Horizons

Advertising - Ebook Another Time

Hi genks.. already know if I publish an ebook on google playbook? 

This time I published a new ebook called Another Time. If you are interested, you can get it on google playbook with keyword cellestine or another time. It only makes Android users. Here is a snippet of the story.

***

There are things that people forget to be grateful for. One thing that can not be bargained but tightly gripped the threads of destiny life that they must live. It's called time.

I don't know if I should be angry or disappointed, seeing people mostly just wasting time. Are they grateful to live in a free age? But they cross the line.

Don't complain about the situation. This modernization is nothing compared to the chaos that has never been reflected in the ink of history. I was there. Hugging time until my breath turns blue.

"Non..! Noni...!"'s...!" as usual, the symbol, or what I often call Nanny, is looking for me who today disappeared again from home. It's common for him to handle my curious behavior. I can't just stay home like the other noble princesses. Like this time, I slipped in a sugar factory on a giant wheel that was grinding sugar cane to get the juice.

Wait a minute, what did I say? The nobleman?

Those blue bloods would have laughed at me if they heard that. In their eyes I am not an honorable noble, but the son of a Nyai, a mad woman of treasure who sells herself betraying the earth.

Yeah, I've been used to hearing their scorn from behind. Even if it was in front, they would not dare to do so. Who would dare to fight the youngest son of a sugar mill master of one of the VOC leaders in Java?

They called my father Meneer, the owner of the largest sugar factory in the middle of Java. The garden almost covered the population's rice fields. Every day, steam trains come in rows, transporting many miles of fine grains to be delivered directly to the port. The ultimate goal is of course the European market. Lately the need for sugar is soaring. Due to the industrial and cultural revolution that made many people demand the availability of sugar.

The fertile land that should have been planted with rice for daily food was forcibly taken over to meet the demand for sugar markets in Europe. All that was seen throughout the plantation was a stick of sugar cane and some starving slaves longed for rice to eat.

I'm not a hypocrite. I also do not condone the actions of my father and his trading partners who seized indigenous lands like this for the benefit of their own country. Just look, how can the workers eat if around them there is only sugar cane?

But how else, my blood still flows my father's blood. Even though I don't like it, I'm still the son of a Dutchman. The colonists, they call it.

I don't have any friends. My friends are just Nanny-Nanny who was hired to take care of me since childhood. From them I know a lot of indigenous customs. My mother is also native. Therefore, even though my face is blaster, but all my behavior and mindset is like the natives mostly. It's just that in the version that has tasted the educational bench.

I'm alone. No one has ever really accepted me. To the Dutch people, I was seen as disgusting because in my blood flowed native blood. As for the natives, I was also too different to be a part of them. Then, how should I?

Like most Indo children, to boost my status in social circles, my father deliberately betrothed me to a Governor General, his name was Stef de Haffleigh, a native Dutchman.

"Noni.." Nanny's breath was already raging when she found me playing around between the furnace, "Noni, Nanny Cariin from earlier turned out to be here!" he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Nanny's done with the cake?" i asked. My hands were busy cleaning up the dust from the burning wood clinging to my clothes. Even my face was sweating in a smoke bath.

"Already non. But Noni why is here. That, Non's future husband is here!" he told me in panic.

"Stefs?" eyes rounded. How'this? I'm sure you'll scold me again if Stef finds me wandering around here.

"Nanny let's go home!" I lifted my gown through the clay hearths to the back door. My only chance to sneak back into the house and pretend nothing happened was through the back door.

But unfortunately, when the wooden door creaked open, there was a tall figure that I was avoiding. Stef stood there with his stupid smile at the company of Sinyo, his beloved dark horse.

"So..what is the concept today? The sugar cane grinder girl?" Stef pulled his eyebrows up and sneered at me.

I'm biting my lips. "Don't tell Dad," I tried to compromise.

"depends. Come with me first, then I won't tell your father" he stretched out his ladder.

"Where?" i'm probing.

"Follow it," he won't tell.

"Did that?" I pointed at the black horse that was now squealing flaunting its huge teeth.

Sref stroked Sinyo's hair, "Of course. He's your friend!" stef's words made me cringe.

There is a story behind the name Sinyo that Stef gave. Somehow the man prefers to ride a horse if traveling close distance when all the VOC leaders began to rampant using the car. He's a little weird.

Stef has been taking care of Sinyo since the horse was no longer in service. But he just gave her a name after meeting me. Stef said I inspired him to find the right name for Sinyo.

People used to call me Noni. Call for those mixed-blooded babies. Ever since my brother got married and was taken to Batavia, I've been alone here. I'm lonely. That's why Stef named his horse Sinyo. At least by hearing someone call Sinyo, I don't feel alone. Yes, Sinyo which is actually a call for a mixed-blood baby boy that he pinned for his horse. For me.

It was in that instant that my heart trembled for the first time because of a man. From then on I thought marrying Stef wasn't a bad idea. At least that guy is crazy about me, or just tell my beauty.

Everyone agrees that I am beautiful. Plus my body is perfectly bent and white skin is glowing. That's why Stef's been chasing me since I first met. He never gave up, even went straight to see my father to propose to me.

"Why shut up? Comewithme!" Stef still stretched out his hand.

"The other man will offer me a ride in his car, while you, on a horse?" I'm glaring in disbelief. Stef even has five classic car collections that are directly sent from Germany, but everywhere instead bring Sinyo.

"If I bring the car, I won't be able to hug you from behind," without approval, the man immediately pulled my arm and lifted my body up to sit on Sinyo's back.

"Well, this is how I can look at your faux face because the black smoke is closer!" his chatter made me rush to rub my cheeks. He just chuckled a little while stomping his horse rope taking us somewhere.

I straightened my body after Sinyo stopped by the river. Looks like the horse won't obey his master's orders.

"Why stop here? Sinyo! Answer me!" he talked to his horse like crazy. Sometimes stomping his feet to the ground because Sinyo seemed to not care about it, instead busy eating grass that thrives on the banks of the river.

"Maybe Sinyo is hungry" I was busy playing around with water. When else to go to a place like this. Just leave the goods for a while from home Nanny was confused to tell her to go home. Especially if caught by my mother, I can be scolded.

"This is not the plan" in his own frustration. "Huh, this is all because of you. Watch out for the grass you eat!" he plotted Sinyo, who was burdened with a snare.

"What plan?" I look like I want to know.

He ruffled his coarse hair and joined me sitting among the rocks.

"That's. em. I.." he seemed hesitant.

"Applying?" raised eyebrows.

"You know?" he's surprised.

I admire, "Nanny said that. He said he heard you tell people to gather a hundred roses, and also prepare a ring." I giggle.

He let out a heavy sigh, "Why can't those people keep their mouths shut," he regretted.

"Because I already know, where's the ring?" I thrust my hand.

"It should have been more romantic than this, but yeah, that's it," he fumbled his pockets looking for something. The look on his face changed. It seems he did not find the item he was looking for. "Great!" Stef ruffled his own hair.

"Why?" i cringe.

"The ring.." From Stef's expression I can already guess that he forgot to bring the ring.

"Yes," I pulled my hand back.

"I'll get people to" not finished talking, I pulled the edge of his shirt.

"That's it. Tomorrow at our wedding" I said.

"But." he's not willing.

"You proposed to me directly in front of my father. I'm not going to run away anywhere" I said, curling the corners of her lips upwards.

Stef scratched his nape, "I just wanted to give something special to you. Not like most people who just get married. But it's a mess like this, "he's sorry.

Embarrassedly, I placed my head on his shoulder, "This is also special. No man has ever taken me away on a horse like this before."

Stef put on his smile, closing as much as possible the flowers that were growing in his heart.

"O yes, I got word that your brother was on his way here" the man told me.

"Jess?" my eyes are listening to it.

Stef nodded, "Your brother insists on being the ring bearer at our wedding."

"How long has it been? Two years? Three years? I miss him so much!" I clenched my feet so excited. "Let's take me home. I have to tell Nanny to cook all Jess' favorite dishes!" I stood up and pulled his arm.

"So your brother is more important than me?" his lips.

"Of course" I joked. "Sinyo! Stop eating. It's time to drive me home, "I'm talking to the dark horse.

It was unexpected that Sinyo responded with a sneer. He stopped chewing and prepared his body for the kunaiki. Both Stef and I were shocked.

I just giggled to see Stef scolding his horse. See right? Even my beauty makes horses obey.

***

The industrial revolution drastically changed the human order. From the initially centered on the field of agrarian to technology-based. But the smarter people are, the more greedy they are.

I don't think there will be anything worse than the Malaise crisis. The great depression that began on Tuesday was gray, the fall of the stock market in Wall Street, America, which affected the political economy in almost all countries finished the first world war.

I was a kid then. Still can't digest anything. All I remember is that my father was frustrated that the European sugar market was being cut, leaving our family factory in danger of bankruptcy. But fortunately, the Malaise era that we can go through well.

I thought it was the darkest era of my life. But it turns out I was wrong. There is still much darker and it all started after the Japanese attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor.

I've been getting ready since dawn. My face was daubed and my hair was styled by the most famous professional brought in from Batavia. My sister had even smiled very gracefully while stroking her one month pregnant belly.

"I will forbid you to come if you know you are pregnant young" I said in front of the mirror.

He smiled, "And just missed my sister's wedding? You think because I'm pregnant I'm weak? Take it easy, your nephew is very strong," he said.

"Why not tell me you're pregnant?" my hair was done, and now I turned to him.

"Surprise," she replied briefly while confirming the lipstick on my lips.

"I can't wait to carry her," I was excited. "He must be very funny. By the way what's his name?" I stroked my brother's stomach. It's amazing because there's another life that's stopping there.

"You'll have your own, too" she finished perfecting my make-up.

"We'll have to have a picnic together later. It would be very funny if our children were riding Sinyo," I gave a cheerful cry.

"Sinyo? Who?" jess' forehead is wrinkled.

"There was. My friend," I woe to imagine the dark horse.

"Do you have friends?" he's surprised.

"of course. He's very handsome" I said.

"What is true? I'll tell Stef!" Jess threatens.

"just say. Who's afraid?" I chuckled on the sidelines of his threat. I don't know if Sinyo is a horse.

That day should be the happiest day of my life. In just a few minutes, I will make a promise to live with the man I love. But, the news that was broadcast via radio broadcast destroyed everything.

My wedding day should be a flower bed, not a sea of blood like this.

It turned out to be true the rumors I heard from the news on the radio. Japan is cruel. No wonder they would join hands with the Nazi armour in Germany. The narrow-minded soldiers did not hesitate to finish the katana and their samurai were in good stead. Plus the sound of cannons and the thump of rifles is getting more and more blind. A vow of loyalty to the rising sun empire made them fearless of death. Bodies were scattered, the smell of blood was pouring out in the air. I screamed as my dressing room was forcibly broken down, and a group of soldiers appeared.

Thankfully, Stef arrived on time. With a gun in hand, he aimed at those heartless human heads.

"Are you okay?" the worried look was very clear on his face.

I haven't been able to answer, come again a group of troops who make chaos everywhere. They slammed things, broke furniture, and destroyed households. In fact, the tools in the factory and the solid material ornaments they loathe are not left.

Stef was busy guarding me behind his body. I hugged Jess, and Nanny followed us from behind. The back door is the only way to escape.

But good luck is not on our side. From the opposite direction, we were surrounded by those narrow-eyed soldiers. Each one is ready with a rifle in hand. We are outnumbered.

"Run fast! I'll keep them here!" stef's orders to the three of us.

I shook my head. My cheeks are wet with tears. I kept holding Stef's hand, didn't want to take it off. But the man forcibly separated our link and rebuked me to quickly leave, "Run Sha! Run!"

"No. no!" I held my body that Jess dragged. He kept talking in my ear so I could save myself. But I care, I just want to stay with Stef.

Jess took me further and further away from Stef. My tears kept flowing, my vision started to blur because of those clear spots. Stef was there, standing alone dispelling the whizzing bullets in his ears.

Jess took me to a small building where Nanny and my other messengers used to sleep. My eyes are still on Stef. The man is getting cornered. Until finally, the last thing I saw in my sight was, the tip of the samurai the bastard soldier had pierced through his stomach.

I screamed, but Jess shut me up. I revolted to run to hold Stef, but my brother's grip was stronger than mine. Blood everywhere. Corpse lapsing. Even one of them, lay the body of my father who was lifeless.

I held back the crying. Those cruel soldiers savagely tore my father's stomach apart. Their samurai tip was dripping blood. Even their shoes also left traces of blood.

One of them catches Nanny, then heartlessly turns his head until Nanny's neck is broken. My body is getting weak watching all this.

Jess took me to the back room. He hid me in a closet.

"You stay here. Don't make a sound!" before closing the door of the closet.

I shook my head, wanting to resist but my body was already helpless. This narrow room was very dark and stuffy. The only light source was from a small hole where I could point out.

I saw Jess standing at the door. Three Japanese soldiers broke the door. They cornered Jess. I shut my mouth so I wouldn't make a sound.

Those bastards were laughing triumphantly. Repeatedly said the word 'beautiful' in her language and skinned the lustful Jess from end to end.

I fainted. I don't know how long I've been huddled in that tight spot. My eyes were open when a soldier found me. He grins. His mouth kept saying kirei. kirei. I looked up when his dirty hands came out wanting to stroke my cheek.

I know what lust varnish is burning in his eyes. But I won't let him touch me for a bit. But it turns out, my power is not comparable to that man. He pulled me out and tore my shirt off with just one hand.

Frightened, I didn't realize Jess wasn't there. My eyes continued to look around, just in case there was anything I could use to hit the soldier's head.

But I can't get anything. The man threw me in the bed and restrained me from above. My breasts were almost exposed making my screams even more deafening. Before the jerk managed to pull down my skirt, the door opened and a young man in the same uniform looked up at me expressionlessly.

Compassionately, I begged her wordlessly, with just a look of an eye and a groan inwardly. He's still very young. He was probably about twenty-seven years old. His jaw was sharp, his height almost touching the end of the door leaf. And the most special thing was the color of his skin, a little darker than those of the rising sun country like his comrades. Perhaps because it is often on the battlefield, sun exposure has made his skin look healthy in color.

The man's face hardened. He was visibly angry before uttering an oath that made the soldiers above him instantly bow to beg for mercy. I slowly observed the hiragana letter attached to his left chest. Kaiko, I'm not fluent in Japanese but I can quite spell those simple letter pieces.

He walked closer to the edge of the bed, the place where I was hugging my body in messy clothes. Kaiko grinned at my appearance. Repeatedly her lips whispered the words kirei.

The daindancho took off his jacket and put it on my body. He watched me closely as he asked, "What's your name?"

But I was too disgusted to answer her question. After all he was part of a ruthless army that had killed my future husband, killed my father, raped my brother, and my mother? I didn't see it in the chaos.

"Will not answer? Alright." Kaiko raised her finger and touched my lips. "No problem. Because these lips will be more useful to sigh my name later tonight."

I was surprised to hear what came out of his mouth. Trying to rebel from the clutches of the two soldiers who were now docked at my sides, my strength turned out to be incomparable.

"Your body is very pretty when it squirms," Kaiko showed her a whim. "I can't wait to see her wriggling around naked!"

"Let go! You dick!" my angry outburst was only avenged a humbling grin from the corner of the man's lips.

My body is too weak to fight. Not even able to fight the female geisha who are now taking care of me. They fed me, I refused. They bathed me, I ran out of energy to dodge. Even while stripping off my clothes one after another and replacing them with sakura-patterned pink kimonos, I just kept silent.

They left me in a room with a white mosquito net. Nippon soldiers stand guard outside. Only the golden light from the small neon lights illuminated this place. I heard the sound of feet approaching. The big tall figure was now aligning his body, sitting near me on the edge of the bed.

"They said you haven't eaten. Eat up!" Kaiko held a plate of rice and side dishes in her hand.

I moaned not caring. The glare of anger and hatred was still evident in my body.

Kaiko threw away the plate in her hand. His hospitality has now turned to decisiveness. "There's no point in you acting like that, Keisha!" snapped it.

I'm tekajut. How could he know my name? Ah, maybe he's seen my family tree.

"Fill your stomach and serve me sex tonight," without further ado the man plainly said.

I glanced at him hatefully, "Don't expect you to be able to touch me. I'd rather die than serve a jerk like you!"

She giggled softly as if there was a funny thing I had just said. "Do you have a choice?" he raised an eyebrow. His face turned serious, "Your life and death are now in my hands. So don't expect to die if I don't allow it."

I looked around, looking in case there was a sharp object I could use to stab myself in the body. My father died, my brother was raped, my mother was nowhere, and my future husband was dead. What good am I to live. I better catch up with them.

But before my hand could reach for the fork at the table, Kaiko grabbed me first and dropped me on the bed.

That guy straddled me. I could see his face in this position. He's handsome, I can't deny that. He also had an incredible physical attraction that was hard to resist. But at that time, my mind was too scared to admit it.

"You look beautiful in a kimono," Kaiko's heavy voice greeted my sense of hearing. My breath went up and down, making my chest move in rhythm. I wanted to look at him hatefully, and swore at this man right in front of his face. But my energy was gone somewhere, I was too weak to resist.

"But.." he sighed, "You'll look prettier without anything."