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September 18, 2014

Dia - Empat Puluh Tujuh

E
i never felt so much love in my heart before,
for no one that loved me, other than you,
you made me laughed, cried and to be human,
these emotions, overflowed my very existence,
to drowned in it, yet i wanted more,
i would never thought that one day,
for goodbye i must say,
it felt like forever, for me to muster my strength,
and yet, for this day to come.

my heart hurt,
to held you in my arms,
for this smile to be forever gone,
and the warmth of your touch seemed to be,
nothing but a long forgotten memory,
my heart hurt,
for this day to ever come,
that you left me,
alone, while you were in my arms,

i could not take this anymore,
now that you're gone,
to never come back,
for there was no way for me to turned back time,
and to hold you closely and to never let go.

for these regrets that i owned,
to loved you and to cherished you,
to hold you and to be with you,
because of this love,
I've learnt, that i finally alone, and i'm going too.

i can't take this anymore,
to face this world without you,
i could never do it,
for i could never forget you,
you said your goodbye,
and now it's my turn,
for me to resign to my heart,
and i will go away too.

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Aku tersentak dan kembali ke dunia nyata, pabila sesuatu menyentuh lembut pehaku, dia membelai manja dan sungguh asyik sekali. Sekali sekala, bibir kecilnya mencium lembut perutku yang tidak dibaluti walau sehelai benang. Aku tergelak kecil di perlakukan sedemikian, kerana merasa geli di perlakukan sedemikian. Tanpa henti, kemudian kedua tangan kecilnya lembut menepuk perlahan pehaku, berbalas-balas telapak tangan kanan dan kirinya tanpa henti, tanda dia mahukan kehadiranya berbalas. Aku hanya tersenyum simpul sendirian. Perlahan, aku merapatinya, dan kucium lembut kepalanya, sambil ku usap-usap perlahan. Aaaah, sungguh asyik sekali dia ku lihat. Merengek seperti anak kecil, matanya kuyu menikmati perhatian yang ku berikan.

“Awalnya sayang bangun?” kataku perlahan kepadanya. Dia yang tidak menjawab hanya meneruskan perlakuanya, memandang aku agar kembali mengusap kepala dan lehernya. Dia kemudian ku dukung tinggi, sedang aku yang masih lagi berbaring di atas katil itu, dia hanya terdiam, melihat jauh kedalam mataku. Sungguhpun dia tidak berkata-kata, namun aku tahu, dia menyukainya. Lantas, kurapatkan dia ke dadaku dan ku peluk erat. Argh, hangat sekali kurasakan. Sekali sekala, dia menggesekan kepalanya ke dadaku yang masih lagi memeluk dia. Jari telunjukku di hulurkan lantas di capai kemas. Dia memegang jari itu rapat kepadanya.

Hanya dialah peneman aku di kala ini. Acapkali, kerenah manjanya membuatkan aku tertawa sendirian. Tiada sebarang kata yang keluar dari mulut kecil buah hatiku ini. Namun, pandangan matanya, lenggok tubuhnya dan sekali sekali ciuman yang diberikan cukup untuk membuatkan aku faham akan isi hatinya. Umurnya sudahpun mencecah hampir setahun setengah. Dia yang dahulunya begitu kecil, kini sudah pun agak besar. Hahahaha. Mungkin agak obes bagi peringkat umurnya. Namun begitu, dia begitu sehat sekali. Pemeriksaan doktor setiap 3 bulan tidak menunjukan sebarang masalah kesihatan yang dihidapi. Dia juga agak aktif. Tidak pernah sekali aku menyesal untuk menerima kehadiran dia di dalam hidupku. Mungkin pada mulanya dia hanyalah pengganti Khai. Namun, tempoh masa yang di habiskan bersama membuatkan aku begitu sayangkan dia. Kini aku tidak lagi sendirian di rumah. Kebanyakan masaku sekarang lebih banyak di habiskan bersama-sama buah hati kecilku ini. Seboleh-bolehnya aku cuba untuk menghabiskan sebanyak mungkin masa bersamanya.

Abang Kamahl, Joe dan yang lain senang dengan kehadiran dia di dalam hidupku kini. Dia juga begitu teruja setiap kali uncle uncle nya datang melawat. Setiap malam, dia akan berada di sebelahku, berbaring, dan tidur bersamaku. Pada mulanya aku menyediakan tempat tidur khas untuk si dia. Namun, sering kali dia merengek apabila aku meminta dia tidur di situ, lantas aku memutuskan untuk tidur bersamanya.

“Hahahaha, geli la sayang. Papa mana ada susu.” Kataku kepadanya apabila dia menghisap puting kananku.

“Sayang lapar yek? Jom, kita makan.” Lantas aku meletakan dia kembali ke atas katil sementara aku menuju ke dapur. Aku membancuh susu formula dan mencari tin makanan untuk si kecil itu. “Aaaah, dah habis pula yang sudah di buka.” Rak makanan ku buka lantas satu tin ku capai. Isinya ku keluarkan ke dalam mangkuk plastik dan ku letakkan bersebelahan susu suam yang telah ku bancuh sebentar tadi.

“Sayang, sini dah. Mamam.” Panggilku.

“Sayang, cepat. Mamam jom.” Dia yang sudah faham akan maksud perkataan mamam itu, bingkas bangun dari katilku, lalu melompat turun dan pantas menuju ke arahku. Kemudian, dia meleset-lesetkan badannya ke kakiku sebelum mula menjamah makanan yang telah terhidang. Aku mengusap lembut belakang badannya. Bulu lembut yang menyelubungi seluruh tubuhnya bermain-main di jariku.

“Mamam elok-elok. Habiskan ok. Papa nak gosok gigi and mamam jap.” Setelah mencuci muka dan memberus gigi. Aku kembali ke dapur lantas mencapai sebiji mangkuk, kotak cereal Post Blueberry Morning dan susu full-cream Dutch Lady kegemaranku. Gelas dan mangkuk yang telah diisi tersebut lantas ku bawa ke meja laptop ku. Mataku leka melewati laman facebook sambil aku perlahan-lahan menikmati sarapan. Well, selain dari gambar Joe bersama temannya, tiada apa yang begitu menarik perhatianku. Bosan pula hari minggu ini. Abang Kamahl pula tiada di KL kerana mempunyai urusan kerja di tempat lain. Tab baharu di Google Chrome ku buka lantas laman The Star ku layari. Cereal yang berbaki di dalam mangkuk ku habis kan sambil satu demi satu berita kubaca.

“Ding” tiba-tiba laptopku berbunyi. Kelihatan tab facebook ku berkelip-kelip.

“Hi there. Good morning.” Sapa Fareez, seorang teman facebook yang sudah agak lama aku kenali. Namun sehingga kini kami hanya berbual kosong di laman facebook dan tidak pernah bersua muka.

“Good morning Fareez.”

“Tengah buat apa tu?”

“Just finishing my cereal for breakfast. What about u?”

“Chatting with you. Hahahahaha. So, what’s ur plan for the weekend?”

“Nothing at the moment. And u?”

“Thinking off going out for a movie.”

“Owh, what do u have in mind?”

“A good day to die hard.”

“Aaaaahhhh. The trailer looks promising.”

“Have you watched it?”

“Nah, I haven’t. It always slipped my mind whenever I’m out from home.”

“Perhaps, u had too many things in ur mind kot. Hahahaha. So....”

“and?”

“Wanna watch it together? My treat.”

“Asking me out for a date?”

“It’s a date if you think it is. Or, it could just be a ‘friends hang-out together’. Plus, it has been a while since we’ve been online friends.”

Aku tidak menjawab buat seketika. Sedang jariku teragak-agak untuk menaip jawapanku, satu lagi IM ku terima daripada Fareez.

“It’s ok if u don’t feel like it. Maybe next time.”

“Just to be clear, would u like it to be a date, or, ‘friends hang-out together’?” tanyaku.

“I would prefer, ‘friends catching up and getting to know each other.’”

“I think I’m ok with that.”

“So, movie, with me? J

“I’m HIV+”

“Wow, that would never be an excuse I expected for a ‘No’”

“Hahahahahahaha”

“And now u’re laughing at me, huh.”

“Owh, sorry, sorry, I didn’t mean it that way.”

“Okay, I must admit, I’m lost.”

“I’m not laughing at u. And yes, I am HIV+.”

“Ok, so?”

“So, if u’re having a doubt asking me out after knowing about my status, this is the time to think about it and let me know. I won’t mind. J

“I don’t. I don’t mind at all.”

“That’s fast.”

“Hahahaha. I’m serious, I don’t mind at all.”

“Cool.”

“So, what about movie?”

“What about One Utama? In 2 hours?”

“OU in 2 hours works fine for me. Mind to share ur contacts?”

“Sure. Do u have wechat?”

“Yeah, add me at lotus_eater.”

“Added. Nice nick.”

“Thanks.”

Tiba-tiba handphone ku berbunyi, panggilan video wechat dari Fareez. Jariku melereti screen telefon.

“Hye.” Kata Fareez sambil melambai kearahku.

“Hye Fareez” balas ku sambil tersenyum sedikit.

“Just wanna say, see you in a while.”

“Hahahahaha. Sure.”

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Do you wanna get some popcorn and drinks? The line isn’t that long, and we have about 10 minutes before the movie starts.” Tanya Fareez kepada ku.

“Sure.”

Hari ini agak ramai pengunjung yang turut sama menghabiskan cuti hujung minggu mereka di luar. Persekitaran TGV agak sesak dengan pengunjung yang seperti kami, mahu menikmati hujung minggu masing-masing. Kelihatan di hadapan kami, hampir 15 pasangan lain sedang beratur untuk mendapatkan makanan ringan.
“The weather’s nice today.”

“Yeah. It’s been a while since we had a clear blue sky.”

“I know, right. Maybe, the rainy season is over.”

“Hopefully.”

“So, what would you be doing if you’re not out with me right now?”

“Just the usual I guess.”

“And what’s usual for you?”

“Lounging on my sofa, having cold drinks, watching movies, series, or whatever I have downloaded.”

“You don’t go out much?”

“I do, but not as much as before.”

“And why is that?”

“Just feel like it.”

“Owh.”

“Plus, I’m a papa right now.”

“You’re what?!”

“You heard me right. I’m a papa.”

“Wow! I didn’t know that you’re married.”

“I’m not.”

“But you said you’re a father. But, you looked too young to be one.”
“I am a father. And I’m not married.”

“Okay I’m lost.”

“Hahahahaha. I’m a proud father to a big, fat, orange cat.”

“Aaaah, you know you should have said that earlier that you’re referring to a pet.”

“I think you’re not much of an animal person huh?”

“What makes you think that?”

“For a start, we do not own a cat. We’re owned by them. Second, he’s more than just a pet. He’s family.”

“Uhuh. That sounds, charming.”

“Good afternoon and welcome to TGV One Utama. What would you like for today, sir?” sapa cashier yang bertugas mengambil pesanan kami.

“We’ll have 1 large combo.”

“And for drinks?”

“What do you want to have?” tanya Fareez kepada ku.

“I’ll have coke.”

“Two cokes then.”

“Is that all?”

“That’s all.” 

September 15, 2014

20 Facts about Me

Pada mulanya aku tak nak buat post tentang ni. But, few of the readers have repeatedly asking for it dekat Skype chat, so, here we go...

1. Socially awkward with ladies... walaupun kebanyakan kenalan merasakan yang aku seorang yang social, aku sebenarnya agak socially awkward dengan perempuan... being in all-boys school sedari darjah 1 sehingga habis PMR, aku memang tidak mempunyai ramai kenalan perempuan... even during degree years pun, aku masih di cop sebagai "Sombong" oleh rakan sekelas perempuan... dahulu aku akan cuba mengelak untuk berada di kalangan perempuan, sebab aku akan jadi clueless... tapi selepas satu batch tahu tentang sexuality aku, they began to open up with me, and i think i'm getting better in handling ladies...

2. Sangat cerewet tentang makanan... this would be among the first thing anyone would learn about me... kawan-kawan aku mmg tau kalau dorang masak, jangan minta aku komen pasal masakan dorang sebab I will do so non-stop for minutes... from the texture, appearance, taste, even the plating... hahahaha... Satu lagi, aku allergic terhadap banyak jenis makanan, seperti ayam, ketam, udang, sotong, certain fishes... but of course, I'm a good cook myself...

3. OCD bila berkenaan novel... I have to say, I love novels... aku prefer genre fantasy, romance, historical war, even berkenaan theology... but, I'm more of a collector... which means, I have a strict code with regards to it... katakan aku beli satu novel bersiri, buku ke dua dan seterusnya mesti ikut buku yang pertama... either paper back/hard cover, must be the same publisher, must be the same theme for the cover, must be the same height... sebagai contoh, aku mengikuti novel The Southern Vampire Mysteries... buku yang pertama sehingga ke sembilan yang aku adalah hard cover dari Penguin Books. Tapi, untuk buku ke sepuluh, aku tak jumpa hard cover edition dari Penguin Books... After months, mencari dan gagal, akhirnya aku terjumpa satu set buku tu, hard cover kesemuanya, dari nombor 1 ke sepuluh, so I bought it semata-mata nak melengkapkan koleksi...

4. Kaki gaduh masa kecil... Yup... I was a very bad boy back in school... membuli, bergaduh, itu biasa... kena rotan dekat sekolah depan perhimpunan itu biasa, walaupun aku ketua kelas untuk kelas pertama dalam batch aku... bergaduh dengan cikgu disiplin... dengan baran lagi masa tu... but, now, aku lebih penyabar berbanding dahulu... mungkin dah matang sedikit kot...

5. More of a logical guys than creative... bab ni, aku memang paling fail... aku bab-bab creative seperti musik, melukis, mmg sangat-sangat fail... kalau lukis ayam, orang ingat itik pun dah cukup bersyukur... masa kat hostel pernah belajar main gitar dengan abang Kamahl, tapi, habis kene ketuk jari sebab tak pandai2 jugak... mungkin sebab tu skang ni aku bekerja dalam bidang yang memerlukan aku berfikir secara logik...

6. Akan bercakap sendirian bila berfikir... Part yang ni memang susah nak ubah... kalau tengah berfikir, macam bercakap dengan orang halimunan... kadang-kadang bercakap berdua, kadang-kadang bertiga, tapi halimunan lah... itu mmg sangat-sangat susah nak ubah...

7. I hate kids... aku cukup tak suka dengan budak-budak... tak kesah la baby ke, budak kecik ke, yang dah sekolah ker... I just don't know how to handle them, and they are friggin annoying...

8. Umur penghujung 20'an... tapi, interestingly, ramai yang ingatkan aku dalam usia 30'an... one of my previous boss thought that i was 35... lol... aku tak kesah pasal tu, i take it as a compliment...

9. Hardcore game freak... well, this is the nerd side of me... aku mmg suka main game, not much of RPG, but more into empire building, strategy, simcity and such... kalau weekends tu, mmg tidor beberapa jam sahaja sebab kusyuk main game...

10. Pernah kena belasah dengan lebih 20 orang sehari selepas habis PMR di asrama... antara waktu paling gelap dalam hidup aku... bukan di sebabkan terlampau sakit kene belasah ramai-ramai, tapi, di sebabkan oleh yang merancang dan menghasut merupakan kawan baik aku di masa itu... itu yang buat aku sangat sakit hati...

11. Cats lover... mmg aku sukakan kucing... even now, aku ada seekor kucing jantan, umur setahun setengah, warna dan saiz macam garfield... tapi walaupun dia besar, dia aktif dan tak malas macam garfield... aku anggap dia lebih macam anak sendiri, hahahaha... kalau cakap ngan dia, aku akan bahasakan diri sebagai papa... since aku duduk studio apartment and dia mmg tidak pernah di kurung, mmg tiap2 malam aku tidur dengan dia, share katil...

12. Tak boleh tidur kalau ada bunyi dan cahaya... aku jenis yang agak susah nak masuk tidur... kalau nak tidur, mesti gelap gelita, tiada sebarang bunyi... kalau tidak mmg aku takkan boleh tidur...

13. Shopahollic... Retail therapy works the best... bila aku stress, aku akan shopping... bila aku bosan, aku akan shopping... bila aku happy, aku akan shopping... baju, seluar, kasut, underwear... those kind of things... tapi, kalau bukak wardrobe aku, akan nampak lebih banyak baju yang masih ber teg dan tidak pernah digunakan, entah nak buat show room ke aper pun tak tahu lah...

14. Wide range of musical taste... aku minat Zaiton Sameon, Fauziah Latiff, Iklim, Elton John, Josh Groban, Jamie Cullum, James Morrison, Nek, Reik, Sin Bandera, Linkin Park, System of a Down...

15. Enjoy great literatures... I have to say, being a logical person makes me a laughing stock when I enjoy reading artsy thinggy... Aku lebih kepada Elizabethan writers and early 19 century poets... tapi, modern writers pun ada yang aku minat... among my favourite writers are Shakespeare, Pablo Neruda, Roald Dahl, Robert Frost, Carloz Ruiz Zafon, Jon McGregor...

16. Love to travel... bila ada masa terluang, aku suka travel... kebiasaanya, aku lebih suka ke tempat-tempat yang berdekatan dengan pantai kalau travel ke mana-mana negara... not into the city scene that much... tapi, places like museum, palaces, historical sites, aku suka gak... antara negara yang pernah aku lawati, South Korea, New Zealand, France, Germany, Spain, US, Netherlands, UK, Brazil...

17. Suka kumpul kondom... ini adalah souvenir tetap aku kalau pergi ke mana-mana negara... So far, bermacam-macam jenis kondom yang aku dah ada... ada yang common, ada yang susah nak dapat... ada perisa Durian (yang ni banyak dekat Thailand), perisa cola, hot and cold, dan bermacam-macam lagi...

18. I'm gay... I think, that's a given right... if you asked me, I would never say that I was born gay, or raised to be gay. I would never said that I'm proud to be gay nor i'm ashamed to be gay. all I know, I'm gay... and I just hate the word PLU...

19. I love to write poems... Kalau korang tengok profile aku, aku ada satu lagi blog, kat situ ada poems yang aku tulis sendiri... actually aku suka menulis dari kecik... tapi, banyak yang entah kemana... cuma beberapa yang masih ada dengan aku dan aku share dekat blog tu... tapi, one thing i have to say, never read it once... sebab, there are times when i meant it literally, there are times when u have to read between the lines, and there are times when there is a specific way to read it... so, go and figure it out...

20. Have only been in a relationship once... rasa-rasanya, tak perlu nak cerita panjang kot pasal ni... :)

September 06, 2014

Dia - Empat Puluh Enam

E
“Adek, abang datang bawa dinner ni.”

“Adek, where are you?”

“I’m here in the toilet. Give me a sec....” belum sempat aku menghabiskan ayatku, badanku secara refleks menghadap mangkuk tandas dan sekali lagi memuntahkan cecair putih jernih bercampur air liur. Aku yang sudah beberapa kali muntah untuk hari ini sudah tidak berdaya lagi untuk bertahan. Dan, tiada apa lagi mampu di keluarkan dari perutku yang bergelodak seakan-akan lautan di badai ribut yang mengganas. Cuma air liur sahaja yang keluar, dan setiap kali, legaku hanya seketika. Namun tiada apa yang boleh aku lakukan untuk menghentikan semua ini.

“Are you okay? What happened?” tanya abang Kamahl lagi di balik pintu bilik air.

“Not feeling that well, i’m just throwing up.” Balasku pendek setelah keluar dari bilik air.

“You doesn’t look well at all, you’re pale. Let’s go to the hospital.”

“I don’t want too. I am sick of hospital for now. I just need a good rest.”

“Adek, you are not well. Come.”

“Please abang, I’ll be fine in time.”

“Sigh.”

“Ni dah berapa hari dah muntah-muntah ni?”

“Few days.”

“Few days?! Tapi langsung tak bagitahu abang pun?”

“It’s getting better lah abang. It’s not as frequent as the first day pun. Over time it will stop lah.”

“Yer lah, tapi kenapa tak bagitahu abang?”

“Please abang, I just need some rest.”

“Ok ok. Pergi baring. Abang ke dapur sekejap.”

Abang Kamahl kemudian beredar ke dapur, sementara aku hanya duduk bersandar di kepala katil. Seketika kemudian abang Kamahl kembali membawa tray berisi makanan yang di bawanya tadi dan satu botol 100Plus sejuk dari peti ais ku. Dia lalu duduk di sebelahku di katil, dan tray tersebut di letakan di atas meja sisi. Perlahan-lahan nasi goreng yang terhidang di suapkan abang Kamahl. Aku hanya mengunyah perlahan. Tiada sebarang kata yang di ungkapkan kami berdua. Namun, tak sampai ke suapan ke 6, aku menolak tangan abang Kamahl lantas berkejar kembali ke tandas, lalu semua nasi goreng yang sempat kujamah itu keluar kembali. Kurasakan tangan abang Kamahl perlahan-lahan mengusap lembut belakang badanku. Setelah seketika, aku mencuci mulut lalu kembali ke katil. Abang Kamahal meminta ku untuk minum sedikit 100%, untuk mengelakan aku dari terhidrasi katanya.

Kemudian aku meminta abang Kamahl untuk baring di sebelahku. Dia hanya menuruti permintaanku. Lalu aku baring di atas dada abang Kamahl, seperti yang selalu aku lakukan dahulu.

“Dah lama adek tak baring macam ni dengan abang.”

“Yeah. I miss those good times when you were always right in front of me. The time when we talked about everything, about your day, about everything. I miss the time when you always have that smile on your face.”

Aku hanya terdiam.

“I miss the little adek I had back then. I know, you are finally back on your feet. Yeah, you are much better now compared to the time when Khai left us all. And I know that you are trying so hard to be happy, but, I just can’t help to notice, that you have changed. Somehow, the smile that you have right now, the smile that you gave to everyone, is nothing more than to make us not to worry about you. I have known you for so long. I missed the time when you really smile from your heart. And I know, somehow, there is a wall between us that doesn’t exists previously. I wished I was wrong, and I hope that you can talk to me, just like before.”

“I’m ok, abang.”

“Are you? Because if you were, what’s with these changes?”

“I’m just, I don’t want to be a burden to you anymore.”

“I never thought that you would be that stupid. Look at me.”

Aku tidak mengendahkan permintaan abang Kamahl tersebut.

Kemudian abang Kamahl perlahan bangun sambil mengalihkan kepala aku yang masih berada di kepalanya. Dia duduk di kepala katil, bersandar, lalu memegang daguku perlahan, dan menolehkan mukaku kepadanya. “Now, tell me right into my eyes, are you ok.”

“Do you still feel sad about Khai?”

“You knew that I would be lying if I told you I didn’t. But, I have accepted all that. Yeah, I miss him. And I always have him in my mind every time. But, I have accepted it. I know that he is in a better place.”

“Then do tell me. Why do you have to change? Why do you think that you would ever be a burden to me, to Joe and everyone else? They have been talking to me. They realized it too, that you changed.”

“I don’t have the answer for that. I just feel it that way. I mean, I wanted to be strong again, I wanted to be able to stand on my own feet.”

“Seriously, I get it. But what makes you think that you have to do it alone?”

“Because it is my fucking life!”

“Adek, I know it is your life. But remember, you are not alone in this world. You were never alone, and will never be.”

“Can’t you please let me be? And why are even talking about this anyway?”

“Let you be?? Seriously? That’s the thing that you have in your mind? Are you fucking kidding me? Then why didn’t you say that straight to my face back when we just getting to know each other? Before I started to care for you like my own little brother? Why now? Tell me....”

“Abang, please.”

“Owh, and you are calling me abang again? Does that word meant anything to you? Or was it that you’re sick of me? If it is, then you can stop calling me that.”

“What?!! Are you leaving me?” kurasakan mataku sedikit basah mendengar kata-kata abang Kamahl itu.

Abang Kamahl kemudian perlahan mengambil kedua tanganku, sebelum dia mengucupnya perlahan. “No sweetheart. I will never leave you alone even if you made me. I care so much about you. I always do. But, it is you, you are the one who left. You walked away, you walked away from my life, you walked away from Joe’s life, you walked away from everyone’s life. And most importantly, you walked away from your own self. You were the one who did that. You did it when you created a wall among us. You did it when you feel the needs to face everything alone. It is not wrong, to be independent, but, you’re being zealous about it. And it hurts so much. It really does.”

Abang Kamahl kemudian mengusap perlahan rambutku. Tiada kata yang mampu aku luahkan. Selama ini, niatku hanyalah untuk melindungi mereka yang aku sayangi dari berasa kecewa dan terluka. Namun, aku silap. Rupa-rupanya, dalam diam, mereka telah pun terluka, dan aku lah yang melukan hati mereka dengan tindakan aku sendiri.

“I am sorry. I was being selfish. I am sorry abang.”

“You are forgiven. Apologize to everyone too. They are worried sick.”

“I will. Thanks abang.” Lantas aku menarik tangan abang Kamahl perlahan kebawah membuatkan abang Kamahl membongkok seketika, dan pipi kirinya ku cium.

“Pipi kiri jer?” Tanya abang Kamahl?.

“Hehehehe.” Ketawaku perlahan sebelum mencium pipi kanan abang Kamahl pula.

“Pipi jer? Bibir abang tak cium?”

“Eeeeeeee, gatal la abang ni. Cubit kang.”

“Ala, lama adek tak cium abang. Abang minta sedikit pun nak cubit.” Ngomel abang Kamahl lagi.

“Abang ni kan, ada-ada sahaja lah.”

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Love, we're going home now,
Where the vines clamber over the trellis:
Even before you, the summer will arrive,
On its honeysuckle feet, in your bedroom.

Our nomadic kisses wandered over all the world:
Armenia, dollop of disinterred honey:
Ceylon, green dove: and the YangTse with its old
Old patience, dividing the day from the night.

And now, dearest, we return, across the crackling sea
Like two blind birds to their wall,
To their nest in a distant spring:

Because love cannot always fly without resting,
Our lives return to the wall, to the rocks of the sea:
Our kisses head back home where they belong. 

-Pablo Neruda-


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"Adek, what do you want to have for dinner?"

"Can we go out and have something? I don't think I have anything much in the fridge." Jawabku yang sedang menggunakan hair dryer untuk mengeringkan rambutku di dalam bilik air. 

"Okay with me." 

"Can we go to Publika? Maybe we can invite Joe and the rest too." Cadangku lagi.

"Sure. Now hurry up, you have been in the toilet for quite sometime. I need to bath too, in case you've forgotten."

"Two minutes."

"Hurry up lah. I can smell my own armpits dah ni."

"Eeeee, abang ni. Itu pun nak bagitahu kan."

"Yer la, dah adek lambat sangat. Abang pekum muka adek kat ketiak abang karang."

"Hahahaha. Ok, dah. Ur turn." Balas ku sewaktu keluar dari bilik air. Kemudian aku mendapatkan telefonku lantas nombor Joe ku dail dan ku setkan ke speaker phone lantas aku bergerak ke arah almari baju ku yang bertentangan dengan katilku. "Herm. What should I wear tonight?" ngomelku kepada diri sendiri. 

"Hey babe. What's up?" Kedengaran suara Joe melalui speaker phone.

"Hey Joe. Have you had your dinner? Abang Kamahl and I are about to head to Publika for some food."

"Sure. See you in an hour?"

"Yup. Aaah, can you also ask Vincent and Hisyam whether they wanna come along too? Haven't catch-up with you guys for a long time."

"Sure. Wait, why can't you call them directly?"

"Ala, call jer lah."

"Ok ok. See you in an hour."

Aku membelek-belek satu persatu baju yang tergantung, "This, maybe?" Aku mencampakan baju tersebut di atas katil. Aku kembali menghalakan tumpuanku ke almari. "This, this ..... and that..." Now, what about pants?" Aku mengeluarkan sehelai denim dan sehelai seluar pendek untuk di padankan dengan baju-baju yang aku keluarkan sebentar tadi.  

"What are you doing?" Tiba-tiba kedengaran suara abang Kamahl, dia yang hanya bertuala dan sedang mengeringkan rambutnya dengan sehelai lagi tuala berdiri lebih kurang 3 meter dari ku.

"Getting dressed of course."

"Uh uh. Right. I was in the shower for quite sometime and you are still wearing your birthday suit?"

"Well..... I am deciding what to wear. What do you think about this?" tanya ku sambil membentangkan pilihanku di atas katil supaya abang Kamahl boleh melihat dengan lebih jelas. 

"What about that long-sleeve polo shirt?"

"This one? Urgh, don't like it." Balasku. 

"Then why did you pick it?"

"Hehehe."

"That white polo looks nice."

"I think so too, then, I'll pick this denim too. Now hurry up abang, we're meeting them in an hour." 

"Abang siap cepat jer, adek tu ha yang lambat sangat. Hehehehe."

Aku mengenakan cotton polo shirt berwana putih dan denim skinny fit dari Burberry manakala untuk kasut aku memadankan sepasang Byron Suede Boot berwarna kelabu cerah. Abang Kamahl tampak selesa mengenakan sehelai body fit kemeja lengan panjang hitan dari Armani dan sehelai jeans berwarna khaki dari Massimo Dutti lengkap bersama sepasang sneakers dari Bally. Kami kemudian bergerak ke Publika dengan abang Kamahl memandu keretanya. 

Tampaknya perjalan kami agak lancar dengan kenderaan bergerak pantas di kedua-dua arah. Namun setibanya kami di sekitar Bukit Tunku, jalan sedikit sesak. Tiba-tiba handphone di tanganku berbunyi, terpapar nama Joe di skrin. 

"Babe, I dah dekat parking dah ni. Hisyam dengan Vincent pun dengan I ni." 

"Owh, I dengan abang Kamahl ni still on the way ni. Jalan jem dekat Bukit Tunku. Dalam 15 minit lagi sampai lebih kurang."

"Ok. You nak jumpa terus dekat restoran ke apa?"

"Boleh juga. Can you get a table for 5 of us?"

"Ok. See you in a while."

Seketika kemudian Joe menghantar whatsapp memberitahu mereka berada di Silver Spoon Trattoria di level G2. 

"So, how are you? Haven't seen for a while." Kata Vincent membuka bicara setelah kami selesai order makanan. 

"Just the same I guess. Am doing ok."

"Herm." tiba-tiba abang Kamahl mengeluh. 

"Well, a bit ok. And, I'm sorry. I was selfish, I guess."

"No worries lah. Kitorang faham how do you feel." balas Joe sambil menggosok perlahan lengan kiri ku."

"Thanks. So what about you guys?" tanyaku kembali. 

"Just the same I would say. Busy with work." Balas Vincent pula. 

"Owh ya, how are you feeling now? You know, that, thing." Tanya Hisyam kepadaku. 

"You know, you can just say the word HIV." 

"I'm sorry, just that we never talked about it before. So I don't know how should I phrase it."

"That's ok. Well, I'm ok. In fact, I've just started my meds."

"Really? When? Why didn't you tell me about it?" tanya abang Kamahl pula.

"Erm, today is my second day, actually." Balas ku lagi

"And how is everything so far?" giliran Vincent pula bertanya.

"It was hell, if I can say. He was throwing up so many times and had a nightmare. I myself was having a hard time taking care of him last night. At one time, he was shouting in his sleep, then he cried, and at times he talked some gibberish things. And now I know what is causing it." Kata abang Kamahl pula.

"Wow, that doesn't sounds great."

"It is. The side effect was terrible. But, my doc said it will subside over time and completely go off over time." Jawabku pula. 

"I do hope so. But, do let us know if anything happen. Don't keep it to yourself all the time." Tambah abang Kamahl lagi sambil mencubit lembut pipiku. 

"Ok abang."

"Will you be ok living on your own?" Tanya Joe.

"I should be fine, don't worry. I'll call if anything."

"You are not going to stay at your place on your own. Until you're 100% better, you are staying with me. No arguing about it. I won't let you be on your own."