In the Name of the Sacred Tree
My name is Greyson Langley-just call me Lang. I'm a heavy-metal band player who just back from a concert tour. On my Clofus campus, I reunited with my friends and my beautiful four crushes.
Later, I heard about the largest prostitution complex in South East Asia was threatened by being evicted by the government. There, I met a prostitute with a golden voice with a dark past. So, I promised to free her from that despicable valley. Later, I found myself torn between five different women in five irreconcilable lives.
The deeper I became involved in their lives, I catapulted into the intrigues of a world that threatens my life and may shatter my heart. And even my nation's democracy. One day, I found a diary written by my grandfather, which made me enlightened also threatened.
Stranded amid love, danger, passion, and violence, I should choose between myself, my lover, or my nation. What I begin in compulsion now becomes my urgent need.
Come, read my story ...
If you dare!
WARNING:
This story contains adult, explicit, disturbing, and sensitive material. Reader discretion is advised.
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Chapter: 283 | The EndNews of my arrest spread rapidly and wildly - from surrender, twisted by the Indonesian Herald by forced arrest. The wave of mass demonstrations was getting bigger in Surabaya.Until one day, a man was demonstrating alone carrying the body of a woman in the Surabaya House of Representative building yard which was recorded by television broadcasts. A moment later, he poured gasoline over his body and the old woman's body. Then, he started a fire which quickly burned himself and the body he was carrying.Everyone knew that he was Mr. Wayan who intended to show his protest by presenting himself and his wife in front of the people's representatives. He had a desperate on the government.When that happened, I was in the detention room.All the prisoners present stood up to learn of Wayan's self-immolation on television. I thought the prisoners would kill him for being the instigator of this distressing incident. Apparently, they even cursed the authorities. Th
Last Updated: 2021-11-18
Chapter: 282 | The Black Mask MovementJulia then revealed that her pregnancy was actually from my seed. Therefore, Julia asked in return whether it meant that the child she was carrying was a bastard child too. That was why Julia was forced to accept Gerald's marriage proposal to cover my disgrace.I asked Julia why she hadn't said that earlier. Julia admitted that she had tried but was afraid to ruin my happiness. At that time, I received a phone call from Quinn if I was appointed as Hendryx's replacement at The Boumerank. Besides, I was already a famous person. Julia was afraid of damaging my image and defaming Bradley.I also asked how could this happen? Julia reminded me of when I lay in the courtyard of a closed Middle Eastern restaurant. That night, I forced Julia to make love to vent my frustration.I asked why Julia didn't refuse or fight me. Julia admitted that if she fough
Last Updated: 2021-11-18
Chapter: 281 | The BastardWhen my mother found out that I wrote a book, she could only cry. I softly asked Lidia again. Lidia admitted that she did not want one of her loved ones to be lost in front of her again.Lidia finally told how Bradley disappeared. At that time, Brad and George were advocating for Saltyville residents not to be evicted by the government. The reason at that time was the same, namely the eviction of the brothels. The goal was to control coastal land to build an industrial complex.Bradley struggled on the pitch staging protests, while George, a journalist, struggled through writing. Because George's writings were considered threatening, he was hunted down by a group of unknown people. George during the New Order era was more famous than Bradley because of his profession as a critical journalist.One day in February 1998, a group of people dressed i
Last Updated: 2021-11-18
Chapter: 280 | Saltyroth RhapsodyI visited Aisha at her palace at Royal Certajava. There, I asked Aisha if it was true that the Rasheed's were eyeing a new source of oil in Saltyville. Aisha said she knew, but was not involved.I asked, why didn't Aisha try to block her family's intentions? There were thousands of people living on the land of Saltyville. Aisha replied that she was only a Muslim woman. She had no power to decide. I accused Aisha of enjoying the result.Aisha started crying, telling me this was not what I accused her family of. I asked, then how exactly. Aisha replied she couldn't expose it.Then, I clashed with Aisha by accusing her of being hypocritical because she pretended not to know what was going on. We both mourned each other and move away from each other.So it was with Kacey.
Last Updated: 2021-11-18
Chapter: 279 | InvestigationKnowing that I again urged my mother to talk. However, Lidia did not budge. Then, I said goodbye and would find out for myself and continue Bradley's struggle. Lidia strictly forbade my intention. But I was determined.Based on clues from Brad's book and Zoey's notes, I and Amelia, with Vincent's help, discover the mode of money laundering by the Rasheed and Schielhort families. Bribes to and from Jamaal, Syahnaz, Fatima, and Malloch, were deposited through the CLIF Foundation and Islamic boarding schools and houses of worship as a form of charity.Besides, some were used to establish Islamic boarding schools in Jombang and Madura. This was done by asking one of the pesantren students to be used on his behalf. That way, the Rasheed and Torstein families were not legally touched. An example was Bowie.While tracing this dirty practice, I continued to experience terror.Exploring further to Jakarta, I also discovered a flow of money to state officials. The
Last Updated: 2021-11-16
Chapter: 278 | Bradley's DiaryThe next day, I asked my mother, Lidia, about Saltyville in more detail. The village elders refused to talk about it unless Lidia had already told me. And how did Bradley relate to all of this? But Lidia refused to talk about Bradley and Saltyville.I insisted that I read old documents at the Dr. Sue Thompson Regional Hospital. The document stated that there was the name of Lidia Tanoto, who gave birth to twins without a father. Lidia didn't budge.I was not broken. Then, I rushed to the warehouse of my house. I unpacked old chests and suitcases that were there. Every old document I read to find what I looking for. But, actually, I didn't know what I was looking for. I only knew Bradley and Saltyville.Then there was a clean pocketbook, tied with ropes from torn cloth. I opened it slowly because the book had rotted with age. In the book, apparently, Bradley wrote his daily life up to three days before mysteriously disappearing.In the book, Brad wrote abo
Last Updated: 2021-11-15
Atas Nama Pohon Suci
Perkenalkan, namaku Galang Rakryan Panuluh, panggil saja aku Galang. Aku adalah seorang mahasiswa pemain band heavy-metal yang baru saja pulang dari tur konser. Di kampus, aku bertemu kembali dengan teman-teman dan empat gebetanku yang cantik. Saat itu, aku baru mengetahui ada sebuah lokalisasi terbesar di Asia Tenggara yang terancam digusur pemerintah. Di sana, aku bertemu dengan seorang pelacur bersuara emas dengan masa lalu yang kelam. Aku pun berjanji untuk membebaskannya dari lembah yang tercela itu. Lantas, hidupku terbelah di antara lima wanita yang berbeda, dengan lima kehidupan yang tidak dapat didamaikan. Semakin dalam aku terlibat dalam kehidupan mereka, aku terjebak dalam sebuah intrik yang mengancam hidup sekaligus menghancurkan hatiku. Dan bahkan, demokrasi bangsaku. Suatu hari, aku menemukan buku catatan yang ditulis oleh kakekku. Buku itu membuatku tercerahkan sekaligus terancam. Terdampar di tengah cinta, bahaya, gairah, dan kekerasan, aku harus memilih antara diriku sendiri, cintaku, atau bangsaku. Apa yang aku mulai dengan paksaan, mendadak menjadi sebuah kebutuhan. Ayo, baca ceritaku ... Jika kamu berani! PERINGATAN: Cerita ini mengandung materi sensitif. Kebijaksanaan pembaca disarankan.
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Chapter: 51 | Soundrenaline 4Aku pun meninggalkan Kirana dengan melangkah ke posisiku di sebelah kiri panggung atau sebelah kanan dari arah penonton. Aku melambaikan tangan ke arah massa yang disambut gemuruh sorak-sorai majelis SOUNDRENALINE Music Fest.“Che!” sang MC memperkenalkanku.Kru Ryg’—yang mayoritas—sendiri berasal dari sebagian karyawan Inferno Music Studio dan beberapa tetangga di Dukuh Kertajaya. Pay, yang sehari-hari menjadi tukang parkir, kini mendapat giliran menjaga equipment-ku. Diserahkannya gitar bass Ibanez kepadaku yang aku yakini sudah disetelnya dengan baik beserta amplifier Messa/Boogie-nya.Anggota kru yang pertama-pertama naik panggung itu membongkar peralatan yang sudah tersedia di panggung, lalu menggantinya dengan peralatan yang kami bawa sendiri. Aku menghargai Pay dengan memberinya dua jempol.Aku pun mulai check sound dengan membetot dawainya. Mak jlem! Bunyinya menggelegar hingga gelombangnya menerpa pepohonan hin
Last Updated: 2021-05-10
Chapter: 50 | Soundrenaline 3KALAU cewek udah main rahasia-rahasiaan gini, sebaiknya jangan kulawan, deh. Mending iyain aja, ya kan.Semakin dekat, kegaduhan yang ditimbulkan rombongan jamaah hitamiyah ini mengundang kegaduhan lainnya. Para bintang tamu yang berada dalam tenda pun sampai keluar demi menyaksikan mereka. Ada yang mengeluarkan ponsel untuk memfoto maupun memvideokan momen rombongan berjala melewati mereka. Ada juga yang histeris memanggil-manggil. Artis histeris ketemu artis lainnya?Dari dekat, seolah-olah adegan lambat adagio, dari puluhan orang itu, ada empat yang menarik perhatianku. Di antaranya ada seorang raksasa tambun berambut gondrong keemasan kayak Megaloman. Dia mengenakan kaus hitam yang dipadu padan dengan celana cargo army selutut. Tato motif tribal tampak jelas dari lengan atas hingga lengan bawahnya. Penampilan itu dipungkasi dengan sepatu Converse.Penampilan serupa juga ditunjukkan seorang gondrong lainnya. Bedanya, orang gondrong kedua ini mengenakan topi k
Last Updated: 2021-05-10
Chapter: 49 | Soundrenaline 2AREA belakang panggung ini berupa hamparan tenda-tenda militer maupun tenda-tenda untuk menampung korban bencana. Aku bisa melihat ada truk-truk dan bus yang melewati jalur khusus. Sejumlah orang tampak menurunkan peti-peti persegi warna hitam dengan pinggiran kelir perak. Ramai dan sibuk sekali. Aku meyakini orang-orang itu adalah anggota crew.Gemuruh harmoni alat musik pun terdengar sampai ke belakang panggung, walau speaker-speaker sound system menghadap ke arah sebaliknya. Dari lagu yang dibawakan, aku menebak yang sedang manggung sekarang adalah girlsband 5 Dewi.Di backstage sini, bau alkohol dan asap rokok menyengat sekaligus menyeruak. Lampu-lampu halogen yang terpasang di setiap penjuru pun menyilaukan mata. Aroma kosmetik juga bertebaran. Perih dan panas sekali. Uniknya, para penghuninya berlaku biasa saja, seperti berkumpul untuk menyaksikan orkes dangdutan.Aku pun diajak Kirana menuju ke salah satu tenda di bagian tengah hamparan tanda. Kalau g
Last Updated: 2021-05-10
Chapter: 48 | SoundrenalineCLOVER Leaf University of Surabaya alias Clofus sendiri letaknya cuma selemparan batu saja dari rumahku di Kertajaya. Sama-sama masih satu Kecamatan Gubeng. Makanya itu aku gak buru-buru amat.Aku sendiri merasa malam ini bakal cerah. Bintang-bintang di awang-awang terlihat riang berkelip sementara bulan yang bulat sempurna bersinar terang. Kupacu motor membelah terpaan angin yang membuat rambutku meliuk-liuk tak keruan.Ketika melihat pemandangan angkasa itu, aku jadi teringat kembali dengan bulir air mata dan bulatnya wajah Juleha yang kayak Selena Gomez itu.Namun, entah mengapa setiap kali aku ketemu Juleha, selalu saja ada yang aneh dengan diriku. Aku seolah tidak bisa jujur dengan perasaanku sendiri terhadapnya. Aku selalu berpura-pura menganggap Juleha hanya sebagai teman sepermainan belaka.Padahal, aku menyadari aku menyukainya, bahkan sejak masih SMP dulu. Ya, entahlah, Juleha mungkin cinta pertamaku. Tapi aku tak pernah punya nyali untuk mengun
Last Updated: 2021-04-25
Chapter: 47 | WindbreakerAku masih saja terbayang sekaligus terngiang wajah serta suara Sekar, ketika membersihkan diri dalam kamar mandi. Seolah-olah, dia seperti Dewi Narcissus yang membuat siapapun yang melihatnya jadi jatoeh tjinta.Tapi, aku tak berniat membuat Sekar layaknya kisah tragis Dewi Narcissus versi asli – yang bunuh diri nyempulung kolam karena jatuh cinta dengan dirinya sendiri. Aku akan membuat lembaran ceritaku sendiri dengan membantu mewujudkan mimpi Dewi Sekar menjadi diva kayangan!Aku lantas mengagumi wajah Sekar yang persegi, dipungkasi dagu nan tegas dengan polesan garis rahang yang kuat. Hal itu menampakkan kekuatan sekaligus kepercayaan diri. Rambut hitam Sekar yang lebat, menjulur lurus panjang, jatuh hingga ke punggung seperti mahkota putri keraton Jawa.Dua lekuk alis tebal Sekar tampak menaungi dua bola mata bulat telurnya. Warna mata itu hazel yang orang sering keliru itu coklat atau hijau. Setiap kali Sekar menatapku, aku selalu merasa ada kepasrah
Last Updated: 2021-04-23
Chapter: 46 | Upeti 2"UPETI apaan?""Fulus, duit, setorannya kurang," jelasnya. "Udah gak lancar lagi."Aku masih gak ngerti maksud Sekar. Dia pun menjelaskan kalau per bulan, setiap wisma di SD 2 Dukuh Jerut harus menyetor uang yang jumlahnya mencapai jutaan rupiah kepada sederet pejabat maupun pihak yang berwenang lainnya.Kalau ditotal, kata Sekar lagi, upeti yang mesti diberikan Mami maupun mami-mami lainnya kepada orang-orang pejabat berwenang itu, jumlahnya bisa mencapai belasan juta rupiah per wisma per bulan."Kok, kamu bisa tahu hal-hal semacam ini?" tanyaku."Aku," kata Sekar, "kalau di Arini ini, bagian dari upeti itu."Lalu, Sekar menggandeng lenganku kembali, lantas mengajakku berjalan. Aku pun manut sambil mengelus dada. Setelah mengalami rentetan peristiwa yang menyesakkan dada pada masa lalunya--hingga meninggalkan trauma--sekarang Sekar masih juga dimanfaatkan sebagai alat pertukaran. Ini manusia, bukan barang! Aku menggeram dalam hati."
Last Updated: 2021-04-21
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