The Journalist

Part 77: The Dilemma I faced

"What book is this?" my question was when he handed me a book whose front writing was similar to the book Ameena gave.

"The interpretation of our religious scriptures."

My eyebrows are almost united. Holy book? So this is what Ameena gave me?

My hands don't move. I doubt I took the book.

"I can't read in Arabic."

"Relax, this is a translation in Japanese. But you can only read it here. If anything confuses you, just ask me" the man said.

I'm still sculpting. To be honest, this was not what I expected. All this time, I was so curious about the contents of the book Ameena gave me. I am also happy to have a similar book. However, knowing it was a scripture, my interest fell out instantly. This is because I am not interested in studying any religion. I don't understand why Ameena gave me the book when I asked her for a memento.

Just as I was about to grab the book to peek at the contents, my phone suddenly rang. Apparently the phone came from the editor I was working with. He asked me to go there immediately.

"I'll come back later" I told the old man in white while keeping my salary back in my pants pocket.

Because it's a holy book, I don't dare borrow it to take home. Especially before I was less able to keep Ameena's giving.

Just as I was about to step out of the house of worship, the man said, "Come back when your heart has been tapped!"

I nodded, then saluted the man before saying goodbye. I set my foot slowly towards my bike. Such a blazing light directly hit my face. Before wearing the helmet, I turned back to the magnificent building and then raised my head.

Mina-chan, is the sky in your place as bright as the sky in my current place? I still pray for you ....

It's the fourth year. I have been thirty years old. I had just completed my master's education at my father's request at that time. However, until now I still miss the blue-eyed woman's breath. During that time, big question marks were always with me. Who would have thought, the puzzle about the book Ameena gave has been answered. Doesn't it not rule out the possibility someday will reveal the existence of Ameena?

***

I went back to the office to discuss with my team. The media office where I work is now getting bigger and growing into digital media. Not only can be reached by the people of Tokyo, but also the whole of Japan.

"Ayano-san, please share to your twitter account the news I just released."

"All right," I said, throwing my body on the front seat of my desk.

Every day, there are many requests like this from my colleagues. This is because the followers on my twitter account rose dramatically after several investigative reviews that I wrote viral in the Maya world. This country has the largest number of newspaper readers in the world, it is natural that my name skyrocketed quickly.

The news that made me start to be glimpsed as an investigative journalist was when I unpacked the wrong judge's verdict regarding the murder case. Not only in Japan, I also managed to uncover human trafficking cases in Cambodia that came from citizens of Vietnam, Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and India. In fact, the news that I made it became the reference material for other media to make news.

I became famous for filming illegal activities with hidden cameras at points controlled by Yakuza and drug dealers, then uploading them to YouTube. Thanks to that, I got an award from the Tokyo Metropolitan police force so that my name became more and more popular in the public.

Awards not only from within the country, but also abroad. I was awarded the SOPA awards as the best young journalist and received the YGL award in Switzerland given to young professionals around the world. All of that I achieved because of my success in exposing humanitarian cases and human rights violations.

(SOPA: Society of Publishers in Asia.

YGL: young global leader)

My friends gathered and congratulated me.

"It's all thanks to all of you" I said shyly.

"Ah, don't go low. You've been working alone all this time" said the man sitting next to me.

"You are great! Even Conan Edogawa hasn't been able to crack the Black Organization, but in the real world you can crack it!" exciting friend.

The editor suddenly called me. I went straight into his room. The middle-aged man's face looked gloomy. He looked at me while breathing.

"We've been charged!"

"Eh?"

"Some of the officials you wrote about working with the Yakuza and the drug dealers are suing us for defaming them."

"Why is that? Didn't the police acknowledge the involvement of the government parties and will search for it?"

"Police has released an official statement that the information we provide is false. That's what makes them now strike back at us."

I'm tergugu. "How could it be like that?"

"Entahlah .. This must be an attempt to silence our media. You know for yourself that press freedom in this country is very low."

As the third largest economy in the world, our country is ranked the lowest in press freedom. There are traditions, economic interests, and political pressures that hinder the work of journalists to carry out roles in demanding government transparency. Politicians and governments are able to make the media subject to the threat of exclusion.

I bowed fully in front of the editor-in-chief. "Please forgive me! This is all because I still insist to release the news despite the threat of revocation of our media license," I said with regret.

"No! I'm the one who let you do it. Don't worry, stick to your faith! Never feel guilty about revealing the truth because that's what they want from you!" firmly editor in chief.

We finally went to court. Trial after trial has been conducted. No media covered this case. My chairman also asked us not to release the case to the public. I wanted to ask my uncle for help, but I suddenly thought about how different I was from those who used power relations.

During the closed-door hearing, many businessmen pulled their ads from our newspaper. This makes the company's revenue decrease drastically. Because advertising is the main source of corporate income.

Naas had to face us when the court decision granted the results of several related officials' demands. I don't understand why we could lose and have to pay fantastic money. I also began to realize there are parties who want this press company bankrupt.

In my apartment, I opened a payroll insert savings book that I kept for four years. The total is quite a lot even though it is still far from my target. My goal was to raise this money to redeem Ameena, but the financial hardships that the press company I worked for made me want to help them. Moreover, the legal cases that the company faced as a result of my writing content. Should I set aside my goal for this money to save the company that raised my name?

.

.

.