The Wi-Fi Names War

When Gemma moved into the building, she never expected to follow a quarrel on her phone. One Monday, two strange networks appeared in her Wi-Fi list. The first was called "StopTakingMyParkingSpot". The second was called "ItIsNotYourSpot".

Ketika Gemma pindah ke gedung itu, ia tidak pernah menyangka akan mengikuti pertengkaran lewat ponselnya. Pada suatu hari Senin, dua jaringan asing muncul di daftar Wi-Fi-nya. Yang pertama bernama "JanganAmbilParkirku". Yang kedua bernama "BukanParkirmu".

By Wednesday, the names had changed. "ThirdTimeThisWeek" had replaced the first, and the second now said "ThenParkSomewhereElse". Gemma checked the list every morning, like someone reading the news. It was funny, but it was also a little sad. Two neighbors who could not speak to each other were shouting through their routers.

Pada hari Rabu, nama-nama itu sudah berubah. "KetigaKaliMingguIni" menggantikan yang pertama, dan yang kedua kini bertuliskan "KalauBegituParkirDiTempatLain". Gemma memeriksa daftar itu setiap pagi, seperti orang membaca berita. Lucu, tetapi juga sedikit menyedihkan. Dua tetangga yang tidak bisa saling bicara sedang berteriak lewat router mereka.

She had a guess about who they were. One was probably Sabine, who lived above her and always carried a bag of oranges. The other might be the quiet man from the second floor. But Gemma had no proof, and she did not want to accuse anyone.

Ia punya dugaan siapa mereka. Yang satu mungkin Sabine, yang tinggal di atasnya dan selalu membawa sekantong jeruk. Yang lain mungkin pria pendiam dari lantai dua. Tetapi Gemma tidak punya bukti, dan ia tidak ingin menuduh siapa pun.

"If nobody does anything, this could go on for months," she told herself. On Friday, she renamed her own network "LetsJustTalkOnThursday". Then she taped a note to the lobby mailboxes. It read: "Whoever owns the parking networks, please come here on Thursday at seven. I will bring tea. Nobody has to bring a router."

"Kalau tidak ada yang berbuat apa-apa, ini bisa berlangsung berbulan-bulan," katanya pada dirinya sendiri. Pada hari Jumat, ia mengganti nama jaringannya sendiri menjadi "MariBicaraHariKamis". Lalu ia menempelkan catatan di kotak surat lobi. Bunyinya: "Siapa pun pemilik jaringan parkir itu, silakan datang ke sini hari Kamis pukul tujuh. Saya akan membawa teh. Tidak perlu membawa router."

On Thursday evening, Gemma sat in the lobby with a thermos and three paper cups. For ten minutes, nothing happened. She was starting to feel silly when the elevator opened and Sabine stepped out, holding her oranges. At the same moment, the man from the second floor came down the stairs. Both of them stopped.

Kamis malam, Gemma duduk di lobi dengan termos dan tiga gelas kertas. Selama sepuluh menit, tidak terjadi apa-apa. Ia mulai merasa konyol ketika lift terbuka dan Sabine melangkah keluar sambil membawa jeruknya. Pada saat yang sama, pria dari lantai dua itu turun lewat tangga. Keduanya berhenti.

"You," said the man. "You are the one who keeps parking in my spot."

"Kamu," kata si pria. "Kamu yang selalu parkir di tempatku."

"Your spot?" Sabine said. "I have had spot fourteen for three years."

"Tempatmu?" kata Sabine. "Aku sudah tiga tahun memakai nomor empat belas."

"So have I. Spot fourteen."

"Aku juga. Nomor empat belas."

Gemma poured the tea slowly. "Could you both check your parking cards?"

Gemma menuang teh perlahan. "Bisakah kalian berdua memeriksa kartu parkir kalian?"

Sabine pulled a card from her bag. The man took one from his wallet. They held them side by side under the lobby light. Hers said fourteen. His said forty-one.

Sabine menarik sebuah kartu dari tasnya. Si pria mengambil satu dari dompetnya. Mereka memegangnya berdampingan di bawah lampu lobi. Kartu Sabine bertuliskan empat belas. Kartu si pria bertuliskan empat puluh satu.

"Forty-one is at the far end, by the bins," Sabine said. "You have been parking in mine."

"Empat puluh satu ada di ujung sana, dekat tempat sampah," kata Sabine. "Kamu selama ini parkir di tempatku."

The man stared at his card, then at his shoes. "The paint on the wall has faded. It always looked like fourteen to me. So I have been angry at you for two months, and I was the one in the wrong."

Si pria menatap kartunya, lalu sepatunya. "Cat di dinding sudah pudar. Bagiku selalu tampak seperti empat belas. Jadi dua bulan aku marah kepadamu, padahal akulah yang salah."

"Two months and one week," Sabine said. "I counted."

"Dua bulan satu minggu," kata Sabine. "Aku menghitungnya."

Gemma handed each of them a cup. "Tea?"

Gemma menyodorkan segelas kepada masing-masing. "Teh?"

"Yes, please," the man said. "And I need a new network name. Any ideas?"

"Ya, tolong," kata si pria. "Dan aku butuh nama jaringan baru. Ada ide?"

"Try 'SorryAboutSpotFourteen'," Sabine said.

"Coba 'MaafSoalParkirEmpatBelas'," kata Sabine.