Arsen never do things without planning it first. He’s meticulous, precise. He thinks things through, mulled them over in his head, then thinks it through one more time. Maybe more, if he has the time. Arsenio Putra isn’t an impulsive person, but here he is, founding himself doing something impulsive.

Ia mengetuk pintu rumah Shanika. Tidak membawa bekal apa-apa. Tidak hadiah. Tidak kata-kata. Tidak juga ekspektasi bahwa Shanika akan mau menemuinya.

But if Arsen is meticulous, Shanika is startling, in the most beautiful sense of the word. She takes people by surprise, never toeing inside the line. Courageous, Arsen would say.

Jadi ketika Shanika membuka pintu rumahnya bahkan sebelum Arsen sempat menyiapkan diri untuk memencet bel, seharusnya Arsen tidak kaget lagi. Ketika Shanika hadir di depannya dengan piyama bermotif stroberi, mata sembab, dan senyum lembut di wajahnya, Arsen juga seharusnya sudah mengantisipasi.

Kalau ia kayaknya belum pernah melihat perempuan secantik Shanika pagi itu.

If Arsen had the time to rehearse this, he would do it over a candle-lit dinner. After a hearty meal. One that costs Arsen a quarter of his income per month. But in reality, he doesn’t have the time, Shanika wouldn’t give it to him. And truthfully, she didn’t have to beg it out of him either. Not when she’s in front of him, looking as beautiful as a blooming tulip.

Arsen sudah dua kali ke Belanda, cuman rugi dah, pikirnya, para turis yang sibuk mengantri di Keukenhof. Ada mekar yang jauh lebih indah di sini.

“Apa, Sen?”

Satu tarikan napas, “I love you. I don’t know why it took me so long to say, but I’ve realized since months ago, Nika*.”*

Shanika mengatupkan bibirnya, menahan senyumnya untuk melebar. “Did you, now?”