Aster Veren
Episode 14

- Esther

It was 10:15 in the morning, the art show was almost over but my uncle took me home. So I went home with him, after all, I've never been picked up by uncle.

I also want to know what it's like to go home with uncle, my feelings are mixed now and again uncle holds my hand tightly. His big hands really made me comfortable. Maybe dad's hand is this warm too .... My mind imagines my father's hand.

"Pst... Look, who is the same Aster? He doesn't have a father." The whisper of a boy walked past me.

"Did she come with her distant relatives this time?" The others continued to whisper.

"But he has no relatives, what the hell is a distant relative?" The other reply made me think back to my life with that man.

"What's wrong?" Uncle's voice distracts me.

"Nothing" I replied trying to give my best smile.

Why are there so many kids out of my class? They keep watching me .... I continued inwardly while watching my footsteps trying to avoid the gazes of those brats. Even unconsciously my hands started shaking now.

They'll definitely prank me again when they get to school. Kalea and Nadin will also mock me ....

"You're going slow." My uncle's words surprised me as his hand grabbed my body and carried me.

"Pa–paman? Tu–geturunkan me." My husband was embarrassed to be treated like this by my uncle.

"No way," refused the uncle with a faint smile and continued his steps, "now tell me what's the matter? There's nothing to hide from this uncle of yours." It made me hug my uncle tightly.

"Uncle want to hear my story?" I asked a little doubt.

"Of course." The answer sounds soft.

"Aster is actually very happy today because uncle came, whereas Aster thought this year no one would come as Aster's guardian. So ... thanks for coming uncle ...." I told a lie, somehow my heart asked me not to tell the truth. Maybe I was too scared to make uncle worry.

"Don't lie to me, tell me the truth." My uncle's voice surprised me and made me let go of my embrace to see his expression.

Highlight uncle's eyes look so serious but look warm too, it feels like I want to cry now but as much as I can bear it.

"Ah, Aster remembered .. this morning Aster had met with bi Siti, who was, he waits for Aster in front of the school gate and delivers a photo album and Aster's necklace left in Aster's drawer first. Uncle want to see?" I shifted the subject.

"Hee.. You have a photo album too ...." Uncle muttered in mockery.

"If anyone's photo album has it, right?" I asked with annoyance.

"Haha yes yes sorry, now go in first." He answered, opening the rear car door and sitting me inside when we reached the parking lot, and the uncle entered through the other door.

I saw Uncle Eric watching me from the mirror reflection of the car, and his smile grew as I looked back at him.

"We're going home now, young master?" Uncle Eric asked after the red uncle closed the car door next to him.

"Yes, and stop calling me young master." My uncle's answer made me chuckle and Uncle Eric also chuckled with me before he drove out his car.

"Stop laughing at me." Red uncle muttered visibly annoyed at the speed of the car that was starting to stay away from school.

"Sorry ...." My words were trying to let go of my uncle's hand that pinched my cheek in a fit of anxiety.

"So where's the album?" Asked uncle after sighing tiredly and releasing his pinch.

I quickly opened my school bag and took out the album to show red uncle.

"Can I see?" Uncle asked me to nod quickly.

I saw my uncle starting to look at the photos in the album, while I was busy watching the necklace in my hand. Actually the necklace is a cheap necklace that mom bought from the accessories store, which makes it look valuable and expensive is a circular ring in the necklace. There's mom and dad's names on the inside of the ring, and I really like this thing mom gave me.

Well maybe when I grow up I can wear it .... I was still in my heart and again noticed my ring.

"That's what?" Uncle's question made me look at him, and I saw that his index finger was pointing towards the necklace I was holding.

"This?" I asked back to look at the necklace in my hand, "Mom's gift necklace, beautiful right?" I continued while showing it to uncle, and uncle grabbed the necklace immediately.

"Wah .. there is the name of your father and mother ...." Uncle murmured to notice the ring wrapped around it, "this is Helen's sister's wedding ring, if this is what my sister might believe me with." He continued to watch the necklace in his hand.

The sister? My mind does not understand his words.

"The young master has an older brother, he's your uncle right? So her brother is Miss Aster's father." Obviously Uncle Eric made me look in the rearview mirror which showed the eyes of Uncle Eric who was watching the red uncle.

"Hoo .. uncle once said I have a father and one grandmother. So my dad's uncle's brother, huh?" I muttered back to look at my red uncle.

"I told you, right? I am really your uncle. Look at this name, you have it too, right?" The uncle's name indicates the father's name written in the ring.

"Ansel Veren," I said, reading the name on the ring, "right, it's the same name as me, uncle's name ...." I continued while glancing at uncle when I remembered the name of red uncle who had the same clan as me.

"Couldn't you?" He said as he grabbed the top of my head with his big smile.

***

- Arshel

Arriving at home, I asked Hana to accompany Aster to play in his room. I was busy calling from my mother. Although I was forced to answer his call because I did not want to meet Tomi at my doorstep.

Because if he came, he would have dragged me in front of my mother and after that I wouldn't be able to go home for a few days.

"You hear? I want you to come to mom's house with the kid tomorrow." Mother's voice surprised me half dead.

Why do you suddenly want to meet Aster? Inner wondering.

"Ke–why should I come? and again–" My question is truncated.

"Because you want to meet your granddaughter, can't you?" Her question really aggravated my surprise.

"Cu–grandson?" Mumamku.

So you already know the real identity of Aster? but ... Why would he want to acknowledge Aster as his grandson? shouldn't it be the opposite? Still in my heart I can't stop wondering.

"Actually this morning mom went to Aster school, at first mom just wanted to see it in person and make sure everything was all by herself. And when I saw it, I liked it. He also helped mom escape from the security guard who forbade mom from going to school, really sweet ...." Obviously mom made my head spin, let alone her warm voice that I hadn't heard in a long time. It feels really ... tonight there will be no storm right?

I–ibu even already knows his name, a–ada what is this really? My mind was wondering again.

"Just you take Aster to mom's house tomorrow.we'll talk further at mom's house tomorrow, see you." Mom continued so enthusiastic and immediately turned off her phone connection.

"Is it okay for me to meet her with my mom?" I muttered while looking at Aster's photo in the album that was open, the album that was stored on my bed.

Somehow it felt like my heart became peaceful when I saw that sweet smiling childhood photo of Aster.

(Aster 4 years old).

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Thanks for reading...