Aster Veren
Episode 217's

- Esther

It's been a week since I woke up and cried in my arms. Today I was allowed out of my room to take a light walk outside the house.

The wound in my chest was not as painful as before, but it still had to receive treatment until the wound dried up.

"Aren't you okay?" Khael's tiny voice caught my attention.

I saw that he looked up at me as his left hand held my hand tightly. Look at her adorable worried expression.

She must have been so lonely when I wasn't with her, huh? I heard that he was sulking for days because he wasn't allowed to see me for the past two weeks. My mind remembers the day I woke up, after which I also heard about myself being unconscious for a whole week from Mila.

"I'm fine." I said as I stroked the top of his head with my other hand, then turned on his face.

"really? If anyone is sick, tell Khael. Don't hold it okay." He immediately grabbed my hand that was still holding his adorable cheek, the look in his eyes was also not out of my sight.

Somehow this kid could grow so attentive like this? Whereas the time we spent before I went to the academy and before he went abroad can be counted on the fingers, but why do I feel so close to him? It felt like I could also feel the abundant affection of a very young Khael.

I put my best smile on Khael before answering his words, "OK."

"good. Anyway I'll keep looking after brother until brother gets well." Then along with my hand that had removed the cheek, we continued our journey to the greenhouse.

I felt a soothing gust of wind gushing down my face gently, it felt like my heart was feeling calmer than before. After I spilled my whole heart on my father that night, I felt such a great distance with my father until yesterday.

I felt uncomfortable being left alone with my father, even though everyone was gathered with me, I also felt fearless and uncomfortable. But since this morning, after I heard the story about Uncle Arsel's father while I was away until his memory came back. I felt a little relieved because it turned out that my father really regretted his actions.

Though I knew it, I knew that father didn't mean it that way because of his lost memory. But somehow I felt completely banished, and my reason for living suddenly disappeared.

"Sit down." Khael's voice brought me back to reality, I saw that he had already prepared a chair for me to sit on. I was glad to accept his offer.

"Thank you." I said then while returning her warm smile that looked adorable.

"I didn't tell you this so you would forgive your father. But I want you to realize how much he loves you, and how he lived without you after his memory returned and the news of your death circulated." Uncle Arsel's voice came back in my head.

I didn't know that my father was drug dependent because he couldn't sleep, nor did I know that he couldn't eat properly after the news of my death circulated, I didn't know that dad would feel so miserable like that after his memory came back.

It's worth the father's condition looks very bad, the father's body looks thin with dark circles under his eyes.

"Sister? Brother Aster?"

"Ah—iya?" I asked immediately turned towards Khael who had already knitted his brows with his worried gaze that was again bothering me.

"What's wrong?" I continued while grabbing her tiny hand that was on the table.

"Ah that, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ignore you. Haha, I'm just thinking about today's lunch menu." Obviously lying.

"Sister hungry? Shall I get you some food?"

"No-no, no need. I'm not that hungry yet."

"Can't! Mama said it's not good to hold on to hunger. Let me get the servant brother to prepare lunch for brother sooner. Wait for me here okay, don't go anywhere." It made me a little surprised when I heard the sound.

Then I saw that Khael had already run out of the greenhouse after getting off his chair in a hurry. So adorable.

"Suddenly I remembered Yuna. What is he doing now? What about Dean and Sarah?" I muttered while leaning my body on the back of the chair and closed my eyes as I felt my head throb.

By the way, that night ... Who ran up to me under the lights huh? I couldn't remember her face because my gaze was blurry, but I vaguely heard her calling my pseudonym. I continued in my heart, thinking back to what happened that night.

***

"You're here?" Carel's voice I don't care about, it feels like my body is very weak right now. I didn't even have enough energy to open my eyes.

"You sleeping? Why sleep in a place like this?" Continuing along with the sound of the seat creaking, did he just pull the chair beside me?

Silence, there was no noise bothering me anymore than the sound of wind gusts and rustling leaves outside the greenhouse. But somehow, I feel Carel is watching me right now. Then the atmosphere I was feeling right now, somehow felt really heavy.

What exactly is he thinking? My mind cannot understand Carel's mind.

I felt a gentle touch on my face, making my body gasp and reflexively open my eyes to ascertain what was going on, but soon I closed my eyes again as I felt the weight in my eyes, and drowsiness suddenly attacked me after seeing Carel's gloomy-looking expression.

Though his expression was like that, but why did his touch feel soothing? Then why didn't this kid say anything? My mind again wanted to ask what happened to him, but my tongue felt muddled, even my mouth would not obey my brain's command to speak.

"Never be far from me again Aster, I can't bear to see you hurt again. I'm totally useless, right? Though I can save you right away if I hear your grandfather's words that day, when I can take you straight away from the Tesar's house when I start to suspect you. But I didn't do it because I was doubtful. If ... had I moved faster, you probably wouldn't have been hurt like this by now." He said softly, making my heart tight.

And for some reason, it was painful to hear him speak in such a tone, whereas all this time Carel had never shown his side like that.

I didn't know she would act like this when I didn't have enough energy to respond to her words, nor did I ever really comfort her when her mother died. But this kid, today he's putting on that expression again.

I really don't like it.

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Thanks for reading...