TRIPLE SEVEN

Chapter Three

Ella was sweeping the stage at her grandmother's house when a motorbike stopped in front of the house. Like a gust of wind, a young man with long, long hair covering his shoulders has been standing on the porch of the house, carrying his backpack.

"Hello!" he greeted with big smile on his face.

Ella widened her eyes. "What are you doing here?!"

"Isn't that right?" the young man laughed heartily, while brushing his long hair to the side.

Ella slammed her broom in exasperation. “That Old Man doesn't believe me apparently, and still sent you here!”

“Ask him later. I just did what was asked. By the way, this village is beautiful too, I can't wait to go for a walk...”

Plakkk!

“Wow!” The long haired boy squealed as Ella smacked his forehead without warning.

“Don't make a mess. Remember what your job is here!" Ella warned.

"Don't be grumpy, Miss. I wouldn't be here either if it weren't for Mr. Yubatan sent me.” Said the longish man as he threw his body on the chair.

"Why did he send you here?"

"You can guess. He's afraid you can't solve this case on your own."

"He's always doubted me." snorted Ella. Then his brows furrowed. “Eh...eh...by the way I don't want you to live here. You'd better get out of here quickly!"

"Then where will I live? You want to make me homeless here?!”

"264, you came here without permission, so your presence here is beyond my responsibility."

"Call my name, Ella." the young man said casually.

Ella tugged at one corner of her lips. "Sorry, I'm used to it, Joshua."

"Well, so just right!"

There was the sound of a motorcycle stopping. The two youths both turned their heads. A tall, brown-skinned young man got off a blue motorbike and entered the yard.

"Who is that? Your boyfriend huh? Great, just few days, you have got a boyfriend here!” Joshua, the long haired youth laughed out loud.

“Shut up! Do you want me to touch it again?” whispered Ella with bulging eyes.

The young man who had just arrived, who was none other than Juan, said hello and entered the verandah of the house as Ella invited him to.

“Meet Juan, this is my friend from town. His name is Joshua."

The young man nodded his head and held out his hand to Joshua.

"Juan."

“Joshua Anugrah Putra Pratama...”

"Enough." Ella immediately interrupted before her friend said the long name of the train that he had made by himself. Joshua grinned widely, while Juan couldn't hold back his smile.

"You guys want to go huh?" Joshua guessed.

"Yes. I have some important things to do today. But…” Ella hesitated for a moment and looked at Juan.

"May I ask a favor?"

"Why not?"

“Joshua will be on vacation for a few days in this village, but I can't accept him here. Can you temporarily accommodate him in your house?”

"No problem. Our house is still quite spacious even though we added one person…”

"Thank you!" she said.

"Then I'll take her home first. After that, just go to the houses of the people you said."

“Okay, thanks for your kindness, buddy! Let's go!" Joshua interrupted before Ela answered Juan's words. Then the long-haired young man casually strolled out of the verandah, got on his motorbike and waved with a big smile at the two people.

"He's not a thug is he?" whispered Juan to Ella. "Not a drunk right? My mom won't be happy if…”

Ella laughed. She tapped his friend's shoulder gently. “He's messy, but he's not that bad. If you get to know him better, you will be happy to be friends with him. Please forgive her whimsical behavior…”

"Okay. I'll take your friend first..." Juan said with relief.

Ella nodded.

The two young men, Juan and Joshua, left on their motorbikes. Juan in the front, and Joshua following from behind.

***

Less than ten minutes, Juan was back. Then Ella and him rode their motorbikes leaving Grandma Alina's house. Ella deliberately kept her distance behind Juan, so as not to arouse too much suspicion.

In a narrow alley they stopped and walked through it. The housing complex they visited was a fisherman's house complex. The fishy smell of the sea, rows of nets that had just been half knitted, could be seen in almost every board house of the fishermen who were huddled together.

"This is the house," Juan spoke when they arrived at a black plank house. Piles of unfinished fishing baskets can be seen on the porch.

"Do you think Pak Gun is there?" Asked Ella.

"Just call first."

Ella glanced around. Some fishermen's children who were playing seemed to pay attention to them.

This girl went up to the porch and said hello. He doesn't need to knock on the door because the door is wide open.

"Excuse me! Good afternoon!"

"Good afternoon!" came a voice from the house. A moment later a thin man appeared in the doorway.

"Mr. Gunawan?"

"I am."

"May I come in?" Ella asked.

The man could not hide his confused expression. But he then nodded. Ella stepped inside, signaling Juan to stay on the porch.

Juan complied. He sat on a bench watching the fishermen's children playing with the shell. He couldn't hear Ella talking inside. An hour passed, until he finally heard Ella's voice saying goodbye.

The girl's face looked tense when they left Pak Gun's house.

"Take me to the beach, to be precise, in the rows of rocks where Mr. Nurfan was found." His voice was commanding.

"Then we'll just go there. Just leave the motorbike here. The beach is very close from here.”

Ella didn't answer, she just continued to follow Juan quickly.

"I'll tell you a few things there," Ella said almost in a whisper.

Juan glanced at her. The girl's expression had turned flat again. But Juan could see that she was thinking about something behind her clear eyes.

Actually, what did Pak Gunawan tell her?

***

The two pairs of feet print imprints that are engraved perfectly on the sand. Ella stopped, looking at the expanse of the ocean that greeted in front of her. Coconut trees without fruit waving in the evening breeze that is starting to change to dusk.

Fishing boats played by calm waves. What a shade.

"Over there!" Juan's voice snapped the girl out of her own thoughts. She turned and saw Juan striding toward the north end of the beach.

From where she stood, Ella could see rows of rocks that towered over there. Without waiting any longer, this girl immediately followed Juan.

The rocks are lined up jutting into the sea, with varying heights.

Ella stared for a moment and then turned to Juan. This youngman understood what the girl meant. His hand was raised pointing.

"The tallest rock..." Juan muttered.

Ella nodded, a moment later she was already climbing up to the top of the highest rock. Juan caught up with her. The two human silhouettes on the top of the rock are painted by the evening sun. A rare sight.

The girl studied the stone structure where she and Juan were standing. Below they can see sea water interspersed with lower sharp corals. It's very dangerous if someone falls down there.

"Down there, two years ago, Mr. Nurfan's body was found." Juan told.

"Where do you think he was before he fell down there?" Ella said, not sounding like asking, but testing.

"If you look at the position of his corpse at that time, he was previously standing here, at the top of the highest rock. After all, of all this rock has a flat top. It's impossible for him to stand on the top of another rock that is ..pointy."

"Well." Ella flashed a smile and nodded. "Then I want to hear your assumptions. How did he fall down there?"

Juan scratched behind his ear. "Slipped...maybe?"

The girl shook her head. "Will you listen to my theory?"

"Of course."

"The rock we are standing on has a flat surface and is the highest. Even when the tide is high, it will not be able to reach the top of this rock. That's why the surface is dry and not slippery at all. It's impossible for the man to slip and fall freely down. The possibility is very high. small."

"Then?"

"There are two possibilities. First, he did jump down there on purpose. Second, someone pushed him..."

John's thick eyebrows lifted. "Really...?"

"The first possibility I don't think is that strong. He wasn't a depressed man to the point of killing himself here. Someone had pushed him..."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Mr Gunawan's story gave me some information." Ella smiled faintly.

"What did he tell?"

"That evening he was on the beach. Approximately 50 meters from here. I estimate he was there," Ella's finger pointed south, at a row of fishing boats. "He told me that he heard a scream accompanied by a heavy object splashing into the sea. He ran and climbed here, and found a scary sight, where the man had died down there. According to Mr. Gunawan, Mr. Nurfan did not usually climb on this rock. He go to the beach just to go out to sea. There's no time for him to just walk around or hang out on these rocks...."

she sighed.

"He borrowed someone else's boat that morning, and went to Togong Oloyomate. But when his body was found, the boat was back where it belonged, intact without the slightest damage."

"Do you think he really got there? He's a foreigner, he doesn't know where the Island is..."

"Mr. Gun said that the owner of the boat borrowed by Mr. Nurfan gave instructions about the whereabouts of the island under pressure, because Mr. Nurfan insisted on knowing."

Silent. Nobody's talking. A group of seagulls flew low as if they were about to kiss the calm surface of the sea.

"Juan?"

"Yes?"

"Can you tell me, what's wrong with Togong Oloyomate, and what does Surya Rembana mean?"

"I..."

"Help me." Ella begged.

"Well." the young man agreed. "But you have to promise to tell me exactly what you're doing..."

Ella fell silent. After pondering for a while, she finally nodded.

"Surya Rembana is the real name of Togong Oloyomate island. It is said that the name Surya Rembana was given by King Banggai who was nicknamed Mumbu doi Jawa. According to the story, the island was once visited by the king. Since then, the island has been considered sacred, isolated from the outside world. The mention of Togong Oloyomate itself comes from the mouths of local people. Oloyomate means Dead Sun. I also don't understand why it's named like that, after all I've never been there."

"Do you think the deaths of the two people have anything to do with Surya Rembana?"

Juan shrugged. "I don't know. But the villagers believe it was the Curse of Surya Rembana. Because in fact the people who died were heard talking about the island before they were found dead."

Ela winced. All clues and information point to the Island. Meanwhile the island is sacred and the people here never step on it.

"I told you about the island. Now you must keep your promise."

"I am a...."

"Hey! There you are!"

came a scream from below. Ella and Juan reflexively turned their heads. Joshua was seen, standing down there waving his hand and smiling broadly. The two people on the rock immediately moved down and approached to Joshua.

"How did you get here?" Ella asked.

"I'm curious about the beach in this village. You know, I'm a sunset and ocean lover...!" Joshua answered in a poetic tone.

"But the sun is already setting. We'd better get home soon," Ella said.

Joshua winced, but he finally nodded. They walked hand in hand leaving the beach. Juan didn't speak anymore, maybe he was annoyed because Ella didn't tell him who she was.

***