Riri leaned back in her seat, lost in thought."Why is it like that? We already have advanced technology, but the ocean still remains such a mystery."
"Because the ocean isn't just about physical depth," Romo said calmly. "It's filled with extraordinary natural forces. From its powerful currents to the immense pressure in its depths—so many factors make it difficult to fully explore. And sometimes, the things that are hardest for humans to reach, like the ocean, carry the most wisdom and lessons."
Marlon smiled, joining in."Exactly. I think it's not just about physics or technology—it's also about how we, as humans, perceive and understand nature. The ocean, vast and mysterious, reminds us that there's still so much beyond our grasp."
Riri touched her lips, contemplating Marlon's words."So the ocean really teaches us about our limitations, huh?"
"That's right," Marlon replied, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon."Like Romo said, there are things greater than us—things we can't control or even fully comprehend. The ocean is a reminder that just because we can see it, doesn't mean we can master it."
Romo added wisely,"The ocean is like life. We see the calm surface, but beneath it lies a complex and unreachable world. Just like in life—some things we can see and understand, but much of it still holds secrets."
Marlon nodded slowly."But what's interesting is that even though we can't uncover everything, we still try. Humans keep searching, even knowing there are things we might never fully grasp."
Riri smiled."That's true—like our journey, right? We know we can't explore everything, but we still move forward, hoping to understand more."
The boat continued to move steadily, and the vast ocean remained a mystery yet to be unveiled. The three of them sat in silence, aware of how small they were compared to the grandeur of nature—yet feeling fortunate to be part of a journey full of questions and discovery.
The sky began to darken, tinged red in the western horizon. The ferry pushed onward through the sea, leaving behind a long trail of ripples that slowly faded into the waves. The sea breeze blew gently, carrying a salty coolness that made it easy for anyone to fall silent—and reflect.
Romo stood at the edge of the boat, leaning against the metal railing, now slick with cold dew. His eyes gazed toward the endless horizon. Marlon and Riri came up beside him, joining in the deep stillness.
"Have you ever felt," Romo said softly, breaking the silence,"that we're... incredibly small?"
Riri nodded gently."Out here in the middle of the sea, yeah. It's like we're just a tiny speck in the universe."
Marlon leaned on the railing too."And the worst part is, even that speck doesn't fully understand itself."
Romo gave a faint smile, then looked back at the darkening sea.
"We're like foam," he said, "drifting on the ocean of knowledge. And that ocean... is too vast. Too deep. We'll never be strong enough to dive through it all."
He paused for a moment before continuing."The Prophet once said that Allah's knowledge is so vast that if all the trees on Earth were pens, and the ocean was ink—plus seven more oceans added to it—it still wouldn't be enough to write all of His knowledge."
Marlon turned to him slowly, intrigued."That's... from the Qur'an, isn't it?"
Romo nodded."Yes. It's mentioned in Surah Luqman, verse 27. And again in Surah Al-Kahf, verse 109. Twice, Allah speaks of how limitless His knowledge is—far beyond what oceans of ink could contain."
"Say: If the sea were ink for (writing) the words of my Lord, the sea would surely be exhausted before the words of my Lord were exhausted, even if We brought another sea like it to help."(Qur'an, Surah Al-Kahf: 109)
Riri bit her lip."So really... our current knowledge is like a single drop compared to the entire ocean?"
"Even less than that," Romo replied. "But strangely, we often act like we know everything. Look at this sea,"—he pointed forward—"we can look at it, but we don't really know what's inside. And that's just the ocean. What about the sky? The human soul? Destiny?"
Marlon chuckled softly."And here we are, proud just because we can write a ten-page paper."
Riri nudged him with her elbow, but laughed along.
Romo smiled too, though his expression remained serene."But this is the beauty of being human. We don't know everything, yet we're given reason to seek. We're given curiosity. We're given the sea—not to conquer, but to reflect upon."
The sea wind picked up, sweeping through their hair. In the distance, the harbor lights began to appear faintly. But in front of them, the ocean still stretched wide—silent, vast, and full of mystery.
And in that silence, they realized: they weren't just crossing an island—they were learning to accept just how much they didn't know... and how great the God they worshipped truly was.
The ferry kept moving slowly, slicing through the vast sea. The night grew darker, and the ocean breeze turned stronger, bringing a soothing chill. Marlon, Riri, and Romo sat together on a bench, savoring the stillness—until Marlon suddenly broke the silence, his voice heavier than usual.
"Sometimes I think... Indonesia is like a sinking ship with a leak, and we're all just waiting," Marlon said, staring blankly.
Riri turned toward him. "What do you mean, Marlon?"
Marlon gazed at the endless ocean, searching for the right words. "The government's a mess. Legal uncertainty is everywhere. Corruption is rampant—even in the lowest levels of power. It's all just about money and control. The police and military, who are supposed to serve the people, have become tools of oppression. Honestly, I think we're no different from Sodom and Gomorrah. It won't be long before God flips us over, and Indonesia becomes another Dead Sea, just like in that story."
Riri was taken aback. "The Dead Sea? What are you saying?"
Marlon let out a deep sigh. "You remember the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, right? Cities full of sin and depravity, until God destroyed them and turned them into the Dead Sea. That's where we're heading. The law doesn't work, those in power only serve themselves, and the people are trapped in injustice."
Romo stayed quiet, listening intently. Marlon continued, his eyes sharp.
"Indonesia has lost its moral compass," Marlon said, his voice tinged with frustration. "People can't even tell right from wrong anymore. The truth itself is being twisted. The rich keep getting richer, and the poor are left to suffer. We're not just waiting for natural disasters—we're in the middle of a moral disaster. If God doesn't intervene, I'm afraid we'll stray even further from the path."
Riri was silent, stunned by Marlon's words, heavy with anger and disappointment. "But Marlon, don't you think there's still hope? Maybe we can start with ourselves?"
Marlon nodded slowly. "I know... but sometimes it feels like we've gone too far. Every time we try to fix something, we're stopped by forces way bigger than us. Every good thing gets crushed by a corrupt system."
Romo finally spoke, his tone calm and steady. "Marlon, I understand how you feel. It's not easy to live in times like these. But there's one thing we need to remember: God always gives chances—even to the most broken places. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because they refused to change. But up to now, Allah still gives us the chance to reform."
Marlon lowered his head, doubt creeping in. "But we've gone so far already. Is there still a chance for us to change?"
"As long as there's time, there's always a chance," Romo said firmly. "We must not lose hope, Marlon. Hope is what keeps us fighting."
Riri smiled softly. "I agree with Marlon—there's a lot we need to face. And sometimes I also feel like this country is drifting. But isn't it our job to keep going and bring change, even if it's little by little?"
Marlon paused, reflecting. The vast ocean before him continued to roll gently, as if offering space for every feeling brewing inside him. "Maybe... we do need to endure. We can't let hope fade away."
"A small step can grow into something big, if we stay united and consistent," said Romo. "Change doesn't have to come from great power. Even the smallest wave can be continuous. Like the waves that keep rolling in, even if slowly."
Marlon took a long breath and rubbed his face. "Maybe... we really do have to hold on. We can't let hope disappear."
The three of them fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts, absorbing the weight of their conversation. The sea around them remained vast, full of mystery—but also carried hidden hope beneath every wave.
The ferry kept swaying gently, carried by the relentless waves. The night grew colder, and the three friends sat still on the ferry bench, swept into a strange silence. In the midst of it, that drifting atmosphere suddenly gave space for a deeper kind of conversation.
"It's wild, isn't it," said Marlon, breaking the silence. "It's like... this sea makes everything clearer. My mind feels brighter somehow. I don't know why, but it feels like there's a bigger force here that's pushing me to think more deeply."
Riri nodded slowly. "I feel the same way. This ocean… it feels like it has a magical force that clears everything up. Maybe because of its vastness, we start to realize how small we really are."
Romo, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke. "The ocean is not just a stretch of water. In religious teachings, God created everything with deep wisdom. The sea, with all its depth, reminds us of God's greatness. This vast ocean, which we can never fully comprehend, is just a small part of His creation."
Marlon smiled, taking in Romo's words. "Yeah, that's true. We're just like grains of sand on this endless shore. But… have you ever wondered why God made the ocean so deep? Why are there parts that humans can't even reach?"
Riri turned, looking out of the boat toward the dark sea. "Maybe it's meant to remind us that there are many things we'll never fully understand. We can only see a glimpse of what lies beneath."
"And that's to remind us how limited our knowledge truly is," Romo added, his voice calm but full of meaning. "Like the Prophet said, knowledge is vast. If we tried to write it all down, even all the water in the oceans wouldn't be enough to contain it. God's creations are so extraordinary, they're beyond the reach of our minds."
Marlon nodded, closing his eyes for a moment. "Sometimes we think we have everything, that we know everything—when we don't. The ocean feels like a mirror for us. A reminder of just how limited we really are."
They fell into silence for a moment, reflecting in the middle of the boundless sea. Unnoticed, the ferry was already approaching Gilimanuk Harbor—the gateway to Bali.
As the ferry docked, the quiet was replaced by the buzz of passengers preparing to disembark. When Marlon, Riri, and Romo stepped out of the car they'd been riding in, a man in simple clothing suddenly approached them.
"I hope you find new knowledge in Bali," the man said in a soft but clear voice, as if he knew exactly what they were looking for.
The three of them were stunned and glanced at each other. Riri was the first to speak. "But… who are you? How do you know about our plans?"
The man gave a faint smile, as if he'd been expecting that question. "Sometimes, knowledge comes in ways we don't expect. May your journey lead you to the answers you seek."
Before they could ask anything else, the man turned and walked away, vanishing quickly into the crowd of passengers disembarking from the ferry.
Marlon stared after the man, watching him disappear. "What was that about? That… was really strange."
Riri frowned, sensing something was off. "It's like he knew exactly what we're doing, even though we've told no one."
Romo remained silent, deep in thought. "Maybe there are things in this world we just don't understand—like the ocean we saw earlier. Sometimes, answers come in the most unexpected forms."
Marlon nodded slowly, even as curiosity still gnawed at him. "I don't know… but that was definitely weird. Maybe Bali really does hold more mysteries than we imagined."
They walked toward the ferry's exit, eyes still searching for the mysterious man, but he was gone without a trace. With a mix of confusion and curiosity, they stepped off the ferry, ready to continue their journey into Bali.