HOUSEMATE

58. DANIEL

Masing-masing Dave sama Anne bawa Lily sama kawan dia pigi ruang makan. Tau la tu tetamu Anne, tapi Dave ni lebih-lebih pula. Saya tengok kawan Lily tu jatuh cinta sama kawan saya. Ketara betul muka dia cair nampak Dave. 

Lily ada tengok saya yang situ belakang dorang, dia senyum ja sambil layan kerenah adik saya.

Bila nampak dia, rasa ringan pula rasa. Macam terubat rindu sama dia, ceiiii...

Kami duduk lepas kasi hidang makanan dan saya suruh dorang masing-masing layan diri. Lily tengok ja tu appetizer.

"I miss this" dia cakap tiba-tiba. Terus berdebar ba saya, jangan la dia cakap saya pernah masak ni untuk dia sebelum ni.

"This is my favourite" Lily senyum lebar. Saya rasa lega. Dave siku lengan saya sambil angkat kening. Nasip baik dia tidak bersuara, kalau dia buat hal saya halau dia sekarang ni juga.

Kami serentak koir 'ohhh'.. 

Anne punya muka pun bukan main manis berbanding sebelum ni. Lily yang pernah jumpa dia depan mata sebelum ni pun heran tengok gaya dia begitu. Kalau business offer dia tu bagus, saya akan sokong dia tapi kalau dia buat deal bukan-bukan saya suruh parents kami ambil dia nanti, padan muka.

Lepas makan saya sama Dave urus piring-piring di dapur. Anne, Lily dan kawan dia si Amber kalau tidak silap saya, sana ruang tamu. Dorang bincang pasal offer modelling. Sesuai la Amber dengan tu offer, kalau Anne offer sama Lily memang saya bantah.

Lepas siap kasi bersih baru saya pigi atas tukar baju. Kunun pakai baju putih nah kena sos baru tau. Saya siap tukar baru turun. Saya nampak Lily sana luar menghadap tu kolam renang, entah apa dia buat berdiri lama sana. Saya pigi dekat dia.

Ndak dia tengok saya sampai saya berdiri sebelah dia. Lily menghadap saya, dia senyum sambil tengok muka saya.

Bila nampak senyuman dia tu saya terkenang balik masa kami sama-sama. Susah payah saya jaga dia dulu. Saya masak untuk dia, belanja dia makan... apa lagi?

"Your house is beautiful" Lily tengok balik tu kolam.

"Thank you"

"This is kind of weird, did you know about me or this arrangement before?"

"No I know nothing about it until the annual dinner"

"Is that why you move out?"

"Yes... I'm sorry Lily"

"Nah.. its ok Dan. I was shocked when you showed up that night at the family dinner, I just tought you were there for attending dinner but, it turned out you are the man my father mentioned in that arrangement"

"You have no idea who I am or...?"

"Ya. Mmmm.. I did saw your photo online once but its kind of blur.. my father didn't give me clear briefing about the arrangement. He said it was Mr.Donovan son, I have searched online and there are tons of  rumours about you. I never really paid any attention into this matter before, I heard a lot of rumours about this man my father set me up, it make me hate that man. I was not interested in my father's or brother's business and not into this kind of line of work. I know nothing about their work or whoever related into it. I was not involved in it since I was born. Everything is under my father's control, so I just know nothing about you."

"That explain a lot why you didn't say anything about it until now."

"Its... you know... confusing... I had a great time with you at the time you stay at home. When I learn about the man I hate based on online contents, it was two different things about you."

"You hate me huh?"

"That was before. Well, your cooking skill was impressive and that set a new perspective about you"

Lily senyum lebar sambil tengok saya. Aduu... senyuman dia ni kan... 

"I just tought you might spilled something when you look so intently to the Avocado Cucumber Shrimp"

"Sorry about that but I missed that apetizer so much"

"I can tell"

Lily ketawa kecil. Nostalgia pula bercakap begini sama dia. Baru hari ni kami loosen up sikit, dapat bercerita macam dulu.