LOGINPaige North got a contract to get married to her high school crush, Cedric Brooks, a contract she willingly agreed to in hopes that the marriage would make Cedric love her. But the marriage didn't turn out the way Paige would have wanted because of misunderstandings on both their parts. Cedric travelled three months after their marriage leaving Paige with no words only to return three years later demanding divorce which Paige rejected. Paige's mother got into an accident that caused her to need urgent surgery. Paige has nowhere to access money from, all her parent's accounts and properties have been frozen, leaving her with only the option of the compensation money that Cedric offered to her in favor of her agreement to divorce him. She takes him up on the offer and agrees to divorce him and get the money, which comes as a shock of disappointment to Cedric who was still in love with her. The agreement doesn't go as planned because now, Cedric is offering Paige another contract.
View MorePukul 02:47 dini hari. Angka merah di jam digital menyala seperti mata iblis dalam kegelapan kamar. Aku terbangun lagi dengan perasaan hampa yang menggerogoti dada.
Di sampingku, Dimas tidur membelakangi tubuhku. Bahunya naik-turun teratur, tenggelam dalam tidur lelap yang tak terganggu. Suara napasnya bercampur dengan dengingan AC, menciptakan simfoni kesunyian yang terlalu familiar.
Aku menggeser tubuh perlahan di atas kasur king size yang terasa terlalu luas untuk dua orang yang tak lagi berbagi kehangatan. Sprei satin krem itu dingin menyentuh kulit, sedingin jarak yang menganga di antara kami.
Mata yang enggan terpejam memandang langit-langit polos. Cat putih sempurna tanpa retakan—seperti kehidupan pernikahan yang kami pamerkan pada dunia. Tapi di balik kesempurnaan itu, ada kehampaan yang menggerogoti dari dalam.
Kapan terakhir kali Dimas menyentuhku dengan lembut? Bukan sentuhan terburu-buru di pagi hari atau sentuhan mekanis saat ia membutuhkan pelepasan. Memori itu terasa jauh, seolah milik orang lain.
Tiga tahun sudah sejak kami menikah. Rasanya seperti tinggal bersama orang asing yang kebetulan berbagi nama keluarga. Dimas Prasetya, suami mapan yang setia pada pekerjaannya, selalu pulang tepat waktu tapi tak pernah benar-benar "pulang" untukku.
Aku bangkit dari tempat tidur, kaki telanjang menyentuh lantai parket sejuk. Cermin besar memantulkan bayangan seorang wanita 29 tahun dengan rambut sebahu berantakan, mengenakan piyama sutra dusty pink—hadiah anniversary pertama dari Dimas. Dulu ia bilang warna itu cocok dengan kulitku. Sekarang, bahkan dalam lingerie termahal, matanya tetap tertuju pada laptop atau ponsel.
Langkah membawaku ke jendela yang menghadap taman belakang. Gordyn cream kusingkap, membiarkan cahaya bulan masuk. Pohon mangga yang kami tanam saat baru menikah kini tinggi, daunnya bergoyang tertiup angin.
Aku ingat betapa excited-nya kami merancang rumah ini. Dimas yang pendiam jadi cerewet membahas setiap detail. Kami pernah bertengkar karena perbedaan selera warna cat. Sekarang kusadari, pertengkaran itu lebih hidup dibanding percakapan datar belakangan ini.
"Morning, sayang." "Sudah makan?" "Jangan lupa kunci pintu." "Aku pulang agak malam."
Kalimat-kalimat pendek itu sudah jadi rutinitas. Tidak ada lagi "Aku merindukanmu" atau mata yang berbinar saat bertemu. Yang ada hanya kewajiban suami-istri yang dijalankan dengan autopilot.
Tiba-tiba, musik memecah keheningan. Suara jazz lembut dengan saxophone sensual dari rumah sebelah—rumah yang baru ditempati minggu lalu. Siapa yang masih terjaga jam segini?
Aku mendekatkan wajah ke jendela, mengintip. Lampu rumah sebelah menyala, bayangan seseorang bergerak di balik tirai. Penasaran itu memberikan sensasi yang sudah lama tak kurasakan. Sesuatu yang baru, berbeda dari rutinitas membosankan yang menjerat hidupku.
Dulu, sebelum menikah, aku Raisa yang berbeda. Yang bekerja di bank, punya teman kantor, sering keluar malam, tertawa lepas, merasa hidup. Sekarang hanya Raisa si istri Dimas, hari-hari diisi rutinitas yang sama: bangun, masak, bersih-bersih, menunggu suami pulang, tidur, lalu bangun dengan perasaan hampa yang sama.
Kapan aku mulai kehilangan diriku sendiri?
Musik berganti—lebih slow, lebih intim. Melody itu membuatku teringat malam-malam pertama pernikahan. Saat Dimas masih mencium keningku sebelum tidur, memelukku erat, saat kami bercinta dengan mata terbuka, saling tenggelam dalam hasrat tulus.
Sekarang bercinta pun jadi rutinitas. Sebulan sekali, dengan gerakan terprediksi. Dimas menyentuh dengan terburu-buru, aku merespons seadanya, lalu selesai. Tidak ada foreplay, kata manis, atau pelukan setelahnya. Ia langsung ke kamar mandi, aku terbaring dengan perasaan kosong.
Aku pernah mencoba membicarakan ini. Setelah "sesi rutin" yang mekanis, aku bertanya, "Dimas, apa kita baik-baik saja?"
"Kenapa? Ada masalah apa?"
"Aku merasa kita... berbeda. Jarang bicara, jarang dekat."
"Raisa, kita kan sudah menikah. Wajar kalau tidak seperti dulu lagi."
Kalimat itu seperti tamparan halus. Jadi menikah berarti kehilangan keintiman? Menerima kehambaran sebagai sesuatu "wajar"?
Malam itu aku menangis dalam diam sementara Dimas tertidur nyenyak. Sejak itu, aku tak pernah lagi membicarakan perasaanku. Untuk apa? Ia sudah merasa hidup kami "normal-normal saja."
Tapi aku tidak. Aku merasa mati perlahan-lahan.
Musik dari rumah sebelah berhenti. Kesunyian kembali menyelimuti. Aku masih berdiri di jendela, memandang rumah yang kini gelap. Siapa dia? Pertanyaan-pertanyaan menari di kepala, memberikan distraksi dari keresahan. Sudah lama aku tidak merasakan penasaran seperti ini.
Jam menunjukkan 03:15. Sebentar lagi subuh. Dimas bangun 05:30 untuk jogging—rutinitas yang ia jalani tanpa mengajakku. Setelah itu sarapan dalam diam, lalu berangkat kerja hingga malam. Dan aku? Melanjutkan hari dengan aktivitas sama: bersih-bersih rumah yang sudah bersih, memasak untuk orang yang makan tanpa berkomentar, menonton TV sendirian.
Hidup yang sempurna di mata orang lain. Rumah mewah, suami mapan, tidak ada masalah finansial atau kekerasan. Tapi mengapa rasanya seperti mati?
Aku kembali ke tempat tidur. Dimas masih memunggungi, seolah bahkan dalam tidur tidak membutuhkanku. Aku berbaring hati-hati, tidak ingin membangunkannya.
Di luar, burung-burung mulai berkicau samar. Fajar akan menyingsing, membawa hari baru dengan rutinitas sama, perasaan sama, kekosongan sama.
Tapi malam ini berbeda. Ada musik dari rumah sebelah. Ada seseorang yang juga terjaga. Untuk pertama kali dalam waktu lama, aku merasa penasaran pada sesuatu. Dan entah mengapa, perasaan itu membuatku sedikit lebih hidup.
Ketika tidur datang, aku bermimpi tentang musik jazz lembut, bayangan di balik tirai, dan kemungkinan-kemungkinan yang belum pernah kupikirkan sebelumnya.
◆Paige was tending to the plants she tried growing at the small space behind the house, when she heard Veera screaming from inside the house, Paige quickly rushed inside to see what the ruckus was about, she didn't expect to see the defeated looks on the faces of her friends., “What is going on? Why did you scream so loudly?”Veera's face was flushed, her eyes widened in shock and worry as she turned to Paige, “It's Umi, she was admitted to the hospital,” she blurted out, her voice trembling.Paige’s eyes widened in shock, as she felt a wave of fear and unease wash over her, “Why is she there? Did something happen?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Paige knew this accident was connected to her one way or the other, it was obvious someone was purposely messing with everyone around her. First, it was her mother, now it's Umi. Who knows who it will be next, this was one of the reasons she moved here.There was nothing left for her in Leslie City and she could at least
◆The drive back to Leslie City was antagonising. Cedric could feel the scorching pain of being far from Paige yet again. It didn't help that he had been so close to her but he couldn't even see her or go to her.As he drove, he slowly left the lush mountains and hills behind him as he embraced the cityscape ahead of him. It was nearing night and the city was bustling with people returning from work and rushing home, the chaos was similar to the one brewing in his heart. He couldn't believe the audacity Marlynn had to sort out Paige like that to the extent of sending her packages, that was she basically threatening her life. Cedric’s grip tightened around the steering wheel, her knuckles pale in frustration. To think he has tried to be nice and amiable, even to the extent of preventing Umi from exposing the investigation reports she has gathered. Because he didn't want her to end up in jail, maybe it was all just a misunderstanding, Cedric always told himself. He doesn't th
◆Jarvis and Veera were running late and it worried Cedric. It's been more than an hour since he arrived at the address they sent for him. It was a cafe. The place looked familiar, he was sure he had previously seen pictures of Paige having a snack here.It was in one of the pictures taken of her by his men who had been watching her. Cedric let his gaze scan around the cafe, he couldn't help but picture Paige here, in that picture, she had been smiling at something on her phone. Cedric had almost felt guilty for wishing he had been with her at that moment. He didn't think he deserved to witness Paige’s happiness, but he was selfish and he wanted to be a part of it, not just a witness. Time wasn't really on his side and yet Jarvis and Veera were yet to show up, he hoped everything was alright with Paige. He felt a sense of unease, so he just decided to call Jarvis, he pulled out his phone and dialled Jarvis's number, his patience wearing thin.Jarvis didn't pick up, it caused Cedr
◆It was noisy in the house that morning that it roused Paige from her early morning nap. Paige rubbed the sleep from.her eyes, stumbling out of her room to check what the commotion was about. She followed the sound of hushed whisperings and noisy rattling to the guest room where her friends were trying to sneak out of the house.“What's going on?” “Goodmorning our soon-to -be mother.” Veera exclaimed, “Did we wake you up?” Paige shrugged, “You guys are sneaking out.” It wasn't a question. The two girls exchanged guilty looks and Veera held up her hand in surrender. “Well, you made a big decision yesterday and we just thought we should give you a little surprise gift.” Veera said, her voice laced with amusement. “It's been awhile we gave you a surprise too.” Paige chuckled fondly, “Your presence here is more than any surprise and gift. You girls don't need to bother yourselves.” Paige didn't want to be alone right now. She has already gotten used to the presence of the oth












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