[2017] SECRET LETTER ☑

- Jalan Pulang -

 
[IND]
     Bulu romaku seketika menegak. Pintu yang knopnya berkali-kali kutekan, kutarik, kuputar sedemikian rupa dan tak bergeming itu terbuka, memperdengarkan bunyi kriet panjang. Perasaan getir apa lagi ini? Mataku masih terpaku pada daun pintu itu saat aku menyadari bahwa hari sudah gelap dan lampu belum menyala di mana-mana. Dari sini, aku melihat ruang tamu yang menggelap, hanya menyisakan beberapa berkas cahaya yang menerobos jendela.

     "Eunkwang~hyung?" tanyaku pada hampa yang di luar.

     Tidak ada jawaban. Sialan. Aku gelisah, bingung hendak pergi ke mana dalam keadaan seperti ini. Aku bukan seorang penakut, hanya saja situasi ini agak...

     Benakku berhenti berpikir macam-macam ketika tiba-tiba kulihat seberkas sinar kecil yang memancar dari balik daun pintu. Kulepas genggamanku pada surat yang telah hancur berkeping-keping itu dan membiarkan mereka berserakan di lantai yang dingin. Aku tak peduli, ini sudah berakhir.

     Kulangkahkan kedua kakiku mendekat pada pintu kamar, mencoba mencari saklar yang terletak tak jauh dari sana. Kutemukan itu, tapi beberapa kali kutekan on off, ia, lampu itu, tak mau menyala. Sedang ada perbaikan? Atau mati lampu? Pikirku. Di ruang tamu, kujumpai dua buah lilin menyala, mereka meleleh perlahan seperti penari balet yang anggun dengan sepatu lentur dan gaun pinknya.

     "Eunkwang~hyung, Hyunsik~ie, apa listrik dorm korslet? Atau memang mati lampu?"

     Di luar hujan. Aku baru tahu setelah melihat ribuan titik air berembun yang menempel di jendela, mereka menyatu satu sama lain lalu meluncur ke bawah cepat-cepat seperti bintang jatuh. Jantungku tiba-tiba berdebar kencang saat kulihat jauh di balik jendela di bawah sana ada seseorang berjas hujan biru dongker tengah berusaha membuka paksa kotak surat di depan dorm. Spontan kedua kakiku berlari ke pintu utama dorm, hendak turun ke bawah menghentikan siapapun ia. Di antara cahaya remang-remang, berulang kali aku menabraki sesuatu: dua lilin itu terangnya kecil.

     Aku menemukan pintu utama dorm, membukanya, dan seketika itu juga melenggang menuruni tangga. Menerobos hujan, aku tak berpikir harus membawa payung. Yang membuatku tergesa-gesa adalah ia berdiri di sana dengan sebuah palu di tangannya: berusaha merusak kotak surat (ku). Aku yakin benar ia hendak merusak itu, jika ia seorang tukang pos, harusnya ia membuka kotak itu dengan kunci miliknya.

     "Hei! Apa yang kau lakukan?" tanyaku berteriak. Aku yakin suara hujan menjadi penghalang gelombang suaraku terdengar di telinganya.

     Ia menghentikan aksinya. Kurasa ia mendengar suaraku di antara suara hujan yang berisik. Aku makin mendekat ke arahnya saat ia justru berlari menjauh. Dan aku mengejarnya. Entah mengapa aku ingin mengejar orang itu setelah memastikan kotak suratnya tidak rusak parah. Ia harus dilaporkan ke keamanan setempat karena merusak fasilitas umum.

     Ia berlari tanpa berhenti, dan aku mengejarnya seperti orang gila. Beberapa saat kemudian, kupikir aku telah kehilangan jejaknya. Ada simpang lima di hadapanku, dan aku tak tahu ia berbelok ke mana. Simpang lima? Sepertinya aku mengingat sesuatu: jalanan ini.

     "Changsub~ah, kenapa kau semakin berat?" Sebuah suara berat dan menghangatkan hati merangsek hingga terdengar menggema di telingaku. Suara itu...

     "Aku makin besar seperti Appa."

     Percakapan itu.. aku mematung di bawah hujan. Lampu di jalan-jalan persimpangan berkedip seolah hendak padam. Tidak ada siapapun di sekitarku, jalanan itu lengang dan muram.

     "Ahh, ya, kau cepat sekali besar. Tidak kedinginan?"

     "Tidak, aku hangat. Kan Appa memelukku. Aku mau masuk ke dalam jaket Appa saat tidur nanti."

     "Benarkah? Kalau begitu, mari kita cepat sampai di rumah dan tidur."

     Masih tertegun, percakapan dua insan itu kian menggema di telingaku. Lalu dari arah belakang, seseorang melewatiku: seseorang yang mengenakan Coat panjang cokelat dengan payung merah berjalan santai dan tegas sambil menggendong anak laki-laki.

     "Abeoji?" gumamku. Seketika sesak melanda pernapasanku. Dinginnya hujan dan gelap mendadak tawar. Aku jatuh bersimpuh. Kedua kakiku, mereka tak sanggup menopang keterkejutan itu.

(Bersambung~)
***
[ENG]
My feathers were instantly erect. The door that knop repeatedly I pressed, I pulled, twisted in such a way and did not move it open, the sound of long kriet sound. What other bitter feeling is this? My eyes were still glued to the door when I realized that it was dark and the lights were not burning everywhere. From here, I saw the dark living room, leaving only a few beams of light through the window.

"Eunkwang ~ hyung?" I asked at the outer hollow.

No answer. Shit. I was anxious, confused about where to go in this state. I'm not a coward, it's just that the situation is somewhat ...

My mind stopped thinking when I suddenly saw a small ray of light shining through the door. I took my grip on the broken letter and let them scatter on the cold floor. I do not care, it's over.

I put my two feet close to the door of the room, trying to find a switch located not far from there. I found it, but several times I pressed it on off, he, the lamp, would not turn on. Under construction? Or dead light? I thought. In the living room, I met two candles lit up, they melted gently like a graceful ballet dancer with lithe shoes and pink dresses.

"Eunkwang ~ hyung, Hyunsik ~ ie, what is dorm power shorting? Or is it a light switch?"

Outside the rain. I just found out after seeing thousands of dewy water droplets that stuck to the window, they blended into each other and then slid down like a shooting star. My heart suddenly pounded when I saw far behind the window below there was someone in a blue rain jacket was trying to force open the mailbox in front of the dorm. Spontaneously my two legs ran to the main door of the dorm, about to descend to stop anyone. Amid the dim light, I repeatedly struck something: the two candles were small.

I found the main dorm door, opened it, and immediately strolled down the stairs. Break through the rain, I do not think I should bring an umbrella. What made me hurry was that he stood there with a hammer in his hand: trying to destroy my mailbox. I'm sure he was going to spoil it, if he was a postman, he should have opened the box with his key.

"Hey, what are you doing?" I shouted. I'm sure the sound of rain being a barrier of the waves of my voice was heard in his ears.

He stopped the action. I think he heard my voice among the noisy rain. I drew closer to him as he ran away. And I'm after him. Somehow I wanted to chase after the man after making sure his mailbox was not badly damaged. It must be reported to the local security for damaging public facilities.

He runs without stopping, and I chase after him like a madman. Moments later, I thought I had lost track of him. There was an intersection in front of me, and I did not know where he turned. Simpang lima? Looks like I'm remembering something: this street.

"Changsub ~ ah, why are you getting heavy?" A heavy, heart-warming voice rushed to the sound of my ears. The sound ...

"I'm getting bigger like Appa."

The conversation .. I stood in the rain. The lights on the intersection streaked like they were about to go out. There was no one around me, the street was deserted and somber.

"Ahh, yes, you're so big fast, not cold?"

"No, I'm warm, and Appa is holding me in. I'm going to get into Appa's jacket when I'm asleep."

"Really? Then let's get home and sleep."

Still stunned, the two people's conversation increasingly echoed in my ears. Then from behind, someone passed me: someone in a long brown Coat with a red umbrella walked casually and firmly while holding a boy.

"Abeoji?" I mumble. Suddenly the breath hit my breathing. Cold rain and dark suddenly bargaining. I fell to my knees. My legs, they could not bear the shock.

(Continued ~)