Aster Veren
Episode 156's

-Teo

I was really surprised by what I heard. My mouth was speechless when I found out why Aster had suddenly quit the academy and decided to take home schooling again.

Turns out Mr Ansel had an accident on the same day as the departure of his mother Carel? So that's why Dwi lied to Carel? So that the child does not panic and desperate to go to Singapore to catch Aster? Then is Mr Ansel still lying in the hospital in a coma?

And Aster ... This child has to take care of his father's company when his condition is not okay? As Hans .. said, my mind glanced at Aster's skinny-looking wrist.

"Hah~ wants as many things as you want to keep secret from Carel?" I said after a long breath.

"Just tell him if you want me missing." It makes me sweat cold.

"What does it mean you're going to see your father again?" I try to melt the atmosphere.

"Of course, your company isn't just here and in Singapore." His mumbling made me shut up, he was right.

"We've arrived miss." Hans's words made me look outside, staring at the academy's locked gates.

Yeah, Aster asked Hans to drive me back to the academy. And now the time has shown at 11:50 pm, whether Aster will be until what time at his residence. He even looks very exhausted now.

"Then I'm leaving now. Take care of yourself." I said before I got out of the car.

"You too." The reply.

"... Now, how do I get in?" My murmurs watched the towering gates of the academy before me.

"Want me help?" Hans asked who had followed me from behind. It seems Aster asked him to help me.

***

I opened the door of the room in front of me slowly, hoping not to make the slightest noise. It's nothing, it's just that I broke into the dorm secretly for refusing Hans' offer. He volunteered to meet with the hostel owner to explain my situation.

"You've finally arrived." Dengus Carel who was sitting in his study chair.

I quickly entered the room and locked it. "Why did you leave me?" I almost screamed, but I quickly lowered my voice when I realized it was still dark enough for someone like me to scream. Someone in the next room could wake up and scold me.

"Where's my headphone?" His question made me immediately throw the hephone in my hand at him, deftly he managed to catch it.

"You want to replace it if my headphone breaks, huh?" His grunts look shitty.

"Where's mine?" I asked him to return my actions, with his ignorant gaze the boy threw my headphone at me, barely caught. Friends indeed.

But if I saw him behave like that, I somehow felt a little relieved. Maybe it was because I could see his anger subsiding a little after being left alone.

But given Aster's explanation, it would be unfair if Carel wasn't told and thought of him as a bad person. On the same day, they felt pain and loss.

One lost his mother forever, and the other lost a father figure who was in a coma and did not know when he would wake up? But hopefully, Mr. Ansel can wake up soon. That way, Aster doesn't have to add to his lie to Carel anymore.

"What do you see?" Tanya Carel made my daydream go away.

"No, I'm so tired now. Don't bother me okay!" I said as I threw my body on my bed.

"Whatever." His grunts returned to pay attention to his headphone screen.

***

- Esther

I took a deep breath after finishing half the work, and then I leaned my body on the back of my father's chair. Pay attention to the work space of the father who looks lonely in his absence. I usually bother him in this room. But today, I'm alone in this room.

Tok tok!

The sound of knocking on the door made me re-justify my sitting position, then I saw Mila coming in with a cup of tea in her hand, and a plate of sandwiches that looked tempting.

"I bring breakfast for the lady, you better rest before continuing the work of the lady. I also have prepared bath water for miss." He said it made me glance at the wall clock that had shown at 06:30 am.

It turned out that it was morning, I thought it was still dark because I was too focused on my work. Today I have a meeting schedule with some people outside, and do not have a study schedule or easy, I have time off today. But not with dad's job, so I have to hurry.

"Thank you, I'll take a shower after breakfast." I immediately grabbed the sandwich in front of me.

"Well miss, then I say retreat first." He said before leaving in front of me.

I stretched my stiff and achy muscles and finished my breakfast before going to the shower.

After finishing breakfast, I immediately went to take a bath assisted by sister Mila.

I actually wanted to shower myself, but I was too lazy to do it. Moreover, I am in a very tired state now, I am afraid if I unconsciously fall asleep in the bathroom, and drown while I am soaking. It's not funny if I have to die while I'm in the shower.

"I love the smell ...," I murmured to smell a rose that burst from my bathwater.

"I'll be home late again, so please take good care of the house." I continued on Mila's sister who was massaging my head, making the drowsiness of the curse even more.

"Well, miss, don't worry. I will take good care of the house." He still rubbed my head gently.

"Is .... The dark circles under my eyes so obvious?" I asked, making Mila stop her massage and focus on my eyes.

"A little bit, I'll cover up well using lady's makeup." He answered while showing his best smile.

"really. Everything can be solved." I muttered again to close my eyes, enjoying Mila's foot massage. It turned out that my bases did not last long, but I wanted to talk a lot so that the drowsiness of the curse disappeared. But all I got was a short chat.

And again, if we are sad, we can cover it with false happiness, if it hurts we can pretend to be healthy as well. Even for facial affairs, everything can be covered by make up. Carel's mother, too, when she was sick. She used makeup to cover her pale face right?

So why should I worry just because of the dark circles under my eyes?

***

"It's over, miss." Said Mila after I was done helping me get ready.

I saw my reflection in the mirror, looking pretty good with my formal clothes and my shoulder-length short hair. Moreover, the dark circles under my eyes have also disappeared because of the makeup given by sister Mila.

Whahuh? My hair? Yes, I cut it a few days ago because it was hot and noisy.

"Of course, there's nothing I can't handle." I muttered as I grabbed the small black bag containing the headphone on my dresser.

"I'm leaving now." I went to Mila's sister who was following me from behind.

"Good way, ladies, be careful on the road." He sent me away.

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Thanks for reading...