FLOWER WARS

Chapters 12. Rumors From Mr. Cabby.

"You're crazy." Flowers pushed Jacob's shoulders slowly. The two sat in the garden behind the young man's house. After a while, I wandered around the large courtyard.

"Leave it. Who wants to dance with that shitty girl?" Jacob shook his hand.

Flowers thaw. "He likes you, Jacob," he chuckled.

"I don't like him. I like other girls."

Flowers round his eyelids. He looked at his friend in wonder. "Just this time I heard you liked a girl" he said. "Who is he?" tanyanya.

Jacob chuckles. "Hmmm .. You don't need to know."

"So that's how it is now? You have a secret and don't want to share it with me?" sulk Flowers.

"This one secret only, huh? I want to keep it in my heart."

Flowers chuckling. "Why is that? Don't you dare to express your feelings to that girl? So cowardly."

"Maybe not."

"Hmmm ... Who's the girl, huh?" Flowers stroked his chin. He thinks hard. If Jacob does not want to tell him, then he will guess who the girl Jacob is liking.

First, there was Lidia, another class student who was always waiting for Jacob to come out of the class. But, as he saw, Jacob was indifferent to him. Laura, it's definitely impossible. Jacob blatantly said he didn't like the girl.

Then, there is Sonja, the son of an ethical teacher who always seeks attention from Jacob, although still timid. However, Jacob once said that he was a little uncomfortable with the behavior of the girl.

Some of the female students of one class who often showed their interest in Jacob, were always coldly responded by the young man. Then, there was Anna, the girl in their class who looked sweet with a beautiful brown mane.

Flowers seemed to remember, Jacob noticed the movements of the girl several times. Anna was indeed a little different from the other female students who were haughty. The girl was pretty good because sometimes she wanted to talk to Bunga.

He snapped a finger. "I know who the girl you like" he said happily.

Jacob looked surprised. But, he immediately hid the anxious expression on his face. "You know who?" tanyakanya.

"Ja. But, I don't want to say," chortled Flowers.

Jacob scratched his head. A faint smile restrained on his lips. His chest rippled and his body felt cold hot.

"But I'll help you get the girl."

"Wat (What)?!" Jacob jerks. "Ney, nei, Flowers. No need."

Flower whipping. "Why? You scared?"

Jacob shook his head, but a moment later he nodded. Then shake again. He's confused.

"I don't want to be friends with a coward" Bunga threatened with a slanted smile.

***

It was late at night, when the party was over, and Jacob couldn't possibly let his best friend go home on foot alone.

Along the way, the coachman who is both indigenous people, never ceases to invite Bunga to talk. The thin-bodied middle-aged man asked about things that made Bunga feel a little uncomfortable.

"You're Tumenggung Wirya's daughter, right? Former regent?" ask the coachman when he starts a conversation with Bunga. His name is Mr. Woto. His voice was crisp and a little unpleasant to hear.

"Yes, sir," said Bunga while leaning his back on the sideways seat. His vision moved from one lamp post to another.

"I've heard rumors, Nduk." Mr. Woto lowered his voice.

"What rumors, sir?" ask the Flower while frowning.

"Rumors of secret meetings in your house."

Flowers were surprised to hear the man's words. His mind floated on the pavilion beside the house. It's not just a rumor. But, there was indeed a secret meeting there, only, Flowers were forbidden from approaching that place. So he didn't know what was going on there.

"I don't know, sir."

"Oo, relax, Nduk. I though work on kumpeni, but I am loyal to this nation of ours. So, I can't possibly divulge this to my employer."

Flowers can't trust this old man. Maybe the coachman was fishing for evidence from him. "Well, I don't know anything about it, sir. I'm just a teenager whose job is to go to school."

"You're familiar with Young Master Janssen. You're her lover?" asked Mr. Woto to change the subject.

"No, Sir. We're friends."

"Yo, great. Don't fall in love with Kumpeni, yo. Even though he's good with you. Just making friends is enough."

"Why, Sir?"

"Well, many of our women have fallen in love with kumpeni, in the end only made Nyai. It's an insult to the women of our nation, to, Nduk."

Flowers smile cynically. It is so. Dutch people should not be legally married to indigenous people. Can only be used as a concubine. It is a great demeanour to the women of this nation. When remembering the lunge of the white people, which sometimes arbitrarily, the chest of Flowers rumbled with anger.

"Sir, I'll just get down here." Flowers banged on the pole supporting the roof of the horse-drawn carriage as it was about to enter the intersection of the road leading to its home.

"Loh, it's still a long way, Nduk."

"Not really. I'll just get down here." Flowers were pouring out of the car. "Thank you, sir" he said.

"Be careful, Nduk!" exclaim Mr. Woto while pulling the horse harness.

Flowers rotate the body and walk down a deserted path. The night was not too dark because the moon was shining brightly.

When he reached his yard, he stood on his tiptoes and walked quietly to the back door. Wishing his father didn't wake up and see him wander through the night.

***