CiNtA Untuk Ezzaty

Tujuh

Selepas 7minit berlalu dan tiada respond dari Zati,Hannah kembali ke bilik, memerapkan diri semula.

Fikiran Zati dah melayang kemana tak tau. Tv tidak dipedulikannya.

"Hey,Zati? Hey? Budak ini. Apa berangan ni? Orang masuk rumah pun boleh tak perasan."

Mak senah meletakkan bag dan tudung sarung diatas meja.

"Tak dengar pun Mak bagi salam."

"Kau nak mak jerit ke..mak bagi salam macam biasalah. Dengan suara lembut ala Siti Nurhaliza."
Pandai Mak Senah bergurau. Padu.

"Amboi,Siti. Demand eh mak. "

"Kain kau dah jemur ke? Dah kemas dapur?" Terus ditanya kerja yang disuruh sebelum keluar mengaji tadi.

"Alamak. Kain lupa jemur la mak. I go now!" Pantas Zati berlari sampai hampir terlanggar kepala  lutut mak dia.

"Budak ini laa..kelam kabut."

Zati menyumbat baju yang dah hampir kering tu ke dalam bakul. Berat jugaklah.

"Let me help." Tetiba tangan manly Hannah mengangkat bakul effortlessly. Kagum kejap Zati. Haip! Zati! Back to your senses.

"Alahai,acah2 sweet plak dia ni.Put it there please. Thanks." Zati menunjukkan ke arah yang dia selalu letak semasa menjemur baju.

Lambat2 Zati mengibas kain pelikat sebelum meletakkannya di ampaian. Hannah tukang hulur,tapi Zati tetap ambik sendiri sebab jemur kain bukan takat ikut dan je. Kena kemas jugak.

"Let me take that. Its ok." Zati meletakkan baju Ezwan dan digantikan dengan kain batik.

"You hate me already?"

"Hate you? Why would I hate someone that I barely know? "

"I don't know. The same reason everybody talks  about people they barely know?"

"Im not like that. I don't talk about people."

"So why  don't you talk to me when I told you Im gay?"

"Shhh..are you serious,talking this loud? My Mom is right inside."

"So? Why?"

"I was shocked. I never have a gay friend before. I read about it though." Bisik Zati.

"It's not like Im an alien."

"I never said that. I don't care about your love life,as long as you are not harming anyone."

"Im not sure breaking one's heart is your definition of harming."

"Haha. Trying to be funny are you? How many 'heart' did you break anyways?"

"Urm..Maybe 12 or 15.Who's counting?"

"What?!! 15?? And you are like 17years. Bapak ramai ex dia. Muka Hensem kot. Haih lah." Membulat mata Zati. Datang dari mana orang2 semua ni?

"And that girlfriend of yours,will be number 16?"

"She didn't call or text me since last week. So she broke me,I guess." Ujar Hannah sedikit kecewa. Zati menghela nafas lega. Lega kenapa eh?

"That's not why Im talking to you  right now.When I got here, I feel like Im a stranger.  But you make me feel..accepted,you know. Nobody taking care of me like you do."

"Im just..being me." Walaupun Pakcik Ruslan,iaitu ayah si Hannah ni ada bagi duit poket sebab jaga Hannah, Zati memamg akan layan sesiapa pun dengan ikhlas. Ye dak ni. Haha.

"I know he pays you a lot. I knew my Dad very well. Once again,that's not the point. I will not tell you if Im not feel comfortable. I open up to you. That was a huge step."

"Well I hope you are not  walking around telling people you're gay. Especially to my parents. My abah is a funny guy. But I don't think he can take this lightly. Just keep it low,ok. Mampuih kalau abah tau ni. Mau dihalaunya budak ni."

"Okay..I still get pancakes,right?"

Zati tertawa sikit diikuti Hannah.

"I will think about it. You have to help us cook for lunch,boleh?"

"Cook? Huh..I will try."

Mereka masuk ke dalam setelah menjemur kain nan sebakul.

~~~

"Careful Hannah. Tengok tu mak. Potong bawang pun ketar. Sure tak pernah masak ni." Zati menasihati Hannah yang sedang memotong bawang.

"Depa kurang makan bawang kot."
Mak senah menjawab sambil senyum suka bila anak dara berdua ni bekerjasama kat dapur.

"What is the name again?" Sampul Hannah tetiba. Panas kot. Haha.

"We are going to cook asam pedas salmon. Salmon cooked  in sour and spicy soup. Or you can call it tamarind spicy salmon. This is a frozen salmon,so keep your comment to yourself. And vege of course. Never leave your vege."

Awal2 Zati dah sound. Yelah,nak masak ikan sungai kang dia tak makan. Ada ikan salmon frozen dengan ikan kembung. Dah sah2 omputih lagi gemar salmon. Next time masak gulai tempoyak ikan patin plak. Kasi jadi melayu skit. Haha.

"I understand. I think my mom cook this dish once or twice. But not with salmon. Can't remember."

"What do like to eat?" Soal Zati memang ingin tahu,dan taknak Hannah membuka cerita pasal arwah mak dia.

"Fish and chips,sandwich,burgers,lamb steak,pizza,seafood,meat pie my favourite, and everything good. I eat steamed rice don't get me wrong,but I prefer a pan of fried rice. Works every time." Hannah buat muka seakan kantoi,macam terlepas cakap.

Mak Senah mendengar je perbualan dua dara ni sambil menyediakan bahan masakan.

"All this while,you can eat fried rice?? Why didn't you tell me??" Peha Hannah dicubit dua tiga kali.

"Auch! Auch! Sorry. You didn't ask." Hannah cuba menepis tangan Zati dari mencubit lagi.

"Eh,Zati. Dah kenapa korang berdua ni. Main cubit2 pulak. Sakit lah dia." Mak Senah risau.

"Dia ni mak! Selama ni dia boleh je makan nasik goreng. Sengaja nak sakitkan hati Zati." Zati mengecilkan matanya ke arah Hannah.

Hannah buat muka tak bersalah.

"Dah la. Kamu yang tak tanya. Sudah2. Pegi belakang ambikkan daun kesum dengan kantan."

Zati bangun,mencapai pisau kecik dan terus ke belakang. Hannah mengekor.

"Ergh,selama ni boleh makan nasik rupanya. Dasar ank omputih celup!  Gigih aku google and cari kat Pinterest resepi pancake gebu tuk dia. Sampai tak tidur tau? Ah,geramnyaaa!"

Hannah berdiri memerhati Zati memotong bunga  kantan.

"What else are you not telling me? " Zati acah2 menunjukkan pisau cenonet tu depan Hannah.

"Relax. Put that down first." Hannah tersengih dah.

Zati menunggu je.

"Saya boleh faham bahasa melayu. " Terus Hannah membuka langkah dan meluru masuk ke dapur. Zati terkejut. Mengingat kembali apa yang dia pernah kata dan mengata depan Hannah selama ni.

"What?? Aaaaaaaarghhhh!!!! Hannahhhhh??"