285.
Jihoon menghapus air mata Minghao dengan kedua ibu jarinya. Sebulir berlinang, dihapus, lalu sebulir lagi.
“Do you love him?”
Minghao tidak menjawab, hanya terus menangis.
“Do you believe he is in love with you?”
Kali ini, ia mengangguk.
Jihoon, menahan tangisnya sendiri, tersenyum lemah.
“Then, can you forgive me for failing in protecting you?”
Kibasan rambut ketika Minghao menggeleng cepat.
“Bang, lo nggak salah. Nggak ada yang salah. Lo. Gyu. Joshua. Mas Han. Juga...juga abangnya Gyu....,” Minghao menggeleng lagi. “You've done much, so much. When...when I need it the most, you always help me...
...I...I never said thank you for what you did for me...at that time when I was at my lowest...”
“Hao...”
Minghao mundur sedikit, melepas wajahnya dari sentuhan Jihoon. Ia menggunakan lengan kemejanya untuk mengusrek sisa air mata, tidak peduli bajunya kotor.
“But please, tell me....Mingyu, Bang Jihoon sama Channie....kalian nggak berkomplot kan? Like, like I was a damn toy? A rat in the trap?”
Giliran Jihoon yang menggeleng. “Lo pikir Mingyu bisa pengaruhin gue buat ikut mainin lo, Hao?” dengan yakin, ia menatap Minghao. “Lo, yang gue tau, yang gue liat pake mata kepala sendiri, apa yang udah lo alamin sama mantan lo itu?”
Jihoon maju, merengkuh anak buahnya itu.
“Hao. Gue atasan lo. And I care for you more than that, just like you're my own child. I watch you growing up in 7 years. I know what you have suffered. I see you when you break down and cry. Menurut lo, gue akan biarin aja, bahkan ikut andil, kalo Mingyu nggak buktiin kalo dia serius sama lo?”
Mata Minghao melebar. Jihoon menarik napas, menghembusnya, lalu melepas pelukan.
“Look. Hao. Gue bantu anterin makanan itu karena Mingyu mau minta maaf sama lo. And it was one time. Gue pikir, why not sih? Niat anak itu baik. Mau minta maaf. Sekali doang ini. Lo nolak makanan itu. Terus Mingyu minta dianterin lagi. Gue tegasin ke dia ini terakhir....
...and then, you know? You ate it. And the one after that. And after that. You looked so happy.”
Dielusnya kepala Minghao.
“You looked so damn happy, Haohao, just like before that bastard ruined you. I missed you.”
Elusan Jihoon amat lembut.
“I missed you, my little boy...”
Mata Minghao berkaca-kaca lagi. Ia menggigit bibir bawah, menahan isak tangis.
“Dan, dan, gue liat gimana Gyu natap lo. I told you, dia mirip Cheol. Jelas banget. Hatinya.”
“Mingyu loves me...?”
“Yes...,” hela Jihoon. “I am not blind yet, Hao.”
Lagi, mereka berpelukan. Kali ini lebih hangat dari sebelumnya.
“Gue minta maaf, Hao...”
“Maaf juga, Bang, udah curiga tadi...,” aku Minghao.
Diam.
“Bang.”
“Hmm?”
“Selamat ya...”
Menghela napas ke tengkuk Minghao, Jihoon tersenyum lega.