K&K (Taste Features)
25. The Taken Heart
Somehow the feeling of a few months when he met Haikal and was held by his hands, came back rolling. They were silent all the way in the car.
Kirana did not dare to start a conversation or just a small talk especially in the condition that she was mute. However, Kirana felt that there was something else in the man beside her. He felt the cold atmosphere not because of the heavy air by the rain, precisely Haikal's attitude which was suddenly cold.
When saved by her, there was a sense of comfort and safety in Kirana. Now there is a distance far enough and invisible. Haikal has arrived at the restaurant's parking lot. He grabbed a folding umbrella behind his chair.
“It's wear only,” he said briefly give the umbrella.
Kirana accepted and did not forget to thank me. He got out of the car and went to the side door of the restaurant.
Kirana's hair is now all along her elbow. He tied the ponytail so as not to be too messy and sultry. He was preparing to work the night at the restaurant. As the day progressed, his appearance seemed to improve.
He is no longer a manual worker who has to lift things, clean kitchen utensils, receive every order. Having gotten used to the menial work, Kirana kept cleaning the restaurant and preparing the fresh ingredients that the chef would use in the morning.
He is not used to being unemployed when there are still things to do. For this reason, the manager gave him a bonus for his work in the morning. In addition, a decent income can be saved and buy some of his personal needs, he can take care of himself better.
No need to pay for housing and food. Ms. Anna allowed her employees to bring home the ingredients that would be rotten, would expire or jamuran even if the day's menu was still left in the kitchen.
Instead of restaurants have to pile a lot of garbage on something that can still be consumed.
Every morning, fresh and new supplies always arrive. The restaurant will also not recycle yesterday's food to be served to its future guests.
****
“Kirana is good and beautiful, yes?” Neny began the conversation as Haikal was reading a book in the living room. “Niko is also very dear to him. It's just a pity she's mute.”
Haikal still did not mengubris chat brother. “You..good-nature with him yes.”
Haikal frowned and averted his eyes. His sister always had hidden intentions for him.
“What does sister mean?”
“Oh no, Just all this time will you always be cold and indifferent with girls, diakan piano teacher Niko so sister hope you can be friendly and warm so that she is not awkward here.” Neny's a little flabbergasted.
“So, my whereabouts here make him uncomfortable? yes, tomorrow I move to the apartment again.” Haikal returned to his reading.
“Ah don't. Mama could be angry. I mean, while he's been a piano teacher here, you're being friendly with him.”
“What is his business with me?” ketus Haikal got up and left Neny.
“Haikal..” Neny half yelled annoyed.
Haikal entered his study next to the room.
The room once belonged to his late father who was both architects. When he died, Haikal inherited the room to be a private place to work and work, in addition to his room.
There is a headless statue wearing a European style blended kebaya on the left side of the back corner of the work chair. He folded his hands and stared at her for a long time. Haikal approached and stroked the sleeves on the dress.
Dusty.
Of course, the statue was on display for a long time there, and he had not seen it for a long time. Her study room was the same fate as the wedding dress. Dust builds.
Haikal opened the window wide. The room had been locked after his departure to Australia. No one dared to even come in and clean it up.
Haikal didn't want anyone to touch anything in his study. He folded the ends of his arms and began to clean the old unused room.
***
Haikal walked in a dark room, there was one light that was highlighted on an object. A beautiful woman was sitting playing the piano. Haikal squinted. It was like recognizing this woman. Haikal walked over with a very happy feeling.
Getting closer, until the distance was one step away, the woman who played the piano looked up.
Haikal was shocked. The face he saw was not the figure of the fiancee. A familiar figure but why should the woman. Which he never thought of. Which has nothing to do with him and Kezia. That person is Kirana. He smiled warmly and very charming. Two dimples on the right-left seem to indicate that there is still peace in life.
Peace from loved ones and happiness that awaits. A smile capable of bewitching the eyes of anyone who looks at him.
Instead of returning that smile, Haikal took a step back. He was a little scared and in shock. The magic effect of the smile of the mute girl he did not recognize familiarly made him dazed.
“ Hhh Haikal.
He saw a wall clock showing at 12:00 p.m. Haikal rubs sweat. He went out of the room to the kitchen to fetch water and gulped it greedily. However, the water did not have any effect on his throat. It's like it just flows. It looks frustrating. Haikal grabbed the car keys and immediately exited to the club.
“Haii bro.. long time no news. Where are you going?” his friend patted Haikal on the shoulder sitting at a Bar table with half a glass of liquor.
Haikal just smiled. He was lazy to talk to anyone. “Gue go first yes,” said the man, feeling his presence is undesirable.
Haikal had finished off a glass of liquor. Since Kezia's departure and especially when he lived in Australia, alcohol has been a solace to him.
His family did not like all kinds of alcohol. Although they lived in Paris for a long time, they tried to avoid wine. Although occasionally he gripped with regret. His late father was a very religious man. The restaurant established by his mother did provide alcoholic beverages such as wine because it did adjust the character as a French restaurant.
Seen from puddles on some roadsides. Cold piercing. Not yet dawn, but the sound of tartil reading holy verses sound incense from the mosques. He staggered to the front of the restaurant that was still closed.
The glass door went straight through from inside the central room of the restaurant where there was a black piano. Haikal pointed and muttered indistinctly.
That morning Kirana would throw out the kitchen garbage, which she always did before dawn. He saw a strange person in front of the restaurant. With a slight tremble, Kirana brought a wooden block to hit the person who might just be a thief. For weeks being the custodian of the restaurant he always feared was the presence of bad people.
As he was about to approach the figure in front of the restaurant in dim light, suddenly the strange person collapsed.
Kirana stopped stepping.
The wooden beam he held high was still not separated from the right hand, but now in a lowered condition. Kirana approached the man slowly who seemed to have fainted.
He used a block of wood to turn the stranger's body.His two eyes were wide in shock. He realized that the man was Haikal.
Kirana hurriedly threw away the wooden block and tried to wake Haikal up by shaking his body. He realized that Haikal was drunk. Smelled from a strong smell. It was still dark and the sun had not yet appeared, the streets were deserted. Kirana was confused as to what to do.
He couldn't have let his boss' son lie in front of the restaurant. Because it would be embarrassing for Anna's family as a restaurant owner if many of her employees knew tomorrow. He carried Haikal back with great difficulty. In a forced state, Haikal was put to sleep on a foam mattress in the warehouse that had become his room.
“Gr...To...z...” Haikal muttered indistinctly.
Kirana wiped her sweaty face. He stared at the drunk man for a long time. Out of nowhere the wind came, his body suddenly trembled coldly.
His heart is beating strangely.
Kirana stood up unwilling to dissolve staring at Haikal's figure. What Kirana now knew for sure was that her heart was so strange every time she saw Haikal.
***
Haikal felt dizzy and his head was heavy. He sat and looked around. A small room that is more suitable as a warehouse has become a simple room or indeed the room is actually a warehouse. Think Haikal.
Time shows at 11:00 p.m. He did not remember any incident that finally brought him to the room.
Haikal walked towards the mirror. He saw his disheveled face. There's a picture on the mirror. It was Kirana's last summer vacation photo with the Maroon family and Smith's doctor as her photographer.
Haikal frowned, looking again at Kirana's familiar face. He rubbed both eyes, making sure what he saw was not wrong.
“Hah?? It's Niko's tutor. Why am I in her room?” Haikal began to get agitated and confused by the situation that had befallen him.
He immediately exited the room and what was found was a backyard where piles of boxes of fresh vegetables and fruit storage. Many people past-pass around in light blue shirts, black subordinates and white slayers that women wear while men wear white aprons.
RF logo with distinctive design emblazoned on right pocket. Haikal began to realize that he was in the back of his mother's restaurant.
“Akh... there are bad guys!!” shouted one of the servants who picked up a basket of sweets.
Haikal was confused and he tried to calm the woman down, flocking restaurant officials to the back. They are ready to graze.
Kirana barged in among the crowd, she spread her arms asking for attention. Slowly with sign language he explained,
“I know him. He is my friend. Please everyone calm down. She was in my room because she was sick.”
“So you put a man in your room Kirana? You dare to pervert here?” ask the other officers.
They began to suspect. Kirana shook her head and would explain again, but the manager's mom had already come to break up the commotion.
“What is this ? Lho... Haikal. Why is it here?” the manager was half surprised by Haikal's presence and his appearance.
“Mother.. know the man?” ask one of the officers.
“Sstt... the son of the owner of this restaurant. Already all back to work.” The manager dispersed the crowd.
“There can I help you with ? why here and in such a condition?” the manager was astonished. Haikal fell silent, he was embarrassed and confused to explain.
“He was spilled a bowl of mayonnaise and I told him to dry his hair in my room.” Kirana took over to explain.
Haikal did not understand the contents of the notes that Kirana had written. But the manager suspected.
“Kok can?”
“Yes, he wanted to taste the cuisine right from the kitchen. Before I got to the kitchen I spilled the mayonaise and about it,” explained Kirana before the bu manager asked about its more detailed occurrence.
“Oh... Is her hair dry now? do you need my help?” the manager asked.
“A..what ?oh yea. I go home first.” Haikal did not understand what maanger meant. He left the restaurant as soon as possible.
“Eh wait...” bu manager trying to catch up, but Haikal has crossed and entered the car.
