WANG FAMILY

CHAPTER 9

Hari sudah larut malam. Haniff memandang jam di dinding. Kenapa lambat sangat Ryder ni?

Ting

'Young master, madam didn't show up.'

Haniff genggam telefon pintarnya. Rahang diketap rapat.

"Yu Ze, what are you waiting for? We already knew that you and Christine are together. She's pretty, gorgeous, kind and Yu Ze is handsome, attractive, bussinessman. You guys suits together" puji Wang Fen Qi sebagai kakak sulong di dalam keluarga Wang.

"Yu Ze, don't be shy. We are all families. Never know that you are going to carry on our generations" kata Wang Fen Lan, anak ketiga di dalam keluarga Wang.

Haniff diam tak berkutik. Christine sudah kembang kerana dipuji semua orang.

"Yu Ze, say something. Everybody's waiting for you. Where's your enggangment ring?" soal Christine tiba-tiba kerana Haniff diam sepanjang makan malam itu berlangsung.

Haniff masih kekal diam. Semua orang memandang sesama sendiri. Christine berdiri lalu mendekati Haniff. Tangan Haniff yang ingin dia capai ditepis.

"Can I ask you something?" soal Haniff tiba-tiba. Dia dongak memandang Christine.

"Do you know shahadah?" soal Haniff selamba. Semua orang terkejut termasuk Christine. Dia pandang ibunya seketika.

"Let's be honest, do you even know what is islam? Do you accept my religion? Are you willing to convert into islam?" soal Haniff bertubi-tubi.

"I told you, I can learn after we get married" balas Christine.

"After?" Haniff senyum sinis.

"No, you have to convert before our marriage and accept islam with your whole heart" jelas Haniff. Terkerdip-kerdip mata Christine.

"Religion is a choice, Yu Ze. You can't force me like that" kata Christine kegeraman.

"Then, you can't force me to marry you. My religion is my choice. If I had to be single forever because you can't accept my religion then I'll be." Christine terkaku. Dia tertunduk malu.

Semua tetamu mula berbisik. Wang Fen Qi sudah tidak tahan sabar.

"Will you stop drinking? Will you stop wearing this kind of dresses? Will you stop clubbing? Will you? Christine?" soal Haniff bertubi-tubi lagi. Christine bagai disambar petir yang kencang. Pandangannya gelap. Mindanya kosong.

Haniff tiba-tiba mendapat panggilan. Dia menjawab tanpa ragu. Setelah dimatikan panggilan itu, dia bingkas bangun menuju pintu depan.

"Yu Ze, where do you think you're going?" soal Christine.

"Our marriage date have to be annouce by tonight. Don't you dare leave me again" kata Christine dengan nada tertahan.

Haniff pernah tinggalkan dia dulu kerana perbincangan penyatuan mereka dua tahun lepas. Dia takkan biarkan perkara itu berulang lagi.

Haniff hanya senyum sinis sebelum berjalan ke arah pintu.

Pintu itu dibuka Haniff. Terpampang wajah Nabila dimuka pintu. Mereka bertatapan mata. Nabila dengan mata helangnya dan Haniff dengan pandangan sayunya.

Haniff lega dengan kehadiran Nabila disini.

"Come in, sayang" kata Haniff sambil tersenyum manis kepada Nabila.

Christine terkejut berat sama dengan tetamu yang lain. Mereka mungkin tidak fasih berbahasa melayu tapi mereka faham sangat dengan erti perkataan "sayang" yang dimaksudkan Haniff.