milikdemeter

[milikdemeter]

𝐌𝐚𝐚𝐟, 𝐁𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚.

“Bun! Bunda! Asa jatuh!”, teriak si kecil Bumi dari luar pagar padaku yang tengah bereskan ruang tamu tempat buah hatiku belajar siang tadi.

Jantungku mencelos— segera ‘ku bergegas berlari ke jalan, dapati Angkasa duduk di pinggir jalan merintih pedih. Dwinetraku memindai tubuhnya dari ujung jemala hingga ke daksa, sampai ‘ku dapati tulang kering serta lutut luka di beberapa tempat.

“Astaga! Kok bisa begini sih?”

Pertanyaanku dibalas cengiran jahil khas si kembar serta rintih tertahan Angkasa— kubalas wajah datar tanpa senyuman ke arah keduanya.

“Eh— ehm.. Bunda..”

Netraku kini memicing, segera aku sadari Angkasaku tak memakai alat pelindung siku dan lutut— berbeda dengan Bumi yang dibalut alat pelindung sekujur tubuhnya.

“Kok nggak pakai deker? Kan Bunda tadi sudah bilang..”, aku menghela napas.

Kini atensi kualihkan pada sang adik, meminta tolong pada Bumiku ‘tuk menggeret sepeda milik Angkasa seraya kuraih tubuh sulungku kedalam dekap sebelum ku angkat tubuh bocah usia tujuh tahun itu ke rumah.

Aku berjalan berdampingan dengan Bumiku yang sedikit kepayahan menggeret dua sepeda yang hampir saja lebih besar darinya dengan sepasang kuasa mungil, ‘ku lirik sepasang paras yang kini tampakkan penyesalan milik malaikat kecilku.

Rasa geli hampiriku.

Tidak, aku tak boleh tertawa.

Kusamarkan senyumku dalam diam, hingga Bumi selesai memarkirkan sepeda di halaman. Segera kubawa Angkasa ke kamar mandi ‘tuk kubilas luka-luka di kakinya.

Angkasaku merintih kala bulir air menetes tepat di lukanya, meluruhkan darah bercampur pasir yang menempel di kulitnya. Sekuat tenaga ia menahan tangisnya— setengah ngeri aku tambah memarahinya sebab tahu ini hasil perbuatannya.

Jemala lain melongok dari balik pintu, ikut meringis kala sobat sejak zigotnya merintih kesakitan. Aku pura-pura tak paham meski mengulum simpul, lantas melirik Bumi yang kemudian melipir cepat-cepat ke ruang keluarga.

“Kak Bumi, ayo cuci kaki dan tangan dulu habis main dari luar. Setelah itu sini ke kamar Bunda”, tegasku disambut derap langkah terburu-buru.

“Jangan lari, nanti kepleset”, ucapku kembali direspon derapan langkah memelan sendirinya.

Kuraih sekotak berisi peralatan pertolongan pertama di nakas, menunggu keduanya duduk di kaki dipan tanpa suara. Sirna raut ceria keduanya sebelum berkeliling dengan sepeda tadi, pun hilang tawa jahil milik Bumi dan Angkasaku. Semestaku.

‘Ku tarik sebuah dingklik kayu menghadap semestaku, perlahan ‘ku tuangkan cairan antiseptik dan kubersihkan sekitar lukanya.

“Ss… sakit Bunda…”, rintih Langitku. Rintih Angkasa kubalas delikan netra, buatnya gigit labial bawah ‘tuk halau suara keluar.

Bumi meraih kuasa Angkasa, genggaman erat di jemari keduanya seakan salurkan kekuatan bagi lainnya. Gantinya, kuasa Angkasa menepuk-nepuk paha Bumi sedikit menenangkan.

Interaksi dalam diam keduanya hampir buat tawaku pecah seketika.

Seusai ku balut luka-luka di kakinya, hening sejenak ambil alih diantara kami bertiga. Kutatap keduanya, kuraih kedua kuasa mungil milik Angkasa dan Bumi.

“Sekarang sudah tahu kan kenapa Bunda dan Yanda selalu menyuruh kalian untuk pakai helm dan pelindung?”

“Iya maaf Bunda”

“Iya maaf Bunda”

Jawaban tandem milik semestaku terdengar bersamaan, simpulku muncul akibat gemas dengan kembarku.

“Angkasa salah karena nggak pakai pelindung. Bumi seharusnya paksa Angkasa untuk pakai. Begitu juga sebaliknya, kalau Angkasa pakai dan Bumi nggak pakai, Asa harus paksa Bumi. Mengerti ya, Semestaku?”

“Iya Bunda”

“Iya Bunda”

“Bunda mau tanya, boleh? Menurut Bumi dan Angkasa, kewajiban Angkasa dan Bumi terhadap saudara itu apa saja ‘sih?”

Pertanyaanku dijawab saling lempar pandang oleh kedua anakku. Aku berdeham, berusaha mengembalikan fokus keduanya padaku.

“Saling sayang, berbagi, terus mmm…”, jawab Angkasa terbata.

“Saling menjaga juga kata Yanda”, ucap Bumi seraya menyenggol siku Angkasa.

Aku mengangguk dan mengangkat jempol, sebelum akhirnya kudekap dan kuusap jemala keduanya.

Langit dan Bumi, kuharap kalian akan terus mengingat ini. Mengingat bahwa kalian takkan pernah sendiri, jua mengingat bahwa saling menjaga seumur hidup harus kalian jalani.

Langitku dan Bumiku, hidup tak ‘kan semulus dan selurus keinginan hati. Namun kuharap kalian akan selalu ada ‘tuk satu sama lain, entah bagaimana liku hidup kalian nanti.

[milikdemeter]

𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐌𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐓𝐨..

With her dainty body dragged along the Amsterdam Ave by Verona on their way to the welcoming party venue, Gianne let out a deep sigh when Verona suddenly stopped running and proceeded to give two of her middle fingers to a taxi driver— who almost crashed into those girls had he stepped in his brake one second too late.

“FUCK YOU!! YOU DRIVE WITH YOUR EYES LAH GOBLOK!”, Verona screamed with her thick Singlish accent which seemingly creeps out of her mouth only when she’s frustrated. Gianne laughed hard while the two of them ran even faster— she would’ve expected to hear Indonesia's swearing word anywhere but New York.

“I didn’t — I didn’t think you could speak Malay”, said Gianne half-panting in front of the hall as the both of them walked through the lobby.

“Wahlao! You kind of stupid or what lah? I was born and grew up in Singapore. I guarantee I can speak Malay way better than you”

“Ya ya ya”, Gianne scoffed as she tried to spruce up her hair before taking the back row seat.

The opening speech was lengthy to say the least. The hall was packed with students as well as a few faculty members present. Holding her coat in her hand, her gaze laid upon the huge chandeliers hung above her head. Dark furnished wood furnitures as well as the high ceilings showed the austere grandeur of this place.

That night’s ambience was definitely festive, yet Gianne sat idly in one of the sofas— visibly exasperated by the situation. Verona came back with a flock of students behind her, which made Gianne instantly jolted from her seat. She introduced her friends to Gianne one by one, but among those who greeted her with excitement, someone in particular caught her attention.

He was quiet unlike the rest. Gianne wasn’t sure if he was a first year or a sophomore— she didn’t even know his name, he was unbothered like that. She shrugged it off, then Verona whispered to Gianne— she was going to the dance floor with a… sophomore? Gianne nodded and laughed in response.

Gulping away her drink out of her nerve, Gianne was about to refill her cup with more punch until she heard a low voice behind her ears. “Jangan banyak-banyak, saya lihat anak sophomore memasukkan beberapa botol vodka ke minuman ini.”

Gianne staggered, swiftly putting her cup away. She turned her body only to face somebody’s chest.

It was broad… and it seemed it would be comfortable to sleep on top of. Will it be firm enough to her touch?,  she thought.

Fuck her thought process. She didn’t even realize he was talking to her in her mother tongue.

“Sorry? Eh— hah?”

“Ehem. Kamu dari Indonesia kan? Kalau tadi saya tidak salah dengar sih—“

“Ah, iya. Aku dari Indonesia. Ternyata kamu mendengarkan ya tadi”

“Saya Aryasatya, kamu Gianne kan? Mmm.. saya boleh panggil kamu Gia? Biar cepat saja.”

GIAAAA? GIAAAAA? ANCUUUUUUR, she thought to herself again.

Gianne gritted her teeth as she nodded her head in response. Both walked alongside one another to an emptier corner, seeking for an empty couch to sit on. Both were awkwardly sitting next to each other.

“Yang dari Indonesia cuma kita berdua kah, Ya?”

“Ah tidak, ada dua orang lagi. Satu orang sedang sakit, satunya lagi sedang menunggui yang sakit.”

“Oh…”

“Iya.”

There was a deafening silence between the two. There was a tension— ever so subtly rising between the two strangers. Gianne could feel the temperature was getting hotter, but it seemed that she was the only one who noticed.

“Ya”

“Gi”

“Hah?”

“Hah”, both chuckled nervously.

“Gi, pilih residence dimana?”

“John Jay. Kamu?”

“Hartley. Dulu saya di John Jay. Saya lebih suka di John Jay.”

“Oh…”

“Iya. Eh tadi kamu mau tanya?”

“Mmm— nggak. Udah lupa.”

“Oh okay.”

Silence again. Gianne’s pupil were frantically looking for Verona. She had to get back to her room. Soon.

“Gia, mau pulang ke John Jay? Saya antar ya?”

Can I just faint?, she thought to herself for the last time that night.

It was very unlikely for her to feel this way— but Gianne was having a crush to this guy she’d just met.

[milikdemeter]

𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨, 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐍𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐫.

John Jay Hall, early September 1998.

Sounds were heard outside Gianne’s room. The hall was filled with thuds of numerous luggage as well as footsteps—it must’ve been because a lot of people were finally moving into the building. Gianne herself was new to the place, though she had been in New York for four months.

The young lady with long black locks was fortunate enough that her parents had the ability to lease an apartment in the Upper East Side of Manhattan for the sake of the family when they decided to flee the country right before the riot broke out. And she was granted earlier entrance to the residence for the sole reason of her being an international student.

Gianne opened her room door—for she was unable to keep her curiosity to herself. Indeed, the hall was full of strangers, until a girl with two huge luggage across her room caught Gianne spying on her new neighbors. She chuckled at Gianne, who was obviously unwary. She then approached her, and it was the beginning of their friendship.

“I’m Verona—Verona Goh.”

“Gianne Xiang”, she said nervously.

“Are you from China?”, Gianne shook her head in response. “Then?”

“Indonesia”, Gianne answered. Verona nodded her head as a reply. “I’m from Singapore.”

Verona was Gianne’s polar opposite. Gianne was more feminine than Verona. Verona was outgoing, while Gianne was more reserved. The two of them bickered most of their friendship, yet they were inseparable from their first handshake. The only thing the girls both have in common was their major.

“G, you’re going to the welcome party for Asian GS undergrads next week?”, Verona asked on one afternoon, a couple of weeks after their semester started. They were both in Gianne’s room which seemed turned into their basecamp.

Gianne shrugged, “I… don’t think so. I’m not quite fond of parties.”

“Hey—you might just meet someone from Indonesia! It’ll be helpful to have somebody to know from the same country, don’t you think?”

“I don’t know, V—”

“Ugh! Come, please. Come with me. Okay? I’ll introduce you to my friends from Sg there”, Verona pleaded. “Okay? Okay. I’m going to Hartley’s to meet my friend. Would you want to come? We’re planning to go to Times Square.”

Gianne scoffed with a slight smile plastered across her face as she watched Verona’s figure disappeared behind her door. Guess she’s going there with her new bestfriend.

Verona was her polar opposite, yet it might be the sole answer of their seemingly impossible bond to one another. Verona was—and still is Gianne’s person.

[milikdemeter]

𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐤 𝐉𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐧 𝐊𝐚𝐦𝐢, 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐤𝐚𝐬𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐦𝐢.

Masih teringat betapa mengejutkannya kehadiran kalian berdua di rahim Bunda kala itu.

Ditengah hembusan angin yang mulai menghangat serta sinar matahari yang menyusup malu-malu diantara pepohonan di Central Park.

Angkasa, Yanda dan Bunda menamai Asa sebagai memoar akan eloknya langit hari itu. Gumulan awan meneduhkan, serta sekelompok merpati bergulung riang di birunya angkasa luas buana ini.

Dalam hati, terucap pengharapan supaya Angkasa dan Bumi kelak dapat menjadi seorang yang berani arungi kehidupan yang luas, serta membawa kebahagiaan bagi siapapun yang melihat.

Bumi, Yanda dan Bunda menamai Bumi sebagai pengingat akan buana yang turut bersorak sorai atas kehadiran kalian berdua. Pun nama itu tersemat harap Yanda dan Bunda agar setinggi apapun kalian kelak mengepakkan sayap, kalian akan tetap membumi dan kembali ke rumah.

Selamat bertambah usia, jagoan Bunda dan Yanda. Kami sayang kalian, sejak dahulu dan akan selalu begitu.

[milikdemeter]

𝐏𝐄𝐃𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍

Layaknya sebintik debu di luasnya Semesta, aku ini hanya seonggok nyawa yang senang menulis. Tidak cukup mahir untuk dipuji, setidaknya cukup bagiku ‘tuk puaskan hasrat pribadi.

Kubuat karakter ini ditengah sibuknya diri, sebagai pelarian dari sebagian hal yang seharusnya kulakukan. Kurangkai sepenuh hati, sebagai pemenuhan atas ekspektasi kemampuan diri.

Jangan harapkan aku ‘tuk menguntai banyak kisah indah, disebut kisah biasa pun berlebihan rasanya. Yang terpenting bagiku satu, kepuasan diri.

Segala media yang kugunakan disini hanyalah visualisasi, hak cipta kukembalikan seutuhnya pada para kreator yang telah menguras waktu dan energi.

Aku memohon diskresi dalam membaca kisah yang kurangkai ini, seluruhnya kuuntai sendiri terinspirasi dari berbagai situasi dan kondisi yang telah kualami, tentunya dibumbui dengan hasil imaji milik diri ini.

𝐇𝐚𝐭𝐢-𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐢!!! 𝑮𝑶𝑫𝑴𝑶𝑫𝑫𝑰𝑵𝑮 serta 𝑴𝑬𝑻𝑨𝑮𝑨𝑴𝑰𝑵𝑮 karakterku tak akan pernah kuapresiasi malah kubenci. Sementara diskusi di pesan pribadi ihwal relasi serta lainnya akan kubalas sepenuh hati seraya berterima kasih.

𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐑,

𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐.