Enam bulan selepas majlis pertunangan yang gilang-gemilang itu, rutin Elvina kembali ke awan biru. Namun, kali ini, setiap kali dia melangkah masuk ke dalam kabin pesawat, dia tidak lagi merasa seperti seorang wanita yang hanya mengejar rezeki. Dia merasa seperti seorang duta—Heritage Ambassador—seperti yang dirancang oleh Max.

Malam itu, Elvina sedang berada di sebuah hotel di Paris. Suhu di luar mencecah 4°C, sangat kontras dengan kehangatan Melaka yang baru ditinggalkannya dua hari lepas. Dia duduk bersandar di katil, memegang telefon bimbitnya sementara menunggu panggilan video daripada Max.

Ring... Ring...

Skrin telefonnya bercahaya. Wajah Max muncul, namun dia bukan berada di pejabat Londonnya. Dia memakai topi keselamatan putih dan kemeja yang lencun dengan peluh. Di belakangnya, kelihatan struktur kayu jati yang sedang diperbaiki.

"Max! Are you at the site? It’s almost midnight in Malacca!" tegur Elvina, separuh risau, separuh teruja melihat perkembangan kafe mereka.

"I couldn't sleep, Star. I had to come and see the progress of the courtyard. The artisans from China arrived today to fix the porcelain carvings on the walls," balas Max.

Dia memusingkan kameranya untuk menunjukkan ruang tengah bangunan itu yang kini sudah mula nampak rupa asalnya.

"It’s going to be beautiful, Elvina. Just like you envisioned."

"Max, please go home and rest. You've been flying back and forth between London and KL four times this month. You're going to burn out," pesan Elvina, suaranya lembut dengan nada kerisauan.

Max mengarahkan semula kamera ke wajahnya. Dia tersenyum penat namun matanya bersinar.

"I'm not tired, Elvina. Seeing this building come back to life... it feels like I'm building our future with my own hands. Besides, I have the best motivation in the world waiting for me on the other side of the ocean."

"You're impossible, Max Ryan. Truly," tawa Elvina kecil.

"How’s Paris? Did you get those macarons you wanted?" soal Max.

"I did. But they don't taste the same when I'm eating them alone. I missed our coffee sessions, Max. Even the bitter ones," aku Elvina jujur.

"I miss you too, Elvina. Every single mile between us feels like a thousand. But remember what I said? I’m the wind beneath your wings. I’ve checked your roster for next week. You have a three-day layover in London, right?" Max mengangkat keningnya dengan gaya nakal.

"Wait, did you stalk my schedule again?" Elvina mengecilkan matanya.

"Guilty as charged. I’ve arranged a dinner at the Shard. Just the two of us. No board members, no contractors. Just Max and his Star," kata Max.

"And I have a surprise for you. Something Mr. Sterling has been working on."

"Max, no more big surprises! My heart can't take it anymore," Elvina mengeluh manja.

"You'll love this one, I promise. Now, go to sleep. You have an early flight to London tomorrow. I want you to look radiant when you land," pesan Max sebelum meniup ciuman ke arah skrin.

"Goodnight, Max. Take a shower, you look like a messy contractor," usik Elvina sebelum mematikan talian.

Penerbangan dari Paris ke London keesokan harinya terasa sangat singkat bagi Elvina. Dia sudah terbiasa dengan perasaan teruja setiap kali mendarat di Heathrow, namun kali ini, ia terasa seperti pulang ke rumah kedua.

Sebaik sahaja dia melangkah keluar dari balai ketibaan, dia tidak melihat pemandu peribadi Max. Sebaliknya, Max sendiri berdiri di sana, bersandar pada keretanya dengan sejambak bunga dahlia merah di tangan.

"Max! You're supposed to be in Malacca!" Elvina menerpa ke arah Max, tidak mempedulikan pandangan orang sekeliling.

Max menangkap Elvina dalam pelukannya, memusingkan badannya seketika.

"I took the red-eye flight right after we spoke. I couldn't wait a week, Elvina. Three days in London with you is worth the twenty hours of flying."

"You are crazy, Max Ryan. Completely crazy," bisik Elvina sambil membenamkan wajahnya di dada Max yang harum bau sandalwood.

"Crazy about you, yes," balas Max. Dia membukakan pintu kereta untuk Elvina.

"Now, let’s go. Mr. Sterling is waiting for us at the house. He has something to show you."

Apabila mereka sampai di Belgravia, Mr. Sterling sudah menunggu di ruang tamu. Dia nampak jauh lebih sihat dan bertenaga. Di atas meja, terdapat sebuah peti besi kecil yang antik.

"Elvina, my dear. Welcome home," sapa Mr. Sterling.

"Before you and Max get married, there is one last piece of history that belongs to you."

Mr. Sterling membuka peti itu. Di dalamnya, terletak sehelai kain Kelubung (selendang tradisional Nyonya) yang diperbuat daripada sutera paling halus, bertatahkan manik-manik emas dan benang perak. Ia adalah karya agung yang sudah berusia lebih seratus tahun.

"This belonged to your great-grandmother. My friend, Idris, gave it to me for safekeeping during the war. He told me to give it to the woman who would bring our two families together," cerita Mr. Sterling dengan nada sebak.

Elvina menyentuh kain itu dengan tangan yang menggigil.

"It's beautiful... it's like a piece of the past coming back to life."

"Wear it on your wedding day, Elvina. Wear it with your kebaya. Let the world see the strength and beauty of your heritage," kata Mr. Sterling.

Max berdiri di sebelah Elvina, melingkarkan tangannya di bahu tunangnya itu.

"We will, Grandfather. We will."

Malam itu, di bawah langit London yang bertaburan bintang, Elvina dan Max duduk di balkoni, memandang ke arah lampu kota. Mereka sedar bahawa jarak ribuan batu antara London dan Melaka bukan lagi penghalang. Ia adalah jambatan.

"Max, I was thinking... about the cafe's name," kata Elvina tiba-tiba.

"What's on your mind, Star?"

"Let's call it The Horizon's Star. So everyone knows that no matter how far we fly, we always have a star to guide us home," cadang Elvina.

Max mencium dahi Elvina, menariknya rapat ke dalam dakapannya.

"I love it. The Horizon's Star. Just like you."

Di tengah-tengah kesibukan dunia, di antara dua benua yang berbeza, cinta mereka terus mekar, menanti hari di mana mereka tidak lagi perlu berpisah melalui skrin telefon, tetapi sentiasa bersama di bawah satu bumbung yang sama, di mana sahaja ufuk itu berada.

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