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Renata tentu saja ingin mengetahui kabar Deraz di ISDC. Mereka bertemu di Yahoo Messenger.

"I am not going," Deraz mengabarkan. "I made it to the ninth, though. And West Java team got runner up for National Round."

"THE NINTH?!" balas Renata. "And you're proud of that?"

Deraz mengetik, "Not really, but—"

Keburu muncul pesan baru dari Renata, "How come?"

Deraz menghapus kata-katanya tadi, lalu mengetik, "I don't know. I don't carry handycam anywhere like you."

"You're lame," sahut Renata.

Deraz terdiam. Ia sendiri sudah melupakan momen tersebut. Ia pulang membawa piala dan berbagai bentuk penghargaan lain termasuk uang. Yang ada di pikirannya hanya menggunakan uang itu untuk menraktir Zahra di suatu tempat bergengsi, walaupun belum sempat. Begitu tiba di rumah dan kembali ke sekolah, ia langsung disibukkan oleh banyak hal lain. Ia sudah merelakan kekalahan itu. Sekarang ia harus mengungkitnya lagi karena Renata. Deraz tidak akan tersulut.

"I've done my best, though. The competition was harsh. Bali and Jakarta got it all."

"That can't be an excuse."

"Well, how's Brazil?"

"Rainy season here."

"Same here."

"And there's a Japanese-Brazilian boy seems to have a crush on me."

"LOL. Send me his picture."

"He's chubby and wearing glasses. Not very tall. His name is Rodrigo Kazuya Ishihara. He’s somewhat cute, though.”

Deraz ingin memasukkan emotikon, namun ia selalu membutuhkan waktu terlalu lama untuk memilih. Renata keburu mengirim pesan baru.

"You don't seem to be very upset."

"Why must I be upset?"

"I remember each of our defeats. We used to keep talking about it until weeks later, even until the next contest."

"I am not a middle-schooler anymore."

"You used to be very eager to win."

"I am still." Karena Renata tidak segera membalas, Deraz menambahkan, "Anyway, you were, too. I used to be encouraged by you, to be honest, Ms. Win-It-All." Deraz tersenyum mengenang kontes-kontes debat yang pernah dijalaninya bersama Renata selama di SMP.

Pernah mereka mendapat sesi siang sehabis waktu istirahat. Deraz mengantuk sedang Renata mulas karena mengambil terlalu banyak sambal saat makan siang. Ketika mereka dipanggil, Renata mencubit lengan Deraz keras-keras karena ditepuk-tepuk saja tidak bangun. Sudah begitu, posisi Deraz sebagai pembicara pertama. Bicaranya agak lambat. Renata pembicara kedua, dan berbicara dengan sepenuh perasaan untuk menandingi mulasnya yang semakin hebat. Begitu Renata duduk lagi, ia berbisik pada Deraz bahwa ia ingin pegang batu. Deraz menyerahkan tangannya. Renata mencengkeram tangan Deraz kuat-kuat sampai kukunya menancap. Deraz hanya bisa menahan kernyit kesakitan. Begitu mereka turun dari panggung, Renata segera berlari ke toilet. Menurut guru pembina penampilan mereka tidak buruk-buruk amat. Malah Deraz terlihat rileks, sedang Renata sangat bersemangat. Tetapi kemudian mereka hanya mendapat runner up. Renata menuding Deraz suka begadang main The Sims, sedang Deraz menyalahkan Renata yang tidak tahan melihat sambal. Itu terus menjadi bahan ledekan mereka pada satu sama lain sampai kontes berikut.

Ketika Deraz nervous, Renata relax. Ketika Renata nervous, Deraz relax. Keduanya saling mengingatkan. Guru pembina menjuluki mereka Dynamic Duo dan mengatakan mereka punya bonding yang erat.

Renata bertanya, "Are you having a girlfriend now?"

"Why?"

"Just guess."

"Can't be sure."

"What do you mean?"

"She doesn't date anyone. Girl with veil."

“How close are you with her?”

“We’re deskmates.”

“And?”

“And what?”

“What kind of relationship do you have with her? Do you simply have a crush on her but no guts to tell her so?”

“I already say it.”

“Say what?”

“That I like her and bla bla bla ….”

“And what does she say?”

“... in German.”

“LOL.”

Deraz merasa wajahnya memanas. “I will definitely tell her in Bahasa, but not now.”

“Why?”

Deraz kehabisan kata.

“I thought you don’t date anyone as well,” pesan Renata lagi. “And I even remember you said that you’re not looking for one until you’re, like … 35?”

“Yeah.”

“So, how are you gonna have it with her?”

“Keine Ahnung.”

“Don’t talk to me in German, please.”

“You should learn it. It’s the most beautiful language in the world.”

“So, now you’re kind of HTS-an with her?”

“HTS-an?”

“HUBUNGAN TANPA STATUS.”

“Does status really matter?”

“Dammit, Deraz. Kamu tuh beken, tapi kuper, ya. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.”

Deraz mendiamkan Renata hingga muncul pesan barunya.

“Tell me more about her.”

Deraz menurut. Ia menceritakan apa pun yang diketahuinya tentang Zahra secara panjang lebar. “We’re just doing good,” Deraz menyimpulkan.

“You’re playing with fire.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean it’s not gonna work. You and her.”

“Why?” Enak saja Renata bilang begitu. Seakan-akan ia mengetahui segalanya, melihat sendiri Deraz dan Zahra dua puluh empat jam luar dan dalam. Ia bahkan tidak berada di Indonesia!

“I just know. Female intuition.”

Deraz mendengus. “What do you know? You don’t even have a boyfriend, ever.”

“I’m just like you. It never works.”

“We’re not that similar. I am really sure I am not as unfortunate as you at being in this kind of relationship. I am gonna make it.”

“Do you mean make her wait until you’re 35? HAHAHAHAHA. I thought you already have everything well-planned.”

“Well, we never know what’s ahead.”

“That’s what I am telling you.”

“Why are you so discouraging?”

“Saving you from a tragic broken heart, my dear soul brother.”

“That’s not gonna happen to me.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I AM sure.”

“You can’t even assure yourself to be one of the WSDC delegates.”

“Why are you so bitter? Your terrible past experiences have nothing to do with me.”

“Honestly, I am pretty sure you would make it to sixth or fourth had you not wasted your time with her.”

“That’s nothing to do with anything.”

“It is. How much time did you spend to text or call her before and during the ISDC?”

“Not much. It’s true.”

“You know what 15 minutes can do.”

“It brought us to be the runner-up.”

“You could be the first.”

“You don’t know what she did to me. It would be worse had she not there with me.”

“OMG. Now you’re being dependent on her. You can’t make it if it’s not for her.”

Deraz mengusap wajah. Baru tersadar olehnya bahwa ia tengah berhadapan dengan juara debat tingkat dunia.

Namun debat bukan soal benar atau salah. Debat itu soal mempertahankan pendapat, dan Renata akan terus mempertahankan pendapatnya terlepas dari bagaimana kenyataannya. Bagaimana kenyataan itu jadinya terserah pada Deraz, dan Zahra.

“Just see,” ketik Deraz.

“We’ll see.”

“I wish you will be lucky with that Japanese-Brazilian boy so you don’t have to be so cynical for the rest of your life. Seems a spinster’s life awaiting for you,” lanjut Deraz gemas.

Renata tidak membalas lagi.