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33 | Crossover
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2024-10-29 19:42:56THE sound of the strings rubbing against Amelia Limantoro's bow was really immersive. It was as if my mixed feelings tonight were represented by her magnificent violin playing. I feel there was happiness in the major scales, and there was sadness in the minor scales.
Everything was intertwined in one great harmony to the point, I did not realize that my hand was holding Julia's hand.
Even though I was surprised, I did not want to immediately let go of my grip on Julia. I still insisted on feeling the roughness of Julia's palms. My mind seemed to be connected, how hard and how often this palm was used till causing wounds and blisters.
As a man, I certainly did not have the heart. Julia was a strong and tough woman indeed.
As I remember, when we were little, I never touched Julia on purpose, even if it was just the palm of her hand. Even though Julia was a nagging person, I really respect her as a woman.
But, I did not understand. Why did Julia not l
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In the Name of the Sacred Tree 34 | The Tension
"JOHN!" called Shu Alex. "Get me a chair, bring it here!"The one who was summoned is obedient.When he got up from where he was sitting, I could see that John was tall and sturdy. Dressed in a black suit, he looks like Shu Alex's personal bodyguard.His short hair was neat, framing her oval face. With glasses, there was charisma as well as intelligence that radiates. I estimated he is the same age as Koh Vincent, Shu Benjamin's eldest son.John grinned, adjusted his coat collar, then obeyed his father's orders."That's the eldest son of Shu Alex," whispered Amelia to my ear.When Amelia whispered, I could smell the mint scent. I felt like I wanted to slide my cheek to meet her tiny lips.But, I wondered what my grandfather had done so that his grandson could receive the honor.By John, the chair he took was then placed opposite Shu Alex's chair. He then whispered to each other with his father. While waiting to be invited to ta
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 35 | The Album
THE serenity broke when the car I was driving stopped in front of Shu Benjamin's house. No more Koh Vincent's black Fortuner car. The streets and Amelia's home were quiet and dark. I turned off the engine of the car, then went out to the passenger door. I opened the door for Amelia. At that time, I saw her putting the handkerchief back into her ivory white oriental wallet.I also escorted Amelia to the front door of her house. She then turned towards me while clutching her handheld wallet in her stomach. But, her gazed fell to earth. In Hollywood romance movies, usually, moments like this ended with the male character straightening the female character's chin, looking into her eyes, then kissing her lips.And that was I also intend to.I took the courage to step closer to Amelia. I straightened her chin that fell with my index finger. Amelia complied, and then our eyes met. I dared to push my lips towards Amelia's tiny lips. As I got closer, I could see th
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 36 | Old Friends
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In the Name of the Sacred Tree 37 | Virgo Intacta
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In the Name of the Sacred Tree 38 | Saltyville
“KNOCK! Knock!”There was a knock on the door. I woke up. Who was interfering with my rest time? In fact, after all that happened last night, especially with Amelia, I still wanted to sleep a little longer. She consumed my strength.“Lang! Big K looking for you,” shouted Jenny from behind my door."What?" I'm half-conscious. "Big K, why?""Come out!" Jenny ordered.I then stretched my muscles and lazily reached for the cellphone. Since last night, Amelia, Julia, Aisha, and Kacey, took a turn to make me feels unpleasant. As I recalled, after having an incredible night with Amelia, I remember parking the car in the garage at 3:37 A.M.So, what time was it then? My cell phone screen reads 9:00 A.M. What? It was only nine in the morning, apparently. I thought it was eleven o'clock or even twelve o'clock. So, I fell asleep for about five hours.Even so, I did not feel dizzy, even though I was a little tired.
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 39 | The Woman
"JACK!" the young woman greeted a young man next to me."Zoey!" he returned her greeting.The woman then jogs into Ursula’s stall. I should make myself calm. I then took out my cigarette pack, took one, and lit it. I put the cigarette pack on the table. Jack grabbed it without asking my permission. Voluntary cooperation, mutual aid, and direct action. An anarchy young man indeed."Sister Ursula," Zoey said to the stall owner. "Do you have soap?"Apparently, she wanted to buy a bar of soap. As if knowing there was a foreigner beside her, she turned her head. When we looked at each other, I was shocked.It turns out that this young woman was the one who threw a blown kiss at me from the pickup car when there was an eviction refusal rally the other day.Could it be she also a ...?Wait! Why did she even look away, huh? Did not she remember who I was? The one who gave her a blown kiss. In fact, I did that on purpose to make he
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 40 | The Nomads
"WANNA additional lessons," Zoey offered me gently and spoiled.Geez! Her voice was so melodious until it rang in my ears. I did not want this serenity to end quickly. Just let her sulk later. The important thing was I wanted to enjoy the warmth as well as the comfort of ..."Hey!" there was another female voice. "Young man, hey!"I was gasped.Damn! Where was Zoey? I turned my head to the right and left. She did disappear!"Zoey?" I asked in a panic."She already leaves back to Arynn's. You were asked, but you kept your mouth shut!" Ursula scolded me.Damn it!"Are you going to let your cell phone ringing?" Ursula told me, pointing at my cellphone on the table.Shit! I was so hypnotized till I could not hear a thing. I then took my cellphone, then I saw the name Big K, calling via WhatsApp."Hello?" I answered his call."# $ _ & = ©%," said Big K."What?" I could not hear him clearly.
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 41 | Arynn House
I got into Santos's Jimny car, then started the engine. I stepped on the gas lightly. The offroad wheels rolled slowly. When I passed the deep puddle, I could feel the hardness of the car's suspension. Even though it was designed for offroad, the springs were still not soft. Not comfortable. What else could I do? Instead of using my car, it would go straight to the car repair shop.Not far from Bli Wayan's black-fibered house, my pheromone radar alarm blared. I pushed my body as well as my head, look toward left and right. Even though I knew, even if I sat upright, my view was the same. But I insisted focus on finding Zoey!Apparently, in this block, there were more and more productive age women milling about. On either side of the road, I could see each house with a large windowpane the size of its terrace.On the windowpane, tacked stickers like the one on the barbershop windowpane. Some say BARBARA, MADONNA, ANGELA, and other hot names. From behind the
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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
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In the Name of the Sacred Tree 281 | The Bastard
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In the Name of the Sacred Tree 280 | Saltyroth Rhapsody
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In the Name of the Sacred Tree 279 | Investigation
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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
