SHAPESHIFTERS
WAIT FOR NEWS FROM ME: Part 1
"This is the latest information that we can report. From the city hope general hospital (named one of the cities)... With me Ardian Surya, thank you, and good morning!"
The words that were already attached to Ardian's head, easily slid from his mouth, without the need for him to write down or read his notes again.
Ardian's co-worker, who shines at Ardian with a camera on his shoulder, forms a 'ok' mark with his finger, also a sign for Ardian to be able to hold the microphone casually, away from his chest.
Since last night Ardian waited, and searched for information about the murder and burning of one family, only produced a sheet of notes that Ardian had read in a matter of minutes.
The newscast that Ardian reported today was live, and was televised together with the morning news coverage.
"I can't take it anymore. I have to go to the bathroom now! Please, take care of this camera!"
Nurdin placed the fantastically valuable camera on a bench, which was in front of the body storage room, and half ran to the hospital toilet.
The smell of burnt flesh, although it has often penetrated into his sense of smell, but Ardian may never get used to the pungent aroma.
Ardian wanted to rush away from there as soon as possible, but since Nurdin entrusted his camera to Ardian, inevitably, Ardian had to wait until Nurdin returned.
Ardian profession as a television reporter, not as beautiful as the shadow of Ardian, when he finished his studies, and with his passion applied for work in one of the television stations, which became his place of work now.
Ardian who wants to become a widely known news reader, with wara-wiri on television, make him have to sacrifice his youth, along with his eye bags are now increasingly swollen and blackened.
Who would have thought that it was a very exhausting job?
What came to his mind, that he would sit sweetly in a suit behind a desk in an air-cooled room, was not that easy to achieve.
It has been more than three years Ardian became one of the reporters on the television station, but Ardian is still a news reader in the field, with no signs of being promoted.
Jobs that drain his energy and mind, so sometimes Ardian seems to want to give up, and stop working just like that.
Resisting sleepiness from staying up all night, making Ardian's head feel very sick.
The stomach acid also seems to follow the recurrence, making him feel somewhat nauseous.
"Let's get out of here now!" Nurdin took his camera and walked away from the place with Ardian.
"Are you not hungry?" ask Nurdin.
"Well! Crazy one! You still have a taste for food after smelling that smell from the morgue?" Ardian asked back, shaking his head, in disbelief.
"of course! I want to eat goat satay, to get my stamina back" Nurdin replied without a burden.
It was as if a snake was writhing in Ardian's stomach, imagining goat satay, with the smell of charred human flesh, which could still be smelled by him even though they were quite far from the morgue.
Ardian seemed to be about to let out his entrails immediately.
Half-running, Ardian searched the nearest toilet he could possibly see, regardless of Nurdin's scream, seemingly confused by Ardian's sudden running motion.
Fortunately, there was no need to linger Ardian looking, door marked toilet, affordable view Ardian.
In a hurry Ardian went in there, and without having a chance to close the door again, Ardian took out all the leftovers that had not been digested by his stomach.
After repeatedly forcing her stomach to push out its contents, Ardian was finally able to stop vomiting.
While looking in the mirror, Ardian washed his face in the sink, and took a little water from the tap to put on a gargle.
It's really uncomfortable.
His head felt increasingly painful, coupled with his stomach that also felt pain after working hard, to vomit acid reflux.
I don't know how much weight he lost during his work.
"Are you okay?" asked Nurdin who seemed to be standing at the door.
"Yes. My stomach acid is just the one that's crumpled" replied Ardian.
"Then, let's go buy some food!" Nurdin.
Ardian would have snapped at Nurdin right then and there, but Ardian paused his intention, and tried to stay calm.
"I don't want to eat goat satay. We're looking for a stall that sells rice just sit," said Ardian, walking slowly out of the toilet, and approached Nurdin who was still waiting for him there.
"Aren't you going to keep that camera first?" ask Ardian.
"No. Our car park is on the opposite side. It would be very tiring, if I had to go back and forth to take this thing there" replied Nurdin.
They still have to gather information about the murder, making them both unable to go too far, or linger away from the morgue, if not to miss the information, he said, which could have been there all of a sudden.
After walking not too far from the back of the hospital, Ardian saw a food stall selling mixed rice, yellow rice and nasi ubuk.
"That! Let's just go there!" bring Ardian.
Although Nurdin seemed reluctant, the young man still followed Ardian's invitation.
Ardian can hardly swallow his food well, although the actual taste of the rice sat there quite delicious, because the shadow of the scent of the morgue, still circling and attached in the nose of Ardian.
While eating his food, Ardian occasionally glanced at Nurdin.
Nurdin's job wasn't as exhausting as Ardian's.
Nurdin can still steal time to sleep, while Ardian must keep watch, and wonder to everyone who can provide information for him.
Plus, Ardian must record and organize his report, in order to be understandable and attract the attention of people who watch the news.
Nurdin also did not need to pretend to keep looking as fresh as Ardian, as no one would see him.
Another with Ardian.
Although already very tired, Ardian can not show a lethargic face, and must still look fresh and excited in front of the camera.
Working without a clear break, but the wages received are not much, and it feels completely unfit when compared to the fatigue of work.
If not steady with the ideals to become a journalist like Ardian, then you should look for other ideals.
Before Ardian and Nurdin walked away from the food stall, several people wearing uniforms with different television stations, seemed to walk in.
"We go first!" said Ardian, just greeting those people who became his friends staying up last night.
"Okay, Bro!" answer some of them, raising one hand.
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Please critique and suggestion 🙏
Author is still worried about airing this post 🤔😅
Thanks in advance 🤗🙏