The Midnight Radio
Episode 64

I walked slowly while enjoying the warm morning sunlight. The clock was seven o'clock in the morning, but I was right in front of Radio Rebel. Not without reason, in a group chat last night, one of the radio owners, Kang Saija, said that tomorrow, he wanted us all to be there at half-eight. Kang Saija is the person who had participated in the broadcast process of the Story of Midnight when it was just aired, and fully supports this program.

"Still sleepy?" greet Bang Win right in front of the entrance. I just nodded and immediately went inside and sat down on the sofa.

"The new house nyampe at two o'clock, abis broadcast," said I. Lately the broadcast of the Story of Midnight can not run smoothly as usual. Noise or noise disturbances, even sounds that suddenly disappear often have to face. In fact, Kang Utep said there was nothing wrong with the supporting equipment.

"What does it want? Tumben really owner ask us to gather all early in the morning gini." I looked at Bang Win who was focusing on his phone right in front of me.

"Say, the owner's coming here."

"newspaper? The owner? 'Bang Win's owner is Kang Saija, '" I replied.

"If I told myself the owner wanted to come here, it would not be me or Kang Saija, Oxu." Bang Win smiled. "And if I say 'the news', that's not a sure sign."

"Is there another owner?" Gia who just came with Adul immediately chimed in.

"There was. He whose name cannot be called, but in fact, his name is often called."

"Ish, Bang Win is playing a riddle," I chuckled.

"You know later, I'm surprised myself. If indeed what Kang Saija meant was the owner of 'it', then this is his first visit after Radio Rebel officially stood."

Me and Gia and Adul looked at each other.

***

"Where the hell is he?"

"Tajir really sure, make the radio 'wouldn't play the cost."

"Cowok or girl?"

"His wealth is man."

"We should give you a big welcome."

My ears caught a lot of words that were milling around from the mouths of broadcasters and radio employees. Just like me, they seem curious about the mysterious owner.

I turned to the meeting room and found out that Bang Win, Kang Utep, Teh Opi, and Bang Saija were already in there more than half an hour ago.

"Xu, you're not getting any leaks from Bang Win?" tanya Gia whispered.

"Test leak?" askaku.

"Ish, about who wants to come!"

"Religious. I don't have a lot of nanya, keep Bang Win also not a lot of stories," I replied.

"Oh, Adul deg-degan! About this owner is fierce, no? Do you want to evaluate the results of our work? So who's doing poorly wants to be fired?" ask her with an anxious tone.

The words of Adul suddenly silenced all the mouths that were there. Each began to feel anxious and afraid if what Adul said was true happened.

***

My eyes stared at an angkot that stopped right in front of Radio Rebel. From inside the amber, out came a young woman wearing a veil, and wearing thick glasses. Looks like she's a student who has an interest in the area here.

I frowned and straightened my body as I watched him walk confidently into the Radio Rebel parking lot. Although the clothes he used were just oversized hoodies, torn jeans and converse shoes that were stepped on the heel, I somehow could see, if the woman has an elegant and graceful gesture.

"Xu, are we opening the announcer's vacancy?" asked Gia who was following my direction.

"Yes. Her body language is no joke, but her body language is not. Elegant, confident and mysterious at the same time" replied Gia.

The two of us waited impatiently for the woman to stand right in front of the entrance.

"Punten, want some. That Kang Saija is like Bang Win?" he asked one of the broadcasters who was crouching and smoking near the entrance.

"Oh, there's tea! Come in, all else on the gathering."

"Oh yes, makasi," the woman's smile then moved in.

When he came inside he asked the same question. Her soft eyes looked at me so I couldn't help but smile at her.

"Hey, come on!" greet Kang Saija friendly. All of us who were sitting stood up and looked at them.

"Yes. Is it late, huh? It was confused which angkot ride, because it has not been here for a long time."

One by one began to greet the woman, Bang Win, Teh Opi, and Kang Utep. Afterwards they all let him go straight into the meeting room. Not long after, we all went inside.

At the ruanv meeting, I was quite surprised to find if the usual furniture in this room was lost. Sofas, chairs, meeting tables, replaced by carpet overlays complete with seating mats and bean bags.

"Please sit down, you guys" said Kang Saija.

We all followed his words with question mark hearts.

"Some thing I want to say." Kang Saija opened the conversation after seeing that all of us, including Mumu, were already seated. "As you know. Radio Rebel has been around for five years, almost six years. And also, maybe all you know, Bang Win and I are the owners of this radio."

We all nodded.

"That's all true. However, other than the two of us, there is another owner of this radio we work on. This owner is a person whose name never wants to be called. But we often call it.

This radio, which at that time did not have a name, was built by him and his best friend. However, for one reason or another, he asked me and also Bang Win who had just returned from Japan, to help him get official permission to stand and manage this radio until it can be as big as now. And now, it's time I introduce him to all the friends. Regina Maharani Rahman, or Rebel, the main owner of this radio."

Everyone stared at the woman next to Kang Saija who was kindly smiling and waving at all of us.

***

"Today I came here just to visit. This place, this radio, has a high historical value for me personally. At first, my friend and I, Nday, joined a campus radio organization where we attended college. Unfortunately, the organization must close because over time the less interest. My initial intention of following the organization was just a fad. It is different with Nday. He really wants to be a broadcaster and really loves the world of broadcasting. My relationship with Nday is very close, maybe even more than my brother. I, who had no sister, met her who was an only child.

After the campus radio organization was phased out, Nday had a dream to set up his own radio station just so he could broadcast as he pleased and as much as he wanted. As a friend, all I can do is support him.

With a struggle that can not be said to be easy, we managed to establish this radio that was not yet named. We often chat, if later this radio has been officially established and he became a famous broadcaster.

I often tease him by saying, if one day I will become a writer and write a story that he will bring when broadcast. My speech seems to be the fuel of Nday to go forward, although many doubt it.

In the middle of the road to inaugurate this radio, we were hit with the issue of cost, frequency registration and more. We had to find the empty frequency ourselves to be officially registered. Nday works day and night at this place to find the right channel, until finally we can register this radio frequency which is 12.08 FM and authorized by a decree from the Directorate General of Law and Legislation-Invitation of the Department of Justice.

Unfortunately, Nday's struggle for another step towards his dream, came to a halt. After this frequency was officially registered, Nday again conducted a non-stop day and night broadcast test to test the radio transmitter. Because it works too hard and had to go outside to see the transmitter that is still in a state of heavy rain. Nday breathed his last here in one of the studios. His congenital heart disease that often made him rushed to the hospital relapsed and without anyone knowing, he died in this place.

I only learned of his death after three days that his body was here before it was found. Saddened? Ja. Broken down? Ja. To lose? Sure. But, surrender? Nah! Nday sacrificed himself to achieve his dream, and I knew I had to move on.

Due to my limited ability. I ask for the help of Bang Win and Kang Saija. The three of us made it until it officially stood up and had a name. As per Nday's will, this radio called Rebel which he dedicated to me. Rebel was my calling in college.

I was born in Bandung, bleeding half a sunda. However, because from childhood always followed my father around Indonesia, when I returned to Bandung for college, I did not understand Sundanese at all so my friends called me Regina Bele*gug (stupid) or Rebel.

And my arrival this time is just to reminisce and remember my best friend's hard work. This radio is it? Hopefully in the hands of all friends, this radio is getting ahead."

"Aamiin," an exclamation echoed in the meeting room. Just when the atmosphere was quiet again, from the corner of the meeting room, it sounded the voice of another Amin.