WHITE ROSE
(CHAPTER - 01 A)

(Thursday, 11 August 2016, 15:00 pm)

A day not so different from the day before. As usual, the lesson I learned today was also normal. The difference is, today happened to be my class schedule doing chemistry practice in the laboratory. Which we are now done with and hurrying to go home.

As I went out, I reached into the cell phone in my pants pocket. Instead of checking the clock, my eyes were on a message. I opened it right away.

[New message received

Sender: Father

Andy, don't forget. I'll be home in the afternoon.]

One of the short messages that kept my phone vibrating during practice hours.

Huh, it's really troublesome! Do I look like an SD kid who has to be warned many times? I've recorded it in memos anyway.

"Andy! Come on to the cafeteria for a second!"

There was a scream from a boy as I moved away from the lab. I went to the back cafeteria as usual. The cafeteria at the school is open until the afternoon. Because students and teachers pretty much go home late on the class practice schedule.

"I have to shop before my dad comes. Sorry Hary!" reply me, without stopping my steps while waving my hand.

"okay! Be careful!" hary answered, waving his hand.

Hary walked towards another group of my classmates who were standing right next to the lab door. They seem to be waiting for me too. Of course from their conversation.

"Andy's not coming?" ask Vino.

"No. His father is at home" Hary replied.

Hary's been a close friend of mine since Kindergarten. Our friendship continued, and continued in the same school until the first grade of High School. Surprisingly, I always had one class with him. I was bored to see his face. But on the other hand, I also feel good to be with him.

I'm just an ordinary teenager, ordinary looking. Living in a small town with my father, in the town of Mustika. My mother was gone when she gave birth to me. Since childhood my father took care of me. He is so disciplined.

When I stepped on Junior High, I was taught how to cook by him. Each day we took turns to make breakfast and dinner. For lunch, except for holidays, of course he looked outside. I often bring my own food. Understandably, rest is a time that is often quizzed by slashing some of my PR. Because at home I was definitely exhausted and asleep.

Right now, I'm continuing my schooling at one of the city's State High Schools, SMAN 1 Mustika. From there, I lived my normal school life.

※ ※ ※

"thank you. Happy shopping back."

The typical sound of a minimarket cashier after paying for the items I selected. Decit clear open glass door. Say goodbye to me, checking my groceries again. Maybe there's something I forgot.

Like the days I spent before. Especially when you're not out of town because of work. I'll be here by 5pm. Even though today I just had a practice exam, and still tired of having just come home at 3 pm more. But what can I do. I had to hurry before he got home. Because he might also feel more exhausted. Plus I saw the time already pointed at 16:32 wib on my digital watch.

["Visitors, an accident just happened at Mustika Park at 16:00 wib. We are currently at the scene ..."]

There was a brief news from the TV, in a small electronics store right next to the minimarket.

The move that I originally accelerated, now slowed down a little to steal the news. I glanced towards the news as it was right in front of the shop to take a look. The thing that makes me curious is, the location of the incident is close to my home.

["A car tried to break through a red light and got a brake blong. Of these, there were two deaths. Yulianti (37 years), and Dewi (15 years). At that time he was walking to cross from the park. The two victims did not have time to avoid because of the incident that was too fast."]

Displaying the location of the incident. Also played a CCTV recording that happened to record the seconds of the incident. At that moment, the yellow light began to flash and turn red. But there is a car that even increases its speed. Maybe for the driver of the car, still had time to pass before the red light. A simple but fatal habit that is often done by most drivers.

The mother crossed after the red light flashed. Surprised, he reflexively sped up his pace. But unfortunately, his legs slipped and fell. The car hit both of them. Then stop driving after hitting a park bench near the sidewalk. In the girl's hand, she tightly held a bouquet of white roses.

From the footage, I began to feel sad and touched to see the helpless girl. He must have suffered a tragic death.

Feeling unbearable, I turned my body away and walked home. After all, I was also starting to feel hungry. Not even the PR that Teacher gave today was so much. If I get late, my time to rest later is minimal. Plus I feel sorry for my dad if I'm late.

However, as my feet took a few steps, I saw something sparkling in front of me. More like two steps from my feet. My steps stopped, after I was right in front of the thing.

I looked carefully and picked up the thing. A pendant crowned with sparkling white roses. It seems, for quite a long time this thing fell from its owner. Seen from very few people passing by here.

I better give it to the owner of the electronics store. If the owner of this locket is looking around here, he can give it away.

However, as I moved on, there was something strange around me.

"...!"

I don't know if my breath and body stopped for a few seconds. It was frozen, but my consciousness was still there. And even more strangely, I felt the vehicles and people passing by like a complete stop. There is no sound. Even the sound of wind. It felt like time had stopped and I was in the city dead for a moment.

As soon as I got out of the ice, I immediately looked around. There was nothing strange as soon as my eyes combed around, like a dazed person. Everything is moving normally as usual.

What the hell was that? Or maybe just my feelings?

And suddenly ....

"Aww!"

"...?"

There was a scream like someone who had just fallen down. I turned my gaze toward the source of the voice, which turned out to be right in front of me. A girl with long black hair, looking beautiful due to the glow of twilight. A tiny body that looks so mature to me. Wrapped with a bright white knit long-sleeved short cardigan. The girl was about 10 meters from where I was standing. In front of the girl, a lot of red roses were scattered.

Her cries appeared incessantly while picking up the flower. Without a second thought, I rushed to him.

"Are you okay?"

"...."

He did not look back and still picked up the flowers. With a sweet and innocent face wrapped in a cry.

"Let me help."

I tried to pick up the flowers. Before long, a soft, soft voice began to be spoken on her tiny lips.

"How is this?"

I stopped, turned and looked. I pointed my body a little at him. His face looked down at the roses in his hands. Tears began to fall down, among the flowers.

"I have to how?" whining.

"What's wrong? Maybe I can help," I said.

He began to wipe away the tears. "This flower is my best friend's favorite. I want to give it as a gift. We will rarely meet, because I will live in a distant city. We have promised to meet in Mustika Park, bringing our favorite flowers. But ...."

The blocked cry so rubbed his lips. As if holding back to tell me his heart. I tried stroking his shoulder for comfort.

"Yes already. Let's go to the flower shop. I bought flowers to replace them. Later on."

"-don't want!"

His shocking shout cut directly into my suggestion.

"This flower is my hard work. I have been planting this many years. We promise to bring flowers from our efforts. If I bring flowers from buying, it means I have lied to him. I don't want to!"

Hearing her words, I was a little surprised. What's more, I saw his fingers covered with wound plaster. Probably because of the thorns from the rose. That is, he had just arranged the flowers alone.

Innocence expresses sincerity for loved ones, making me so touched. But, on the other hand there might be something that made him have to bring the flowers. It is not just a promise to a friend. Maybe there was something else that was much more important to push him that way.

"Why do you insist on having to bring the flowers?"

I saw that this time he was already starting to be able to defeat her cries.

"In a moment .. she'll have surgery. It's been a long time since he's been seriously ill. I'm afraid I can't give her anything that makes her happy."

I just fell silent. I don't know why I'm so lost in his feelings. I slowly took her hand. Holding his fingers wrapped in plaster. It was seen that he started to raise his face and look at me stunned.

"I know how you feel. What you said earlier is true. You don't want to lie to your best friend. But, even though you didn't bring the flowers, at least she knew, you've been trying hard to bring the flowers for her. Because this fingers ... can't lie."

The innocent and sweet face was still silent looking at me stunned. For him I replied with a smile.

"This flower is just a symbol of your hard work. But most important is your love. Be honest with what happened. If you're afraid, I'll accompany you there to see him. I'll help you explain. At least, I want you to be able to keep your word."

I tried to convince her, she just looked at me and nodded. Trying to move while pulling gently so that he also stood up.

"Then ... let's go to the flower shop before it gets dark."

He stood up, and .. hm? This girl is pretty short. He's just below my eyes. Is he younger than me?

"But Brother, the flower shop here is very far away. In about half an hour, I have to leave for the city."

Also true. It takes about 20 minutes to get there. Not to mention the trip to Mustika Park.

"yes too. Maybe it can" I whispered, then smiled. "Come with me!"

"Did? Where to, Brother?"

"Just come along! There's no more time!"

I immediately pulled him and hurried to step foot. He was surprised and ran away. The flowers he held fell every time we stepped. It was like giving a trail to our every step.

We rushed to my school. Crossing a pretty deserted highway. Passing through the front yard of the school, and down the hallways leading to the Teacher's Room. The place was not far from the school yard, so we quickly got to the destination. I'm looking for my homeroom teacher-, Miss Rina. Maybe he's still there. Until we met him who seemed to be busy in his room.

Knock on the door and he sees us coming. "Excuse me, Mom."

"Yes?"

"Can I come in?"

"Oh. Please."

I looked at the girl beside me. "Wait here for a second, yeah."

He nodded, then I went inside.

"What's up, Andy?" ask Miss Rina.

"I'm sorry before, Mom. I asked permission to cut some roses in the classroom garden."

His forehead was puzzled. "Reason?"

I tried to explain my reasoning to Miss Rina in a whisper. Including about the girl, about her best friend who is seriously ill and will have surgery today.

Hearing all my explanations, he smiled. "Yes, just take it. Mother allowed it. Later, let me explain it to the other students."

"Ah, thank you very much, ma'am. Then, excuse me. Assalamu'alaikum."

"Wa'alaikumsalam."

Without a second thought we headed straight to my classroom not far from the Master Hall. After arriving, I immediately opened the bag, took out the scissors and razor blades. And cut some roses. I choose one that looks good and beautiful. The girl was surprised by my actions.

"Did? W-why did Brother cut him off? That's not ... the flowers that my classmates planted?" tanyanya.

"These flowers are our hard work. Maybe if you tell them all, they also agreed to give it to you" I explained, while cutting the rose. He was still stunned after hearing my answer.

After picking a few sprigs I put them on the floor. Take the razor and head to the front of my classroom mading. Carefully cut the decorative plastic covering the mading. I spread the plastic ornaments, arrange the roses neatly.

Looking at me who was a little difficult to put together, the girl approached. Took my gunting and some of the roses. Scissor the durinya, arrange it neatly and nicely. I was stunned to see her while arranging the flowers. The work is so painstaking. Although simple, thanks to it, these flowers look like a bouquet of flowers sold in a store.

"You're used to it, aren't you?" I asked as I watched her adorn the flower.

"Yes, Brother. My grandmother taught me. He also owns various kinds of plantations. Flowers included. But I prefer the arrangement of roses," he smiled, but his concentration did not waver in the least.

Due to her reaction, my eyes unconsciously turned to look at her face that was so cute at such a time. Makes my prank to tease her.

"I know you really like roses. Although your finger is often pricked by thorns, but you are still not deterred by decorating roses, right?"

His face was a little surprised. His concentration instantly collapsed because of my question, so that the thorn of the rose had hit his finger. His blood seemed to be shed a little, after he stopped decorating the flower, to withstand the pain of the wound. I felt guilty and held his finger.

"Pardon me. Not that I meant to bother you," I said regretfully.

He simply fell silent and still held his pierced finger. Is he mad at me? But as soon as I removed my hand from her finger, a small smile appeared on her lips.

"Just calm down, brother. I'm used to it" she smiled at me. But somehow I felt a deep sadness from behind her smile.

I continued to decorate the flowers. Tied the bottom with the tape I took from the mading. But my heart was curious about him. I tried to open a conversation while fishing for information from this girl.

"Oh yeah. If you can tell, what's your name?"

"Hm? Uh, Kinara, Brother," she replied in surprise. Because from earlier he noticed my fingers were adorning the flowers.

"Kinara, huh? What a good name. My name is Andy" I replied. I saw his body wriggling slightly in embarrassment as I praised his name.

"What class is it now?"

"Third grade SMP. Brother himself?"

"Oh, I'm in first grade high school at this school."

My eyes pointed at my chest with a smile. "See the sloping gold line on my das. If one line means I'm a first-grader. So next. This is typical at this school."

"Oh, so. Turns out we're one level different, huh Sis?" said smile. Adding to his sweet side when he always put on a face like that.

"Origin' here?"

"No, Brother. I just live with my aunt."

"Oh, so. You said that in the future you will live in a faraway city. Do you want to move?"

"Emmm. Not saying it like that, brother. How do you explain it, huh?" he said with a slightly confused face.

Shortly after, he approached me a little. Roll up a little hair on the right. But his body was facing towards my classroom garden which was in front of us. Stare at some flowers that dance gracefully in the gentle breeze. The sunlight that shone on it seemed to be a spotlight to show the dance.

"Actually, the friend I was referring to .. the son of my aunt" he replied with eyes that looked far away.

"That means your cousin?" I stopped my finger for a moment to look at him.

"Yes, but I've considered it like my own brother. I live with my aunt. She's been babysitting me since I was a baby. Because my mother died giving birth to me. While my father died while I was still in the womb," he said, smiling to cover up his grief.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way."

"Em, it's okay, brother. Besides ... I already consider Aunt Yuli as my own mother. And the Goddess is also the friend I love the most," she replied smiling at me.

"Aunt Yuli? Goddess?" manya curious.

"Ah, sorry. That's the name of my aunt and daughter who's the same age as me. They are so dear to me. Moreover, Bibi had already lost her husband along with her sister. My own father" he replied, looking forward.

"Together with your father?" I was a little surprised.

"Yes, Brother. You know about the Mustika Bank tragedy?" askinya. Hearing him I felt like I remembered something.

"Oh, that. I-i know. A terrible tragedy that happened about 15 years ago. A wiretap made by the cabal ****** in the private bank around Mustika street. The incident killed all bank employees. And two police officers were killed by bomb blasts and building debris" I said in response to a well-known tragedy in this place.

"Yes, right. And the two policemen were my father and Dewi's father" Kinara said slowly.

"...!"

I was immediately surprised. I don't know why I feel so much pain. Like I could imagine her feeling so depressed. About Kinara and Dewi who had experienced a sad thing since childhood. They feel more sadness than me. Who only lost my mother.

No, Kinara was the one who suffered the most. He lost both his parents. More than me and the Goddess. Who only lost one. Yet she was so tightly covering her wounded heart with a smile. Diverting his pain by loving the person he has right now. Especially with Dewi, who is currently experiencing severe pain and must undergo surgery. Seeing this state of affairs maybe the Goddess is very minimal for the possibility of being healed. Maybe for Kinara himself he should be ready if someday he would lose another one of his loved ones.

"Then, what about the Goddess? You'll be away from him after this, won't you?" ask again.

"Hmm, yes Brother. I was told to move by my grandmother. He was so worried about me. But he still insisted and would not listen to my explanation. Right now, I still want to be next to the Goddess. And this is all I can give her. And maybe ... This is my last chance," he said.

His face was slightly bowed. His eyes began to glaze over. Yet he was still able to endure the pain in his heart. As if coming late to the melancholy nuance that was emitted I immediately grabbed his hand. Put the flowers I finished decorating on the palms of both hands.

"This. This flower represents us for your friendship. And also do'a for the healing of the Goddess," I smiled.

He was just stunned to see the flowers he received from me.

"I don't know how deep your pain is. But I also know what it's like to lose someone I love so much. I have never seen or felt the love of a mother. Actually, I also lost my mother when she gave birth to me."

"...!"

I started to smile. "But I can feel the affection represented by my father. Dad loves me so much. If it was like that, my mother would love me more. Because for the sake of his beloved son, he sacrificed with anything even with his own life. That's where the affection I get from them continues to imprint forever in my heart" I assured him.

His stunned face now changed with a smile. Her tears had dripped even though she had wiped them away.

She immediately hugged the flower gently with a happy smile. "Thank you, Brother. Thank you very much."

"Either. Yes already. Let's go to the park. Maybe he's waiting for you" I said directly to ask him.

Kinara simply nodded while wiping away the tears and smiling.