Hwang Hwang Couple

14

On his tenth birthday, Hyunjin can't hear anything anymore. He was confused when he saw his mother's lips moving, without the sound he could hear. He said, "Mom, what are you saying?" and was surprised that his voice did not come out. Hyunjin screamed shrill, but the sound didn't come out. His mother had a panicked face, quickly holding his rebellious hand. His father rushed into the house, trying to calm him down. Hyunjin was silent, his eyes watered and his hands trembled. Little Hyunjin was really scared. But through writing on paper, his mother explained something important. In this world, at the age of ten, everyone will be deaf. Hyunjin is still stunned. Tears began to fall soaking the paper. Emotions. Annoyed. Disappointed. At the age of ten, his hearing was snatched away. His hearing will only return if he meets his soul mate - who can be a woman, a man, anyone. Then he will spend the rest of his life with his soul mate, as his mother is always with his father. His mother kept writing his story, how his mother met his father and his hearing returned to perfection. His mother was at least lucky, meeting his father when he passed each other on the basketball court. While Hyunjin? He was only ten years old and he did not know when his hearing would return. Hyunjin still wants to hear the sound of cartoon shows on television. Still want to hear Led Zeppelin's songs. Still want to feel how beautiful the world is with the sound at each step — the voice that convinces Hyunjin at every step that he is never alone. But see now? Hearing his own voice he was no longer able. His lower lip was bitten firmly until he tasted salty metallic blood. Frustration. It was as if he wanted to throw something as an outlet for mixed emotions. . . . Ten years passed and Hyunjin was still deaf. His body rose, his Adam's apple began to appear, but he was still deaf. He is no longer an elementary school student, he is a medical student whose ears are deaf. Some of his friends have heard again — often he saw them talking to their soul mates or to those who had found each other's soul mates. Seeing it makes Hyunjin's blood boil. He pronounced "all you bastard bastards" every time he saw his eyes. Concerned about people's reactions? No. Besides he could not hear them. He can't hear anything, unlike them. His steps are accelerated. A sharp gaze was on everyone who looked at him (oh, could they hear him? He was jealous). Seoul is snowing thick, but he doesn't care. Cold broke through his scarf and coat. Hyunjin cares about the devil. Anything cold like this won't make it die. . . . And see? He was even close to his apartment.

Nobody walks by. There is only snow piled up, white and cold and disturbing. His nose smelled cold wet wet, along with white steam that kept poking. Good riddance. His mood was not good for responding to greetings of friendly people who didn't know that they were only passing by). Hyunjin spurred his steps quickly until the tip of his shoe touched something. He bowed his head, then surprised. A girl with long black hair. Lying on a pile of snow. Lying with the shade of a bare tree. Know? No. But what also does a girl here do? Isn't that girl can get hypothermia? Didn't Hyunjin care too — why bother with strangers who never made a contribution? He just tickled and this is not a form of concern, at all. His hand touched the girl's cheek, and he saw eyes that began to twitch. The girl is alive.

Di hari ulang tahunnya yang kesepuluh, Hyunjin tak dapat mendengar apapun lagi.

Ia kebingungan ketika melihat bibir ibunya bergerak, tanpa suara yang bisa didengarnya. Dikatakannya, “Bu, bilang apa sih?” dan terkejutlah ia begitu suaranya tak keluar. Hyunjin menjerit lengking, tetapi suaranya tak keluar. Ibunya berwajah panik, cepat-cepat memegangi tangannya yang memberontak. Ayahnya pun tergopoh masuk ke dalam rumah, berusaha menenangkannya. Hyunjin terdiam, matanya berair dan tangannya gemetar. Hyunjin kecil takut sekali. Tetapi lewat tulisan di kertas, ibunya menjelaskan sesuatu yang penting.

Di dunia ini, pada usia sepuluh tahun, semua orang akan tuli.

Hyunjin masih tertegun. Air matanya mulai jatuh membasahi kertas. Emosi. Kesal. Kecewa. Di usia sepuluh tahun, pendengarannya direnggut. Pendengarannya hanya akan kembali jika ia bertemu dengan belahan jiwanya—yang bisa perempuan, lelaki, siapapun. Kemudian ia akan menghabiskan seumur hidupnya bersama belahan jiwanya, sebagaimana ibunya selalu bersama dengan ayahnya. Ibunya terus menulis kisahnya, bagaimana ibunya bertemu dengan ayahnya dan pendengarannya kembali sempurna. Ibunya setidaknya beruntung, bertemu ayahnya ketika sedang berpapasan di lapangan basket. Sementara Hyunjin? Usianya baru sepuluh tahun dan ia tidak tahu kapan pendengarannya kembali.

Hyunjin masih ingin mendengar suara acara kartun di televisi. Masih ingin mendengar lagu-lagu Led Zeppelin. Masih ingin merasakan bagaimana indahnya dunia dengan suara di tiap langkahnya—suara yang meyakinkan Hyunjin di tiap langkahnya bahwa ia tidak pernah sendirian.

Tapi lihat sekarang? Mendengar suaranya sendiri pun ia tak mampu lagi.

Bibir bawahnya digigit kuat sampai dicecapnya asin metalik darah. Frustrasi. Rasanya ia ingin melempar sesuatu sebagai pelampiasan emosi yang campur aduk.

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Ia tidak bisa mendengar apapun, tidak seperti mereka.

Langkahnya dipercepat. Tatapan tajam dilayangkan pada tiap orang yang menatapnya (oh, mereka bisa mendengarnya? Ia iri). Seoul tengah bersalju tebal, tapi ia tak peduli. Dingin berhasil menembus syal dan mantelnya. Hyunjin peduli setan. Lagipula dingin seperti ini tidak akan membuatnya mati.

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Dan lihat? Ia bahkan sudah dekat dengan apartemennya.

Tidak ada orang yang berlalu lalang. Hanya ada salju yang bertumpuk, putih dan dingin dan mengganggu. Hidungnya mencium bau basah dingin, bersamaan dengan uap putih yang terus menyembul-nyembul. Baguslah. Suasana hatinya sedang tidak bagus untuk menanggapi sapaan orang-orang sok akrab (yang tidak tahu bahwa mereka di hidup Hyunjin hanya numpang lewat). Hyunjin memacu langkahnya cepat sampai ujung sepatunya menyentuh sesuatu. Ia menundukkan kepala, kemudian terkejut.

Seorang gadis berambut hitam panjang. Berbaring di atas tumpukan salju. Berbaring dengan naungan pohon yang rantingnya gundul. Kenal? Tidak. Tapi apa juga yang dilakukan seorang gadis di sini? Bukankah gadis itu bisa terkena hipotermia? Bukannya Hyunjin peduli juga—untuk apa peduli pada orang asing yang tak pernah memberi sumbangsih? Ia hanya tergelitik dan ini bukan bentuk kepedulian, sama sekali.

Tangannya menyentuh pipi gadis itu, dan ia melihat mata yang mulai berkedut.

Gadis itu hidup.