paper rings.

25 - both.

"lipat sikit macamtu, lepastu tarik ni.."

Karl tak pernah sangka gadis yang selama ini dikejarinya itu sedang duduk di sampingnya. matanya melilau memerhati wajah si dara, sedikit kagum dengan kecantikan yang ada pada dirinya.

"take a picture, it'll last longer." bicara gadis itu, sekaligus menyentakkan lamunan Karl.

Karl tersengih.

ditenung paper rings yang sedang dalam proses hampir siap itu. Karl mengetap bibirnya, ingin menanyakan sesuatu tapi tak mampu terungkap olehnya.

"i know what you're thinking." kata perempuan itu lagi.

Karl tergelak. ditongkat dagunya, menghadap orang itu secara mengiring di meja.

"oh?"

"my parents hate those paper rings. diorang kata benda tu childish. my brother is only 10. dia suffer from heart disease, his time was near. that's why he keeps on making paper rings for me, sebab for him, its the only thing he can do to make me remember him." ujar gadis itu.

"he died two months ago, that's why i was gone for a week. it was hard. also, i didnt threw the rings away, im sorry, i lied. my parents did. they said they don't want any memories related to my younger brother in the house. they always hated him— diorang fikir adik aku is the family's curse." sambungnya beberapa ketika.

Karl terdiam.

"im sorry."

"why would you?" tanya gadis itu. saat lipatan terakhir origami itu dilakukan, dia memegang paper ring itu di antara ibu jari dan jari telunjuknya. dia tersenyum.

"im glad i was able to learn how to do this from him." katanya. Karl tersenyum lagi, sebelum akhirnya mencapai paper ring itu dari dia.

"don't worry,

i'll be the one who makes it for you from now on."