FLOWER WARS

Chapter 26. Execution

"Flower!" call Jacob while pulling his car over in front of Bunga who is standing by the roadside not far from the school building.

"Come, I'll take you home."

Flowers shudder. "I was waiting for the train to pass by" he refused.

"Why take the train? I can drive you as usual."

"I said I didn't want to!" exclaiming Angry flowers. Honestly, his mood was not good. There were some things that disturbed his mind. Mainly about the robbery of the sugar factory director's house which is quite electrifying.

He did not reject Jacob's invitation, but, Bunga had planned to go to the place of Miss Galuh to ask a question.

Flowers suddenly find Jacob already pulling his hand and then push him into the car. "I told you I didn't want to be delivered" he said.

"Hey, I know you're angry. Anna is outrageous." Jacob drove his car out of the place.

Flowers shudder. He did not care much about Anna and her scathing words. He was more curious about the robbers. And he must immediately ask Miss Galuh. But Jacob was holding him back like this.

"Flower ...," call Jacob to disperse the girl's daydream.

"What?" bunga asked as he turned to Jacob who was driving.

"Have you heard what I said?"

"What?"

Jacob shook his head while sighing heavily. "You really don't hear?" tanyanya.

Flowers shudder. Indeed, it seemed like Jacob was saying something, but, his mind was focusing on something else. "What are you talking about?"

"I said I'd like to take you to lunch at a restaurant near the square."

"Oh, now?" ask Flowers. How fortuitous. Gerwa Mui headquarters is near the square.

"Yes, now. How's it?"

"White special celebration. I know what's going to happen to me there" said Bunga.

"I'll make sure no one dares to bother you, or treat you badly."

Flowers spread her shoulders. "As far as you go, Jacob."

Jacob smiled happily. He also eagerly drove his car towards the city center. It only took about ten minutes to reach the intended restaurant, as they were already halfway through.

Flowers know the restaurant with European-style architecture. But this time, he came in. Indeed luxurious. It seems like this restaurant was built to treat the longing of the Dutch people in their homeland. Flowers felt like they were in a foreign land to her.

Typically, the buildings were made by the Dutch-Indian government, combining European and Javanese designs. However, the restaurant is purely European design.

"Young Master Janssen, please sit down," greeted a white man in a butterfly-tie shirt. He did not greet the flowers at all. Not even a glance. It seemed like the Flower was not visible at all in his eyes.

"Here, Bunga," Jacob said, holding Flower's hand to a table next to a glass window.

"Why do we keep daydreaming?" jacob asked, this time making the Flower slightly gasp.

"Oh, it's okay," said Bunga, throwing his gaze out onto the street. "Hey, what's up?" tanyanya pointed towards the road.

Several KNIL and police forces were seen walking hand in hand. In the midst of them, a man was seen walking with his hands tied behind his back. His head was covered in black cloth.

Jacob and Bunga got up from his seat and stepped out of the restaurant. And other restaurant visitors. Not only them, almost everyone in the area came out and stood by the side of the road, wanting to watch the motorcade.

"What's up, huh?"

"Say, it's the guy who allegedly committed the robbery at the sugar factory director's house."

"Oh, so. Where would he be taken?"

"Said square. To be hanged."

"Astag."

Flowers heard the conversation of several people standing behind him. His chest was pounding. Hanged. What kind of punishment is that. Is the Dutch East Indies government very serious in dealing with this case.

"Hey, Flowers! Where are you going?" jacob exclaimed as he saw a Flower suddenly pass from beside him. He followed the girl among the people who were huddled along the way.

"flower! Wait!" call Jacob. He tried not to let go of his gaze on the tiny backs of Flowers among the people who were beginning to arrive. But the girl disappeared so quickly.

Jacob raised both hands while sighing in disappointment. The flower had disappeared from his sight.

***

"Retreat! Back off all of you!" shouted one of the soldiers while encouraging some people who were about to break through the boundary line.

"Retract or we shoot!"

The atmosphere in the square was quite murky after the execution of the man who was allegedly one of the people involved in the robbery. He was hung on a gallows that had been prepared in the middle of the square.

His body was witnessed by thousands of pairs of eyes that crowded the place. Among the crowd of people, Bunga stood looking at the lifeless man.

Her chest is so tight. Like something was about to come out. What he thought was, what about his relatives if he witnessed the terrible event. Wife, children.

Both of the flower's hands clenched hard. If possible, it would be like to take a weapon from one of the KNIL soldiers and shoot the traitorous humans who sell their souls to serve the invaders.

"flower! Go, go!"

Jacob pulled the Flower's hand away from the crowd. The two broke through the crowd and made it to where Jacob's car was parked.

"Come in" Jacob asked as he opened the door for Flowers.

"Sorry, Jacob, I have business. You just go home." Bunga closes Jacob's car door and turns and then steps quickly to leave Jacob.

Jacob raised both his hands in astonishment. The attitude of the flower was so strange in his eyes. The girl is agitated. Like something was bothering him.

He decided to follow the flowers. The girl turned at the crossroads, and walked quickly towards the central area of the shop. The streets were quite deserted as almost all of the townspeople were gathering in the square to witness the execution of the hanging.

Jacob saw Flowers enter a drugstore. He soon approached the building. His pair of blue eyes watched into the store. Looking for the figure of the Flower that just went in there.

"Can I help you, sir?" ask a woman who has just emerged from inside. The woman who was none other than Asih was commenting on Jacob's friendly smile.

"Mmm .. I'm looking for my friend. He came in here" Jacob replied. His eyes watched the door beside the trading shelf.

"Oh, who are you looking for?" ask Asih.

"Name as Flower."

"Oh, Flowers. It's in the back. Is helping to silence the spices."

Jacob nodded. Then spread his gaze throughout the shop room. Drugstore. He had just come to this place. Flowers never said anything that he worked in this place.

Work in this place, or?

***