Aster Veren
Episode 193

- Esther

I let out a tired breath after finishing cleaning up the store and throwing garbage behind the store. Then rushed to reach the back door to enter back into the kitchen, but my steps stopped when I saw the familiar man who followed me and Yuna yesterday.

"Did she know Dean and Yuna were here? Why does that guy look like he's lurking?" My murmur watched his back move away as he realized my presence was watching him.

Or did he come to make calculations with me? I continued in my heart, remembering my quarrel with her that afternoon.

"What's in there? Quickly come in, uncle Tesar calls you." Dean said to my surprise, I quickly pushed him in for fear that the man might see his presence in my place.

"A—what? What's up?" He asked as he held my hand that pushed his body back, re-entering the kitchen.

"Sstt ..," I said as I gave him a signal to lower his voice, I hope that person does not see my suspicious movements.

"Why?" He let go of my hand that had covered his mouth. I saw that black bead was already looking at me seriously.

"That ... that guy seems to be watching around." My answer paused a little and released my hand from his grasp.

"That guy?"

"Your father."

"What's? Where's where?"

"Calm down, I'm not sure either. He could have wandered around here to make calculations with me because of our fight yesterday."

"Are you sure no one followed you here last night?" I'm trying to remind the kid about last night. As he frantically banged on the shop door and rushed in as uncle opened the door.

"Yes, I'm sure no one's following me." His name made me smile at him.

"That's right, he's watching me. As long as that person doesn't know you and Yuna are in this house, you're safe. Relax ...."

"But you—"

"I can handle it." Cut me back and cut his words, "emh, did you say uncle was waiting for me? Where is he now?" I continued asking while watching around, I did not find uncle anywhere.

"He went upstairs to pick something up."

"I'll catch up with him for a minute." My words immediately got a brief nod from the man.

I set my foot up to the top floor with all my thoughts wandering far away, thinking of the figure of the man I saw a few minutes ago.

How do I find this place? I was sure I had avoided his pursuit. But why is he around here? Worse we met a look, and I can't avoid it now.

Is he going to walk into the store pretending to be a buyer? Or wait for an opportunity when I'm off guard outside? Which is right?

"Faren?"

"Ah uncle? I heard uncle was looking for me, what's wrong?" I asked when I saw uncle coming out of his room with a pretty neat look.

"Is there any work outside?" Next asked.

"really. And about our conversation last night, I've been thinking about it. There seems to be one way to help the boy." Obviously uncle surprised me a little, I guess uncle wouldn't think about it.

"really?"

"If this plan works, I'll let you know. Keep the house and shop as long as I'm gone. Don't wander too far." Said uncle as he grabbed the top of my head before passing me.

Is uncle gonna talk to uncle Albert? My mind wondered at the plan that uncle said it was. I don't know, I suddenly thought about it. After uncle got out of jail sooner, he started working with Uncle Albert a few weeks after he stayed with me.

Maybe to add to the cost of my life and him, or to repay the kindness Mr. Albert gave us when we made that crazy plan. I don't know.

***

"Today the store is quieter than usual huh?" Murmured Dean who was sitting next to me with his arms crossed over the cashier's desk.

"By the way Yuna's not up yet?"

"When I went upstairs, I hadn't seen him anywhere. Looks like he's still sleeping."

"Should I wake her up? She had to eat ...," he muttered looking anxious.

"Leave it. Last night she came in with fear with you, so let her rest longer. When you wake up, feed him."

"You're right."

"... Have you contacted Sarah?" I asked later, trying to break the silence between us.

I saw Dean looking at me, making our eyes meet.

"It." The answer again noticed the shop door that had attracted my attention because it did not open.

"How'd he say?"

"He didn't protest when I asked him not to come to my house and yours."

"Hmm .. It looks like he already knows your situation from our conversation yesterday. And again he doesn't want to bother you either, does he? Judging by how he worried about you and Yuna."

"Well that's not wrong. Sarah and I had been friends for a long time before I moved into the area around here. Sarah used to live in the same town as me when she was 7 years old. She moved house at the age of 12. I never even expected that we would be reunited, but who would have thought that I would see her again.

"So you're happy?"

"of course. But it seems that now I should stay away from her again ...," she murmured looking gloomy.

"That's not gonna happen." My reflex hit the man's back to make him grimace and look at me questioningly.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Choor ...,"

***

-Large

"You coming?" That low voice made me look down, for some reason I was still not used to looking at his face when I met Albert.

"What's your condition now? Everything's fine, right?" The next made me nod briefly.

"of course. There's nothing to worry about."

"Good then. Then what the hell did you come here all the way?" He asked after sitting on his couch, and invited me to sit also with his hand gesture pointing at the chair next to him.

"Actually I was a little hesitant to ask for help from you after what you did for me and Aster all this time. But since the boy looks sad, I'll dare to ask you for your help sir." I answered after gathering all my courage.

"Help? What kind of help do you want?" Ask again with a confused expression.

"There's a teenage boy in my place who needs your job and protection. I'm sure you'll like the boy, and again he—"

"You want me to hire him?" Cut it look a little—don't like it?

"Be—truly. He's a good boy, but because of his family problems. The boy ran away from home three years ago with his sister. Lalu—"

"Sorry Tesar, I can't seem to help you. In a season like this it is difficult for me to add one worker. I even fired a bunch of waiters last month." The cut left me speechless, I really didn't expect an Albert to be in trouble too because of this unpredictable change of seasons.

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Thanks for reading...