The Rose of De Haas

Chapter 15: The First Day of Meeting Him

Time after time passed, sending the Rose of De Haas into her teenage years.

The girl grew smarter by the day, until finally she managed to graduate with a very satisfying value to make Papa and Mama so proud.

Rose's childhood life in school wasn't so much fun, only Greg and a few kind-hearted indigenous children who are loyal to be friends of Rose during his school until now he managed to graduate and enter the best HBS school in Batavia.

Greg has now successfully completed his school, making Roses inevitably have to mingle with new people in the new school.

He has now entered the HBS school period, a school for European children, foreign Eastern descendants such as Chinese, and others, Arab or Indian and indigenous children of high caste such as nobles or wealthy merchants.

Since childhood, Roses have shown a high interest in art, especially drawing and painting. His little hands were so agile to move on kerta and canvas, producing such a stunning work.

"Rose, have you heard that today our class will be the arrival of a new student?" asked Kees, a young man of mixed Dutch Chinese descent that morning to Rose who was drawing in front of the classroom door.

Kees was a friend of Rose since the first day he entered this school, a young man with clear caramel eyes and a friendly attitude made Rose feel at home to him.

"Oh yeah? where did it move from?" tanya Rose was not very interested.

"I heard he moved from Netherland and has a handsome face. Aren't you interested?" reply Kees is half-tempting, considering the Roses have never laid a heart on the opposite sex.

"See, Kees. I just want to focus on learning so as not to become a burden for Papa and Mama in the future," Rose said while still focusing on her pencil and drawing book.

Not yet had Kees reply to the Rose, the bell lesson sign will begin to sound making Kees rush into the classroom while pulling the Rose's hand.

"Good morning, kids. Today we have a new transfer student from the Netherland. Let's go in, introduce yourself to your new friends," said Mr. Teacher that morning, making the Rose who has been busy drawing has now focused his attention to the front of the class.

"Good morning, friends, introduce my name to Cecilion van der Linen."

A heavy but soft voice that flowed from the figure of the black-haired handsome young man successfully made the body of the Rose stiffen, along with his chest that was pounding so violently.

The young man's eyes were very shady, giving off a strange heartburn sensation that the Rose's stomach had never felt before in his entire life.

What is this feeling? The rose really did not understand why he could not even take his eyes off the new disciple Cecilion.

"Then please sit on an empty bench next to the Rose of De Haas, Cecilion," said the Master, directing Cecilion to sit next to the Rose to make the girl's feelings more uncertain.

A pair of Cecilion-level legs stepped up, approaching the Rose who was pretending to be busy reading his book.

"Hello, Rose. Nice to meet you," said Cecilion in his soft heavy voice, making the Rose only able to nod with a movement so stiff as a stone forced to move.

...****************...

The day had gone by the afternoon after the Roses returned home after helping the Mama take care of their flower garden.

"Father! Where's papa?" call Roses to Mr. De Haas the Papa who is busy working in his study.

"What's up, baby?" said Mr. De Haas gently, closing the thick book that was right in front of him.

From the living room the rose edged towards the Papa's office, meeting the Papa who was sitting on his desk.

"Does Papa know anything about the Van Der Linen family that just moved from the Netherlands?" asked Roses so curious, considering the Papa has a lot of relationships.

Hearing the question of the Rose, immediately Mr. De Haas's face changed drastically. The man did not know why Rose suddenly asked him about the Van Der Linen family.

"Mr Van Der Linen was a new governor in Batavia, Papa's enemy while still living in the Netherlands but somehow he became governor here all of a sudden," reply Mr. De Haas with a grim face, making the Rose speechless.

What say? The enemy? That means that there is a large and deep abyss that will definitely scuttle the Rose if it dares to get closer to Cecilion van der Linen, the handsome young new student at his school.

"What makes Papa and Mr Van Der Linen hostile?"

"That's an internal matter that you shouldn't know about right now, dear," replied Mr. De Haas gently trying to provide some understanding.

That answer certainly made the Rose more curious, but he only nodded slowly reluctantly urging the Papa to give a more detailed answer.

"But the son of Mr. Van Der Linen is sitting right next to me, Papa," Mawar said as he opened the financial statement book of the De Haas sugar cane plantation.

The economic condition of Mr. De Haas and his family is now more established, even now the De Haas family already has two sugar factories themselves.

Because of their wealth that is increasingly abundant, the social status of the De Haas family is also increasing to make many people feel reluctant.

"Then don't get too close to her. Perhaps the child also knew that Papa's relationship with his parents was very bad," Mr. De Haas replied to the princess only wayang with worry.

Mr. De Haas does not want his son to be involved in his problems with Mr. Van Der Linen. He just wanted his son to live life as calmly as possible.

"Hopefully I can do it, Papa," Rose replied with a faint smile, in her heart the more curious the girl was actually who Cecilion van der Linen was regardless of his status as the son of a governor.

"At the end of dinner, I have to help Mama and the Babu to prepare dinner. Excuse me, Papa," closed the Rose after feeling not getting a satisfactory answer from the Papa.

Rose stepped away from the Papa's study, inched into his room to think of another plan to find out about Cecilion van der Linen, the first man to attract his attention.

He was really made curious by Cecilion because of his attitude that was so calm and economical to talk.

"Anything I would do to know who you really are, Cecilion van der Linen," said the steady Rose as she glanced out the window of her room.