My Abang Ngah or Kasyaff, works for Tan Sri dan satu-satunya anak yang mengikuti jejak ayahnya sebagai seorang arkitek. I am very closed to Abang Ngah compared to other brothers. He is a workaholic and Tan Sri trusted Abang Ngah in all decision makings when it comes to design approval. He is very protective of me ever since I was in primary school. We always wanted to go to the same school. Abang Ngah did not go to boarding like his other brothers because he didn't want to leave me alone at home. No boy can get through me without bypassing him. We went to the same University and he was already in his Junior year when I arrived as Freshman. Abang Ngah is tall and has the good looks compared to his other brothers. He once had a very special female friend but they broke off because me.....Our closeness can be wrongly interpreted. He was heartbroken but once said to me, "I can find another girl but I cannot find another sister like you...". These days if he is not working, he'll be at the gym or at my place. He loves to cook for me and I love the attention from Abang Ngah.
I am surprised that Imran hasn't call. Why is it taking him so long to call me? Has he forgotten me? Biarlah, mungkin dia cuba mempermainkan perasaan aku hari itu. Whatever it is I have to get on with my life.
Mommy busy with Daddy's guest list. Dari 50 jemputan sekarang dah bertambah ke 80 orang. One afternoon during my lunch time I called mommy.
Me : Assalamualaikum Mommy, ni Q....".
Mommy : Waalaikumsalam sayang.....".
Me : "I heard from Abang Ngah that the guest list makin lama bertambah. Please mommy you can't do that and you need to finalized the list. I have to confirm the exact number of people coming to the kenduri."
Mommy : Sorry sayang.....daddy tu....he added a few of his old friend, board of director and clients to the guest list. It's okay.....just cater extra food. Nanti ada extra kita agih-agihkanlah selepas kenduri tu."
Me : Okay if you say so.....I will confirm with the caterer this afternoon and you will need to make 50% online payment. The balance must be settled on the day of the kenduri."
Mommy : "Q sayang......, boleh you buat your rendang ayam tak? You know we love your rendang especially daddy and Abang Ngah.....He is so proud when he talks about your rendang to Tok Wan. He said it reminded him very much of Tok Wan's rendang"
Me : "Mom......I don't know if I have the time to cook.....but I will try. Berapa ekor ayam?"
Mommy : "2 ekor please.....? Nanti mommy bawak Q pergi shoppinglah, kita pun dah lama tak keluar sama-sama...."
Me : Mommy ni ada-ada saja......pandai bodek Q.....2 ekor saja tau......".
Mommy : "Love you so much sayang. Thank you."
Me : Sure mommy no problem....well, my lunch time dah nak habis ni....., I'll talk to you soon...take care mommy...."
Mommy : "Bye sayang....".
No long after the conversation with mommy I called Pak Abu to confirm the number of guest for the kenduri this coming Thursday night. The event will take place in door while food will be served out door by the pool. Let's just hope it doesn't rain that night. Pak Abu also assured he will decorate the pool area with exclusive table settings and extra lighting. Lega rasanya that part has been taken care off. Now I need to go to D'pulze to do groceries for my chicken rendang.
Soon as I reached home Abang Ngah was already sitting in front of the TV. "Assalamualaikum Abang, dah lama sampai? Q pergi Dpulze beli groceries sikit. Mommy suruh Q buat rendang ayam untuk kenduri Khamis ni....".
"Wow rendang ayam! Love it. Berapa ekor ayam?", he asked.
"Dua saja just for us family members...", I replied while organizing myself in the kitchen. I have to start cleaning and cutting the ingredients for the rendang. Then tomorrow evening I can start cooking.
He came over to the kitchen and sat at the island kitchen counter. "Need any help?"
"Nope. Semua bisa di atur...", I joked and smiled at him. "You wanna do something tonight? Movie and dinner?"I asked and looked at him.
"Let's order pizza and eat in. Malas nak keluar. I wanna spent a night here. Boleh?", he replied.
"Sure no problem. You can have the guess room. Abang, is everything alright? You look restless...", I asked him. He was silent. I stopped what I was doing and washed my hands. "Abang...?"
"Yeah.....", jawab Abang Ngah sambil menaikkan kening.
"What's wrong? You wanna talk about it? Is it work?", I pleaded. I can see from his facial expression something is not right.
"Tak ada apa-apa. I'm thinking of taking time off from work...do a little bit of traveling. You wanna come with me?", he confided in me.
Aku agak pelik dengan sikap Abang Ngah. Selalunya dia tak hirau nak pergi bercuti tetapi kali ini lain pulak.
"Don't you have any male friends that you can travel with....? I just can't take off and leave my work like you....who's going to take your place when you're gone?", I asked.
"Q, I missed the old times when we lay on the beach, count the stars and talk about our future....ingat tak? Q promised kalau kita tak kahwin by the time I am 30 years old we will marry each other....do you remember the pack we made....?", he recall back memories from 10 years ago.
"Abang....., are you serious? Betul ke abang nak kahwin dengan Q...?", I was taken a back by his confession. "Tapi abang kita kan adik beradik...."
"Bukan adik beradik kandung. Perkahwinan kita sah di sisi agama....Q, sayang abangkan?", he wants reassurance. He stood up and came over to my side of the kitchen counter. He placed his hands on my shoulders. I froze.
"Of course Q sayang abang but......". I moved away from him and walked to the living room. I stood by the window, "Kita di besarkan sama-sama, Q anggap abang macam abang kandung. I did not mean to give you high hopes about marriage. We were young and foolish back then.....", I try to reason with him.
"Q ada orang lain?.....a boyfriend I mean?", he asked. He came closer and stood in front of me.
"No.....", it just came out of my mouth. Abang Ngah smiled and hugged me tight.
And I am numb.
