Kamu Bandar Yang Takkan Pernah Hilang (WIP)

Bab 3

Ditemani Alunan Kisah Tanpa Cerita oleh Banda Neira

"I'm really sorry."

Aku alihkan kaki dan cuba sedaya upaya tak terpandang tepat pada matanya.

Dia masih terus senyum, menampakkan lesung pipit di sebelah kiri wajahnya dan kedutan di hujung mata. Seterusnya dia tersenyum dan mengangguk sambil memasukkan fon telingannya ke dalam poket.

"All good. Don't worry about it."

Dia keluarkan kamera Fujifilm dari bag sandangnya. Picuannya tertuju kepada pemandangan di belakangku. Aku betulkan scarf yang hampir melurut ke bawah dan membetulkan rambutku. Sejujurnya, aku tak boleh lekang dari memerhati gelagatnya.

He has a quiet aura and charm that somehow gravitate people towards wanting to know him more.

Selepas mengambil gambar, dia meneliti paparan skrin kecil dan terus memicu beberapa pemandangan. Kemudian, dia memandangku sejenak dan berfikir sebentar sebelum memulakan perbualan.

"Have you ever had a dejavu?" Ujarnya.

Aku mendongak melihat wajahnya dan mengangguk.

"Once or twice. But I don't really like the idea of having dejavu. It's like a repetition of scenes in your head and it's not precise. You don't know why do you feel like you have encountered something similar in the past and at the same time, you can't get them out there from a specific compartment in your memory.

Are you having one, now?" Aku bertanya padanya sambil cuba mencuri pandangan kea rah skrin kameranya. Kebetulan bas berhenti di satu hentian dan kelihatan empat penumpang bangun dan bersedia meninggalkan bas.

"You want to take a look? Let's sit at the back?" Soalnya sambil bersedia ke arah tempat duduk. Dia memberi laluan kepadaku dan mencadangkan aku duduk di kerusi dekat dengan tingkap. Kemudian, dia hulurkan kameranya padaku. Aku suka eksterior klasik kameranya. Permukaan sedikit kasar tapi cukup cantik dibandingkan dengan kamera lain. Japanese always has a good way in producing camera with beautiful color palette while not leaving out the sense of evergreen products.

"The photos in the camera; six moving scenes. They were my dejavu. I feel like I have seen this moment somewhere but this is my first time in Sydney. Usually, if it's that significant, I would remember moments like that.

It can't be a repetition of something in my past. It's just odd." Dia mengerutkan dahi dan kemudian menggeleng.

"Your first time here?" Aku serahkan kembali kameranya dan berfikir betapa cantiknya gambar-gambar yang diambil dalam bas yang bergerak laju. He definitely has a good eye for photography.

"Yes. My second day infact. I sampai malam semalam when the rain has just stopped. It seems gloomy from the airport to my hotel.

How about you? Your first time in Sydney?" Cahaya matahari di belakangku menembus cermin dan menampakkan alis matanya yang melentik dan hitam lebat.

"No. Sydney is my home for six years already. Graduating in two weeks time, then I will be back home.

I learned architecture and some of my favorite buildings live here. I don't think I will ever be mentally ready to leave this city especially during Autumn, my favorite season." Aku bulatkan mata dan mengangkat kening tanda aku masih belum rela meninggalkan bandar indah ini.

The crisp and fresh air during Autumn presents the time to enjoy coastal walks. Average temperature falls between fourteen to twenty-two celcius so it's not too cold or too humid either. Sometimes you can see humpback whales migrating to north from May to August; like a celebration and a great ending for the city to rejoice.

"Autumn is my favorite season too! I heard about the view at Blue Mountains and I am thinking to drive up there in two days. The pictures of Japanese maples, North American Oaks and dawn redwoods at the Botanice Garden bought me.

Have you been there before?" Dia bertanya dalam keadaan bersahaja sambil memicu beberapa gambar pemandangan di belakangku. Kemudian, dia mengeluarkan kain perca pengelap cermin kamera dari beg sandangnya. Dia gosok kesan cap jari di cermin kamera.

"I had a couple of roadtrips with my friends by car and by train.

If you nak pergi sana by train, you can take NSW Trainlink Intercity at the Central station. Setiap satu jam ada and you stop dekat Katoomba. You can take any available shuttle there to the top of Blue Mountains. Overall, it will take about two hours.

If you want to go by car, it will be about ninety minutes drive.

What do you for a living actually?" Aku bertanya.

Bas bergerak perlahan. Di luar, susur laluan menuju ke Bondi Beach kelihatan seperti salah satu lukisan pemandangan paling cantik hasil kerja tangan Julia yang aku nampak minggu lepas. Laut berombak besar; indahnya seperti gulungan kertas berwarna biru hijau yang Julia warnakan dengan berus warna air dan dia tampal atas lukisannya.

Mungkin itu pemandangan yang dia maksudkan ketika dia beria-ria memberitahu aku tempoh hari.

"I'm a geology graduate and I worked with an oil and gas company before for six years. I was doing well and ready to climb the next ladder. The company has sent me to Houston, South Sudan and London mostly.

But at the end of last year, I had a change of heart. I quit my job and took a leap of faith. Ni fasa penting dalam hidup I selepas I buat keputusan untuk berhenti dari bidang yang dah jadi kehidupan I selama lebih sembilan tahun dari zaman belajar. I have been thinking about it since my grandfather passed away.

I am a full time astrophotographer now." Sekali lagi dia menyikat rambutnya kebelakang dengan jemari. Kali ini cahaya matahari yang keluar menyapa lembut rambutnya yang berwarna perang.

Aku berfikir untuk mengusap bahunya sebagai tanda sokongan pada kekuatannya dalam membuat keputusan sebegitu, tapi aku berfikir yang dia adalah seseorang yang baru aku kenali jadi aku matikan perbuatan itu dalam kepala.

"I selalu dengar or nampak gambar-gambar dalam majalah tapi tak pernah kenal someone in real life yang berkerja as one. Apa yang buat you terfikir to do it for a living?"

"Yang fana adalah waktu. Kita abadi:
memungut detik demi detik, merangkainya seperti bunga
sampai pada suatu hari
kita lupa untuk apa.
"Tapi, yang fana adalah waktu, bukan?"
tanyamu.
Kita abadi.

It's a poem written by the late Indonesian poet named Sapardi Djoko Damono. My grandfather shared it with me when we were spending time together. He won many awards during his time back then. One of it is the Astronomy Photographer of The Year by Royal Museums Greenwich.

In that moment, I saw beautiful constellation at night dekat kampung. He taught me how to adopt ethereal approach in photographs. Dia juga yang ajar I how paying attention to little touches can lift an image from something ordinary to something wonderful. We spent many hours alone in our village waiting for the perfect moment to get our shot.

I know a lot of people do it as a hobby. But it's also possible to do it professionally." Ujarnya sambil menyimpan kameranya ke dalam beg sandangnya. Dia bersandar ke kerusi.

"Thank you for sharing your story. I'm sure he is in a good place right now and he must be proud of your decision.

How long will you be here?"

Sedar tak sedar aku sudah sampai di perhentian Bondi Beach sebelum bas itu meneruskan perjalanan. Aku tekan loceng di tiang bas dan bersedia untuk turun.

"I will be here in about a month.

I didn't get your name just now." Tergesa-gesa dia bertanya sebelum aku keluar dari bas. Aku berpaut pada tiang bas seketika sebelum melangkah keluar ke jalanan sebelum berpusing menghadap wajahnya dihadang pintu yang beransur tutup.

"I will tell you when we meet again."