My Sweetest Desire

58 : nash kyree

"Papa."

Nash Kyree yang tadinya melihat ke bawah, di mana lantai tarian di ballroom itu dipenuhi dengan tetamu, memusingkan badannya apabila mendengar sapaan itu. Wajah Ivan dan Arisha dipandang silih berganti dan senyuman tipis diukirnya.

"Hi, lovebirds."

Ivan mengeratkan genggaman pada tangan Arisha. Wajahnya cuba dikekalkan setenang yang boleh. "Bila papa sampai dekat sini?"

"This morning. I heard that the whole family was invited, that's why I'm here," jawab Nash Kyree ringkas. Dia memandang pada Arisha yang hanya diam di sebelah Ivan. "And, are you Ivan's wife? My daughter-in-law?"

Arisha angkat kepala. Matanya berkelip seketika apabila akhirnya melihat wajah Nash Kyree secara berhadapan begitu. Kepalanya dianggukkan dan menjawab, "Yes."

Nash Kyree senyum. Matanya bergerak memandang Arisha atas dan bawah. "You look beautiful tonight, sweetheart."

"Don't sweetheart my wife." Ivan menyampuk. Dia menghantar pandangan tajam pada bapanya itu. "What do you want?"

Mata Nash Kyree kembali pada Ivan. Senyuman terukir di bibirnya, membuatkan Arisha tertanya adakah senyuman itu senyuman ikhlas atau tidak.

"Ivan, it's been years since the last time we met. Is it wrong that I want to see you and your wife?"

Ivan ukir senyuman palsu. "Yea, it's been years since I met the rational version of you but it's not that long since the last time I met the crazy version of you." Matanya bergerak memandang Nash Kyree atas hingga bawah. "I hope you are living a better life now since you got the painting back already."

Arisha yang mendengar perkataan painting memandang terus pada suaminya. Lukisan yang disebut oleh Ivan... Adakah lukisan yang sama yang diambil kembali oleh Ivan darinya setahun yang lepas? Jadi maksudnya, lukisan itu.. Arisha memandang Nash Kyree. "You have the painting? The one by.."

"Laila Suraya." Nash Kyree menghabiskan ayat Arisha. Dia memandang Arisha. "You are wrong, sweetheart. I mean, you ditipu dengan perempuan tu. The painting is mine. It is always mine tapi Laila Suraya stole the painting from me. Can you even imagine my own wife destroyed my life?"

Arisha geleng. "No, you are the one who is lying right now." Bibirnya diketap. "Saya kenal Laila Suraya siapa dan saya cam hasil tangan dia. Lukisan itu takkan boleh dihasilkan oleh orang lain selain daripada dia. The painting is hers. You are the one who stole it."

"Oh sweetheart.."

"Stop calling me sweetheart." Arisha menuturkan itu dengan keras. Matanya tajam menikam pada Nash Kyree. "Go on Nash Kyree. Tell everyone that the painting is yours. Tell everyone that the great Nash Kyree is back. But please keep in mind," Arisha melepaskan tangan Ivan dan melangkah merapati Nash Kyree. "The day you tell everyone those things, that is the day the great Nash Kyree is dead."

Senyuman Nash Kyree mati. "What do you mean?"

"What do I mean?" Arisha jongket kening sebelah. "Isn't it obvious? I literally live with Laila Suraya for the rest of her life after leaving you. She gave me the painting and do you really think I'll give what she gave me to you?"

Ivan yang mendengar berkerut dahi. What..

"What do you mean?" Suara Nash Kyree jelas berubah panik bila mendengar kata-kata Arisha itu.

"Nash Kyree, the painting that you have with so much pride right now is fake."

"No.." Nash Kyree menggelengkan kepalanya. "You're lying. That couldn't be fake!"

"Oh, I'm sorry but it is." Arisha senyum sinis.

Nash Kyree mengetap rahangnya. Tangannya spontan naik untuk menampar gadis di hadapannya itu. "You!"

"Don't you dare to touch my wife." Tidak sempat pun Nash Kyree hendak menampar Arisha, pergelangan tangannya digenggam erat oleh Ivan. Mata Ivan mencerlung menikam wajah Nash Kyree. Dalam sekelip mata, dia mengambil tempat di antara Arisha dan Nash Kyree, melindungi Arisha daripada Nash Kyree.

Arisha pandang sisi wajah Ivan.

"It's over, dad." Ivan melepaskan pergelangan tangan Nash Kyree apabila lelaki itu meringis kesakitan. "I would never ask you to be my papa again. I would never ask for you to back to your old self." Ivan mengetap rahangnya. "You know what? I once hated mama because she left us. Sebab bila dia pergi dari hidup kita, you are not being yourself. Those paintings and those fame blinded you. Dan bila mama pergi, you lose your biggest source of fame and you just lose your mind after that. Nevan and I became the victim, dad. But you never realized it right?"

Nash Kyree memandang Ivan tajam.

"I'm glad mama left you. Marrying you was her biggest mistake but leaving you? It was her best decision." Ivan hela nafas. "So now live a good life by yourself. No one.. not even me, not even Nevan want to have you in our life. Exactly what you wanted back then. You want us to leave you alone? Fine. We are leaving you alone now."

Riak wajah Nash Kyree jelas berubah tika itu. Matanya yang tadinya garang berubah menjadi seperti tidak tentu arah.

Ivan meraih tangan Arisha tanpa memutuskan pandangannya pada Nash Kyree. "Live a good life," Ivan jeda seketika. Bibirnya diketap. "Papa."

Usai menuturkan itu, Ivan terus menarik tangan Arisha untuk beredar dari situ. Mereka melangkah ke arah hallway yang kosong tanpa sesiapa.

"Ivan." Arisha menarik tangan Ivan, menghentikan langkah mereka. Dia memandang Ivan yang hanya diam. Nafasnya dihelakan sebelum dia merapati suaminya itu dan dengan perlahan, tangannya didepakan. "Ivan, come here."

Ivan memandang Arisha yang senyum kecil. Tanpa kata, dia terus memeluk badan isterinya itu. Kepalanya disembamkan di bahu Arisha dan matanya dipejamkan.

Arisha mengeratkan pelukannya pada badan Ivan. Tangannya menepuk perlahan belakang badan Ivan, juga diusapnya. "You're okay. I'm here. I'm here with you," bisik Arisha lembut.

Ivan hanya diam. Makin dieratkan rangkulan pada Arisha. Sungguh, saat ini dia hanya memerlukan ini. Pelukan hangat dan selesa isterinya yang sentiasa menenangkan dirinya tidak kira sehebat mana pun masalah yang dia hadapi. Because she is his home. His comfort. His person. The love of his life.

Detaching yourself from someone that once you look up to is not easy. But even so, leaving the person who gave you every reason to suffer mentally and physically is the only way to achieve your own peace and happiness.

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When they are each other's comfort person 🥺