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183 | Old Friends
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2024-10-29 19:42:56"Amelia," I called, staring at her two round eyes.
"Yes," replied Amelia, looking back at me as if she knew something serious was coming out of my mouth.
I took a breath for a moment.
"I'm sorry for my bad behavior to you all this time. I'm sorry, I've ignored you," I began my explanation.
I explained to Amelia that I did not really mean to deliberately ignore her. I was confused because Hendryx, my bass mentor I idolized, fell into the abyss of drugs.
"I'm sorry if you heard bad things about me," I apologized again.
Amelia just listened silently. Her gaze then fell to the table. She then turned her head towards the Golden River, which shimmering in the city lights and stars. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
“You remind me of this old story that I always remember," responded Amelia, starting her story.
"Long ago, when I was in elementary school, there was this boy. He's so naughty. Few want to be friends with hi
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In the Name of the Sacred Tree 184 | Old Friends 2
Papadopoulos said that two decades ago, in 1992, to be precise, Key Phu Thich was a scavenger village. Understandably, this was where the largest landfill in Surabaya. All the trash in Indonesia's second-largest city ends here.According to Papadopoulos, there used to be someone who started a scavenger village on the edge of this waste mountain. At that time, he continued, that person intended to organize a garbage dump as well as a housing complex for cleaning workers in the city of Surabaya.Gradually, word got out that the Key Phu Thich dump was about to be closed and moved to Nouvo Bay. It was then that many migrants from various parts of the archipelago began to inhabit this scavenger village. Even though the stench of garbage stinks, it did not prevent the nomads from seeking their fortune in the City of Heroes.Even so, those who came in the early days must be willing to live amid various types of waste. In the past, in the story of Papadopoulos, a lot of
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 185 | Aisha's Explanation
After being with Amelia, I prepared to meet Aisha. I actually also want to know. Why there was a man answer my phone in the early hours of the morning. Aisha said when if she wanted to explain it to me back from Brazil. And now I'm in Indonesia, and I'm going to meet her.I messaged Aisha if I could meet her at her house. Aisha said yes."Will I meet Ahmed there?" ask in chat messages."Just come here," replied Aisha.I quickly drove back to Great Certajava Street. As usual, the mosque next to Aisha's house was filled with Muslim worshipers. I turned towards the security post and said I was going to meet Aisha. The security guard opened the gate, saying that Aisha was waiting.I parked the car right in front of the main door. Indeed, I did not intend to linger in Abdul Rasheed's house. I just want to know Aisha's explanation. After that, I will go straight home.At the main door of this Middle Eastern palace-like house, Aisha was already sta
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 186 | Break It Down
Back home, I was dizzy with all the strange series of events that I thought were interconnected. Even so, I had a hard time connecting with each other.Let's break it down from the start.The initial event that made me wonder was there's a car following me from the beginning from CLOFUS all the way to Certajava. Then the same car followed me to the East Java Police Headquarters. It was as if I go everywhere I'm being followed by that car.Then there was the arrest of Brother Bowie by the Indonesia Corruption Eradication Committee (ICEC). The arrest of the mosque administrator seems to have something to do with the arrest of Madura Regent Floyd Sr. The regent was arrested by ICEC for accepting bribes from a private company to launch an oil and gas project. Then why can a pedicab driver be involved with a white-collar crime?Then, I met a prostitute who claimed to have been the victim of a brutal Indonesian Muslim Defender (IMD) attack on the Guysville loca
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 187 | Jealousy
THE next morning, I prepared to go to CLOFUS for college. As usual, I warm up the engine of my favorite motorcycle. I haven't ridden my bike in a few days. It was a little dusty but still pretty shiny.I looked at my watch. It was still seven in the morning. But Julia never passed in front of my house. I wanted to take Julia to CLOFUS so she wouldn't have to walk or ride a rickshaw. After all, I made her cry again because of my urging attitude.Could not wait for Julia. I stepped out of my fence. I then looked at Julia's house to find out. Why until seven o'clock I didn't see her pass?When I looked at Julia's house, which was only four houses apart from mine, I was shocked, hurt, and angry at the same time.Apparently, there was a silver LCGC car parked in front of her house. And I knew whose it was. Besides, why did the cop come to Julia's house so early? Saltyville to Certajava was quite a distance.Unmoved, I watched a pair of lovers chatting s
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 188 | Jealousy 2
I did not know why I suddenly got nervous knowing Amelia and Billy were in the same car. After all, why didn't they ever get out of the car? All of this made my heartache.I took my phone out of my pants pocket. I was about to call Amelia, ask what did she mean by every day with Billy? Wasn't she the one who wanted me? But, why should I be so angry?Shit!I put my phone back in my pocket, said goodbye to Brother Moe, and stepped into the faculty building, which was already bustling with students starting to arrive.I looked at my watch, still 15 minutes until the first class of the morning. I turned my way towards Brother Eugene's coffee shop. Apparently, there was already Mr. P and Matt, two of my best friends."Lang!" called Mr. P and Matt."Hello, guys! What's up?" I asked, then sat down next to them lazily.I then lit my cigarette again with the fire that Matt lit."What's wrong with you?" asked Mr. P."Really, what'
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 189 | Jealousy 3
"That's impossible," I said."What's impossible?" asked Mr. P.“Aisha and Ahmed are engaged,” I replied."What makes you so sure?" asked Mr. P again."I met Aisha last night at her house," I said, "she said that she was on Madura Island to accompany her parents to check the oil and gas project there."Mr. P looked thoughtful. There was a short pause before he opened his mouth again."There's no way my informant was wrong," said Mr. P. “My informant is a reliable source. My informant was also the one who gave the students information about Mayor Jamaal.”I nodded, trusting Mr. P. Information from Mr. P never misses. He is reliable."I'm sorry if this information makes you ..." said Mr. P, which I cut immediately."It's okay," I said. "If you don't tell me, how will I find out."Silence enveloped Brother Eugene's stall again."Time to go to class," Matt said breaking the silence.
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 190 | Deceit
"Zoey ... she was abused by his customers," said the old man."What!?" I said surprised, half asked in disbelief.I rushed to Zoey's room.And right. In the room, I saw Zoey sitting half-lying clutching her cheek as if she had been slapped. Her hair is also messy. Zoey's room was a mess."Gerald!" I called out as I walked up to Zoey and helped her sit up, "what are you doing?""Why are you here?" asked Gerald."What did Zoey do that you had to abuse her?" I asked.Gerald looked at me more seriously."He tricked me!" cried Gerald again.“Deceptively, how did you have the heart to go this far?” I asked.I just kept thinking. Aren't Gerald and Zoey friends in Newton. What kind of deceit made Gerald this angry?"I released her from the brothel in Newton earlier," said Gerald, "I ransomed her a large sum of money. And you know what she did?”I was still silent, trying to process what Ger
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 191 | Deceit 2
I stood still in the room while Zoey was still crying. I didn't seem to want to believe everything Gerald said. Even so, what Gerald said was true. Gerald revealed what Zoey said to him was the same as what was said to me.That meant I might also be tricked by Zoey. After I redeem her, Zoey would leave me with my money. Gerald was lucky enough to see Zoey again.I turned around and watched Zoey. She was still crying not daring to see me."Tell me what Gerald said is not true," I asked Zoey.Zoey didn't say anything and continued to cry."It's all true, isn't it?" ask again."I'm sorry," Zoey said. "It's not everything like what you think.""You want to trick me!" I pointed at Zoey.Zoey just kept quiet and continued to cry."Stupid me," I said, "why do I always trust women so easily.""Trust me, Lang," Zoey pleaded, "not everything is like what Gerald says.""Then tell me how it really is," I said, "I don't
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In the Name of the Sacred Tree 283 | The End
News 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
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 282 | The Black Mask Movement
Julia 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
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 281 | The Bastard
When 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
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 280 | Saltyroth Rhapsody
I 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.
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 279 | Investigation
Knowing 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
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 278 | Bradley's Diary
The 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
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 277 | Burning Revenge
After Brody investigated, it was Troy who was about to collect Zidan's debt from Jamaal. Troy told Jamaal that Zoey was somewhere in Newton and would kidnap her as bail. Shortly after, there was an IMD raid into the Guysville prostitution complex that left three people dead.We said Brody - referring to himself and Troy - concluded that the mastermind behind the brothel attacks was the Rasheed's. Brody also revealed that the most responsible behind Calliope's past to bring down Jamaal was Vincent. I was surprised.Brody added that Vincent found out from Zidan. And the Zidan was pretending to be angry and running away from the house so as not to stand out, that he was the one who leaked it.I also asked, how did Zidan know if Calliope was Zoey aka Melody? Well, therein laid the mystery. Who told Zidan? Said Brody.I further asked why Brody was willing to let Zoey go to me. Brody answered because I was his nephew.Then, I was reminded of Troy. Actual
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 276 | Climax
Then, suddenly the rumor spread that Vincent Limantoro was a descendant of communists. Vincent's family said the issue once defended Saltyville because they wanted immorality to continue in Saltyroth. George Limantoro was touted as a dissident against the regime.Shortly, Mayor Jamaal announced three villages, not two, whose citizens were asked to leave immediately. The problem was, the three villages would be evicted by the authority in a couple of days. The three villages were Saltyville, Wigan, and Certajava. For Saltyville in particular, the eviction would be the next day.Those facts made me even angrier. I ignored Brody's advice to remain silent. At a concert that refused the eviction in Saltyville, I participated in openly voicing my rejection of Jamaal.At that concert, I was no longer wearing Che's robes. I wanted the world to recognize me and the voices I represented.Then hundreds of IMD masses suddenly attacked Saltyville. There were clashes b
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 275 | Dangerous Teror
It was Santos. To me, Santos confessed that he and other service officials travel to Singapore for a comparative study on the construction of city parks also the cleanliness rules. He gambled in his spare time. At first, I understood Santos's reasons.We then talked about music and other things. We didn't have much time together because Santos had to leave, while Quinn and I went back to the hotel.The next day, I had a concert with Boumerank. As usual, the atmosphere is always lively. After that, we all returned to Indonesia.Day by day, Zoey's life began to improve. I had also kept his promise to fulfill Zoey's dream of becoming a singer.However, when everything seemed fine, I and Zoey were suddenly hunted down by strangers. They demanded me and Zoey shut our mouths or be killed. Zoey and I at first thought it was someone from Zoey's past.In the midst of her popularity, news spread that Calliope was a former drug addict and prostitute with the
