PERANCIS (PARIS): “Brodin, Menara Eiffel, dan Souvenir yang Terlalu Romantis”
Brodin tiba di Paris saat pagi masih dingin. Jas hitamnya tetap rapi, kaos sleret-sleret Madura mengintip sopan dari balik jas. Ia berdiri di pinggir jalan sambil menatap Menara Eiffel dari kejauhan.
“Masyaallah… jhauh ben tinggina.” (Masyaallah… tinggi sekali ya.)
Brodin mengangguk pelan, kagum tapi tetap kalem.
Di bandara tadi, petugas imigrasi sempat tersenyum saat membaca paspor Brodin. Pekerjaan: PENGGEMBARA. Catatan tambahan: HELPFUL TRAVELER.
Petugas bertanya panjang, Brodin menjawab singkat,
“Oui.” (Ya.)
“Vacances.” (Liburan.)
Selesai. Paris menerima Brodin tanpa drama.
Brodin berjalan menyusuri area dekat Menara Eiffel. Banyak penjual souvenir. Ia masuk satu toko kecil yang penuh gantungan kunci, mini Eiffel, dan parfum kecil. Penjual menyapa,
“Bonjour, monsieur.” (Halo, Tuan.)
Brodin membalas sambil menunduk,
“Bonjour.” (Halo.)
Ia menunjuk miniatur Menara Eiffel.
“C’est combien?” (Ini berapa?)
Penjual menyebut harga. Brodin mengerutkan dahi sebentar, lalu berkata pelan,
“D’accord.” (Baiklah.)
Dalam hati ia bergumam,
“Tak apa, asal konco seneng.” (Tidak apa-apa, asal teman senang.)
Brodin lalu melihat gantungan kunci berbentuk hati bertuliskan Paris. Ia bingung.
“Ini romantis ben.” (Ini romantis ya.)
Ia bertanya ragu,
“Pour amis?” (Untuk teman?)
Penjual tertawa dan mengangguk.
Tanpa sadar, Brodin membeli terlalu banyak souvenir “romantis”. Saat melihat isinya, Brodin tertawa sendiri.
“Konco lanang engkok apa cocok?” (Teman laki-laki saya cocok tidak ya?)
Di luar toko, Brodin melihat turis tua kesulitan memotret. Brodin membantu memfoto dengan sabar.
“Voilà.” (Ini.)
Turis itu senang sekali.
“Merci beaucoup.” (Terima kasih banyak.)
Brodin menjawab tulus,
“Avec plaisir.” (Dengan senang hati.)
Lalu menambahkan pelan,
“Mator sakalangkong.” (Terima kasih banyak.)
Sore hari, Brodin duduk di bangku taman, melihat tas belanjaannya. Mini Eiffel, gantungan kunci hati, magnet kulkas Paris.
“Tak papa, penting ngabagi.” (Tidak apa-apa, yang penting berbagi.)
Paris terasa mahal, romantis, dan ramai. Tapi Brodin tetap Brodin—lugu, sopan, dan penuh niat baik.
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FRANCE (PARIS): “Brodin, the Eiffel Tower, and Way-Too-Romantic Souvenirs”
Brodin arrived in Paris wearing his classic black suit and Madurese striped shirt, looking like a humble traveler accidentally dropped into a romance movie. He stared at the Eiffel Tower and whispered,
“Wow… that thing is TALL tall.”
At immigration, his passport label HELPFUL TRAVELER made the officer smile. Brodin answered everything with short, confident words:
“Yes.”
“Vacation.”
Done.
Near the Eiffel Tower, Brodin entered a souvenir shop full of tiny towers, heart-shaped keychains, and perfume bottles. The seller greeted him warmly.
“Bonjour.”
Brodin bowed politely like a true gentleman.
He asked the price, nodded seriously, and paid—thinking only about his friends in Bangkalan.
“Worth it,” he told himself.
Then came the problem.
Most of the souvenirs he bought were… romantic. Heart keychains. Love-themed Paris magnets. When he checked his bag, Brodin laughed quietly.
“Bro… my guy friends are gonna be confused.”
Outside, Brodin helped an old tourist take photos. The tourist was so happy he almost cried.
“Merci beaucoup!”
Brodin smiled.
“My pleasure.”
In the park, Brodin looked at his shopping bags and nodded proudly.
Paris might be expensive and dramatic—but kindness still works everywhere.
