Chapter 4 - Beautiful Disaster

Dari jauh Tika memerhatikan Hans yang sedang berbicara dengan seseorang menerusi cellphone nya. Agak pelik betul perangai dia. Sekali-sekala dia meninggikan suara dan mengurut dahi. Masalah kerja mungkin?

Tika tidak mahu menggangu Hans so she went into the house and sat there while waiting for him to finish his business. Tika membelek-belek helaian  majalah Tatler and came across a picture of Hans with another woman. Tika menutup majalah tu untuk melihat tarikh keluaran,…Mac 2016….2 bulan lepas dan membukanya semula. Dia mengamati kemesraan Hans dan wanita yang berada di sebelahnya. Cantik orangnya dan memang aku tak sepadan dengannya. Ouch….it hurts….really hurts….or am I just over reacting…

Well he is single and available so definitely there will be lots of women crawling to get his attention. Forget it Tika perhaps it was just a candid photo. You are being paranoid.

"Come Tika lets go!". Suara Hans agak tinggi dan membuatkan aku terkejut. Majalah yang di pegang jatuh ke atas lantai.

"Hans, is everything ok?". Tika bertanya sambil lengannya di tarik oleh Hans.

"I say lets go!". Hans menarik lagi.

"Haaannns! Apa ni? Let go of me!". Tika cuba melepaskan genggaman Hans.

"Come on....let's go!", Han berkeras.

"No Hans! Boleh cakap elok-elok sikit tak? What is your problem?", bentak Tika.

"Ok, ok, ok, I’m sorry but we really have to go", ….pujuk Hans.

"Alright but not until I say goodbye to Felix and Bapak Yoka….Ghezzz…..", membuak-buak perasaan geram terhadap Hans.

Setelah meminta diri dengan Felix, Tika menuruti Hans dari belakang, Apahal la mamat ni? Tiba-tiba nak marah-marah. Siapa pulak perempuan yang di dalam majalah tadi. Siapa yang call Hans sehingga membuat Hans marah. Tika cuba put the puzzle pieces together. Kusut betul fikirannya.

Dalam perjalanan pulang masing-masing melayan perasaan sendiri. Sunyi sepi malam tu aku rasa. Hanya kedengaran lagu-lagu dari CD player yang memutarkan lagu-lagu seleksi instrumental. Aku serba salah, nak bertanya takut di marahi Hans. Kalau berdiam saja nanti dikatakan tak mengambil berat…..

"Hans….?, lalu aku memperlahankan volume CD player,…"Hans do you wanna talk? I'm listening…", Tika memujuk.

Tiada riaksi dari Hans…..dia diam dan menumpukan perhatian semasa memandu….Jam menunjukkan sudah pukul 6 petang. Seharian aku bersama Hans dan tak sangka the day ended like this.

Sampai saja di basement parking apartment complex Hans, mereka masih duduk membatu. "Hans, please unlock the door.....".Hans kept quiet as though his mind is somewhere else.

"Now Hans,....unlock the door! Tika meninggikan suara. Hans terkejut dan membuka autolock door dan Tika terus keluar dari kereta Hans. Tiba-tiba Hans meluru mendapatkan Tika sebelum dia sempat memasuki kereta.

"Babe, (sambil memegang bahu Tika) I am so sorry, I got distracted by a personal issue. I promise it will never happened again", lalu merapatkan sepuluh jarinya, Hans meminta maaf. Tika tidak menoleh instead dia terus membuka pintu keretanya lalu masuk.

Sebelum menutup pintu kereta Tika gave Hans her a piece of her mind, she said softly, "Hans, whatever the problem is, mesti ada jalan penyelesaian and what you did this afternoon was acting like a jerk!".

Tika menepis tangan Hans yang cuba untuk memegang Tika. "I had a great time today. Terima kasih I ucapkan sebab sudi mengajak I to spend time with you. I did not complaint a bit when we did not get back here by lunch. I turutkan saja kemahuan you.".

Hans cuba memegang tangan Tika tetapi ditepais sekali lagi oleh Tika. "I know you wanna spend time with me. So do I but man, right now I am scared of you."

Hans berdiri terpaku memandang Tika mungkin berasa menyesal dengan tindakannya siang tadi. Dia masih membisu.

"Well if you have nothing else to say, then I should be going. It’s late my job is not done I have another man to satisfy!". tambah Tika dengan geramnya.

"Panggggg!"...Tanpa semena-mena tangan Hans hinggap di pipi Tika. Tamparan kuat tu menyebabkan dahi Tika terhantuk di ätas steering wheel. Hon kereta berbunyi.....

"Ya Allah apa aku dah buat ni....., I am sorry Tika…I am sorry…Atikah?....Atikah?...

Part 2.

Cellphone Tika beberapa kali berbunyi dari dalam handbagnya tetapi Hans tidak berani menjawab. Dia membiarkan saja dan mengalihkan handbag Tika ke atas cabinet dresser.

"How is she Joe? Is she going to be alright? Hans bertanya kepada Doctor Joseph yang sedang merawat Tika.

Kesan dari tindakan kasar Hans menyebabkan Tika pengsan. Hantukan di steering wheel tadi agak kuat  menyebabkan dahi Tika berdarah.

"Apa dah jadi ni Hans? The injury doesn’t looks like a fall. Did she hit on to something?" Doctor Joe menunggu penjelasan Hans. Hans serba salah dan keluar dari bilik tidurnya. Kusut sekali fikirannya, why? why? why? Tika I am so sorry…..

Doctor Joe merapati Hans, "Joe, I did not mean to slap her. I just lost it. She was upset with me Joe. I should have not done that to her. I lost control and slapped her. Then dahi dia terhantuk di steering wheel. Seriously I tak sangka jadi macam ni…Joe I love her so much", sambil mengeleng-gelengkan kepalanya dan memandang keluar tingkap. Suasana di luar sunyi hanya diterangi street lights.

"I bukan mahu masuk campur Hans hal peribadi you but what made you acted so violently?…nasib baik dia cuma pengsan". Doctor Joe menyimpan semula stethoscope ke dalam bagnya.

"I don't know….one minute we had a fantastic time this whole afternoon then the next minute I receive a call from Marianne and she told me that she made arrangements with her lawyers to get full custody of our children. Joe, why is your sister doing this to me Joe? Tak cukup ke duit nafkah yang I bagi bulan-bulan to her. Nafkah anak-anak semua I tanggung Joe. I never missed a single payment".

"Marianne called kau siang tadi? Pelik jugak sebab she is not in Malaysia…..", Doctor Joe berasa hairan.  Marianne, adalah adik kepada Doctor Joe dan pernah berkahwin dengan Hans tetapi mereka bercerai setelah kematian anak ketiga mereka....Audrey.

Lantas Hans teringat, "Then who is taking care of my sons?".

"My mother. Don't worry they are being spoilt by the old lady....mmmm.....Marianne didn’t tell you she is off to Brussels for her honeymoon?".

"Hooowoww, honeymoon? When did she get married?" Hans bertanya.

Doctor Joe jawab, "Last weekend".

Hans menelangkupkan mukanya dengan kedua-dua belah tangan….just as I was about to move on with my life......

"Nanti Hans, I will try to talk to her…about the court case. You kan tahu perangai dia. Keras kepala. Ok (sambil menepuk-nepuk belakang Hans) I have to go. Are you sure she’s going to be alright here…..?" If not she can come back with me....I don't mind...", Doctor Joe bergurau.

"Joe....", Hans memberi warning.

"I was only joking la.....you ni tense sangat....relax man she is going to be just fine.....", Doctor Joe ketawa kecil.

"Yes, yes, she will be. She is safest here with me. Thanks Joe….", sambil mengiring Joe hingga ke pintu.

Berpuas hati dengan janji Hans, Doctor Joe memesan, "Alright, I ada tinggalkan paracetamol , 2 biji 3 kali satu hari then dressing on her forehead needs to be changed everytime she takes shower. Then sapukan cream. I left all medication on the bedside table. She needs plenty of rest. Her blood pressure rendah sikit." Then Doctor Joe bersalam dengan Hans lalu berkata, "Take care of her Hans".

"Ok Joe thanks so much…..", sambil menutup dan mengunci pintu.

Hans terus masuk ke bilik tidurnya dan duduk bersandar di atas katil sebelah Tika. Dia menemani Tika sehingga dia terlelap….Sejam kemudian, Hans terjaga dan di lihatnya Tika tidak ada lagi di katil. Kelam kabut Hans bangun dan meluru keluar bilik untuk mencari Tika.

Dia memandang ke arah dapur, tak ada. He called out Tika "Babe, where are you?"....

Suasana agak malap di dalam ruang duduk utama dan hanya di cahayai night light dari lampu meja berhampiran sofa panjang. Dalam kegelapan tu Hans nampak Tika sitting on the sofa with her arms folding her knees…she is rocking herself back and forth as though comforting herself.

"Tika....", perlahan-lahan Hans mendekati Tika. Di usapnya rambut Tika tetapi Tika mengelak.

"Tika I am very very sorry….I hilang pertimbangan. Maafkan I", dengan nada menyesal sambil Hans melutut di sofa menghadap Tika.

Tika mendonggak dan berkata, "Ini lah balasan dari dosa-dosa yang I lakukan". Airmata nya laju mengalir turun ke pipi......

"No. It is not your fault. I yang besalah and I yang buat you,... you jadi begini…. I can explain everything Tika.", sambil tangannya mengusap-usap lengan Tika.

"I have to go back Hans….what time is it?", Tika berkata.

"You are not fit to drive, Babe. You are under medication. I am not going to allow you do that. You are staying here tonight…", kata Hans yang mengesat airmatanya sendiri.

Hans yang masih berada di hujung kaki Tika tidak dapat menahan kekesalannya …..Tika memegang bahu Hans lalu menurunkan kakinya. Di peluknya Hans dan Hans membalas pelukan Tika. "I menyesal Tika. Belum pernah dalam hidup I buat begitu kepada seorang perempuan. I akui, itu silap I sendiri. I terlalu menurutkan perasaan marah I".

"Ssshhhh......., its over and done with ok. I believe in giving people 2^nd chance and may be 3^rd  chances. Whatever masalah you, please share it with me. Jangan jadikan I your punching bag.", ungkap Tika.

Hans masih tidak melepaskan Tika. Hans malu. Emak bapak aku tidak pernah ajar aku naik tangan pada perempuan.

"I malu sangat dengan you." 

Tika melepaskan dirinya dari pelukan Hans. She cupped his face with her both hands and said, "I maafkan you", and kissed him on the nose.

Tanpa melepaskan muka Hans, Tika berbisik, "By the way who changed my clothes?".

"I am sorry, I did before the doctor arrived. There was too much blood on your clothes so I had you changed into my jumper.".  And this time Tika kissed Hans on the lips.

Hans berdiri sambil merangkul badan Tika ke dadanya dan berjalan menuju ke bilik tidur Hans. Tangan Tika memaut tengkuk Hans dan dia merasakan seperti seorang bayi berada di dalam dakapan Hans. Hans menurunkan Tika ke atas katil lalu menyelimuti tubuh Tika yang separuh terdedah dari peha ke bawah.

Di ciumnya dahi Tika…"You need lots of rest. Now you sleep. I will be here next to you. Trust me ok". Tika hanya mengangguk. Hans merangkak perlahan ke atas katil dan berbaring di sebelah Tika.

"I am sorry Babe". Berkali-kali mencium kepala Tika.

"Hans? Tika berbisik….sakit la you buat macam tu……", Hans ketawa kecil. My Tika is back….

Tika lift her head and placed it on Hans arms while Hans had his other arms around Tika.

And that night she slept like a baby.

                                    
Part 3.

Keesokan paginya Hans bangun awal dan busy di dapur menyediakan breakfast untuk Tika.

Orange juice. √
Coffee. √
Mushroom Omelet.√
Napkins. √
Fork and Knife. √
Bunga...bunga mana?  Ok Tak pe she will not notice....

Semua tersusun rapi on a wooden tray and he carried it to his bedroom. Tika masih nyenyak tidur. Kesian pulak nak kejut dia....

As he placed the tray on the bedside table, "Were you preparing breakfast? I smell coffee...", tanya Tika.

"Hai, you're awake already? Yeah I prepared something simple. You hadn't eaten anything since yesterday afternoon.", Hans tersenyum. Hans membantu Tika untuk bersandar di katil and meletakkan food tray di atas katil bersebelahan Tika.

"Please join me I don't wanna eat alone", ajak Tika.

"Ok, I'll be right back. Let me get my coffee", Hans bergegas bangun dan bergerak keluar bilik.

He came back and asked, "How are you feeling this morning? Selesa ke tidur?" Hans duduk bertentangan Tika di atas kerusi kayu.

Tika tersenyum "I am much better and I think I slept like a baby. Betul-betul I rasa fresh sangat....", Tika assured Hans.

"Go ahead and eat. Later once you are done and whenever you feel like taking shower just let me know. I'll help you into the bathroom".

"Hans, thank you but I bukannya patah kaki.....", she is trying to convince Hans that she could do it on her own.

"Nope, you listen to me. You are my patient here and only what I say goes around here", Hans will not accept such excuses coming from Tika. Tika mencebik bibirnya.

Tika mula menjamah omelet yang Hans sediakan. Keningnya naik sambil memandang Hans, "This is delicious Hans. Pandainya you masak", puji Tika and took another bite of it.

"Thank you. There's 2 thing I learn from mother, cooking and ironing a tie", tergelak Tika mendengar lantas mengerutkan dahi nya tanda kesakitan......"Ouch!"...dan sambung gelak.

"Hang on, one minute I have to take this call.....Yes, Yana. No. I tak masuk office today. Please forward my leave to Tan Sri sighting personal reasons....aha...emmm...make it 2 days." Hans memandang Tika and hang up.

"2 days leave? Lamanya cuti? Planning to go somewhere? Tika menyibuk ingin tahu. Mulutnya masih menguyah omelette.

"It depends....on you actually", Hans berkata.

"Me? Why is that?", tanya Tika kehairanan.

"Yeah, you kan masih belum pulih", Hans bangun dari kerusi lalu mencium Tika di pipi dan mengalihkan tray makanan.

"Hans I rasa I nak mandi but I tak ada baju nak pakai", Tika bersuara. Hans helped Tika off the bed, "Ok let me help you up. Don't worry about the baju, I'll see what I can come up with, for you. Hmmm,...are you comfortable wearing a man's underware.....?"

"Eeewww, Hans!"balas Tika sambil menepuk-nepuk lengan Hans....Hans tergelak besar...Tika this has been a beautiful disaster...............

Credit to Reze Ferdian and You Tube

Let's just be frank about each other

So long we act like a great pretender

I ain't a Casanova just a romance beginner

Would it be nice or would it be another disaster?

It seems so hard to make decisions

As if we know what's going to happen

For all I know that you're one of a kind in a million

So should we take this chance or just keep it in silent

If loving you is wrong, I don't wanna make it right

Slowly we can make it right

Please somebody tell me

Cause I want it

so bad I can't wait much longer

to know if you want it

So tell me

is it love, is it love, is it love that last

We're young, careless, and happy

To start something extraordinary

It takes no magic spell

cause we have the chemistry

So would we ever be like ebony and ivory

If loving you is wrong

I don't wanna make it right

Slowly we can make it right

Please somebody tell me

Cause I want it

so bad I can't wait much longer

to know if you want it

So tell me

is it love, is it love, is it love that last

Cause I want it

so bad I can't wait much longer

to know if you want it

So tell me

is it love, is it love, is it love that

Eenie meenie miney moe

Can we make our love grow

Or we could be called a beautiful disaster

Eenie meenie miney moe

Can we make our love grow

Or we could be called a beautiful disaster

Eenie meenie miney moe

Can we make our love grow

Or we could be called a beautiful disaster

 Part 4.

Selesai mandi, Tika keluar dan mencari baju persalinan but she couldn't find it anywhere. She walked to an adjacent room and switched on the light....."Wah....banyaknya baju dia. Does he wear all of this?"dan membelek satu demi persatu. "Walk-in closet dia saja dah sebesar bilik tidur....I have never met a guy who owns this much clothes before...."Tika berbisik di dalam hati.

Tika mencapai sehelai T-shirt yang terlipat kemas dan terus memakai. "Besarnya", she giggled. Standing in front of the wall mirror Tika dried her hair with her towel and twist it like a turban and walked out of the room.

"Hans?.....hello? Hans where are you?", she called out for him. Sunyinya, mana Hans pergi?

Tika merayau di dalam apartment tu dan membelek-belek perhiasan di atas meja. Cutenye gambar dia dengan anak-anaknya....she smiled.

Kemudian dia mengalihkan pandangan ke ruang tamu yang tampak kemas dan teratur. Sambil berjalan Tika meleretkan jarinya pada setiap perabut dan berkata di dalam hati, "wow, tak ada habuk pun?...."

Tika decided to sit by the drawing board and flipping a few pieces of drawing design. Hmmm....I wonder rumah siapa pulak ni.....nice....

Berjalan ke dapur, Tika membuka peti sejuk and found that indeed Hans is a health freak..".fruits, milk, eggs, orange juice, protein drink....yuks!! bread and more fruits...ini saja?".

"So find anything interesting in there?", Tika terkejut. Dia memusingkan badannya tetapi terlanggar Hans yang berdiri di belakang Tika.."I see you are up and about?"....ooo kantul....malunye...

"I was looking for something to wear and I hope you don't mind me wearing this T-shirt. I tak jumpa seluar....", she stood there explaining and didn't move an inch. She had to lift her face to see Hans. Hans back away.....smiled and replied, "Macam tu pun ok je...here grab this", kata Hans dan Tika menyambut a long white skirt and a white cotton blouse. "Siapa punya?". Tika asked.

"My sis. She lives here on and off. Student kat MMU. Bila dia nak homecook meal terpacul la dia kat sini otherwise dia tinggal di dorm saja.", Tika mendengar penjelasan Hans.

"I pergi tukar baju dulu...."....Hans mengangguk sambil memerhati Tika berlalu..."Baju you I akan hantar dry cleaning later"..."Ok", Tika menyahut dari dalam bilik.

"Ketat sikit blouse ni", sambil mengenakan butang .....Macam nak tercabut je butang atas ni....she unbutton the top button .....hmmm much better. Pandangan Tika beralih kepada handbagnya di atas almari....alamak...cellphone aku...mampus.....she sat on the floor and lean her back against the bed sambil membaca messages yang di terima. "Tapi kenapa he didn't call? Is he not concern yang aku hilang semalaman?" dia berkata-kata dalam hati.

Tika tidak sedar yang Hans tiba-tiba muncul dan duduk di sebelahnya. "Malam semalam cellphone you rang several times but I did not answer..."

"It's ok.", jawab Tika. Mereka bersandar sambil menikmati pemandangan luar. Tasik luas kebiruan and nampak beralun-alun..Hans meletakkan tangannya di atas bahu Tika dan menariknya rapat. Kedua-dua tangan Tika memeluk pinggan Hans manakala kakinya di silang and rested in between his legs. She felt safe now with him...

"Tika I nak jelaskan perkara semalam", Hans memulakan penjelasannya. Tika hanya diam. Dia boleh mendengar degupan jantung Hans.....

"I got a call from my ex-wife and she is wants to get full custody of our children. I was so pissed off. I tak paham kenapa dia nak hukum I sebegini. We agreed dulu that it was a joint custody. I get to spend time with the children every other week and school holidays. Last week was supposed to be my turn but she asked if she could switched it to this weekend. And you know what? I found out she got married last weekend"...jelasnya dengan panjang lebar.

"Dia memang degil and she does as she pleases....I harap you faham yang I memang tak bermaksud nak lepas geram pada you ....Some day I will tell you more about what happened to my marriage. Today, only you and me." .

"I pun tak sepatutnya cabar you,... maybe I deserve it...", Tika cuba menyejukkan hati Hans.

"I'm happy when you're with me,....I need someone I can take care off. I can be possessive at times. I just want to find happiness for once in my life ." Hans menceritakan impiannya.

"I kena tukar dressing di dahi you then we go out, ok? Kita ambil angin luar. Tinggal indoors pun not healthy", Hans said sambil membuka balutan di dahi Tika.