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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.
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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
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 42 | Arynn House 2
I felt uncomfortable warding off her gift. Alright, instead of making her heart hurt by refusal, I would respect her by sipping the contents of the dimple mug. But half of it first? I was not strong enough if I immediately finish drinking in one gulp."Finish it," said Zoey.Ready, Ma'am!There was a sound of giggling. Then, as usual, Big K began to break the silence by pulling me back into the sofa. I drank the fermented drink without being distilled until it spilled over the sides of my mouth. It was fresh, to the point that my eyeballs were more sensitive to light."Music ...!" asked Big K to play the music again.Then, Big K introduced me to two other men I didn't know. This first man was thin and tall when compared to the girls on either side of him. Her hair was straight and wavy at the bottom, framing her pale white face. His nose is pointed like Pinocchio. In short, there is a Middle Eastern feel to it."Malique," he introduced himse
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 43 | The Chanteuse
THE guests who attended the assembly looked shy. They just smiled. Ashley herself looked upset, so she was angry."Is there anyone who wants to go to school?" she asked.Ashley deserved to be upset. She was allowed to be angry. The thing was, Ashley and friends had accompanied these guests since 11 o'clock in the afternoon, as said Big K earlier. However, four hours later, no one was interested in 'school'."Really?" said Ashley, "I have accompanied you from eleven, and still no one wants to go to school?" Ashley then snorted.Suddenly, an intro to a song that I recognized, followed by a verse, confirmed my guess. At first, I thought this song would be sung by these girls. Therefore, I did not take it seriously.However ..."Party girls don't get hurt. Can't feel anything when I will learn. I push it down, push it down," sang a woman.Her first note was perfect and caught my attention instantly. That hoarse voice reminded me of the or
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 44 | A Promise
"NOPE," I stopped her.Zoey was surprised.Zoey then stood up. Sighed then walked away from me. I did not know if she was disappointed or happy? She turned to face me, leaned back against the doll rack, and then crossed her arms over her chest. Zoey said nothing. Or she was thinking about if I have a deviant sexual orientation."So, what do you want?" Zoey asked, breaking the silence by herself."Can you sing Adele's song Rolling in the Deep?" I asked.Zoey nodded."Sing it," I asked her, "I'll be the guitarist."When she turned around, unbeknownst to her, I positioned my cell phone in such a way that it could be seen that half of Zoey's upper body."Why it must be this complicated?" she protested while giving me the guitar."I already paid you," I answered carelessly.I then asked her to sit in front of a rack full of dolls."This is odd," she snorted, crossing her arms."Why?" I asked her while tun
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 45 | A Tribute
WHEN I promised to free her, suddenly, the atmosphere became quiet. There was a strange frozen moment enveloping this 3x3 room. But Zoey remained silent, then nodded again as if to bless what I just said.Then I felt guilty myself for urging her to tell a story. I shifted my seat to get closer to her. It felt like I want to hug her. I guess Zoey also thought the same thing. When we were sad, we want someone to be around us.Then, Zoey took a breath, then exhaled. It was as if she was taking off some of the burdens of the past she was carrying."May I hold your hand?" I was asking permission."You already paid me," Zoey replied, "you can do whatever you want."I just shook my head."I just wanted to hold your hand," I repeated.Zoey then held out her palms.I held her palms then rubbed them as if I was going to read what had happened to the palms. It was rough. It reminded me of Julia's palm. I guessed the two of them are hardwo
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 46 | A Tribute 2
"Huh?" I was surprised. "What tribute?""The cash flow is now lacking," Zoey explained. "It's not smooth anymore."I still did not understand what Zoey means.Then, Zoey explained that every month, each brothel in Saltyroth-Dolly had to 'deposit' millions of rupiah to officials and other concerned parties.If it was totaled, Zoey said, the tribute that must be given by Mommies to official members could reach tens of millions per brothel per month."How do you know these kinds of things?" I asked."I," said Zoey, "in this Arynn's, is a part of that tribute," said Zoey softly and then exhaled cigarette smoke.What? I was shaking.Zoey took my arm then invited me to walk. I was obedient while stroking my own chest. I thought, after experienced a series of suffocating incidents in the past, Zoey was still used as a means of exchange. These are humans, not things! I growled to myself."Then, how come it's not enough. How come
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 47 | A Windbreaker
I imagined Zoey's face and voice as I cleaned myself in the bathroom. As if she was like the Narcissus goddess who made anyone who saw her become falling in love. Beautiful face, sweet voice, body curves, soft-spoken, and graceful every swing of her waist.Still the same Goddess Narcissus - because of her beauty charm - she was chased by many gods who were crazy about her, even Zeus. Moreover, the gods were fighting each other over her. So that they made their heaven fall apart.To avoid further bloodshed, Narcissus fled from heaven to earth, then got lost in Saltyville. I meant Saltyroth-Dolly, to be precise.The gods who knew Narcissus were running away, chasing her while stabbing each other. Some of them perish at the edge of the other god's sword.Tired of being chased by the handsome, rich, and powerful CEOs in heaven, Narcissus finally could no longer run away and chose to rest on the banks of the salt pond.When she was about to drink water
In the Name of the Sacred Tree 48 | Soundrenaline
AS I have told you before, Clover Leaf University of Surabaya was just a stone throw away from my house in Certajava. Both were still in the same Goobank Sub-District. That was why I was not in a very rush.I felt that tonight would be bright. The stars in the sky were cheerfully twinkling while the perfectly round moon shone brightly. I spurred the motorbike through the wind, which made my hair curl crookedly.When I saw the view of the sky, I was reminded again by the tears and round face of Julia.However, for some reason, every time I met Julia, there was always something strange about me. I could not seem to be honest with my own feelings for her. I always pretended to think of Julia as just a childhood playmate.In fact, I realized I like her, even since I was in middle school. Yes, I did not know. Julia was probably my first love. But I never had the guts to express it. I was afraid Julia would reject it.I realized I prefer to keep our rela
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