-SONYA-

Waktu masih gadis, Ibu sangat mengidamkan anak kembar. Ia selalu takjub pada fenomena itu. Ketertarikannya pada segala hal yang berhubungan dengan kelahiran ganda dipupuknya sejak SMP, sampai Ibu bertemu Ayah di bangku kuliah. Ayah yang setelah Ibu ketahui merupakan separuh dari sepasang meski bukan pasangan identik, tak pernah lagi dilepaskannya. Ibu semakin yakin bahwa pikiran bisa mengendalikan nasib. Dengan keyakinannya itu, ia berhasil melahirkan kami berdua sekaligus, setidaknya itu menurut Ibu.

****

“Jam berapa mulainya?” tanya Ayah yang tanpa perlu berkata telah menggusurku dari singgasana alias kursi malas paling nyaman di ruang keluarga kami.
“Jam 8 waktu Bangkok,” sahut Ibu sambil membawa semangkok penuh popcorn dari pantry. “setengah jam lagi.”
Aku dan Sofi masing-masing mengambil satu lengan ibu untuk dipeluk. Kebiasaan sejak balita yang tak mau hilang. Tepatnya tak mau kami hilangkan. Pun, tempat paling strategis untuk mencomot popcorn instan bikinan Ibu.

Sepanjang tayangan kami menonton dalam diam, sesekali terdengar “aah..” dan “ooh..” dari entah siapa yang disertai anggukan-anggukan tekun bak murid kesayangan guru. Masing-masing dari kami begitu terkesima pada simulasi kehidupan di dalam rahim yang demikian nyata diciptakan oleh tim National Geographic. Semua yang di ruangan ini pernah mengalaminya tapi tak ada yang ingat. Kecuali Ibu. Ia mengalaminya, tapi sebagai ‘pihak luar’. Tanpa sengaja aku melihat setitik air menetes lalu ditangkap daster batiknya.

“Kok Ibu menangis?” tanyaku memeluk lengannya lebih erat.
“Ah? Masa?” karena tangannya tak mampu bergerak, ibu merundukkan kepala dan menyeka matanya dengan bahunya. “Ibu juga ngga ngerti kenapa.”
Aku dan Sofi saling pandang. Heran. Mengedikkan bahu bersamaan.
“Dasar kembar.” komentar ibu sambil terkekeh serak.

****

-SHANIA-

“Babe? You up?”
“Hm..” was all I could muster. My sniffles must have woke him.
He checks the time. It’s eight forty five. We’re late for church again.
“Are you crying again, dear?”
I do not answer. Because I have no further explanation if he finds out I was crying, and he asks me why. I cry for no reason sometimes. I hope I didn’t come off as a person in need of anti-depressants to him. That’d be the worst.
So I told him what has been bothering me for several weeks now.
“You know how I was adopted and stuff?” I began carefully.
“H-hm..” he wrapped his arms around me.
“By Mom and Dad.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Griffin.” he corrected me.
“Mr. and Mrs. Griffin. During their research in South – East Asia.”
“And you were the blooming baby girl raised by flowers and rare exotic butterflies.” he kissed my bare shoulder, trying to turn me on. Couldn’t have picked a better spot to kiss, if I must say.
“May I finish?” I gave him a pointed look over my shoulders.
“Please, do. But hurry.” as he snuggles his head in between my hair. Hiding from my stare.
“I can’t help but think about my family back in Indonesia. Or if I still have any.”
“Why don’t you ask them?” his words muffled behind me. His five o clock shadow tickling my back.
“I don’t want to seem ungrateful.”
“For crissakes, Shania, you’re 35. You’re old enough to know. Above all else, they should be the ones grateful to have such a loving daughter.”
I laughed at his last comment, and finally said. “Okay, I will. Besides, we do owe them a visit.”
“Great, I’ve been craving for your Mom’s apple pie ever since. Next Friday we’ll drive up to the Hamptons.”
“Plus, I have to break the good news to them too.”
“What good news?” suddenly Grant was straddling me. Which caused me to automatically protect my belly.
The look in his eyes was priceless. An ocean of joy, love and awe overflowed within them as a warm tear of his rolled out and landed on my chin.
“We’re having a baby?” his voice was coarse with tears.
I put up a peace sign. Victory. Two. Whatever, he can count.
“Twins?” he was practically crying by now. As he rolled on his back and pulled me on top of him.
“Twins!” he cried out loud and we both laughed as the sun bathed us with the glory of morning.

******