FLOWER WARS

Chapter 7. A Speech That Stops the Heart of Flowers.

Semarang, 1928.

The flower pecked itself in front of a large carved-framed mirror in his room. The Algemene Middelbare School uniform; the knee-high, bone-white canal outfit she wore fitted her slender body. His long hair he braided two with neat. The teenage girl looks so sweet typical of indigenous women.

This is the first year Bunga attended the only public high school in Semarang. He should be proud of himself because he was one of the selected indigenous children because he was able to compete academically with Dutch children to enter the school.

Although, in practice, the teachers, all of whom were Dutch, impliedly still discriminated against Bunga and other indigenous children.

His friendship with Jacob grew stronger. Jacob, a blond Dutch boy with beautiful blue eyes, now grows up to be a handsome young man. He was no longer a quiet little boy who had no friends. It was Jacob who loved many girls at the school.

Naturally, his closeness to Jacob made Bunga disliked by most of the female disciples there. But the flowers don't care. Jacob is his best friend and they have known each other since elementary school.

That morning, escorted by his family driver in his father's three-wheeled car, Bunga left for a new school with a carefree heart.

As she got out of her car, Bunga turned her eyes to see Jacob coming to school in a new car. A much better car than his family car.

"This is your car?" bunga asked while examining Jacob's iron horse. "Good indeed" he praised as he stroked the brown car with the roof open.

"My father bought it for me. Signed from Soerabaja. He wants me to use a driver, but, I don't want to." Jacob tapped his shoulders.

"Waaah, then, you can take me for a walk later using a new car," said Bunga jubilant.

Jacob nodded in agreement. The two then walked side by side towards their class which happened to be the same. Flowers paid no heed to the probing gazes of the disciples along the corridor.

The girl breezed into her class with complete confidence. He sat next to Jacob. It had always been the envy of some white female disciples.

"Jacob, kun je me helpen (can you help me)?"

Flowers and Jacob who were chatting turned their heads simultaneously towards the origin of the sound. A brown-haired girl with her beautiful hazel eyes stood beside Jacob. She commented on her sweet smile as she looked into the young man's eyes, but, when she looked at Bunga, her lips smiled sinisterly.

"Ja, Laura? Wat kan ik voor je doen (What can I help you with)?" jacob asked the girl called Laura.

"I haven't done homework counting lessons. Can I copy yours?" Laura made a facial expression as sweet as possible.

"Wouldn't homework be done at home?" Flowers interrupts. She knew Laura just wanted Jacob's attention.

"I'm not talking to you!" sahut Laura ketus's. "Jacob?" He turned his eyes to Jacob.

Feminist soul Flower thrashing. He was not a male hater, but, he knew how to position himself in front of them. She was an honorable girl, though socially stratified, to the Dutch, she was below them.

Like Laura and the other students in this school, even the teachers, who always looked down on her. Except Jacob, of course.

Flowers sneered as Jacob moved to sit near Laura to help the girl. For Jacob, he just wanted to do good. Laura is the son of her father's best friend, the owner of the largest coffee plantation in Semarang. He has known the girl since childhood. But he would rather be friends with Bunga.

Adventure with a brave and intelligent native girl is the most fun thing. Many sneered at their friendship, but, Jacob never cared.

That afternoon after school, as Bunga requested, Jacob took her for a walk in his new car. How happy Flowers are when they travel around the city of Semarang, even to the edge of the city.

They arrived at the coffee plantation. Some native workers who were picking coffee noticed the two with strange gazes. Flowers are used to it. Neither the Dutch nor the natives, they liked the togetherness between him and Jacob.

"Oh shit!" jacob stopped his car. After going through the hollow road, it looks like the wheels of the car are deflated.

"Why?" ask the flower of astonishment.

"It looks like the wheels are erupting." Jacob opened the car door and rushed out. He checked the bottom of his car and sure enough, the right rear wheel deflated.

"Oh, how's this?" The flower next to Jacob held his head.

"I don't know how to change wheels."

The flower breathed out hard. Then he spread his eyes around. "Kang! Can you help us?" call him to a passing plantation worker.

The man with a blackish brown complexion due to frequent exposure to the sun was approaching Flowers and Jacob. His eyes are cynical on both.

"Can you help us, Kang? The wheels of the car are leaking" said Bunga once again.

"Sweety!" The man suddenly spat in front of the Flower. Makes the girl frown.

"Londo's Mistress." The man's words were like a sharp knife piercing through the chest of a Flower.

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