I got back home around six in the evening and was surprised to see a brand new Range Rover parked in our driveway.
Siapa pulak datang, terdetik di dalam hati aku. Tapi bila aku melangkah masuk, rumah sunyi sepi. "Hans?, Hans.....? Are you home?", aku memanggil Hans. Sunyi. Pelik pulak. Kereta siapa kat luar tu?
Half an hour later, I came down and peeked outside. The Range Rover is still parked in our driveway. I checked my cell but there was no message from Hans. Where's Hans?
I went to the kitchen to start preparation on 2 dishes for tomorrow's Chinese New Year grand dinner at Bibi Nyonya's house. I planned to bring Kung Pao Chicken with Cashew Nuts and Stuffed Mushroom. Since I had nothing to do I decided to prepare the ingredients a head of time so I can save some cooking time tomorrow.
Half an hour later, I heard the front door opened and shut. "Babe, I'm back...where are you?". It was Hans.
"I'm in the kitchen...", I shouted. Hans smiled when he saw me. He came over and hugged me from behind. "Ewww, you're all sweaty. Pergi mandi.....", but Hans purposely hugged my tightly and kissed all over my neck. I felt ticklish and giggled. He stopped and took off his t-shirt to wipe sweats on his face and chest. "You're cooking dinner..?", Hans asked.
"This? Oh it's actually for tomorrow's dinner...Kung Pao chicken and Stuffed mushroom. Segan pulak your mother in-law ajak for dinner and I tak perpare apa-apa.", I replied.
"That is very sweet and thoughtful of you.... (he kissed me on the cheek) I am sure mummy will appreciate what you did.", Hans munch on the toasted cashew nuts.
"Excuse me that's for the Kung Pao chicken....", I tapped his hands. He chuckled and said, "Sorry. I pergi mandi dulu okay....", and grabbed a handful of cashew nuts. He quickly ran out the kitchen.
"Hans!!", I laughed and continued with my work.
"By the way, we're going out for dinner tonight okay.....and can you get ready by 8 pm?", Hans wanted to know.
"Yeah I should be done with this in a bit. Lepas Maghrib kita boleh pergi. Where to, Hans?", I wanted to know....
"The Shangri-la Putrajaya...", he replied and disappeared from my sight. I started to place all ingredients in plastic container. Placed them all in the fridge and went up stairs to get ready for Maghrib and dinner.
Part 2.
"My, my, my,.....look at you....", Hans complimented me as I walked down the stairs. I reached at the bottom of the stairs and slipped in my stiletto. "I hope I'm not over dress for dinner...", I responded.
"No,..no,..no,.. you look hot, babe. I like what you're wearing. Don't put on the jacket yet....but those stilettos......hmmmmm I like what I'm seeing.", he complimented me again. He held my hands and his scanned each and every inch of my body..."Please stop it, you're making me feel uncomfortable.....", I blushed.
"There is no reason for you to feel embarrassed. You've always have a unique sense of style. I always stand proud when I'm with you.", Hans kissed my hand.
"Well thank you....you look delicious yourself....", I giggled and in return I give him a sweet kiss on his right cheek. Hans took me by the hand and spin me around. "Nice....., come I want to show you something outside....". We stepped out of the house and the mysterious Range Rover was still there. "Han's whose car is that?", I asked curiously.
Hans hold my hand and answered, "Well, do you like it?", he asked.
"Pretty expensive.", and I ran my fingers on the exterior of the car as I circled it. I peak inside. Fully leather. "Very slick. Nice.", I replied. Hans stood there watching me the whole time.
"The Company gave me a new car. Come let's get in.", as he opened the front passenger door. I got in and it felt so luxurious. A few second later Hans stepped into the car an adjusted his sittings a couple of times. "I rather drive my Murano than this.....", he looked at me and pouted his lips. I replied, "You know what, so do I".
We arrived Shangri-La and headed straight to Azur.
We were instantly being served but Hans asked the waiter to come back in five minutes while we decide what to eat.
"I don't know what to eat....everything looks so delicious....", I said and flipping the menu pages. A few minutes later the waiter came back....."Are you ready to order?"
I looked up. "Yes, I'll start with Salmon carpaccio, followed by the wild mushroom soup and then the grilled Norwegian salmon. Thank you." I looked at Hans and was already staring at me and smiled. "And why are you looking at me that way?", I asked Hans.
"Nothing....", he giggled. I was not amused by his answer. "I will have the same starter as my wife then the asparagus cream soup and followed by grilled rack of lamb.
As the waiter wrote down our orders, he looked up, "How about dessert? Would like to try our house specialty, Classic creme brulee?"
"Sure, two please". Hans replied. I instantly looked up to Hans.....the waiter walked away.
"Hans, I'm trying to loose some extra pounds.....", I pleaded but he smiled.
"Lose extra pounds? Yang you order appetizer, soup and salmon tu, nak kurus macamana? No...., kurus-kurus tak nak la....Selagi boleh makan, you makan saja.....", He replied and laughed. Aku mencebik bibir.
"I have something that I wanna to ask you .....next week is the big day, and are you ready...?". Aku menganggukkan kepala...."Good. Well, I wanted this to be a surprise but I said to myself, heck why not give her now...".
"Surprise?", aku terkejut. Then Hans took out a box and placed it on the table. He slide it on the table towards me. My eyes was fixated on it. I wasn't expecting this.
"Go ahead open it...", Hans said.
I was nervous. What could it be this time....he has given me so much. So I lifted the box with one hand and opened the case with the other, then my eyes popped out....."Oh my..., Hans, it's beautiful!" I was really surprised.
The waiter arrived and interrupted our private moment. "Mam, your starter and Sir....salmon carpaccio. Please enjoy your meal...", the waiter smiled and left.
"I'm glad you liked it. Come let's eat. Just put that a side dulu okay...", Hans suggested. I left the opened box on the table. I can't keep my eyes off the beautiful watch Hans just gave me.
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| Credit to Louis Vuitton and Google Images |
"So here I am with the watch. Try it on. I am positive that it will look exquisite on your wrist. Come let me do it for you....", Hans insisted and he took the box. He took out the watch and placed it on my wrist. Then he said, "I want you to know that I didn't anticipate how things went but they did. You are the woman I want to share the rest of my life with.....and I promise that I will always tell you the truth even when it's hard. And every single day I will be the best man I'm known to be....I love you Tika. Please don't ever leave me again....". He kissed my hand. I melted when I saw those eyes of his looking directly into my eyes.....
I was flattered by his words. I don't know whether I should cry or laugh but I know he meant every word of it.
"Thanks Hans. Thank you for your kind words. Thank you for loving me and tolerate my childish antics at times....I love you too.....". I replied.
Part 3.
Next day I had a day off from work and started to cook for dinner while Hans sat and watch me work around the kitchen. Ada saja yang nak di ceritakan. He told me about his work, Bapak Yoka confirmed his attendance to our wedding reception, and he has a huge surprised for me on the reception night. "You're gonna love me, for the rest of your life...", Hans sounded confident. Another surprised and I can't wait. Finally, when all dishes are prepared we went upstairs to get ready for tonight's family reunion.
Kung Pow Chicken with Cashew Nuts
Stuffed Mushroom
We arrived at 4:30 pm and were greeted by Bibi Nyonya herself. "Apa khabar Hans dan Atika? Lama mummy tak jumpa. Lu dua orang sudah lupa sama mummy ka?". Hans hugged and kiss mummy. Mummy nampak lawa berbaju kebaya nyonya yang selalu menjadi pilihannya bila ada perayaan besar.
"Tak, we have been a bit busy, mummy. Mummy ada sihat?", Hans bertanya. "Lu tengok mummy macam ni, kira okay la.....", ketawa mummy. Aku yang berdiri di sebelah Hans hanya tersenyum.
"Atika sihat? Mummy rindu sama Atika. Tiap-tiap minggu ada saja kueh hantar kasi mummy. Bertuah lu Hans, bini pandei masak....", Mummy terus memeluk aku dan mengajak kami masuk.
Suasana rumah mummy riuh rendah. Ah Joe dan isteri sibuk dengan decorations while mummy in the kitchen giving instructions to her maid how to prepare 'yee sang'. Aku meletakkan makanan yang aku bawa dari rumah di atas meja dapur.
"Apa ni Atika? Masak lagi ka...?", lalu mummy membuka tutup periuk le creuset dan berkata, "Aduh, sedapnya....", and she took a piece of the stuff mushroom for tasting. She smiled and said, "Perfect! Atika terus angkat kasi letak meja depan.", Aku pun menganggukkan kepala.
Aku nampak Hans sedang melayan kerenah anak-anaknya. Ah Joe joined them while his wife, Kathy menghampiri aku. "Hi, how's things?", she asked.
"Good. And you?", I replied dan bersalaman dengan Kathy.
"Okay jugak. Jarang kita dapat jumpakan? Maybe one of these days we can have lunch?, she asked.
"Sure, boleh. You pick the time and place. You tak balik rumah keluarga you?, I asked sambil memerhatikan keletah anak-anak Hans yang berguling atas lantai bermain Nerf. Tiba-tiba peluru tersasar terkena mummy yang baru masuk ke ruang tamu.
"A1 and A2, Bibi Nyonya sudah cakap jangan main dalam rumah. Nanti Bibi Nyonya kasi buang. Simpan...now!, arah mummy.
"Hans, Ah Joe sudahla....rambut sudah mau uban main macam budak-budak, apa ini....", the house erupted with laughter.
After dinner mummy distributed 'ang pow' to all of us, even the maid also gets one. At midnight the sound of fire crackers filled the air.
Hans invited his children back to our house but they decided they wanted to follow Ah Joe who will be going back to his in-laws tomorrow. This means more ang-pow for them.....Ah Joe promised to take them to Legoland during their stay in Johor Bahru. Hans was a bit disappointed but agreed to the plan with one condition that soon they return from Johor they will come to our house to finish their school holidays. The kids were happy that their school holidays are filled with trips and activities. Poor Hans. I know he was looking forward having his sons over. I just wish that Ah Joe would have mentioned this earlier.
We arrived about 2 am and Hans went straight up to the bedroom. I made myself Milo and switched on to Van Morrison's Moondance.
Credit to raskull85 and You Tube
Hans came down after his shower and sat down next to me in the lazy pit. "I was a bit disappointed that Joe decided to steal my kids this holiday.....", Hans expressed his frustration. I just kept quiet and comforted him by stroking his arms. "You'll still have them after they're back from JB....", I said.
"I know.....but lately I am spending less and less time with them...", Hans admitted lacking quality time with his kids lately. He put his arm around my shoulder and I leaned against his chest. We sat there in silence listening to Van Morrison. Hans slowly rubbed his thumb across my palm, caressing gently. It's a sign of affection, a sign of him wanting to be close to me. There's a certain energy exchange that you can feel from holding hands with someone, especially when that someone is special to you. Our fingers intertwine and there it was, that physical connection.
"I am little tired. Have you showered?", Hans broke the silence.
"Nope belum. I will soon as I finished my Milo. You nak tidur, you go a head first. I'll follow you in a bit.", I said and kissed his cheek.
"Okay, but don't take too long.....", Hans kissed my hand and stood up. Aku mengangguk.....
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