D.I.D: Dinara Inez Dimitri

8

Ben banyak termenung. Sewaktu turun melawat tapak perlombongan pagi itu, dia sering hilang fokus sehingga ditegur rakan juruteranya. Sewaktu makan tengah hari, rakannya itu membangkitkan persoalan itu kerana risau.

"What's bothering you? Never seen you lost focus like that. Something happened?" tanya Taylor sambil memutar garfu mengaut spageti dalam tupperware-nya.

Ben menggeleng perlahan. "I don't feel well. Maybe lacking sleep."

Taylor cuma mengangguk-angguk, tak mahu menekan subjek itu walaupun dia tahu jawapan Ben itu sekadar alasan. Dia mengenali Ben dari zaman belajar. Bukannya lelaki itu tak pernah cuma tidur sejam dua, tapi tak pernah pula sehingga hilang fokus.

"Heard your transfer to Malaysia is approved?" Dia menukar subjek. Ben terus mengukir senyum kecil dan mengangguk. "Lucky bastard," tambah Taylor dalam tawa gurauan.

"My contract's ending. They agreed to let me finish and supervise their project in Malaysia," balas Ben lalu menghirup lagi kopinya. Ini adalah gelas keduanya sejak pagi tadi.

"What you're gonna do after?" Taylor tertanya-tanya. Setahunya, Ben antara drafter kesayangan syarikat tempat mereka bekerja. Setiap perinciannya rapi. Lukisan tangannya kemas. Kira-kiranya tepat. Ben sangat jarang melakukan kesilapan. Mungkin tak pernah.

"Maybe spend time with my mom for a bit," jawab Ben. Suaranya berubah sugul. Sudah berapa tahun dia tidak bertemu dengan ibunya. Sejak melanjutkan pelajaran ke universiti, sehingga sudah bekerja, mereka hanya berhubung di telefon saja.

"You're not going back to Japan?" Taylor masih mahu mengorek. Jarang-jarang Ben mahu bercerita lebih, jadi peluang ini diambilnya sambil menghabiskan masa rehat. Spagetinya sudah selesai ditelan semua.

Ben menggeleng. "I'm thinking of relocating to Malaysia, perhaps for good."

"You still have your citizenship?" tanya Taylor sambil menjungkit kening. Difikirnya, Ben sudah lama menggugurkan kewarganegaraan Malaysia selepas berpindah ke Jepun mengikut bapanya.

"I think I can reclaim. I need to check with the embassy. I'll do that once I reach Malaysia," jawab Ben sambil mengacau sudunya. Selama ini dia keluar masuk Malaysia dengan passport, tapi dia anak kelahiran Malaysia. Cuma hidupnya berpindah-randah kerana latar keluarga dan akhirnya dia menetap di Jepun sebelum melanjutkan pelajaran.

Baru sahaja Taylor mahu meneruskan soalan, telefon bimbit Ben berdering. Dia menjeling dari ekor mata kerana sudah dia tahu siapa yang menghubunginya.

"Mate! I'd been trying to reach you. Where're you at?" tanya Raazi penuh kerisauan. Dari malam tadi dia cuba menelefon, sehinggalah pagi tadi, Ben langsung tidak menjawab.

"It's 2 p.m., I'm at work. Where else should I be?" jawab Ben malas-malas.

"You didn't pick up my calls," marah Raazi.

Ben tertawa sinis. "A year later, here it is. How does it feel when your calls went straight to voicemail and none was returned?"

Raazi tidak tertawa sama. Suaranya malah mendatar. "This is not about us, Ben. Where is Nara? Why can't I reach her?"

Taylor mengangkat sebelah tangan, tanda mengundur diri. Tinggallah Ben berseorangan di pantri pejabat mereka. Raazi mula berang apabila Ben tetap diam. "Where the fuck is she?!"

"How would I know?! I'm working!" betah Ben semula. Hatinya panas. Rasa cemburu naik membuak-buak. "I left her at your place obviously! She's not my responsibility!"

Raazi tercengang dengan ledakan emosi Ben. Dari butir bicaranya, Raazi masak benar dengan perangai angin Ben. Sikap itu juga salah satu punca dia berpisah dengan Ben dulu. Lelaki itu terlalu mudah cemburu dan asyik menghubunginya siang malam sewaktu dia menjelajah.

"Okay, look. I don't wanna fight over this. But did you by any chance tell her about us?" Raazi mula memperlahankan intonasinya. Api tidak boleh dibalas dengan api.

"Why should I? And why didn't you tell her?" balas Ben.

"Because it's not important. What's important is I like her, and I want to make things official with her soon. The past is in the past. She doesn't need to know about our history, and I'd appreciate it if you could keep it from her," balas Raazi.

Ben menarik nafas dalam-dalam. Cemburu bodohnya datang lagi. "Whatever. None of my business."

"I don't know why my calls couldn't get through. All my texts aren't delivered either. Can you make sure she is connected to the Wi-fi later when you reach home? She probably doesn't have Internet connection. That's my last assumption if she's not avoiding me on purpose," pinta Raazi panjang lebar.

"Sure," balas Ben pendek.

"Ben," panggil Raazi.

"What?" sahut Ben, sudah tiada mood untuk berbual lagi.

"Thanks for looking out for her while I'm not around. I know how weird this could be, and I appreciate you doing this for me. I'll be home as soon as the tour ends. Please tell her that," tambah Raazi.

"Sure," balas Ben, tetap sepatah. "I need to get back to work."

"Wait! One more thing!" Raazi menjerit. Ben hanya diam, menunggu Raazi menambah lagi pesanan walaupun hatinya sudah bengkak dek cemburu. Nasib baik berjaya dikawalnya. "Please don't sleep with her."

"What the actual fuck?!" marah Ben.

"She's cute and vulnerable, and the thought of you both sharing the room at the attic... I just don't feel good about it. Did you let her have the room upstairs and you sleep downstairs like I asked?" tegas Raazi. Dia tahu, di sebalik persona kasar Ben, hati lelakinya lembut. Dia juga tahu tahu sedikit sebanyak sejarah hidup Inara, jadi perasaannya gusar.

"Can we keep this just between us? I wouldn't want Raazi to know..."

"Did you or did you not?" tanya Raazi sekali lagi apabila Ben masih diam.

"Nothing happened," jawab Ben. Dia tahu dia bersetuju dengan Inara untuk menyimpan rahsia itu antara mereka, tapi bagaimana sanggup dia melepaskan peluang sebegini?

"What is that supposed to mean? Fuck it, Ben! Did you sleep with her already?!" marah Raazi. Kini angin cemburunya pula yang menjadi-jadi.

"Why are you so mad? You slept with your singer and you said nothing happened. I believed you. It's your turn to believe me," balas Ben sebelum meletakkan panggilan. Senyum puas hati terukir di bibirnya.

Tidak, dia tidak berniat untuk membalas dendam. Cuma... apa salahnya dia memulangkan semula paku buah keras?

***

A/N: writing in 3rd pov I swear is challenging af🫠