HOUSEMATE

Part 24. DANIEL

~Dan~

Saya kasi tau PA saya mau keluar pigi meeting. Tau-tau jumpa bapa mentua. Ceh belum sah bah.

Mr. Malcom sedia tunggu saya di pejabat dia. Ndak dia mau pigi tempat lain.

Bila saya sampai situ company dia, semua orang terkejut tengok saya. Apa tidak, first time saya menjejakkan kaki saya pigi sini. Kecoh dorang tengok saya masuk pejabat Mr. Malcom. Sengaja kali ni orang tua mau kasi tayang-tayang bakal anak menantu dia kan.

Punya main happy dia tengok saya, dia salam tangan dulu baru bawa saya duduk, siap tanya apa mau minum. Dia senyum-senyum tengok saya.

"Thank you for coming Daniel, I appreciate it"

"Not a problem at all Mr. Malcom"

Dia tepuk bahu saya.

"I assume you know what exactly I want to discuss with you"

"Yeah, lets get to the point, I wonder why its me, you know, I heard your daughter is young and still studying?"

Dia ketawa, macam offended juga saya tengok.

"Well she is 19 years old, but I want her to get married soon. I want someone who can 'handle' her better than anyone else, I think you are the person I can trust to take care of her. I don't want my daughter marry a stranger"

"Oh..." ndak ka pernah dia dengar tu gosip pasal saya tu? Mau juga saya?

"I don't really trust the rumours about you, I have better impression on you. Are you seeing someone right now?"

"No."

"Daniel, before you turn down my proposal, can you at least get to know my daughter first and then tell me your opinion later."

Macam dia tau-tau pula saya punya keputusan ni.

"She is a lovely person and I know you will like her, I'm not forcing you to be with her but I want you to meet her in person. I know you saw her before once but lets make a deal"

"And what is your plan Mr. Malcom?"

"I told her I will prepare a job for her here, but for a better experience I want you to hire her"

"I like the idea"

Saya pun tidak sangka dapat deal begini tapi tengok la macamana nanti. Lepas kami buat persetujuan, saya keluar dari office Mr. Malcom. Macam tadi, semua orang tengok saya, bisik-bisik sesuatu. Kalau perkerja saya tu, sudah saya tengking tiada kerja lain selain mengumpat saja. Saya kira mau balik rumah tapi Dave bawa saya melawat kuburan.

Saya beli bunga rose putih. Kami dua berdiri ja situ tengok batu nisan Lily.

"Its time for you to let her go Dan, you have to. Don't let it consume you forever, I know she will be happy even if you open up to someone else"

"I love her forever Dave"

"I know"

Macam tiada orang lain boleh ganti dia dalam hati saya, walaupun lama sudah dia tiada saya tetap setia sama dia. Lepas bebarapa minit situ kami balik rumah masing-masing. Saya berfikir panjang pasal tawaran baru Mr. Malcom. Anak dia satu rumah sama saya, saya tau sikit-sikit perangai dia. Bukan saya anggap Lily masih muda ka apa tapi hati saya belum terbuka untuk orang lain.

Bila saya sampai rumah, Lily situ ruang tamu, dia macam sakit saya tengok. Sekali tanya, betul-betul dia sakit. Terus saya risau. Abis baru jumpa bapa dia tadi, nanti susah pula kalau saya kasi biar tu anak dia.

Anak kesayangan Mr. Malcom mana buli kasi biar-biar.

Nasip ada saya untuk jaga dia.