The Plant That Sent Messages

Wim started work at nine. His phone buzzed on the desk. He read the message.

Wim mulai bekerja pukul sembilan. Ponselnya bergetar di atas meja. Ia membaca pesan itu.

"I am thirsty." The number was new. Wim did not know it. He put the phone away.

"Aku haus." Nomornya baru. Wim tidak mengenalnya. Ia menyimpan ponselnya.

At ten, another message came. "Please, some water." Wim frowned. Who wrote this?

Pukul sepuluh, pesan lain datang. "Tolong, minta air." Wim mengerutkan kening. Siapa yang menulis ini?

At lunch, he told his coworker about the texts. "Very funny," Wim said to her. She laughed and shook her head. "It is not me," she said.

Saat makan siang, ia menceritakan pesan-pesan itu kepada rekan kerjanya. "Lucu sekali," kata Wim kepadanya. Rekannya tertawa dan menggelengkan kepala. "Bukan aku," katanya.

Wim did not believe her. He looked around the office. Everybody looked at their screens.

Wim tidak percaya. Ia memandang berkeliling kantor. Semua orang menatap layar mereka.

At two, he stood by the window. His phone buzzed again. "I am very dry," said the message.

Pukul dua, ia berdiri di dekat jendela. Ponselnya bergetar lagi. "Aku kering sekali," bunyi pesan itu.

Wim looked down. A big green plant sat next to him. A small white box sat in its pot. A tiny light blinked on the box.

Wim menunduk. Sebuah tanaman hijau besar berdiri di sampingnya. Sebuah kotak putih kecil terpasang di potnya. Lampu kecil berkedip di kotak itu.

He read the words on the box. "Plant sensor. When the plant is dry, it sends a text." The phone number on the box was his. Someone made a mistake.

Ia membaca tulisan di kotak itu. "Sensor tanaman. Saat tanaman kering, alat ini mengirim pesan teks." Nomor telepon di kotak itu adalah nomornya. Seseorang telah membuat kesalahan.

Wim took a cup to the kitchen. He filled it with water. He gave the plant a long drink.

Wim membawa cangkir ke dapur. Ia mengisinya dengan air. Ia memberi tanaman itu minum yang banyak.

A minute later, his phone buzzed. "Thank you," said the message.

Semenit kemudian, ponselnya bergetar. "Terima kasih," bunyi pesan itu.