Alan ran away from 13-year-old Justin as fast as he could because they were being chased by Justin's uncle Emanuel's men. Alan assigned Markus personal assistant Lawrence Justin's father to protect Justin. Justin is the eldest son and candidate for President Director at De Groot Company, an international-scale company that has been established since the Dutch colonial era in Indonesia.
Justin tripped over a rock, and
BRUK.
Justin fell on the grass. Alan also fell, because Alan took Justin's hand. Alan quickly stood up and helped Justin up.
"Young Master are you all right?" Alan was worried about Justin, especially Justin was out of breath.
"Uncle," Justin didn't answer Alan's question, "How long are we running like this? Wasn't my mother and I hidden by Uncle Markus in Tumanggu Village, Uncle Markus's hometown? How can Uncle Emanuel's people know about me and Mother in Tumanggu Village?" Alan looked at him.
Alan sighed. Tumanggu Village is a safe place for Justin and Caroline to hide from the pursuit of Emanuel and Beatrice, Lawrence's two sibling who managed to take the De Groot Company by killing Lawrence. However, Villena, Lawrence's third wife, leaked where Markus took Justin and Caroline away, due to anger at Lawrence who didn't tell Markus to take her and Brian to run away when Emanuel and Beatrice managed to take the De Groot Company and immediately slaughtered their family.
As a result, Beatrice arrests Villena and Brian, exiled in a remote village on the coast of the South Coast. Even there, Villena was tortured by Beatrice, so she could tell where Markus had taken Justin and Caroline to hide. Villena besides being hurt, can't stand Beatrice's torture. Especially when Brian saw all that.
"Uncle." Justin shook Alan's arm slightly, "Did anyone tell Uncle Emanuel? Who is he, Uncle?" he had a feeling that someone had told Emanuel where Caroline and Justin were hiding. "Then where are Mrs. Villena and Brian? Did they survive, or were they killed by Uncle Emanuel and Aunt Beatrice?" he also asked about Villena and Brian.
Justin's relationship with Villena and Brian is quite good, although Villena's ambition is to become the big lady in the De Groot family by getting rid of Marlene and Caroline, both of Lawrence's old wives. But her efforts turned bitter because Lawrence only saved Marlene, Caroline, and Justin. Marlene was brought by Adrian's representative Mark to Taiwan. Lawrence is hurt by Villena's ambitions, allowing Beatrice to capture Villena and Brian.
Alan sighed again, grabbed Justin's hand, and was about to speak, but his ears heard the sound of running footsteps from several people, which were heading towards them. He quickly brought Justin back running as fast as he could.
SIUT.
From behind, a lead bullet flew fast and hit Alan's back.
BRUK.
Alan fell, and Justin fell too.
Justin quickly lifted his face, his hand lifted Alan's face. Alan's face was pale, and the man's lips were red.
"Uncle!" Justin screamed frantically, "Uncle can't be dead." He patted Alan's cheek lightly.
Alan with a shaky breath gently caressed Justin's face.
"Hurry up, Young Master," he ordered, "The village of Tumanggu is up ahead, and Mr. Markus is waiting for you. Run quickly, young master. You must stay alive for your father mandate to reclaim the De Groot Company and all the De Groot family property from Mr. Emanuel and Mrs. Beatrice."
"I can't leave Uncle here." Justin refuses to follow Alan's orders.
Before Alan could speak, someone from behind handed back some lead bullets to Alan's body.
BANG. BANG. BANG.
"Ahhh!" Justin screamed because Alan's body bounced with lead bullets. "Uncle!" he screamed again as Alan fell lifeless in the grass. "Ah!" he screamed once more as he saw several men wearing black clothes from behind Alan slowly approaching him. Where they wield pistols, daggers, and other sharp weapons.
He quickly stood up, back and forth, looking at the men in horror.
SIUT-SIUT-SIUT-SIUT.
From behind Justin shot a few pebbles, and they all hit the men's heads. Only one man remains. Those who were hit by the pebbles fell onto the grass.
Justin glared at this, and quickly turned back, wanting to know where the pebbles had come from. He saw a girl his age holding a slingshot ready to release the pebbles. The girl bravely went to Justin's side and kept the catapult. On his body was a small sling bag filled with pebbles.
"Who are you?" Justin asked the girl.
"I'll answer later," said the girl, "Hey you!" she rebuked the man, "Why to kill that man?" Alan pointed, "Then why to want to kill him?" continued pointing at Justin.
The man was surprised to hear all that, then looked amazed at the girl.
"Hey, you!" exclaimed the girl, "I asked, why is not answered?" she rebuked the man.
"Who am I, it doesn't matter, little miss," the man laughed amusedly, and at the same time applauded the girl's courage, "You'd better go, don't interfere. Regarding you hurting my friends, I don't count on you and your parents." told the girl to leave.
"Can not!" said the girl firmly, "I'm going, you must kill him." Justin pointed out who also looked amazed at him.
"That's none of your business, little miss." The man chuckled, "Go away quickly, or I'll have to kill you too."
"I am not afraid of your threats!" rebuked the girl, immediately aiming her slingshot at the man, "You go, or my slingshot will kill you!" the man threatened boldly.
"Who are you, little miss?" The man was even more amazed, "Your guts are so big, not afraid in the slightest. Even if you are an expert at playing the Slingshot. Are you from Tumanggu Village?"
"Hais, who I am is not important!" the girl pursed her lips hearing the ramblings of the man who was curious about who he was, "You don't want to introduce your name anyway, so why should I introduce mine." the man insinuated who did not reveal his identity to him.
The man smiled amused at the girl's words, wanted to speak, but suddenly flinched twice, then,
BRUK.
Falling on the ground, lifeless. Then a boy of Justin's age looked at the dagger decorated with red ink that had stabbed the man.
"Mas Aryo!" cried the girl relieved and recognizing the boy. She lowered her slingshot, then put the pebbles into her bag, then grabbed Justin's hand, rushing towards Aryo. "Thank God you came quickly," she said cheerfully looking at Aryo.
"Don't talk here anymore," Aryo sighed, grabbing the girl's other hand, "Let's get out of here quickly. I feel like there are people like this again." Then immediately took the girl and Justin away.
+++
Justin sat next to Rasti, the little girl who was good at playing the catapult, then on the other side, Rasti sat Aryo. The three kids sat on the steps of the terrace of Danu's grandfather Rasti's house. Aryo took the three of them back to Danu's house in Karang Dewa Village, neighboring Tumanggu Village. They looked up at the sky which looked beautiful with the light of the Full Moon.
But secretly, Justin watched Rasti. He remembered how Rasti bravely faced Emanuel's men. He became in awe of Rasti, and felt his heart touched by Rasti's sincerity in helping him.
Rasti noticed Justin's eyes, looked at Justin, scolded him,
"What's your name? I'm Rasti Kusumojoyo," Rasti introduced herself, "And this is Mas Aryo, my school brother." she then appointed Aryo.
"School brother?" Justin was surprised to hear Rasti's words.
"Yes." Rasti nodded her head, "My grandfather has a Kung Fu school behind this house. Grandpa requires the children in this village to learn Kung Fu, so that they can defend the village and themselves," she chirped, "Well, I, Mas Aryo, and Mas Rangga, are my grandfather's students."
"No wonder you're good at playing the Slingshot." Justin now understands why Rasti is good at playing the catapult, "Apparently you learned from Kung Fu training, right?"
"That's right."
"Hey!" Aryo exclaimed to Justin, "You haven't answered Rasti's question yet. What is your name?" Justin was reminded of who had not answered Rasti's question about who Justin was.
"I'm Justin," Justin said introducing his name, "I live in Tumanggu Village with Uncle Markus, my father's assistant, and my mother."
"Why stay there?" Rasti asked surprised, "I see you are not a country boy, but a city boy." she feels that Justin is a city boy because Justin looks like a city boy.
"I'm not from Tumanggu Village, but from Jakarta." Justin sighed, "Uncle Markus took my mother and I, because Uncle Emanuel and Aunt Beatrice, my father's two brothers have taken my family company, and want to kill us."
"Good grief! How bad are they!"
"Yes, Rasti."
"Then those people," said Aryo curiously, "Who are they?"
"Uncle Alan said Uncle Markus's aide, they were Uncle Emanuel's men. Uncle Emanuel managed to find out where Uncle Markus hid me and my mother."
"Good grief!" Rasti was shocked to hear this, "I'm so sorry for you."
"Then," Aryo interrupted again, "Why were you in the forest earlier?"
"Uncle Alan brought me to Pasar Malam in Karang Dewa Village because I was lonely at home with only my mother, Uncle Markus, and Uncle Alan."
"You don't have any friends in Tumanggu Village?" asked Rasti curiously.
"There isn't any. They are all against me because I am Dutch." Justin pointed to his golden brown hair, "They know my surname which is a Dutch surname."
"So what if you are Dutch?" asked Aryo, "Teacher said, Rasti's grandfather, there are many Dutch people in Indonesia. They are all fine. It's not like the colonial era."
"They're not like you think," Justin breathed softly, "They think I'm the grandson of the Company that colonized Indonesia in the past."
"Poor to you." Rasti sighed sympathetically to Justin, "But now you have us, right? We're your friends. We don't mind you being Dutch." she said sincerely to Justin, "That's right, Mas Aryo, we are Justin's friends." Aryo hit her.
"Yes Rasti." Aryo giggled ruffling Rasti's hair a little, "It's Justin, don't be sad, okay?" then patted Justin on the right shoulder once, "We are your friends."
Justin looked at Rasti and Aryo, then smiled,
"Thank you, you want to be my friend."
Rasti and Aryo nodded their heads with sincere smiling faces.
Then Justin's eyes saw the pendulum on the necklace that adorned Rasti's neck. The pendulum is in the shape of a winged dragon. Made of yellow gold. Justin slowly grabbed the pendulum,
"Your necklace is very beautiful, Rasti." Justin considered the pendulum good. "Where did you buy it?"
"I didn't buy it, Justin. This necklace is a legacy from my late father."
"You don't have a father anymore?"
"Yes Justin. I also have no mother or brother. They all died when I was 5 years old."
"Good grief, why did they die?"
"Our house was burned by the bad guys, Justin. Luckily at that time, I was here, at my grandfather's house. My grandfather is my father's father."
Justin wanted to talk again, but Danu's voice was heard.
"Rasti! Aryo! Grandpa's home!"
Then came the figure of Danu, an old man with a sturdy body, wearing a local government uniform. Danu is the sub-district head in Karang Dewa Village.
Rasti and Aryo rushed to their feet, and in front of Danu. They kissed the top of Danu's right hand. Danu saw Justin watching them.
"Rasti," he rebuked Rasti, "Who is he?" Justin glanced.
"That's Justin, Grandpa." Rasti said, "Rasti and Mas Aryo saved him."
"Saving how?"
Rasti also told about the incident in the forest earlier.
"Good grief!" Danu sighed in surprise, Justin watched, then thought, 'I think I know this kid's profile. Like the profile of Mr. Lawrence President Director of De Groot Company. Is this child Mr. Lawrence's son? If so, then there are still survivors from Mr. Lawrence's family.'
Even though Danu is only a Camat, he has broad insight and knowledge. He is also a very outgoing person and has many friends. He knew about Lawrence, because some of the residents of Karang Dewa Village worked in a factory owned by a subsidiary of the De Groot Company outside Tumanggu Village. He had met Lawrence several times, and Lawrence treated him well.
Some time ago there was news that Lawrence and his family were burned to death in their luxury home in Jakarta. Danu had visited Jakarta. Currently meeting Justin, he feels Justin is the son of Lawrence.
"Grandpa!" Rasti reprimanded Danu, "What's wrong?"
"Grandpa has to take Justin home, Rasti." Danu said not telling Rasti what he was thinking, "His mother and uncle must be worried about him." Then approached Justin, "Justin." Justin rebuked, "I am Danu Kusumojoyo, Rasti's grandfather and also Aryo."
Justin immediately grabbed Danu's right hand and kissed the top of Danu's hand. He was taught Indonesian manners by Lawrence, because they live in Indonesia, even though they have a super luxury house in the Netherlands.
Danu smiled, fondly stroked Justin's head.
"Good boy." Justin praised, "Justin, sorry, where is your Uncle's house in Tumanggu Village? Grandpa will take you home. Your mother must be worried about you."
"Grandpa, I'm afraid to go home." Justin complained, "Afraid of having Uncle Emanuel's men again."
"You take it easy, Grandpa is protecting you. After all, Grandpa brought you home in Grandpa's car."
Justin sighed, then nodded his head.
Not long after, he joined Danu in Danu's car. He opened the car window, shouted to Rasti and Aryo.
"Thank you! I like you guys!"
"You're welcome!" said Rasti first, "We'll play together later!"
"Ready!" Justin nodded his head.
Danu then drove his car, slowly leaving his house. Justin leaned back, a smile on his face.
'Lord,' whispered his heart, 'I promise, one day when I return to Jakarta, I have recovered the De Groot Company and all my father's wealth, I will return here. I made Rasti as my wife.'
+TO BE CONTINUED +