Aster Veren
Episode 187's

- Esther

"Faren!" Sarah made me turn to her running, followed by Dean and Yuna behind her.

"You have come." I said after opening my uncle's bakery.

Today uncle went somewhere, and I replaced him opening a shop. Then Dean and Sarah came to help me. You could say they work at uncle's shop every school holiday.

"You're very diligent huh." Said Dean when he got in front of me.

"Today we will sell what bread? Is there a new menu?" Sarah asked as she embraced me entering the store with her beaming face.

"Oh, I don't think there is yet." I thought about what Sarah said. Maybe the idea wasn't bad, but for now, the new menu feels a little bit.

"Heee, but it would be nice if there is a new menu." His murmur looked disappointed while releasing his embrace from me. Then walked away to the kitchen lethargic, making me smile awkwardly, as did Dean.

I saw Yuna who was still sleepy standing next to Dean holding the man's hand. His head that was swaying to the right and left made me anxious, he looked funny while trying to stay awake. "Yuna is still sleepy?" I asked to make the little girl nod in lethargy.

"It seems I woke her up too early." Dean answered his sister.

Seeing them not being able to part like this made me think of Carel. But if they had to tell Dean and Yuna, they couldn't part because no one could protect them.

I heard they've been living together for a long time, her mother's whereabouts are unknown. His father had no news of him either. All I heard was that they moved to this region because they ran away from their father three years ago. Whether it's true or not. But seeing that Dean could still continue his schooling, it made me feel a little more relieved. Because the opportunity to improve his life is wide open.

Must be hard for him, right? Living alone with his little sister, there was nowhere to depend. I also .. I might live a day if I don't meet my uncle. My mind remembers the day that Uncle Tesar found me with Mr. Albert.

"Faren, I can't find my apron. Did you move it somewhere?" Sarah's asking made me wake up from my daydream.

"Ah yes, I moved it to that cupboard over there." I answered while pointing at the cupboard located in the corner of the kitchen when opening the kitchen curtain in front of me.

"There's." His ideal while taking out the apron he put away because of the hassle if he had to bring it every time he did work in the store.

"Yuna, let's get up I have to start working." Dean's voice drew my attention back.

"Sister, Yuna is still sleepy." The boy's murmur made me smile when I saw the boy rub his eyes.

"Let me take him to my room. You go help Sarah. Before that you can have breakfast." I said as I grabbed Yuna's body and carried her.

"But—"

"No problem. Let him sleep a little more."

"All right then. And thank you."

"Together." I said before going to my room located on the second floor.

This bakery that uncle opened did have an empty room on the top floor, and we used it as a resting place or simply the floor was the house where we lived.

I saw my aunt just finished washing the dishes when I got upstairs. "Ah aunt, I should have let it go." My words caught his attention.

"It's okay, just do the dishes. I can still do it."

"But kan—"

"Come on, you don't have to spoil me constantly. I'm better than ever. So I can do my job back." He cut my words. "Then, where do you want Yuna to take you?" He continued asking when he saw Yuna in my sling.

"Ah, must be hard for them huh?" Auntie's mumbling looks sad.

"true."

***

"Have you had breakfast?" I asked when I got to the kitchen.

"Yes, thanks for the food. Your aunt's cooking is the best." Sarah answered while pointing her thumb at me, complete with a big smile.

"By the way Faren is, is this just my feeling? The kitchen looks empty." It made me look at every corner of the kitchen.

"Ah this, the ingredients for making bread have not arrived. So the kitchen looked empty, the salesman said it would be shipped today if all the ingredients were already there." I answered after wearing my apron.

"This season is a little annoying yes, it would be better if the rainy season comes sooner." Dean, who just entered the kitchen, seemed to have just returned from somewhere.

"It would be much better. But I hope the rain comes after the summer festival." She ruffled her waist with one of her hands after putting the bread pan into the oven.

"Summer festival?"

"Yes. Usually after the harvest season. But since the harvest this time was not as good as the previous harvest. So it looks like this year's summer festival is on retreat." Obviously Dean after drinking the water he poured into the glass.

"Hee. whereas it would be better if done as usual." I muttered thinking about how many visitors at the summer festival they said.

If the visitors can exceed hundreds of people. It looks like it will be good for the region. In addition to getting income for the cost of living of its residents, they can also introduce further about the ins and outs of this region.

Moreover, I think this region is quite green and the land is also fertile. So whatever is planted here, it will grow well. But since the drought this time was quite long, it was somewhat troublesome for the farmers.

And I thought of a good thing to cover the farmers' losses by using the summer festival. But if you have to think more deeply, it seems to require a lot of funds. And taking care of everything will require a lot of energy. The time does not match the disaster experienced by farmers.

Disappointing, but I have to admit. They also need funds to continue their farming, and traders also need materials for their sales. Buying it at times like these is tantamount to ending their lives. It would be better if the price of some of the staples decreased slightly.

"... Faren?" Sarah's voice brought me back to reality.

"Yes?" I asked her to look at him confused, "what's the matter?" I continued when I didn't get any answers from him.

"Is there no way to solve the crisis this season?" His words surprised me a little. How could he ask me that?

"I feel sorry for the kids who are already looking forward to this summer festival. But due to the unpredictable dry season when it ends, the festival continues to be on retreat." The next one who had sat in the chair with his chin supported on the table in front of him, then his right hand pointed at the table in front of him slowly. His gaze also looked so serious thinking about the thing he asked me.

I who was confused looking for answers could only sigh and sit in front of him, "to be honest I was also a little disappointed because the festival was down. But this is the policy that the leader of this region has decided for the good of his people right? There's nothing we can do, I think his actions are right."

"Heee, do you think so?"

"Yes. Besides thinking about it many times, I can't find a much better solution than delaying the festival."

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Thanks for reading...