I Love You, J!
Chapter VIII - The Age of Daendels

I'm panicking. Panicked. How far I walked, all I saw was a picture of Indonesia in the past. I don't know for sure what year it is, which is definitely not the 1900s. Must be older than that.

I passed through the market like a confused person. People were transacting with coins that I often saw in trading history books. I can't believe this. This isn't a prank? If it's a dream, why don't I wake up? I even patted my cheek repeatedly and still felt pain.

This is clearly wrong. I don't know anyone here. I was so confused, my feet seemed to be unable to stop. I just kept walking until I entered the forest. After realizing that I would be even more difficult if I entered the forest, I cursed myself. I should have stayed in the market only, or returned to the cottage to calm down.

I was confused when I wanted to return to the center of the crowd. Am I walking too far? Damnit. What the hell is going on? I really don't have a clue!

Then I kissed and heard a voice. Sounds like the sound of a person fighting. I sharpened my ears and approached the source of the sound. I carefully walked so as not to make a sound.

I peeked out from behind a big tree. I saw a young man hitting a log with his fist. He's not on a rampage, he's like he's training.

BUGS!

Hard as well as the punch. He did not look at all in pain when he hit the log. I peeked again from a different point of view, hoping to see his face. But I struggled, the young man turned his back on me. What good is it that I can see his face? I'm definitely not going to know.

BUGS!

This time the young man kicked the log that became his training tool. God, I don't know what's going on, but it feels like I really went into the past. Just look at the way the young man is training, in 2023 the guys are hitting the samsak, not the hardwood trunk.

While I was watching the exercise, suddenly the young man turned around. I hurried to hide. Damnit. I couldn't see his face. I peeked once more and saw the young man drinking.

I can't believe this. I saw Junot version 1800? I'm sure it's Junot! It was just that here her hair was longer, her muscles were more visible and her skin was a little darker. He was bare-chested and only wore a cloth wrapped around his waist. This is Junot's colossal drama version!

Fortunately, I was not overwhelmed by shock and making a sound. It seems that the young man has not realized my existence.

“Kirana, why are you here?”

“KYAAA!!” I was shocked and screamed. Someone patted my shoulder and asked me. Does anyone finally know me?

I turned around and was surprised to see Mas Yudha standing before me.

“Mas Yudha!” his screeches. “Finally Mas!” I spontaneously hugged Mas Yudha while crying. “Who the hell pranked me all the way?” isakku.

“Why you?” ask Mas Yudha.

“Bingung!” sahutku. Wait, I realized something again. Mas Yudha was also dressed just like the young man who hit the wood earlier. He wears a black headband and looks like an old Mas Yudha.

“Why?”

“We again where the hell is Mas? What is all this? Why people...” I cannot continue my words because I am so confused.

“Your question is strange,” by Mas Yudha. “You've been here a lot, that little cottage is Jantaka's house.”

I turned my gaze to the cottage that Mas Yudha had appointed which he said was Jantaka's house.

“Jantaka?” I frowned.

“Jantaka,” clear Mas Yudha. “Your friend's.” Mas Yudha pointed to the wooden stick beater who was now approaching me. Up close he looks more and more the same as Junot.

“It looks like Kirana's head hit something, Mas,” Jantaka said with a smile. I don't know why I'm happy to see that young man's smile. It was like seeing Junot dressed up like Suliwa. More handsome.

“What happened to you, Kirana?” mas Yudha asked with a worried tone.

Why is it so raw? If indeed I go to the past, then Mas Yudha remains my brother and Junot remains my friend?

“What year is it?” my many.

Mas Yudha and Jantaka looked at each other, then looked at me in disbelief.

“You asked this what year?” repeat Mas Yudha. “What happened Kirana? You were there for a while to buy food, you disappeared. Before coming here did you stop by somewhere?”

I'm shaking. “What year is it?” ask again.

“1809,” sahut Jantaka. “Have remembered?” He then tapped my head slowly.

“Kirana? You look confused now,” said Mas Yudha.

“So it's 1809,” murmured. Judging from my appearance, I was just a commoner in 1809. So did Mas Yudha and Jantaka.

“How about we eat first?” haggling Jams. “I'm hungry after training.”

“Come!” bring Mas Yudha. He pulled my hand closer to Jantaka's cottage. We sat three of us in old wooden bale-bale.

Ah, how do I dig up information without making old Mas Yudha and Jantaka unsuspecting? I want to know a lot of things. Is Jantaka living alone? Am I just with Mas Yudha here? Does my family work in forced labor? Ah, I'm getting dizzy thinking about it.

“After eating, we are close for a while,” said Mas Yudha.

“You have new news, Mas?” ask Jantaka.

Mas Yudha nodded. “Eat first, we talk about later.”

Alright. This is the time to be a good listener. What new news does Mas Yudha have?

***

Its bad. Really bad. I still hope it's prank. But it was impossible for Mas Yudha and Junot to prank me with this kind of totality.

Mas Yudha and Jantaka - or Junot - planned a revolt against Daendels. They are gathering the masses out of a labor force that has not yet been paid. So I was born into a rebellious family. This is a bad position. If I could choose, I would rather be a family of non-political traders.

I want to say that the wage of labor is corrupted by the regent or government officials. From the Indonesian history books I read, the labor was actually paid.

“Should we make Jumanta a prisoner?” ask Jantaka. “I'm sure once he has taken the rights of the workers.”

“Jumanta?” I frowned.

“You were once in a relationship with him, that rotten man,” Mas Yudha said in an annoyed tone. “Do you still love her and mind if we hurt her?”

Huh huh? I don't even know my ex from the 1800s. Who's Jumanta? I don't know. “As far as you are,” I said. “I don't care,” I replied accordingly.

Now it was Mas Yudha and Jantaka's turn to frown. Did I speak wrong?

“Newly this time you did not defend Jumanta,” said Mas Yudha. “I'm more curious about what happened to you, my sister.”

“True. Usually you defend that rotten man, what do you like about him? He's just a lousy guy who's good at licking. He worked for the Dutch government, he took advantage of it and oppressed his own people. Traitor,” said Jantaka in a hateful tone.

Oh, so that's the story. Now I get it. Because I don't know Jumanta, so it doesn't matter to me if I don't defend him now. Besides, why am I so bad that I have a traitor boyfriend. I can't accept that myself. Excuse me. I hate traitors.

“I realize, I'm too good for a lousy Jumanta,” I said.

Mas Yudha laughed. “You should have said that long ago!” said.

Jantaka smile. “You deserve better,”.

“Hey, Jantaka, don't go near my sister. I know your intentions, you're waiting for him to break up from Jumanta right? Don't expect me to approve you.”

Jantaka. “No Mas, I don't dare. Kirana is too good for me. I'm just a wanderer who has no treasure.”

Oh, so Jantaka is a mediocre traveler. I unconsciously blushed to hear Mas Yudha and Jantaka's conversation. At least someone wants to get close to me. It comforted me a little after - her story - breaking up from the lame man.

“I'll gather information again,” Mas Yudha said later. “Kirana, do you know what your job is?”

“Heh?” I was a little surprised because Mas Yudha suddenly asked me. I don't know what my job is. I don't even know what I'm here for.

Mas Yudha shook his head. “Surely you forgot again,” he said. “You I have assigned to the duchy of Sukaraja, find as much information as possible about Prince Natawijaya. Remember, don't get caught.”

Gosh darn. Who is Prince Natawijaya? Can I just sit in the cottage? I am not at all ready for this task. What if you die and can't go back to the future? Amit-amit. Kirana, get up! It's a nightmare!