telah tiba. Tetamu terhormat. Kali ini, aku sedikit berpuas hati. Dia mengenakan baju jersey Adidas berlengan pendek dan seluar sukan panjang. Walaupun atas sampai bawah semuanya sendat belaka, ianya taklah menyakitkan mata sangat.
"He's not coming. Duduklah dulu, hirup udara segar." Aku mempelawanya. Memang aku yang tak galakkan Khairul hadir. Urusan orang perempuan, lelaki tak boleh masuk campur. Nanti jadi cerita lain.
"Sorry, can't understand you." Dia buat-buat bodoh. Masih berdiri setegak tiang lampu, berpeluk tubuh.
Senyuman mengejek terbentuk di bibirku. Buat bodoh eh? Dia tak jumpa lagi manusia paling bodoh sekali.
"Duduklah, Kak Enne. Tak penat ke berdiri? Nanti kalau jatuh terpeleot siapa susah?" usikku. Sengaja jadikan perbezaan umur kami sebagai bahan nak cari pasal. Enne sememangnya lebih tua empat tahun daripada aku. Umurnya sudah mencecah 26 tahun.
"Eww! Asal you panggil I kak? I'm not your sister, okay!" protes Enne, berwajah cemberut. Sama macam Will, dia pun ada slang pelik lagi aneh. Tapi masih boleh difahami dengan baik.
Turun dari planet Marikh ke diorang ni?
"Kan sedap bila cakap bahasa ibunda. Duduklah dulu, saya dah buatkan muffin dan burnt cheesecake untuk awak." Ruang kosong di sisi, aku tepuk beberapa kali. Bukannya aku tak tahu yang Enne boleh berbahasa Melayu. Namun, kata Khairul, dia enggan bercakap setelah pernah diejek suatu ketika dulu.
Aku buka kelima-lima bekas berisi hidangan yang aku dan ibu sediakan. Muffin, lasagna dan basque burnt cheesecake, aku buat. Kuih seri muka dan nasi arab ialah hasil air tangan ibu. Gembira betul ibu tercinta bila dapat tahu yang aku nak jumpa dengan Enne. Dia yang terlebih teruja. Sebab tu, plan asal nak bawa tiga bekal boleh terjadi lima terus.
Enne masih membatu. Lama dia tercegat, tampak teragak-agak hendak duduk atau tidak. Membesar matanya menilik setiap satu bekal yang aku bawa. Pasti dia kecur air liur. Yang aku sediakan, semuanya makanan kegemarannya. Rujukan siapa? Pastinya abang mithali Enne, Khairul.
"Sedap tau saya buat. Muffin ni ada dua perisa. Strawberry dengan blueberry. Rugi tau kalau awak tak rasa." Sesi umpan-mengumpan bermula. Aku mengulum senyum. Wajah manis Enne tidak lagi disirami riak orang berjauh hati. Yang ada hanyalah raut polosnya yang sedikit sebanyak mengingatkan aku pada Khairul.
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"I... I tengah diet."
"Lah, awak tak tahu tagline orang Malaysia ke? Nak saya ajarkan tak?"
Kening cantiknya terjongket ke atas.
"Tagline apa?"
"SDE. It stands for Start Diet Esok. Kalau awak nak tahu, inilah tagline paling famous dekat Malaysia. Jom duduk." Aku tersengih sekejap sebelum lengannya aku tarik perlahan. Kami duduk di salah satu pondok yang terletak di situ. Nasib baik aku datang awal. Kalau lambat, melepaslah jawabnya.
"Kenapa you masak banyak sangat? Nak jamu semua orang dekat sini ke?"
"Saja. Tengah test bakat terpendam."
"Ooo..."
Alamak, dia percaya ke tipu daya aku?
Tanpa berkata apa-apa, aku letakkan muffin perisa blueberry di atas telapak tangannya. Walaupun pada awalnya dia terlihat tak yakin, namun dijamah juga muffin itu. Gigitan pertama. Senyum. Gigitan kedua, senyumannya kian melebar.
"Awak rapat dengan Dr Khairul?"
"Hmm... He's my favourite person. He took care of me better than anyone else."
"I could see that." Aku bersetuju. Cara Khairul layan Enne mengalahkan girlfriend sendiri. Dimanjakan saja adiknya setiap masa. Tak terlihat canggung sama sekali. Kalau tak sayang, masakan dia boleh tahu setiap perihal mengenai Enne. Dari sebesar-sebesar perkara sampai ke sekecil-kecil rahsia.
"Ni kuih yang opah I pernah buat dulu. Kuih muka seri kan? Betul tak?"
Hampir tersedak aku dengar nama kuih yang Enne sebutkan. Melihat reaksi tak berdosanya, aku tergelak besar.
"Nak betul dah tu. Cuma silap sikit. 'Muka seri' tu kita berdua. Nama betul kuih ni seri muka. Cubalah, sedap tau. Ni ibu saya yang buat."
"Oh ya, right. You're very loud and cheerful. Patutlah abang I still nakkan you walaupun you dah kecewakan dia," ujar Enne bersama tatapan maut. Masih ada keraguan di mata itu.
"Saya tahu saya salah. Sebab tu saya nak betulkan semua ni balik. Sebelum saya bertunang dengan Dr Khairul, saya pernah bertunang dengan lelaki lain. I thought he was the one... Tapi hidup dia tak panjang. Depan mata saya, dia hembuskan nafas yang terakhir."
Tatapan membunuh Enne berubah menjadi redup.
"Saya tak nak jadikan Dr Khairul pengganti bekas tunang saya saja. Macam awak cakap, he deserves better. Lepas putus tunang, baru saya sedar dan nampak pengorbanan dia. Dia dah tempah yang istimewa dalam diri saya dan family saya. Sebab tu saya nak bagi peluang kedua untuk hubungan ni."
"Are you sure? If I let you marry him, would you make him the happiest man?"
"I don't know. I don't know what lies ahead. But I'll never stop trying. Not only him, I also want to be the happiest woman."
Enne angguk. Bekal berisi lasagna pula menjadi targetnya. Disumbat satu sudu besar ke dalam mulut.
Sebelum terlupa, aku keluarkan beg kertas berisi hadiah buat Enne yang aku sembunyikan di belakang tubuh. Beg itu kemudian aku berikan nya.
"Again? Tak habis ke duit you? Student kan banyak pakai duit."
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"Murah je ni. Lagipun, mana ada orang habis duit sebab memberi. Selalunya duit habis ni sebab seronok sangat shopping dekat Shopee. Ataupun kena scam."
Telatah Enne memeriksa hadiah tersebut, aku lihat tanpa jemu. Minta-mintalah dia suka. Tak tidur aku semalaman sebab fikirkan hadiah yang tak mahal, tapi spesial. Dia kelihatan tersentak seketika, sebelum menghadiahkan senyuman indah.
"Baju kurung? Nice one. Thanks!" ucapnya penuh keterujaan.
"Hello, peeps!" Satu wanita berpakaian dress berbunga paras lutut hadir bersama dua anak kecil. Seorang lelaki dan seorang perempuan. Khairul pula berjalan dengan seorang lelaki mat salleh.
Ya Allah, kenapa sejak dua menjak ni ramai betul orang barat yang aku jumpa? Semua ni turun daripada langit ke apa?
"Oh my God, Elena! Why are you here? Bila you sampai? I miss you so much!" Enne lantas bangun, mendakap erat tubuh wanita itu.
Aku berdiri juga. Tapi diam saja. Rasa macam tersilap masuk keluarga.
"Zen, is this Diana? The one you've been talking about?" tanya wanita yang dipanggil Elena itu. Dia berjalan perlahan, merapatkan jurang antara kami.
"Yes, she is," jawab Khairul.
"Oh God, she's so pretty, and sweet, and adorable," pujinya bertubi-tubi dengan senyuman semanis gula kapas. Sekelip mata, tubuhku ditarik ke dalam pelukannya.
"Thanks for taking care of my brother, honey," bisiknya.
Aku angguk saja. Bila masa aku jaga Khairul pun tak tahu. Otak terus blank.
Selesai saja bercengkerama di bawah sinaran matahari, Khairul kenalkan aku dengan Elena, kakak sulungnya. Lelaki barat itu ialah Elliot, abang iparnya. Selain itu, pasangan itu dikurniakan sepasang cahaya mata yang comel, Ethena dan Ethan. Ternyata, besar juga keluarga Khairul. Kufikir tiga, rupanya empat beradik. Ah, pengshan. Kalau nak pikat semua ni, bankruptlah aku.
Ethena mencuri pandang aku dari tadi. Wajah kanak-kanak comel itu sedikit sebanyak mengingatkan aku pada seseorang. Tapi aku tak ingat siapa.
"What's wrong, Ena? Kenapa tengok orang macam tu?" Elena bertanya pada anak gadisnya.
Ena? Aku pernah dengar nama ni. Tapi di mana ya?
"Are you Didi? Zen, is she your wife?" Setelah lama mendiamkan dia, Ethena buka mulut.
"Allahuakbar..." Aku urut dahi yang terasa menyengat. Dah ingat. Ethena. Itulah budak banyak songeh yang aku temui di mall. Mulutnya asyik-asyik sebut Zen saja. Dan Zen ialah Khairul Zenith. Ya Allah, sesak nafas.
"Yes, sweety. This is Didi. But we haven't married yet," jelas Khairul satu per satu.
"Just marry her then. I like her," beritahunya selamba. Kedua ibu jarinya memacak. Thumbs up diberi.
"I will, Ena. No worries," balas Khairul tanpa menghiraukan tuan badan di sebelahnya. Pipi Ethena dicuit manja.
Keliru aku dengan situasi sekarang. Siapa yang nak kahwin ni? Main aci suruh saja.
"Oh my... we're so happy for both of you. Right, Elliot?"
Suami Elena sekadar mengangguk perlahan, meraikan kebahagiaan isterinya. Mereka berpelukan mesra, seperti dunia milik mereka berdua saja. Kalau tak dibawa dua anak kecil itu, pasti orang sangkakan mereka pengantin baru yang hendak berbulan madu di Malaysia.
"Zen, you better stop them now before they... Damn...," cemuh Enne. Tubuh dialih ke belakang. Dia kemudian menarik tangan anak-anak buahnya, mengajak mereka menikmati pemandangan tasik.
Pandangan aku halakan ke depan. Giliran rahang aku pula terjatuh. Mata yang aku tatang bagai minyak yang penuh ini dinodai dengan adegan Elena dan Elliot bercium mulut di tengah tempat awam. Pipiku automatik disapa rasa bahang yang teramat. Seumur hidup, tak pernah lagi aku tengok adegan sebegini rupa secara live. Dekat taman rekreasi pula tu!
Aku mengikut jejak langkah Enne, cuba mencari kembali nikmat tasik yang terbentang di hadapanku. Sumpah, nak bertentang mata dengan Khairul pun aku tak mampu. Terlalu malu, segan dan tak selesa dengan situasi ini.
Kenapa dia nampak macam dah terbiasa? Dia pun pernah macam ni jugak ke? Ah, sudah. Hatiku mulai dirundung rasa pilu. Tak boleh bayangkan jikalau Khairul ada sejarah berkongsi bibir dengan mana-mana perempuan lain.
"Sorry. They are too in love...," ucap Khairul dengan suara mendatar. Emotionless.
"Yeah, too many surprises..."
Kepala yang terasa berat, aku urut. Kalau ibu dengan abah tahu latar belakang keluarga Khairul yang tersangatlah bebas ini, bolehkah mereka terima? Baru jumpa separuh pun aku dah nyawa-nyawa ikan. Banyak sangat kejutan, Tak biasa dan mungkin takkan mudah untuk aku biasakan diri.
"Dr Khairul, ada lagi ke yang tengah sembunyi?" Mata tetap aku halakan ke depan. Mengenangkan masa depan yang nampak semakin samar-samar.
"Siapa sembunyi?"
"Adik-beradik doktor."
Dia tergelak lagi. Sejak kebelakangan ni, mood tak berperasaan dia semakin berkurang.
"Nope. So far, awak dah jumpa semua siblings saya. Elena kakak sulung, saya anak kedua, Zhayan yang ketiga dan Enne yang paling bongsu. Elena datang ke Malaysia semata-mata nak jumpa awak, Diana. Unlike Enne, Elena is very matured and easy-going. She's such an amazing sister, wife, and mother. Everyone loves her."
"Zen, jom main!" ajak Ethena. Laju dia berlari apabila dikejar ibu dan bapanya.
Terpegun aku melihat keluarga besar Khairul. Mereka tampak sangat bahagia. Besar kecil saja aku tengok Ethena fasih bercakap bahasa Melayu dengan ibunya. Selama ini, aku ditipu hidup-hidup. Dasar, kecik-kecik pun jadi scammer handalan!
"I think, everyone loves you too, Dr Khairul." Secebis kekuatan hadir, memaksa aku berkata begitu.
"Does that include you?"
Terkesima. Wajah aku tolehkan ke sisi, Khairul setia menanti jawapanku. Renungan mata itu sungguh memukau, meminta orang di depannya membalas rasa yang sama. Aku tak angguk mahupun geleng. Biarlah jawapan itu menjadi satu rahsia terlebih dulu. Rahsia antara aku dan Allah.
"Apabila kamu meminta kepada Allah mintalah kepadanya syurga Al-Firdaus kerana ia merupakan syurga terbaik serta yang paling tinggi."
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