VANYA jumped off the yellow Wonder that was hanging in the backyard of Radio Ga Ga. It's almost midnight, and as usual Vanya has to go on air with the Midnight Diary program. Wina, who returned to being a loyal pick-up and drop-off driver, jogged after Vanya, who almost disappeared at the studio door.
"Vanya, wait."
Vanya immediately checked several incoming letters. Meanwhile, Tara Wina meets Sebastian, a former DJ who is now assigned to be a music editor. Sebastian is coVanya, that's why Vienna is actively hosting Vanya on broadcasts again. So you can make it fun.
"Hello, Bass!" said Wina as she entered the small room full of vinyl records.
Sebastian, who was checking several vinyl records, turned to Vienna.
"Hey, hello too, Vienna."
"Are you busy, Bas?"
"Ah, no. Just checking out some new songs."
"New song? Wow, Vienna recorded it, Bas?"
"What song do you like?"
"Whatever. Anything cool." Wina sat at Sebastian's desk, picking at the fried food on the table.
"Okay, don't worry. Here are some new disco songs sent from outside. Want some?"
"Wow, that's fun. I want to, bro!"
Meanwhile, Vanyaga continues to be busy sorting letters. Ucup, who had finished broadcasting, glanced at Vanya who was sitting on the soft sofa, with her feet up on the table. The atmosphere in the studio when it's late at night is really quiet. There are only a few announcers and operators on duty. The kids hanging out have been home since nine o'clock. But sometimes Vanya likes it quiet like this. Can concentrate well.
"It's quiet, isn't it?" Ucup said while snacking on soy sauce.
Vanya just glanced out of the corner of her eye. Annoyed. When this creature appears, it always makes you annoyed.
"That's Wina, Vanya. Tell me, don't be flirtatious. Every time you come here, you keep coming to Sebastian's room," Ucup started to chatter.
"Yeah, what's your business?"
"It's not like that. Wina is your friend too. You know that. Sebastian already has a fiancé. He's a cool person. If Wina ends up being with Bas, that would mean disaster for Bas."
Vanya started to get annoyed. "Instead, if Vienna becomes the same as you, it will be like a curse for Vienna!"
Vanya hurriedly got up and tidied up the papers scattered beside her. This guy is really cool. It just makes you lose concentration.
Vanya looked into Sebastian's room. "Win, just accompany me in the on air room. There's a new kid, and then there will be rumors that aren't good or not, again!"
"Yeah, I'm going to record, Vanya!"
"Just write the songs. Then stay."
Vanya closed the door.
Then immediately stepped into the broadcast room. Vienna stalked from behind. Also Bowo, who this time gets his turn to be an operator. Slightly sleepy, Vanyaga prepared the broadcasting equipment. He glanced at the wall clock. It's a little past eleven o'clock. That means it's almost time for him to broadcast.
"Uaaah, sleepy, huh? Good night, friends. Haven't gone to bed yet, have you? Well, don't go to bed yet. Because tonight Vanya wants to read a little story from Sisil. A story that will definitely be able to drive away the mosquitoes that have been targeting your thumb to suck on. Done with studying, right? If there's a test tomorrow, just ignore it. It's also called a test, so the questions that come out will definitely repeat the previous ones too. But before the story starts, Vanyaga will give you a gift first, a slow song from Taylor Dayne, Love Will Lead You Back ...."
While the song was playing, the atmosphere outside became increasingly quiet. It's getting scary. Vienna folded her chest and sat in the corner. Listen intently to the story that Vanya will read....
***
This story actually happened a long time ago, Vanya. But it feels like I just experienced it yesterday. Maybe because I can never forget this rather strange story. I still remember the day and date very well. Sunday evening, September 2.
Like this, one night I just came home from Bandung with my friends. Through the Peak. There are four of us, all girls. The story is that after buying jeans, I was looking for entertainment. Because to be honest, Vanya, at that time I was really stressed. Normally, I'm still in mourning after breaking up with Dino, my boyfriend. And the same fate also befell my three friends: Mia, Deta, and Dina. They also just broke up with their boyfriend. Dina actually didn't break up with her boyfriend, but because she wanted to be said to be solidary and united, she broke up with her boyfriend. Yo'ib is also a child. But actually I don't like his solidarity attitude which causes people to lose. But Dina still insisted. He said, "It's not good, can I cook myself happy?"
I just shook my head. I don't know, is this what solidarity looks like nowadays? Follow along with breaking up, if you have a sabbatical, break up. Do you join in a fight if a friend is looking for a fight? Ah, Vanyaga, I don't understand.
I didn't understand when my boyfriend, Dino, said that he was bored with me and wanted to break up. He said, I love my friend too much to bother him. Even though no, Vanya. I always know the time, when to be with my friends, and when to be with him. But, yeah, that's it. Maybe that was just his reason for breaking up with me.
Frankly, I'm sad. I am hurt. Because I never imagined that I would break up with him. Even though Papa once gave me advice, "If you dare to date, you must also have the courage to bear the consequences of breaking up."
But it still hurts.
Moreover, from his friends, I got rumors that Dino was getting close to Donna. The sweet child of his new college friend.
I'm getting sicker.
Back to my story at Puncak. At that time we were hungry, and stopped by Rindu Alam. While choosing a table outside, so we could see the beautiful lights below, we ordered satay. The atmosphere is eerily cold. And we both stay silent. Both drifting along with each other's moods.
Until I remembered Dino again.
Dino has been my boyfriend for two years. I met him at school because he matched the type I liked. His white skin, cold face, and calmness like Tommy Page, made it difficult for me to sleep. And when he graduated from high schoVanya, entered Trisakti, I started to see him less often. Even on Sunday evenings, not every week he comes. Until the end, yes, that was it. He is familiar with Donna. We broke up.
Dina's gentle words made me wake up from my reverie. He said, "Are you still sad, Sil?"
I nodded. "It's not easy for me to forget about pain."
"Don't keep it bottled up, Silo just let out your annoyance. It will lighten the load."
"I can't. I want him to know that I really lost it."
"Yes, that's it. Just send your story to the 'O, Mama, O, Papa' column."
I rejected that ridiculous suggestion, "Dino has never read a column like that."
Deta and Mia are still absorbed in their own suffering. Deta's case is actually more sadistic. She saw her boyfriend walking with another girl. Meanwhile, Mia was left behind to go to Australia, and didn't promise to come back.
The satay ordered arrived.
We eat.
For a moment, I felt like I wanted to pee.
Dina offered to take her. But I refused.
"The restroom is far away. You have to go downstairs."
"Never mind. This many people."
I walked down the stairs. Enter the restroom.
When you went back upstairs, I actually didn't really pay attention to the guy who was looking at the goldfish pond on the stairs, if the guy didn't immediately reprimand him.
"Sisil?"
I stopped walking. I really like that voice. I turned around. And, oh my gosh, it turns out Dino was standing right in front of me. My neck choked. Can't say a word. You know, Vanya. I've been very lonely without him for more than two months. For more than two months now, I really miss seeing his face.
And Dino looks a bit shabby. With an unshaven face, blue dots growing on his mustache and chin. But, frankly, he looks more and more manly.
"Dino?"
Dino smiled stiffly.
"What are you doing here?" ask me.
"I took part in a tea walk in the tea garden around here. With the children."
Tea walk? It's cool that he joined the tea walk. You must have been walking, going on a cross-country walk, passing through valleys, rivers, across tea plantations, escorting Donna, who likes traveling.
I couldn't control my trembling lips.
Dino stared at me for a long time.
Then he said quietly, "Do you want to help me, Sil?"
I furrowed my brows. What's wrong with this guy?
"You want to, right, Sil?" Dino insisted.
He's really good, Vanya. After he made me sick, now I'm asking for help. Aren't you embarrassed?
Sil ."
I really know her beautiful mother, Vanya.
What I usually call Aunt Ella. Who really loves this only child. The one at his house opened a garment business. Yes, because she has to endure life after divorcing her father Dino.
"Do you want to help me, Sil? Tell Mama I'm sorry."
"Why don't you go home and tell your mother yourself?" I started to hate seeing him whining like that.
"I can't, Sil."
"Why can't it?"
"I can't explain it to you. Anyway, you have to help me."
"That's fine. Why should I?"
"Because you're the only one here who knows my house. You just need to stop by the house for a moment and tell me that I'm really sorry for disappointing Mama."
Strange request.
And try that, Vanya. He casually said he was sorry he had disappointed his mother. Does he not regret at all when he disappointed me?
"I can't," I said firmly.
Dino looked disappointed.
"Why don't you just ask Donna for help?" suddenly the words just came out of my mouth.
Dino looked down.
"Donna isn't coming."
"Why don't you come along?"
"How do I know?" Dino said rather loudly. His eyes challenged mine. Make the heart dagdigdug. For some reason, I saw despair in his tired eyes. I feel a little sorry.
He was silent. Looking at the fish pond again. What's going on between him and Donna?
"So you don't want to help me?" he said desperately.
"Who knows." I turned back up the stairs. I just want to forget everything.
"Sisil," Dino called softly.
I stopped and looked.
"I would be very grateful if you would help."
I walked away without answering anything.
And when I got to the table, and told my friends about my experience just now, Dina, Deta, and Mia looked at me with pity, and thought I was having an illusion.
While I myself was still thinking about his strange request. Why doesn't he just go home and apologize to his mother?
That curiosity finally made me want to help him, to come to his mother. It was Tuesday, September 4th. I thought at that time maybe Dino had gone home.
And my arrival was greeted with emotion by Aunt Ella, who now looked a little tired. "Thank you, Sil, for coming."
I just smiled a little.
Then they both fell silent.
The house looks quiet.
"Dino isn't home yet, Auntie?" Finally, those were the first words spoken after both of them remained silent.
Aunt Ella was a little shocked and looked at me without understanding. It took a long time before he finally shook his head.
"I know Auntie's feelings. Maybe Auntie is angry, maybe hateful. But Dino is very sorry for not listening to Auntie's words. He regrets joining the tea walk. And he apologizes."
"Yes, he should have heard Auntie's words," said the middle-aged woman weakly.
"But, Auntie, will you forgive him? And let him go home?"
"Go home?" Aunt Ella looked a little dazed. "Yes, Auntie was already willing for him to leave. But Sisil knows, Auntie really missed it. Maybe, it was the same as Sisil's feelings at the time..., ah, never mind. Auntie really regrets what happened."
I swallowed dry saliva.
"Ng..., I'll just excuse myself, Auntie. Say hello when Dino comes home."
Aunt Ella looked at me in surprise.
"What are you talking about, Sil? You don't know the story?"
"What is the story?" My steps stopped at the door.
"Dino will never come back here. Last Saturday, September 1st, when the tea walk group was crossing the river, he was carried away by the current. The current was strong. No one managed to help him. Auntie already said he was a weak child..."
I was not surprised.
"But I met Dino on Sunday evening, Auntie. At Puncak!" I said shaking.
Aunt Ella gaped.
"Dand Ddino conveyed the message. Dhe apologized..."
"Sisil, Dino's body was found Sunday morning, the next day. Then he was buried..."
Suddenly I understood, and hugged Aunt Ella while crying uncontrollably.
Aunt Ella gently stroked my hair. For a long time we were silent.
Holding each other close, gave each of our hearts a chance to speak.
Vanya, this is the first time I have experienced a strange incident like this. Dan and his college friends, I got information that Dino was reckless in joining the tea walk, because it was an outlet for his frustration at being betrayed by Donna.
Oh, Vanyaga. How do I tell him that I want to help him deliver a message to his mother?
Help me, Vanya. Tell him...
Sisil
When Vanya folded the letter, she saw that Bowo and Wina were no longer there.
Spontaneously, Vanyaga jumped from her seat and ran screaming
Calling Wina....