Luccane
Chapter 8: Het Bloeien van Rozen

"I'd rather die and meet you like this than have a miserable marriage" Luccane answered my question with a sweet smile.

A faint red tinge ran down my cheek later, along with an unusual heat. Quickly I covered both my cheeks with my palms, I felt very embarrassed and did not know how to reply to Luccane.

Luccane grimaced funny. "you're so adorable if you're so misbehaved."

"Hen..shall!"

"Look, your cheeks are so red haha!"

It is unfortunate that a young man as handsome and warm as Luccane must lose his life at a very young age. But if Luccane survived that day, would I still be able to laugh with him like this?

"You must not think serious things," said Luccane, who seemed to realize that I was daydreaming.

I'm aghast. "I didn't think of anything. It's just that I wonder how you can't look creepy like other entities."

Luccane sat on my desk chair, looking at me seriously from there.

"it seems like God did deliberately give me a magical power different from 'them'."

"Can you explain it to me in more detail?" again I am curious to try to dig deeper information about who the handsome ghost figure in front of me is.

"I'm confused about how to explain it, because basically a living human will not understand it," Luccane's answer is still full of mystery makes me pursed lips.

I let out a short sigh, "that way you're still a bitch."

Feeling that my consciousness had fully recovered, I rose from the position of the bed inching towards the kitchen to refuel my stomach which had been thrashing ever since.

"You sure ghosts don't need to eat?" I asked when I was in the doorway.

Luccane scratched his nape which I believe is not itchy at all.

"sometimes necessary. is it okay?"

Furious with Luccane rambling I then pulled the young man's hand to bring him into the kitchen. I only felt her cold and moist skin as it froze but strangely there was no awkward feeling I felt.

"Sit down" I said after we arrived at the dinner table.

Luccane said without protest, he took a sitting position and watched all my movements in silence.

I took a plate and a spoon, gave it to Luccane.

"Take the food yourself because I'm too hungry to help you."

Again Luccane just nodded with a smile, he used a spoon to take the rice and side dishes I had prepared.

Strange but real events, seeing a ghost taking rice and side dishes themselves to eat.

"Physically I will not eat this food, but all the nutrients and starch in this food is what I eat" Luccane gave an explanation without me asking.

"What are all entities like that?"

Luccane nodded. "yes. such a thing applies also to offerings that are often placed by humans in sacred places."

I became more understanding about the universe of softening unintentionally through Luccane, yes in addition to getting a lot of historical science it turns out he can also give me knowledge about the world of cross-country.

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

The day had quickly turned into a night without feeling. Now I was sitting face to face with Luccane who was busy explaining about the original recipe of Kastengel pastries that I often meet at various celebrations on big days.

I'm glad Luccane's face seemed to be beaming about explaining the recipe in detail.

What a sweet young man.

"Yes! people used to like to wear cloves as a topping for pastry, not many who use cheese at that time," Luccane gave an explanation with high enthusiasm.

"Why cloves?"

"As you know, the Dutch came to colonize Indonesia to monopolize the spice trade owned by Indonesia. For the Dutch people at that time, the distinctive taste of cloves can add to the appetite and yes, it has many other properties for health," Luccane said.

In my spirit I recorded the useful science in the little note book that I often took with me to travel.

"According to sources I've read, Dutch people at that time said they like to plant flowers, is that true?"

Hearing my passionate question Luccane smiled widely.

"i love your very high learning spirit, right, at that time almost all Dutch people had a garden to plant flowers in their homes."

"Then what are Babu and Jongos?"

"If Babu is the name for a maid who works for the Dutch Lord, then Jongos is the name for men. There are usually a lot of Babu and Jongos who work for one Master, some who take care of the house and some who work in the fields owned by the Master," luccane's light is clearer than I asked.

Now I wish I could have a private tutor like Luccane. How not? With him I can learn without feeling burdened at all.

"At that time, the natives were referred to as Inlanders by the Dutch. There used to be many cases of families selling their children to Dutch people to be Nyai because they were in debt, one example of the case was my own mother," Luccane said with a gentle smile.

"Hyai who is lucky to get the heart of his Dutch master can be married or given property and high social status like Mama. That way, a child born into such a marriage can be treated better" Luccane added.

I frowned. "indeed the Sinyo are not treated the same as the original Dutch?"

Luccane shook his head. "of course not. I'm a little bit luckier because I have a rich father with a high social status. Even so, I still often get less pleasant discriminatory behavior."

"Sorry to have brought up a wound that is not pleasant for you" I said, looking at Luccane regretfully.

A soft smile was imprinted on Luccane's beautiful face. "no problem, everything has passed. What flowers do you like best?"

I rubbed my chin with my index finger, weighing for a moment considering I quite liked flowers.

"rose, I love that rare purple rose."

"Close your eyes first then" said Luccane who strangely immediately I followed without suspicion.

"You like purple roses? don't like the red ones?" Luccane asked softly.

I nodded. "i also like. Red roses are romantic flowers."

Luccane clenched my hand, opened my palm then.

"you can open your eyes now."

I slowly opened my eyes when I felt my palm grasping something.

My eyes were wide in disbelief at the sight of two purple and red roses so fresh and beautiful that were in the grasp of my right hand.

"If purple is your favorite, then red is a symbol of my feelings for you. I hope you like me like you like that purple rose" Luccane said with a serious look while clasping my left hand.