(gambar ihsan Life.com and few other sources)"
I'm excited that you are writing about my tattoes!" kata pengarah filem bebas,
Chris Ch*ong. Satu-satunya anak Malaysia yang berjaya menjulang nama di Anugerah Festival Filem Cannes 2009.
Tersenyum meleret, mencuit hati aku. Di sisinya berdiri dua poster berwarna
merah jambu dengan perkataan
Karaoke di tengah-tengahnya. Si aktor berbakat Zahiril Adz*im tiang utamanya. Itulah filem yang tercalon ke persada antarabangsa. Kalau aku menjadi dia, berkembang dan berbunga jua jiwa.
Tetapi kesihatan aku tak mengizinkan untuk aku untuk bercanda. Terbatuk-batuk dengan kerongkong kering, kudrat yang ada juga terlalu lemah selepas aku termuntah pagi tadi.
Hai, kalaulauh lelaki juga dapat merasakan kehamilan.
"
I definitely didn't do it just to show off. It's very personal. I would even normally wear long sleeves to cover it up from public viewing. It's like you being pregnant. Once people know about it they will keep talking about it, right?" tambahnya.
Aku tersenyum lagi. Terangguk-angguk saja. Benar adanya. Kalau sudah terdedah, tak boleh toleh ke belakang lagi. Hendak menokok tambah hujahnya, tekak aku begitu gatal terengsa.
Pelik. Kalau sudah melukis pada kulit badan bukan untuk ditunjuk, untuk apa pula?
Ekspresi diri, katanya. Macam iklan Maxis pula.
"
It's just like you're wearing purple today. It's just because you feel like it. It's about what you feel," jelas Chris. Mendalam sungguh maksudnya.
Empat tatu menghiasi tubuhnya. Dari pangkal lengan sehinggalah ke belakang badan.
Lantas aku minta dia perjelaskan tatu yang terpeta pada tubuhnya.
"
The first three tattoes I had when I was in Toronto, studying Business. The first tattoo, 'Love is colder than death,' was so meaningful to me. It was not a sad statement. In fact, I quoted it from a German film director whom interpreted love in the most beautiful way I've ever known."
Tatu kedua, jelas Chris, ialah ikan koi Jepun pada lengan kirinya.
"
This fish reminds me of my Mum so much because back at home she would have all this watercolor paintings of the fish on our walls. So everytime I miss her, I'd just kiss this fish," kongsinya sambil benar-benar mencium bahunya.
Kagum aku. Dia begitu berani meluahkan diri.
Tatu ketiga ialah pheonix bangkit berwarna merah. Yang itu, katanya, paling tradisional dimilikinya.
Tatu keempat menyentuh perasaan aku.
'
I am here, you are there,' diabadikan di bawah tatu pertama. I wish I could make him cry talking about this one, but I can't.
"
It was originally written by a good friend of mine on a piece of paper. I actually took it, photocopied it and had it tattooed on my right arm. She was a very dear friend. We both love to travel so we hardly see each other but we are very close. But she passed away due to breast cancer at the age of 35 a few days after I emailed the picture of this tattoo to her," luahnya.
Kanser payudara, tentunya bukan sesuatu yang indah untuk dikenang. Penderitaannya, tak ubah seperti menghidap kanser sum sum tulang, atau kanser mana-mana bahagian lain. Kemoterapi menjadi pembunuh senyap. Umpama pagar makan padi.
Jadi, disimpulkan, itulah cara Chris menghargai seorang teman.
"You tak interview Tony Eu*sof?" tanyanya, seolah-olah aku memeriksa badan semua orang pula.
"
Oh, I didn't know he has any," jawabku sebelum berdehem mengelak kerongkong tergeletek, dan sesungguhnya, aku tak tahu kenapa, aku tak peduli dia ada tatu atau tak.
"
Yea, he doesn't reveal much. I think it's because he's doing Malay films," cadangnya pula. Aku tersenyum saja.
Orang kata orang bertatu ni jahat.
"
People has to remember that tattooing starts from the village. And it was done in consideration to the family and community. If they moved from childhood to manhood, they'll get a tattoo. If they get married, they'll get a tattoo. So, what they tattooed marked where they are in life, in community. It doesn't matter if tattooing was once done by rockers whom succumb to drugs or villains. We, who have tattoes, are not bad people. Please, do right that," kongsi Chris.
"
How do you see a woman with a tattoo, then? Is it like seeing a woman smoking or drinking?" aku mengaju soalan kepadanya sekembalinya dia dari sesi bergambar dengan jurugambar.
Dia perlu membuka baju untuk tujuan itu dan kami berada di
Alexis, The Gardens. Jadi satu-satunya tempat yang selamat ialah di bilik air lelaki - aku tidak dapat turut serta.
"
No, no. Smoking and drinking are very different than tattooing. Really, who am I to judge? But tattooing is not like smoking or drinking. It's very personal, very meaningful," balasnya.
Pasti menarik kalau aku dapat mengorek lebih lanjut topik ini. Tetapi, sekali lagi tuan-tuan dan puan-puan, tekak ku bagai digeletek setiap kali aku bersuara. Jadi dalam keadaan berisiko mudah termuntah kerana sedang hamil, aku terpaksa biarkan sesi temuramah ini sampai ke penyudahnya lebih awal daripada waktunya.
Sumpah, kalau aku sihat, aku tak biarkan ia habis hanya selepas 30 minit temuramah.
Till then.
Toodles!
