Wajahnya serius, jarang tersenyum, apatah lagi ketawa. Tapi kali pertama aku menjawab panggilannya (dia mahu bercakap dengan akauntan kami), suaranya sangat lembut dan menggetarkan setiap sel dalam jantung dan hati aku. Bila dia memperkenalkan dirinya aku terpaku sekejap.
Dari hari itu, setiap hari aku menunggu panggilannya atau kemunculannya ke pejabat. Seminggu dia datang hanya sehari, kadang-kadang langsung tidak ada menunjukkan muka.
Oh, just incase korang tertanya tanya, dia boss aku. Aku cuma seorang receptionist cabuk yang biasa-biasa. Tak cantik, tak kurus dan tak bijak. Pendek kata tak sepadan langsung dengan dia.
Oh, ada tak aku kata yang dia berketurunan Cina? Tapi, bahasa Melayunya lancar di telinga aku, malah bila ditambah dengan kelembutan suaranya berjaya membuatkan ku angau seorang diri setiap kali selepas menjawab panggilannya.
Sejak kebelakangan ini dia makin selalu pula menghubungi Puan Ang atau datang ke pejabat. Aku tahu ramai staff yang tak seronok bila dia ada. Tak boleh mengular atau buka laman Facebook, apatah lagi melepak di pantry atau cubicle orang lain. Ku kira cuma aku seorang yang menunggu kehadirannya tiap tiap hari.
Setiap hari terasa semakin ingin untuk mendekatinya. Tapi bila difikirkan balik, sungguh tidak appropriate untuk seorang pekerja mengurat bosnya sendiri yang tua 15 tahun darinya!
* * *
If there is one thing that attracts me to her, it's her eyes. Brown and big, I could be lost in her eyes forever. I love the way she peeks at me whenever I passed her at the front office. She will try her best to be discreet, but somehow, I noticed.
She wasn't exceptionally beautiful, nor was she slim and slender like most of the girls in the office. But from behind those lashes, I can see that she has bright, intelligent eyes. I've heard her talking to a colleague and she sounds sensible yet full of life.
A pleasant smile is always on her face, indicating someone of good nature and positive attitude. I was over the moon when I first discovered I have been having feelings for her.
It was my sister who pointed out this fact to me. We were just leaving the office one day when we went into the elevator and there she was. I stood next to her, smelling the light perfume she wore. She smiled as our eyes met for a few seconds, and immediately ducked her head as her cheeks colored. Without me knowing, my sister watched this encounter, which lasted merely a few seconds, but her sharp eyes caught everything. So in the car, she started this conversation
Her: So, how long has this all been going on?
Me: What? *eyes on road*
Her: How long have you been having feelings for her? The receptionist girl?
I nearly crashed the car hearing this. She saw something I didn't. My budding feelings for this Malay girl I barely knew, yet it was so obvious, people picked it up quickly.
She said she never saw me look at a girl that way, not even my ex-wife. I can feel myself blushing as she said this. I must've looked like an idiot.
* * *
Hari Isnin minggu kedua bulan Februari itu tidak bermula dengan baik untuk aku. Kereta abah rosak, jadi aku terpaksa menaiki LRT ke pejabat. Dalam perjalanan, LRT mengalami masalah dan kami terpaksa bertukar tren. Sudah jam 10.45 dan aku hampir putus asa untuk masuk bekerja hari ini.
Wajah dia melintas di hadapan mata. Ah! Biasanya hari Isnin dia takkan datang kerana akan menghadiri mesyuarat di ibu pejabat. Baik SMS Puan Liana, kata mahu emergency leave.
Belum sampai tiga minit aku menghantar SMS, telefon berbunyi, nombor pejabat. Mahu tak mahu terpaksa jawab panggilan.
Me: err..hello
Caller: Raihanna?
Me: *oh my god is this him????* er..yeah?
Caller: This is Adam speaking. Aren't you coming to the office today?
Me: *gelabah gila* err..I'm still waiting for LRT. I don't know when I'll arrive at the office.
Caller: Where are you now?
Me: er..KL Sentral sir..
Caller: Can you wait for me there? I'll come and meet you there. Give me half an hour.
Me: *pelik campur gabra* er..okay..
Caller: Wait for me Anna. I've got something important to say.
Dua puluh minit, aku duduk di Starbucks menunggu seperti mana yang dia minta. Debaran dada, tuhan saja yang tahu. Vanilla Latte di hadapan diteguk lagi sedikit.
Him: Raihanna..
Aku angkat kepala bila terdengar suara itu. Susuk tubuh yang sudah sangat ku kenal, berdiri di sisi. Bau minyak wanginya menusuk ke hidung. Dia berdiri di hadapanku tanpa segaris senyuman pun.
* * *
And there I was, standing right across from her. She was looking at me with huge, frightened eyes, as if she has done something wrong and expects to be scolded. Somehow, she looked so much lovelier like that.
I sat down. I watched her eyes, brown and warm as usual. She was wearing purple baju kurung today. Looking innocent and terrified, she tries to fake calmness, but I saw her fingers tremble when she picked up her mug.
Me: Anna, First of all, I'm sorry if what I'm going to say might not sound right to you..
She simply nodded
Me: It's just that.. I.. Recently.. I want.. Ugh..
Her: Yes Mr. Lai?
Me: Call me Adam, Anna. I don't like you calling me that name.
Her: Sorry *grimaces*
Silence.
Get a grip Adam Lai! Pull yourself together and tell her you like her!
Still no voice coming out of my mouth.
Shit! What is wrong with me? My throat feels dry, my palms sweaty. What if she rejects me? What if she's engaged to someone else? How will I be able to face her in the office again in the future? Shit!!!
Her: Excuse me?
Oops! Did I just said the last thing out loud?
* * *
Dan alkisahnya begitu, yang membawa kami ke rooftop garden ini. Di majlis harijadiku yang ke 28. Adam tenang berada di tengah jemputan yang kebanyakannya adalah ahli keluarga dan rakan-rakan kami. Sesekali dia memandang ke arahku, sambil memberikan senyumannya yang mahal itu.
Dua tahun lepas, di Starbucks KL Sentral
Him: Raihanna, saya akan resign tak lama lagi.
Me: *terkejut* erk? Why?
Diam.
Him: You know about our company policy that bans colleagues to date each other?
Me: *confused* uh-huh?
Him: I'm about to break that rule.
Me: Saya tak faham, Mr. Lai
Him: May I ask a personal question, Anna?
Me: Yea, sure.. *masih confused*
Him: Awak ada boyfriend?
Me: Er..tak..tak ada..
Him: Saya nak kenal awak lebih dekat Anna.
Me: *speechless*
Him: I like you, a lot. And somehow, I know you like me too.
Me: I don't know what to say Mr. Lai.. I..
Him: Well, stop calling me Mr. Lai first.
Me: I'm sorry Mr. Lai..
Him: *gelak* You just did again..
Aku rasa pipiku merah. Aku pegang mug latte, konon nak panaskan tangan yang rasa makin sejuk. Tiba tiba dia capai tanganku dan genggam.
Him: Saya sukakan awak Raihanna. I know this is not appropriate, tapi saya tetap nak cakap.
Me: Tapi kenapa you nak berhenti?
Him: Sebab awak?
Ah sudah..
Me: Saya ada buat salah ke Mr. Lai.
Him: Ada
Me: *gelabah*
Him: Salah awak yang pertama, awak masih panggil saya Mr. Lai
Me: Sorry *small voice*
Him: Salah awak yang kedua, awak dah buat saya jatuh cinta pada awak.
Me: *speechless*
Him: Sebab polisi syarikat tak benarkan kita bercinta jadi mulai esok, saya akan berhenti dan uruskan syarikat saya yang lain, dan awak akan dapat boss baru.
Me: Saya tak tahu apa nak cakap..
Him: Say "yes, I'll go out for dinner with you"
Me: Yes, I'll go out for dinner with you *senyum*
* * *
Bunyi muzik yang diperlahankan memutuskan lamunanku. Wah, jauh aku berangan sampai ke KL Sentral. Kenangan 2 tahun lepas yang masih segar di ingatan bermain di ingatan macam movie di saluran Astro First.
Him: Hi guys, terima kasih sebab sudi datang memeriahkan majlis harijadi Anna. On behalf of her, saya ucapkan ribuan terima kasih.
Semua bertepuk tangan. Aku berdiri di sebelah ibu bapaku, memandang dia yang berdiri di platform tempat live band membuat persembahan sebentar tadi.
Him: She's a special person dan saya rasa tak cukup kata-kata untuk menceritakan betapa istimewanya dia untuk kita semua di sini.
Tepukan lagi. Ibu dan abah memelukku. Aku rebahkan kepala ke bahu abah yang
Him: Which is why, here, I'd like to make an announcement.
Aku pandang dia, kerutkan dahi dan beri isyarat. Dia senyum.
Him: Nur Raihanna Azman, Selamat hari jadi ke 28. Semoga panjang umur dan dimurahkan rezeki.
Tepukan dari hadirin. Aku senyum dan bisik "thank you" dari jauh sambil pandang tepat anak matanya.
Him: Uncle Azman, Auntie Norlia. Saya, Muhammad Adam Hafiz Lai, ingin melamar anak uncle dan auntie, Raihanna menjadi isteri saya, dan saya berjanji, Insya Allah akan menjaga dia sebaik mungkin dan membahagiakannya
Gemuruh tepukan bagai tidak terdengar di telinga. Dua berita yang sangat mengejutkan! Dia kini Muhammad Adam Hafiz dan dia melamarku!
Aku pandang abah dan ibu di sebelah. Kedua-duanya senyum tanda memberikan restu. Aku pandang kembali pada dia, dan senyum, tanda setuju.
Siapa sangka, dari sesuatu yang mustahil kini hampir jadi kenyataan. Seperti kisah dongeng, cuma kali ini aku percaya ianya bukan happily ever after. This is just the beginning of another story, yang aku atau dia tak tahu lagi macamana coraknya.
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Editorial note: this is a story written without a plan, it just flows out. Written wholly on my Blackberry. It's cheesy, I know, but I just need to get Adam outta my head. Haha. Bodoh. Mimpi exboyfriend sampai buat cerita. LOL LOL
Sent by DiGi from my BlackBerry® Smartphone
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