aphrodite

Hi.

It's been a while. And, I just uploaded all the documents I wrote in 2018, and of course, that manuscript was rejected. Lost my spirit right there and then, and stopped writing for about a year, I think. In 2019, I think it was the gap between foundation and degree, I wrote again. Dear, I never stop writing and imagining things in my mind. Guess, that's it for an overthinking kind of woman. You need to write to let it out. So, I keep on drafting things and writing them in my WhatsApp and sending it to the person that I believe in the most.

I will keep on uploading. Maybe once in a blue moon. There were a few manuscripts that have been rejected and I'm going to stop keeping them to myself. So, I will put it here. One by one. For every manuscript that has been rejected.

Currently, I'm sending one of my manuscripts that was written in 2021 and I was able to finish it in only several months. A manuscript that I love the most and a novel that I pour all my soul into it. However, it keeps on getting rejected by companies and now we are in 2023. A kind of manuscript that shows how much I've grown in the span of several years.

And a kind of novel that you will never encounter in the bookstore. Maybe that's why it keeps on getting rejected. Because it was unique.

11 February 2023 - aphrodite

QUEEN : EPILOG II

 EPILOG II

Hidup aku berpegang pada dasar cinta,

Bertunjangkan setia,

Berakarkan kasih,

Tanpa cinta,

Langkah ini merapuh.

Tidak bisa lagi melangkah.

Namun, hadirmu ibarat cahaya.

Tingkahmu bersahaja,

Tidak pernah mengucapkan cinta,

Tapi, dirimu kekal setia,

Seperti aku. ~ Qaireen Hanna Hickman

QUEEN : EPILOG I

 EPILOG I

“SHE’S beautiful,” luah Hanna. Dia berpaling ke arah Qarizh. Mata Qarizh memandang ke arah Rose yang sedang memotong kek. Kek yang bertingkat itu amat indah. Patung puteri dan putera yang berada di atas kek itu seakan menari dan menjadikan mereka pasangan paling cantik dan sepadan.

            Ruangan dewan itu amat cantik dengan konsep Fairy tale. Megah dan cantik. Perkahwinan satu-satunya, anak perempuan dalam keluarga Hickman. Ezra Roseline Hickman.

            “But, you are the prettiest,” Hanna berpaling ke arah Qarizh. Terpaku seketika dia melihat lelaki itu. Adakah lelaki itu sedang memujinya?

            “Abang,” Qarizh berpaling ke arahnya. Mata hazel itu seakan begitu cantik apabila disimbah dengan cahaya.

            “Yes, my dear,” Hanna terpaku.

            “You called me dear,” Hanna mengulang balik penyataan Qarizh. Mukanya jelas tidak percaya ketika ini.

            “You said I’m pretty,” Hanna tersenyum lebar.

            “Perlukah abang tarik balik?” Qarizh mengerutkan kening. Salahkah kata-katanya?

            “No, I’m just speechless,” Hanna mengibaskan mukanya yang terasa memerah. Dia tak pernah menyangka dia akan blushing di hadapan suami yang sudah 8 tahun dikahwininya.

            Qarizh tersenyum. Dia nampak muka Hanna memerah. Dia tak pernah nampak sisi ini dalam diri Hanna. Sisi yang terlalu memaparkan sifat kewanitaannya.

            “Sayang,” Hanna mengangkat muka.

            Qarizh mendekatkan wajahnya di tepi wajah Hanna.

            “I love you,” bisiknya perlahan sebelum berlalu ke arah Haisya yang sedang berada di dalam stroller. Kanak-kanak kecil itu didukung dan diagahnya. Dia mengucup lembut pipi Haisya yang merah. Mungkin, disebabkan kesejukan air-conditioner.

            Hanna terpaku. Dia memandang ke arah belakang tubuh Qarizh. Hatinya berdebar sendiri. Qarizh memang mampu membuatkan jiwanya tak tentu arah.

            Entah apa mimpinya malam tadi, ingin menjadi lelaki yang manis dalam bermain kata. Sisi lelaki ini membuatkan dia berdebar tetapi dalam masa yang sama dia bahagia.

            Ucapan cinta yang tak pernah didengarnya, diucapkan tanpa perlu dipinta. Hanna memegang dadanya perlahan. Jantung itu masih lagi berdegup kencang. Kesan daripada perubahan mendadak Qarizh.

            My king, I love you too.