The Midnight Radio
Episode 3

"My name is Rose, Inoxu Tea. From a boarding house in Bandung."

My forehead shriveled to hear a hoarse voice at the end of the joint. "Please, Rose. Want to share what stories all listeners have?"

There was a small sound before the rose sounded. "I'm heartbroken, Tea."

"Why?"

"I am heartbroken at the treatment of my friends at school" said Mawar.

"What grade rose?" my many.

"Eleventth grade, Tea. In one of the private schools in Bandung. I moved to the current school from my old school because of Ambu's request. He wanted to, I went to school in a big city" Rose began to tell stories.

"I was a massage because Ambu said, if the school in the big city would be easier to find a university after I graduate later. Just that, the friends at school often make heartache."

"Why are you friends?" I'm starting to get curious.

"Some friends come and be nice to me if they want to. They know that I come from the village, and in the village also my family life can be said to be quite located. I was often invited to hang out, but with something I had to get out. For example, last weekend. They make me watch and walk. But when I buy tickets at the movies, I pay for everything."

"Wow, are you being used?"

"I feel that way, Tea. The worst after watching. They asked me to bring a vehicle because after watching the plan to go to Lembang. Only, yesterday it was my vehicle again in service. Because I did not bring a vehicle, I was taken all out. Not being invited to talk, not being answered in my time. Anyway I was considered non-existent. Until finally I just went home without saying goodbye to them," explained the Roses at length.

"Who did you meet at school? There's no question why did you come home first?"

"There's not. They are funny. I was considered non-existent, not looking in their eyes." The sound of the rose was soft.

"Totally," I said sympathizing. Sounded weird at the end of the connection. For some reason, a feeling of anxiety suddenly rose. "Kok laugh?"

"Yes the thing is funny" replied the Rose.

"Funny why?"

"Because of the kasian to me. Do you think I'm in school and have no friends? Many know Tea, my tea mah," he replied again.

"So there's still other friends, right? Thank goodness, at most you don't yourself—."

"My friends are a lot in school but not from the human class, Tea," cut the Rose.

I widened my eyes and spontaneously stared at Gia and Remi who were both looking at me. "What the hell do you mean?"

"My friends are a lot at school. There is Nyai waiting for the library with his back that is hollow, there are small children who like to cry during class hours, and there are also Dutch soldiers who do not have a head," Rose explained casually.

"Bhuuuh!"

I looked at Gia who was spouting coffee in her mouth. "Hahaha, the rose is not funny," I said trying to melt the atmosphere suddenly tense.

"I'm not kidding, Tea. From childhood I used to squirm them. Even now good friends with some of them. Oh yeah, in one of Rebel's radio studios there's tea, too."

"Don't! Uh, don't be put out. I'm a coward about it," I cut fast.

"They're not evil, tea. Just sometimes just plain nosy. I'm comfortable with them."

"That means you have that ability from birth huh?" tanyaku. I tried to rack my brain to divert the conversation.

"Yes Tea. So it's not weird."

"You interact with them often?" many spontaneous. Instantly I patted my forehead hard when I saw the sharp look of Gia and also Remi.

"You guys chatted? How can? The Dutch army has no head," I asked curiously.

"Bhuuuh!"

I was shocked and saw Remi this time spitting mineral water in her mouth. While Gia pointed her fists at me and glared.

"No need to talk to interact with them. They are not human like us. I usually get a glimpse of their past. Like the Dutch soldiers, for example. In the past, my school was a mess built right behind the church, for the abode of priests and nuns. His church still stands today, Teh. By the time Japanese troops came to Indonesia, many Dutch soldiers were hiding in the mess. They hid from the targets of the Japanese soldiers and stayed long enough in the mess. Until finally, there are natives who report to the Japanese army, if there are Dutch soldiers hiding in the mess."

"How come?" my many.

"It's been broken. Pastors and nuns too. All got ransacked and no one survived."

"Wow" I groaned.

"Highly, the natives who know their hiding place, also dibu*nuh. He was pinned*bak right on his back. In addition to being shown*bak, dib*suk also wears a long sword many times until his back is hollow. It was the natives who are now often called Nyai and become the waiters in the library."

"Wow," I chirped spontaneously.

"Si Nyai nyesel said, Teh. He was a traitor. The Dutch priests, nuns and soldiers were called *tai because he was a good man. Nyai himself also did not think that they would be diban*tai. He thinks he just wants to go back to his home country. His name even met his death."

"Yes as well?" I respond to rose stories with a variety of feelings. Fear, pity, pity.

"That's a damn thing, tea. Anyway pity me, on average they're a tragic end to his life."

I nodded my head and realized immediately that the Rose could not see me. "Roses, thank you so much for the story. You can also talk to people who have special abilities. Healthy huh?"

"Together Inoxu Tea," replied the Rose before severing the connection.

"Honestly, I'm speechless. Afraid yes, pity yes." I took a deep breath for a moment. "Fortunately without feeling it has been an hour and a half I accompany the listeners all. One song from Dewa 19 will be the closing of the Story of Midnight this time, hopefully can accompany his rest time yes. Inoxu said goodbye, see you again Monday night at eleven o'clock in the Story of Midnight 12.08FM Radio Rebel Bandung. Wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh."

I put down my headphones and stretched my body which suddenly felt stiff.

"Xu! Very bad indeed! It was rich even to the Rose," Gia's protest approached me.

I chuckled at her expression, "Sorry, that person was spontaneous."

"Ssshhhhhh," Remi said still from behind the operator's desk.

"What's up?" tanya Gia whispered.

"Deady it's mic." Remi told us with a lip gesture. Immediately, I turned off the mic and sighed inwardly condemning my carelessness. The mic must be confirmed dead after the broadcast is complete. If not, radio listeners can hear conversations or sounds that occur in the studio.

"Sori" I said slowly. Instead of answering, Remi seemed to be glued still in her seat. Curious, I approached and removed the headphone cord connected to the monitor. Instantly there was a faint sound of Gia protesting when the broadcast was over.

Kik kik kik!

Wait for. I pressed the pause button and retreated to a few seconds before then pressed the play sign. There was clearly the sound of someone laughing right after the recording of Gia's voice sounded.

" Who's laughing? ask Gia lirih. The three of us looked at each other and the atmosphere of the room turned colder.

"That's the time, the one that called the Rose. Do we go home?" remi tried to relax. I followed in his footsteps and stuffed my phone into the bag. As hard as we can, we act as if there is nothing, when in reality, the three of us are struck by overwhelming fear.

Kik kik!

Right in front of the door, the sound of laughter was heard again. With as fast as I could, I grabbed the doorknob and immediately shot out as soon as the door opened, leaving Gia and Remi behind me.