Aster Veren
Episode 106's

-Teo

The bell from school had rang a few minutes ago, Aster had also left in a hurry because he was going to practice basketball with Sean. And I, right now I am gathering all my courage to meet Kalea.

I worried about him from that day on, as he returned to the library with his sad expression without saying anything.

But when Aster recounts what happened to Kalea as well as new rumors circulating about Kalea's innocent mother. I came to understand with his change in attitude that was getting colder, to the point that I wanted to do something to melt his feelings of sadness.

What intrigued me was the contents of the letter Kalea got from her mother, I was curious because Kalea was acting colder than usual ..., my mind came to a standstill as I watched Carel figure from upstairs through the corridor window. I saw him walking hurriedly towards the dorm with an expression that was hard to describe.

"Is there a serious problem?" I muttered that I stopped my steps unconsciously.

***

-Sean

"Where is he? Why hasn't it shown up yet?" I muttered while playing a basketball in my hand while my eyes looked for the whereabouts of Aster who had not yet been seen the trunk of his nose.

Thinking about how her reaction this afternoon really made me feel this good. I couldn't shake my bad thoughts about my mother. But when I saw Aster's smile, my mind was unknowingly distracted.

... earlier he didn't look okay either. Thank goodness I invited him to practice together. My mind was still watching around me, hoping my eyes could catch the Aster figure walking towards me with an expression I had never seen before.

"What's with your face?" Hendric's voice came back in my head, then his excited expression as he entered the room also re-shadowed me.

He's not usually that happy. Did he find any money on the way to the dorm? My mind while taking a quick glance at it, but the next second the annoying child pulled the swivel chair I was sitting on and twisted it until my body faced him.

I saw that he was already smiling broadly with his ignorant eyes, "do you want to replace my picket schedule tomorrow morning?" Her question makes me cringe.

"Why should I replace you? Just do it yourself!" My grunt was upset that he was acting that way because he wanted to.

"That's the payment for the information I'm gonna give you, if you don't want it, it doesn't matter." He said still with his excited expression, somehow his expression even made me curious.

I saw that he had thrown his body on his bed and was sitting as comfortable as possible with the look of his eyes still watching me. He also started humming.

"What information do you get when I don't ask for it?" I asked to stop the bandit.

"Hhehe, are you interested? Then agree on the payment." The grieving often pisses me off.

"If you don't want to say it already, go there!" I cried while throwing a thick book in my hand and turning back the chair I was sitting on when the book I threw landed on Hendric's head and made him scream in pain.

"You are yes!" His anger made me look at him.

"Don't provoke my emotions! Today my mood is bad, go there!" Tell me while reaching for the other books stored in front of me.

"It's up to you, I'm leaving!" His words made me sigh in relief because I was finally able to calmly do my duty back, but the next second I was made surprised by the figure of Hendric who suddenly spoke next to me. I thought he came out because of the sound of the door and the footsteps he made, did he prank me?

"So I saw Aster being shot by a upperclassman" he whispered, giving me a reflex to turn to him.

"You're interested, aren't you? You want to hear the story, right?" Continue while smiling ignorantly with his body that has returned to stand firmly. Then both of his hands were folded over his chest.

"Tu–why am I interested? Besides, you should have told Teo, right? He's Aster's girlfriend." I said back to throw my face away from Hendric, trying to hide my curiosity about who would have dared to shoot Aster when the boy already had a lover?

"Not yet!" Hendric denied my words and surprised me.

"Huh?" I ask not to understand his words, but he also knows Aster's closeness with Teo. But why can he talk like that?

"I said Aster was not Teo's lover or the troublemaker's son, what was his name? Ca–carel?" It definitely didn't take away my surprise, but somehow there was a slight sense of relief I felt deep within my heart.

"... You can approach her, man! Fight." He said while patting my shoulder while his lips were still smiling mischievously with the look of his eyes that began to tease.

I quickly clapped his hand off my shoulder. "A–what do you mean? Sana legi!"

"Well, your face is turning red, what are you thinking?"

"I said go there!"

"Hhaha, you're so funny ...,"

"Yes-yes, I'm leaving. I told you so I assume my pay has been accepted. You're the one who replaces my picket schedule tomorrow morning. Do not cheat in transactions,"

"This kid, it's gone!"

"I'm sorry I'm late," Aster's voice ripped my daydream. I saw that he was standing in front of me with a tired expression.

"What's with your expression?" I asked while frowning confused, yes how not to be confused? We haven't started training yet, but how can this woman in front of me look so exhausted?

"Nothing, let's start training." He answered while holding the ball in my hand.

"Can't!" I screamed while taking back the ball in his hand.

"Why?"

"We'll take a break for a while, I'm tired of waiting for you." My lie after a long sigh, trying to convince Aster with my lie.

I don't know, I just want him to take a little rest. And again somehow I worry about him, why would he come with such a condition? What had happened to him to look so exhausted?

"really? I'm sorry for making you wait so long ...,"

"It doesn't matter, just give me some time to rest for a while. That's enough."

"Well, we'll just sit there!" His advice while pointing towards the garden chair under a shady tree.

"OK,"

***

- Esther

"I must hurry! Sean must have been waiting for me on the sports field," I muttered as I walked down the stairs to the dormitory exit.

"That's Aster, right?" A woman's voice caught my attention. I saw her with a bunch of other women at the front door and they started walking towards me with their big steps.

Me–they don't really want to see me, do they? They just want to pass through, right? My mind tries to pretend it doesn't see them, but it's too late. Now they've surrounded me with expressions that are hard to describe.

"Aster, man,"

"Ya–iya?" My answer is a little bit nervous because for the first time I was mobbed by many people like this, when usually people will avoid me.

"Can you help me?"

"No, I was. Help me first!"

"Whatchu mean? Did I think about this first?"

"No, obviously I was ...,"

Se–actually what's up with them? What should I help you with? My mind cannot break their dispute before me.

"That's enough! You're making Aster confused." Shouting one of them managed to make everyone shut up.

"Well Aster, let me explain. Our point is to meet you is to ask for help from you, I hear–no, I see you are very close to Carel right? We all knew it, so–" The next was immediately cut off by someone beside him.

"Help us to be close to him!" Everyone's words made me unable to pucker up when I heard their words.

What did they say? My ears didn't hear wrong, did they? My mind was trying to digest their words while I was in a hurry to meet Sean.

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Thanks for reading...