FLOWER WARS

Chapter 32. Seek.

Flowers really never saw Ningrum again at school, or at Galuh's place. The girl disappeared into the earth. Not even Asih knew the whereabouts of the girl. He once asked this question to Galuh, but the woman gave an answer in an implied manner, and the Flower did not understand it very well.

From Asih, Bunga got the address of Ningrum, even though only the name of his village. Asem Coral. It is quite far from Semarang city center. If taken by horse carriage, it will take an hour and a half.

"Lastily so. Where are you going?"

The flower stopped its steps when it had just exited the school gate. Jacob's car stopped right beside him.

"There's business," replied the indifferent Flower.

"Come, in. I'll drive you." Jacob's hand grabbed the car's door handle and opened it.

"Not to."

"I forced."

Flower whipping. Lately Jacob has often forced his will on him. It seemed that the young man wanted to always be close to him. Indeed, now they are in different classes. Since the robbery that led to hanging, the school separated the native and Dutch students in different classes. And the discrimination against Bunga and other native disciples is becoming more obvious.

"Hurry, Bunga!" exclaim Jacob.

Sizzling flowers. However, he complied with Jacob's request to get into his car, making the young man smile happily.

"Where are you going?" jacob asked as the car drove.

"To Ningrum village. Asem's Reef."

"Do you know the way there?"

Flowers nod. Inwardly he was glad not to have to wait for the horse-drawn carriage to take him to that far enough village. Because it will take a long time, and surely he will come home late. His father wouldn't be happy with that.

"There's actually something I want to talk about."

"What's? If you're the same as me, you should keep it to yourself" said Bunga.

"No. Emm .. I mean, yeah that's also what I'm going to talk about, but, later. There's something more important."

"What?"

"You must be careful, Bunga. Anna's suspicious of what you're doing at Galuh's shop."

Sizzling flowers. "Nothing I did there. I helped them wrap up the drugs," elak Bunga.

"Flower, don't lie to me. I already know," Jacob said, sneaking a peek. "You don't have to hide anything from me, do you?"

Flowers looked at Jacob with narrowed eyes. "I'm not hiding anything."

"You talk to me like I'm a fool" Jacob grumbled.

Flowers melengos. He realizes that Jacob already knows his secret. Only, he did not want to tell the young man anything.

"You can think of anything, Jacob."

"Hey, I just wanted to tell you, that you have to be careful from now on."

"Are you threatening me?"

Jacob clucking. "Not threatened. I'm warning you to be careful. Anna's suspecting you."

The flower frowned. "Where do you know?"

"He told me himself. He's investigating the drugstore you used to visit."

"Why all of a sudden he wants to investigate the drug store Bu Galuh. Did you talk to her about something?"

"Left," replied the short flower.

Jacob turned the wheel to their left. Entering the path that is wide enough to pass by car or horse carriage, they are treated to views of the ketela plantation along the road. A few minutes later they entered a village.

"Do you know his house?" ask Jacob.

"Not yet" replied the Flower. "Stop, Jacob. I want to ask the father," he said, pointing to a middle-aged man walking past carrying firewood.

"Nuwun sewu, sir ...." Flowers talk to the man. Jacob watched her from the car. He threw a smile at the man who gave him a quick glance. But, the man did not return his smile at all. Jacob actually got the look of hateful face shown by him.

"How's it?" jacob asked after Bunga got back in the car.

"Run again" the girl ordered.

Jacob according. He continued the speed of his car through the streets that began to grow wild grass. He must be careful because the road is quite slippery when stepping on wet soil.

"House at the end of the village. There is a chicken coop in the yard" said Bunga.

Jacob nodded. He glanced at a glance the serious-looking Flower noticed his left direction. The young man's lips revealed a faint smile.

"Maybe it's his house" pointed the flower at the wooden house at the end of the street, slightly separated from the other houses.

Jacob stopped his car in front of the yard of the house that was not fenced. In the courtyard was a chicken coop, just as the man on the street had said. Both of them got out of the car and entered the yard which was overgrown with some jackfruit trees with lush leaves.

Flowers knock on the wooden door quietly while saying hello. There were a few minutes both of them waiting until someone opened the door.

"Sinten, nggih (Who, huh)?" ask a shabby middle-aged woman with hair curled just like that. He looked at Bunga and Jacob in full search. And as his eyes looked at Jacob, the woman looked agitated.

"I'm a Flower, Mom. Ningrum's friend at school."

The look on the woman's face was suddenly gloomy when she heard Ningrum's name. "What are you doing?" tanyanya, a little ketus.

"Ningrum hasn't been seen in school for days, ma'am. Is he home?"

"None" answered the woman. "Ningrum hasn't been home for a long time."

Flowers and Jacob threw each other a glance. Heart of Flowers pounding. Where is Ningrum. Flower's hunch said there was something with her friend. Even in the house of Bu Galuh Ningrum did not reveal the trunk of his nose.

"Mom knows where Ningrum is?"

"Yes, how do I know. That ningrum's been home for a long time." The woman looked at Jacob cynically, even though he was talking to Bunga.

"Jacob, can you wait for me in the car?" ask Flowers.

Jacob raised both hands. He complied with Bunga's will and got into his car, watching from there. The flower turned its eyes on the woman.

"True you don't know where Ningrum is?" ask Flowers, half urgent.

"I don't know. Maybe Londo had been kidnapped (Dutch) and made into a mistress" said the woman.

Flowers felt the woman, whom she guessed was Ningrum's mother, didn't particularly like to talk about the girl. It was visible from his unfriendly-looking facial expression.

"Mom, don't worry. The one in the car was Londo well, he was Ningrum's friend also at school. Mom can tell me where Ningrum is."

"I told you I don't know. The ningrum had long since left home. Reportedly live in the city and follow people. I don't know who that person is either. What a mistress Londo was, what a beggar, I don't know. Just school ningrum I don't know if I didn't hear from sampeyan (you)."

The flower breathed deeply. It seems like the mother was telling the truth. And he was forced to swallow the disappointment of the woman's answer. His heart is getting restless. Now he doesn't know where to look for his friend.

***