Aster Veren
Episode 112's

- Esther

"Drink!" Teo exclaimed making me glance at him as I felt the cold temperature on my cheek from the cold canned drink he had stuck on my cheek.

"Isn't it not good to drink cold water after exercise?" I asked while receiving a canned drink in Teo's hand.

"Then do I want to replace it with hot water?" The question made me snort angrily at his crisp joke.

"I'll drink, thank you." I said after sighing tiredly and brandishing the canned drink in my hand to Teo's face before opening it. Trying to forget his jokes.

"Yes, drink. You must be tired after practice." He muttered that I did not care because my attention was focused on the figure of Nadin who was practicing in the middle of the room.

His movements are very good and look very athletic, not stiff like my body. My mind while amazed at him.

"... I heard today there was a visit of the parents, is it true?" Hendric's voice caught my attention. I saw that he was standing next to Sean, not far from where I was standing right now.

"Where did you hear it?" Sean's questioning made me even more curious about what they were talking about.

"Tadi .. I overheard Mr. Justin's conversation with one of the academy's teachers. They're talking about the parents' visit." Clearly before gulping down the drinking water in his hand.

"Are ya?" My murmur caught the attention of Teo whom I had ignored since.

"What?" Her question made me look at her at a glance.

"Parent's visit," I said making him frown.

"... might mean the visit of three large families to discuss the educational system in the academy as representatives of the guardians of students?" his murmur confused me.

A representative? That means they will explain the results of the discussion of the education system to the parents of other students? My mind summed up what Teo meant.

"... You know the Ravindra family? They are one of the families who are engaged in education, then recently the Alterio family also joined the Ravindra family, especially his grandfather Carel. Then the last .. I wasn't told by Carel. But after their visit was over, they would have another meeting with the parents of the students to convey the results of their discussion." It left me unable to say anything, only to wonder about the last mysterious member of the family. Teo didn't even know which family was coming today.

"So the point is you've got a leak from Carel?!" My grunts were irritated for no reason.

"But Teo? If it is true today there are visits of three great families. Is Carel gonna be okay?" I asked when I remembered Teo's explanation that said his grandfather Carel had just joined the Ravindra family. That means ... It's possible that her grandfather Carel will come today right?

I saw that Teo was just silent and did not answer my question, and soon the break bell rang to end my class, and then Pak Tirta dissolved us after filling our practice grades on his books.

"Aster, you going to the cafeteria? Let's go together!" Said Tia suddenly embracing my shoulder and leading my way to the cafeteria. Leaving Teo who was still standing in his place.

"You're making her uncomfortable Tia!" Nadin said he didn't care, and I could only put on my stiff smile.

Turns out Nadin followed me and Tia from behind huh? My mind felt a little excited because I did dream of having many friends. But Tia's treatment of me .. I'm not used to it. I managed to make three friends, right? Kalea, Nadin and Tia.

"Don't ignore me!" Nadin's barely shouting made Tia let go of her embrace and reflexively closed her two ear holes as our steps were made to a halt by Nadin's voice.

"Ka–you guys don't fight ya," I muttered making the two of them glance at me simultaneously.

"Hah~ let's go!" Nadin exclaimed after sighing deeply while grabbing my right hand and grasping it.

"cheat! I also want to join hands with you Aster! Wait for me!" Tia shouted as our steps were already far enough away leaving her from behind because she was too focused on daydreaming. Perhaps surprised by the reaction of Nadin who suddenly took my hand.

***

- Kalea

It's funny to watch that kid being treated like that by Nadin and Tia, when he used to be. My mind recalls my evil treatment that incited all my classmates to stay away from him and to justify it.

"You daydreaming?" Nadin's voice surprised me, I saw that the three of them were already standing in front of me and immediately filled the remaining empty seats.

Aster and Tia sat opposite me, while Nadin sat beside me. "What's Lea?" Ask Aster later, looking worried for me.

"Nothing, eat it. You must be tired from just finishing your workout." I answered trying to show my best smile while grabbing my drinking water and sipping it. Then I put the glass back in my hand on the table.

"Yes, I'm so tired. Want to not massage my shoulders?" Nadin said sounding spoiled while massaging his own shoulders, giving the code to me to make me chuckle. I haven't seen that one for a long time.

"Let me massage." I said after being satisfied.

"Nadin is great! He's very good at sports, I'm surprised he can play basketball that great." Aster continued to sound enthusiastic, drawing my and Nadin's attention as I was massaging his shoulders carefully.

"Hhehe, I was great. No one can match my greatness!" Said the woman I was rubbing her shoulder. Boasting himself with his face that looked so happy when he heard the praise from Aster.

Turns out he's still the same, hasn't changed a bit. so fond of compliments! My mind chuckles again.

"Ultimately, stop massaging it! You eat Lea! Let the boy go!" Tia exclaimed after swallowing food in her mouth to make Nadin grunt.

"Areally, we're having lunch, right? I forgot," muttered Aster caught my attention.

"You forgot?" Tia's question represented my curiosity.

It was strange to see Aster forget he was having lunch. He was always the first to enjoy his lunch. Wanting to be upset or sulking, he always focused on his lunch. Surely with her adorable expression while she was having a snack.

I could not forget his mouth that was chewing food with an annoyed expression with its mouth full, then his hand that was piercing the flesh with a frenzy using the eating knife, or pricked forks on nuggets and other foods.

"Hhehe yes, maybe because I feel happy ...," he replied while chuckling making me frown confused.

"Happy?" Ask Nadin.

"Yes, it feels good to see you guys have made up. So Kalea is no longer alone and does not close herself off from the surrounding people anymore. Then Lea got more excited and smiled a lot, too" she explained, making me gasp, touching my heart.

I don't know why his words made me so excited. I never thought that Aster had been watching me all this time, but from what he said just now. I could tell that he was always watching me and worried about me more than he worried about himself.

Why are you always like this Aster? Always think of others before you think of yourself? Though I never really thought of you, but you .... My mind was trying to hold back the puddles of tears that were starting to block my view.

"... and I feel happy, because my dream of making friends has come true. I'm glad to be friends with all three of you." He continued before showing his sweet smile complete with his warm gaze that managed to melt my heart with a circle of tears that I could not hold anymore.

"Aster ... hiks!" Nadin's words surprised me and reflexes turned his head towards him. I saw that he was crying before me.

So this kid can be whiny too huh? My mind even chuckled on the sidelines sobs my tears because it saw the funny expression shown by Nadin.

"Ka–kalian why? Why even cry?" Tia asked along with Aster, the two of them looked so panicked when they heard Nadin's cry getting more and more to make everyone's attention on our table. While me? I couldn't even continue my crying because I was embarrassed to be the center of attention.

"Be–stop crying! Don't embarrass me!" I said while wiping Nadin's tears with the tissue I took from my school skirt pocket.

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Thanks for reading...