Balkis vs Danial

Bab 15 ❀

"Sister, you look pretty today."

Balqis tersengih. Kepala kanak-kanak lelaki itu diusapnya. "Good one, Moses. But still only two cookies for you."

Wajah Moses jatuh. "Sister... I help you bake tomorrow?"

Balqis menjungkit kening. "You sure? You won't be able to play at the field then."

Moses mengangguk laju. "Yes."

"Alright, run along now. Or else you'd miss your lunch!"

Kanak-kanak itu tersengih, kemudian turut berlari ke dewan makan bersama-sama rakan-rakan yang lain.

"Lady, can I help you bake too?"

Balqis memusingkan badan, kemudian ketawa kepada empunya suara. "Tiko, you want more cookies too?"

Tiko, pemandu klinik itu turut tersenyum. "Of course. My wife asks for recipe, but I forgot to take it from you. She invited you and Jasmin for tea tomorrow."

Sengih. "Aww, Victoria invites us for tea every week, Tiko. I feel so bad. I promise, once we're settled in the new quarters, I'll cook up a feast."

"Lady, if I weren't already married, I would ask your hand for marriage," ujar Tiko. "Or maybe my son would."

"Tiko, I told you I'm married," balas Balqis, tersenyum. "You are very sweet, Tiko."

"A good husband wouldn't let his wife go away for such a long time."

Balqis menjungkit kening. "Oh, now you're saying you don't like my company?"

Tiko ketawa. "Balqis, no, no. Child, you always confuse my words."

Balqis turut tersengih. "He's a good guy, Tiko. I wish you could meet him someday. He knows I love doing my job," tutur Balqis perlahan. Angin bertiup sepoi-sepoi bahasa ke wajahnya. "You will like him, Tiko."

Tiko memerhati wajah wanita Asia di hadapannya. Semenjak kedatangan wanita itu dan rakannya, kampung itu lebih ceria. Jasmin dan Balqis, masing-masing ringan mulut untuk bersembang dengan warga kampung. Walaupun dengan bahasa Portugis yang merangkak-rangkak. Kehadiran mereka bukan sekadar medical officer di kampung itu, malah sebagai guru bahasa Inggeris di sekolah rendah berhampiran.

Kadangkala Tiko hairan. Setelah suku abad bekerja sebagai pemandu di klinik itu, itulah kali pertama wanita Asia berjaya menjejakkan kaki ke bumi Jisu. Selalunya sukarelawan-sukarelawan yang sampai hanya berketurunan Eropah atau Amerika. Balqis dan Jasmin berbeza sekali. Walaupun panas membahang, pakaian tetap sopan. Walaupun bahasa Portugis tunggang-langgang, masih cuba berbicara dengan yang lain. Walaupun kanak-kanak lain kotor, mereka dipeluk dan dibelai seperti adik-adik sendiri.

Tutur kata dijaga, adab sopan dibela. Agaknya inilah kelembutan wanita Asia yang disebut-sebutkan.

"Your husband must be a very good man. You love him very much, yes?"

Balqis tersenyum. Hatinya tersentuh apabila ditanya begitu. "Yes, I do."

❥ ❥ ❥

"Jadud, stop pulling the feathers off. I'm going to make you buy me a new featherduster if you keep doing it," Balqis memberi amaran. Bulu-bula ayam yang berserakan di atas meja dikutip.

Jadud, pembantu perubatan berbangsa Negro dari Brooklyn tersengih. "I'm bored, Qis. Kill me, babe."

Balqis tersengih. "I'd be glad to plant this scalpel into your thorax."