FLOWER WARS

Chapters 15. No Need to Be a Matchmaker.

"Jacob ...," cajole Flowers for the umpteenth time. The young man kept his grim face. It seemed like he was really upset, but Bunga did not understand what the problem was.

The flower breathed heavily. "Well if you don't want to tell me what's the matter." He moved from his seat, spent the remaining lemonade in his glass, then reached into his pocket to take the money.

"I pay," Jacob said, dismissing the hand of the outstretched Flower to the shopkeeper.

Flowers raise their eyebrows. Once again, Jacob's attitude astonished him. After paying to the shopkeeper, the two stepped out.

"I'm sorry, I'm just so upset." Jacob finally opened his voice as he entered the school gate.

"Because what?" bunga asked as he tilted his head to look at Jacob.

"About Anna."

"Oh?"

"It's not the girl I like."

Flowers round his eyelids. "Not him?"

"Yes, not him. And you don't have to second-guess or pretend to be Koppelaarster (Mak Comblang)!" exclaim Jacob. Her face flushed. It seemed like he was holding back a huge annoyance.

The flower frowned. This time the young man said very hard to her. He also felt annoyed. "Why are you yelling at me? Is my mistake so big?" He pushed Jacob's shoulder. Then she shook her waist in front of the young man.

"I don't like you getting married to Anna." Jacob's voice softened. It felt sorry to have snapped at the Flower. That made the girl angry.

"Why not just say it? Why should you act like this to me?" Flowers grunt in annoyance. It's not Jacob's fault. His guess is wrong too. He thinks the girl Jacob likes is Anna. It's not really him.

Jacob remained silent. He turned his face away from the sharp gaze of the Flower.

"You also need not be this angry," Blossoms. "It's so weird." The girl grumbled softly.

"I'm upset because ...." Jacob hung up his words. He did not want the flower to hear what was coming out of his mouth.

"Because what?"

"Because ..., let's go, forget it." Jacob shook his hand.

Flowers rotate the body and walk towards the classroom. Jacob followed. It was fortunate that the numeracy teacher had not yet entered the classroom, so they were both safe from punishment. To be honest, who will be punished if you are late to class, only Flowers. Jacob, of course, was free to sit in his chair.

"Morea ...." Jacob shifted his chair closer to the friend.

The flower that was preparing the writing book and pencil, turned its head. "What?" tanyanya brief.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you earlier."

The girl took a deep breath. "You're weird" he said.

Jacob scratched his head. "Have, forget it, yeah, talk about the girl I like."

Flowers spread her shoulders. "Just whatever. I just want to help."

"Flower ...," call Jacob.

"Hm." Flowers do not take their eyes off the book. His fingers holding pencils danced on the white paper.

"So morning, when I left, in the field near the village before school, there was a night market. How about we go there in the afternoon?" tawar Jacob's. "As my apology, you can eat and buy anything you want, I pay."

"Later in the afternoon?" bunga asked, looking at Jacob.

"Yes, it's late afternoon."

"Hmm, I can't seem to. I have an appointment with Ningrum, the next grade."

Jacob frowned. "Ningrum?" tanyakanya. He did not know a girl named Ningrum. In this school, there were only three native girls, including Bunga. It must be one of the other two named Ningrum.

"Yes. Important business. Maybe tomorrow we'll go to the night market."

Jacob let out a disappointed breath. This is the first time Bunga refused his invitation to go somewhere. It was as important as what his affairs were with the girl named Ningrum, to the point that he preferred to go with her female companion.

"Ja, tomorrow."

Their conversation came to a halt as the counting teacher stepped into the classroom.

***

Flowers smiled wryly as they saw Jacob, who was about to get into his car, being bullied by Laura. The face of his best friend clearly showed dislike.

Though feeling pity, Bunga let Jacob overcome the brown-haired girl alone. He was already awaited by Ningrum at the school gate. They're going somewhere. Precisely in a shopping complex near the square which is mostly inhabited by Chinese people.

The shop building that the two girls entered was not much different from the shops on his left right, or across the street. It's just that there is a wooden window on the front and inside there are many small bottles and also neatly lined cloth bags. Predictably, the place is a shop of traditional medicines and spices.

Ningrum invited Bunga in and met a woman in deep blue with her long hair braided in two. The flower guessed his age might be in his thirties. The woman was putting spices in small bags of cloth

"Mbakyu Asih," said Ningrum as he grabbed the hand of the woman he called Asih and kissed her.

"It's a flower, huh? Princess Tumenggung Wirya?" ask Asih while stroking the cheeks of Flowers.

Flowers nod while reviewing smiles. He had never met this woman before, but she knew him.

"Here, in. Bu Galuh has been waiting," said Asih. The woman escorted Ningrum and Bunga into the living room.

There, there were some women who were cleaning spices on the bamboo trash. Bunga smiled at them and the young women greeted him kindly.

"Here," said Asih while pointing towards the worn wooden door with a shape resembling a gepyok.

"I'm coming in, Ma'am?" ask Ningrum.

"Yes, you accompany flowers, yes." Asih pushed the door and let the two girls in.

***