Aster Veren
Episode 03's

–Aster–

This morning my uncle drove me home after I finished breakfast with him, even he actually asked Brother Hana to cook food for me. It seems like this strange uncle is worried about me, clearly visible from the look in his eyes.

Right now I was in his luxury car and sitting next to him playing with his phone, while I could only enjoy the view of the tall buildings behind the windshield next to me.

“What's up?” Uncle's voice surprised me who was cool daydreaming.

“Eng—no ... I just thought of my PR that I haven't done.” I said, I can't tell her that I miss grandma and mom, right? I miss my mom and grandma every day.

Especially since they left me, I often dreamed of my days together with my mother and grandmother. It felt really good, but when I woke up from my sleep I felt happy.

“I guess why.” His words brought down my reverie.

“We have arrived young master.” Said the driver while pulling his car aside on the road.

“Truely here is your home?” Tanya uncle was seen watching a green house on the left side of the road.

“Iya,” I replied while nodding, “Thank you for taking me home, and thank you for the food too.” I continued to try to give my best smile while showing the bag containing the food box before we parted.

Then the car door next to me opened, I saw a driver who opened the door from outside. Then without saying much more I got straight out of that fancy car.

“Wait Aster,” Voice uncle stopped my step, “Can I stop by?” It made me nod quickly without much thought, as I was already impatient to see bi Siti and her husband. They must have been happy to see me bringing so much good food for all of us.

I saw my uncle coming down from his car and walking up to me justifying the ash suit he was wearing. I don't know why I let her come by the house. Even my heart felt happy for no reason, when we had just met. Maybe because no one's been visiting me since grandma and mom left. If anything, they're just good neighbors to me.

“Aster!” Shouting bi Siti made me immediately run up to her.

“Aibi.” I immediately hugged his body.

“Where have you been, son? Aunt is so worried about you, why wasn't she home last night? Are you okay?” He asked in droves with the look of his worried eyes and occasionally kissed the top of my head.

“Aster is fine, sorry to worry aunt .. ah yes, Aster brought good food for aunt and uncle.” I answered with a smile and showed me the bag of food in my hand.

“Lain times if you want to go out say the same aunt yes ...” He sounded worried about making me feel guilty for not asking to be driven home by uncle last night.

If I had asked to be sent home immediately after dinner, maybe aunt would not have put on such a sad expression. But if I asked to be escorted home last night, I would really trouble uncle.

“Thank God Hana cooked a lot of food for you yes, so you can eat it with your mother and share it on–” Uncle's voice distracts aunt.

“This master? is he your relative, son? Thank goodness he came, you would love to meet him. You are not alone anymore.” The aunt said cutting the uncle off, making the uncle surprised.

Ah looks like aunt misunderstood. My mind while smiling at him.

“Ma—maaf I am not–” Obviously uncle stopped when he felt aunt's hand pat her on the shoulder with a radiant expression. I don't know why his face looks so funny.

“We talk inside only yes.” Said the aunt while pulling the uncle's hand towards her house.

“A—anu aunty, this uncle just drove me home. I don't know him ...” I said trying to explain everything to my aunt while following her steps, I saw my uncle turning to me and smiling thinly while nodding his head. Is that some kind of speech okay?

“Sit nak.” Said aunt let uncle sit when we got home, “I prepare warm tea for you first huh, wait a minute. Aster also help aunt yuk.” The following made me hesitate a little to leave uncle in the living room alone, but my doubts disappeared upon seeing his nod again with a smile wider than before. I put a big smile on her before going after aunt to the kitchen.

What exactly did aunt think? My mind wondered with her mood today.

After the water boiled the aunt immediately brewed warm tea for the uncle, put in a little sugar then stirred it carefully.

“Aster take this to the living room yes, aunt wants to bring something in aunt's room.” His words made me nod my head and immediately brought the teacup before me to the living room, then returned to the kitchen to bring the other two cups of tea in turn.

I can't take him all at once on a tray, can I? After all, aunt won't allow it, aunt is too worried about me. And I can't keep him worrying about me, so I'm gonna let him.

I saw my uncle again showing his smile and putting the tea cup in his hand on the table in front of him. Looks like he just drank it.

“Your aunt is good yes,” she said made me comment on a thin smile and ran over her, “So where are your mother and grandmother?” It was with the arrival of my aunt.

“Sorry to have you waiting.” Aunty's words made me walk up to her who was sitting in front of the uncle, blocked by a table.

I saw uncle also entering the living room smiling at me and turning to look at the red-haired uncle, I forgot to ask his name.

***

–Arsel–

What tense atmosphere is in front of me? my mind felt so tense watching the face of the middle-aged couple before me and changed to look at the face of Aster who smiled faintly at me as our eyes met a glance.

“So this guy's relative Aster ya.” The middle-aged man's voice surprised me.

“I—itu ..” I muttered in confusion, What is really wrong with this family? why do they think I'm a relative of this kid? and again what do I have to answer?

“Aster baby, auntie has to tell you about this. Aunty didn't want to sell the house you're occupying to anyone else, but right now auntie needs money and they're ready to buy the house at any time. Thank goodness your uncle came at the right time–” Obviously makes me even more confused.

“That house? Isn't that my mom's house?” The little girl looked surprised for a while.

“Not dear, your mother and grandmother just rented that house from aunty.” The woman replied in her soft voice while stroking the top of the child's head beside her.

“So Aster has no home?” He asked, this time with a glazed look in his eyes and his slightly quivering voice. It seemed like she was trying to hold back her cries.

“A—anu ..” My words distract the woman.

“Ah sorry, I forgot you.” He said with a friendly smile and placed a white envelope on the table, right in front of me.

“Nak Helen left this to her mother before her departure, then her mother left the letter to us before following her daughter. And now that Aster lives alone in his house, I was worried about him and wanted to adopt him. But thank God you came at the right time, Aster must be happy too, right? Finally there are your relatives who want to be your walimu.” A man next to him surprised me and became even more clueless about what he said.

What did he say? This kid lives alone in his house? And why won't any of her relatives take care of her when her mother and grandmother are gone? All those questions filled my head, even now I feel so sure that he really was. His son Helen, Helen whom I knew.

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Thanks for reading...