The Quiet Roommate

Pia had been looking forward to having a roommate again. She hoped for someone to share the apartment with and maybe even become friends with over time. When Caleb moved in three weeks ago, though, things hadn't gone quite the way she'd imagined.

Pia sudah menantikan punya teman sekamar lagi. Ia berharap ada seseorang untuk berbagi apartemen dan mungkin bahkan menjadi teman seiring waktu. Namun ketika Caleb pindah tiga minggu lalu, keadaannya tidak persis seperti yang ia bayangkan.

He was polite enough, always saying good morning and cleaning up after himself. But he rarely spoke beyond that. He ate dinner alone in his room most nights. He disappeared behind a closed door as soon as he got home from work. Pia started to wonder if she'd somehow annoyed him without realizing it.

Caleb cukup sopan, selalu mengucapkan selamat pagi dan membereskan bekas pakainya. Tetapi ia jarang bicara lebih dari itu. Hampir setiap malam ia makan sendirian di kamarnya. Begitu pulang kerja, ia menghilang di balik pintu tertutup. Pia mulai bertanya-tanya apakah ia tanpa sadar telah membuat Caleb kesal.

She mentioned her worry to a coworker during lunch one day. "Maybe he just doesn't like me," she said. "I've tried starting conversations, but he barely answers."

Suatu hari saat makan siang, ia menceritakan kekhawatirannya kepada rekan kerjanya. "Mungkin dia memang tidak suka padaku," katanya. "Aku sudah mencoba membuka obrolan, tapi dia hampir tidak menjawab."

"Have you asked him directly?" her coworker suggested. "Sometimes people are quiet for reasons that have nothing to do with you."

"Sudah kamu tanyakan langsung?" saran rekannya. "Kadang orang pendiam karena alasan yang sama sekali tidak ada hubungannya denganmu."

That evening, Pia decided to try one more time. She knocked on Caleb's door and asked if he wanted to watch a movie. She suggested the living room instead of eating alone again. He hesitated, then agreed, looking almost surprised by the invitation.

Sore itu, Pia memutuskan untuk mencoba sekali lagi. Ia mengetuk pintu Caleb dan bertanya apakah ia mau menonton film. Ia mengusulkan ruang tamu, supaya tidak makan sendirian lagi. Caleb ragu, lalu setuju, tampak hampir terkejut dengan ajakan itu.

Halfway through the movie, Caleb finally opened up a little. "Sorry if I've seemed distant," he said. "This is actually my first time living away from my family, and I've been feeling pretty homesick. I didn't want to make things awkward by bringing my mood into our shared space."

Di tengah film, Caleb akhirnya sedikit terbuka. "Maaf kalau aku terkesan menjauh," katanya. "Sebenarnya ini pertama kalinya aku tinggal jauh dari keluargaku, dan aku cukup rindu rumah. Aku tidak mau membuat suasana jadi canggung dengan membawa perasaanku ke ruang yang kita pakai bersama."

Pia felt a wave of relief, realizing his quietness had never been about her at all. "You could have just told me that," she said gently. "I would have understood completely."

Pia merasa lega, menyadari bahwa diamnya Caleb sama sekali bukan karena dirinya. "Kamu bisa saja bilang begitu dari awal," katanya lembut. "Aku pasti sepenuhnya mengerti."

"I know that now," Caleb admitted, smiling a little. "I guess I assumed being quiet was easier than explaining."

"Sekarang aku tahu," aku Caleb, tersenyum kecil. "Kurasa aku mengira diam itu lebih mudah daripada menjelaskan."

From that evening on, they started sharing dinner a few nights a week. Pia noticed Caleb slowly seemed less homesick with each passing week.

Sejak malam itu, mereka mulai makan malam bersama beberapa kali seminggu. Pia memperhatikan Caleb perlahan tampak makin tidak begitu rindu rumah setiap minggunya.