Aster Veren
Episode 04's

–Aster–

I was really surprised by what my aunt said that she wanted to sell my house. No, it's not my house but aunt's. He needs money so he wants to sell his house, but if it's for sale where should I go?

Ah again I remember mother and grandmother, if they were still with me maybe I would not trouble bi Siti and her husband. I will also not trouble other neighbors and be shunned by my friends for not having a father.

Aunty was completely misunderstood right now, uncle also looked confused looking at the white envelope before him. Now what am I supposed to do? Inner wondering.

“Aibi,” I said raise my voice to steal everyone's attention.

“Ya darling?” Ask auntie while stroking my hair.

“This uncle is not my relative, I do not want to stay with him. I don't want to bother her, I don't want to bother auntie hiks ... But where would Aster go if aunty kicked Aster out of that house?” I asked with a trembling voice, before long clear circles seeped out of my eye fertilizers.

“No dear is not like that, aunty does not mean to expel you. If you don't want to stay with your uncle, you can stay at aunt's house here—with aunt and uncle.” Said bi Siti directly hugging my body.

“But he is not my uncle,” muttered me on the sidelines of my crying.

“Sorry it looks like we misunderstood.” The voice of Uncle Zaenal who was sitting next to aunty.

“What did you say Aster?” Uncle asked me to glance at him behind the arms of bi Siti, I saw him looking at me warmly and smiling widely when our eyes met, “I am your relative, you can come with me now.” This makes me gawk.

“A—what is true?” Tanya bi Siti let go of her embrace from me and I wiped my tears.

What is this uncle? Does he really want to adopt me? But we're not relatives, are we? We just met last night, did he adopt me? Should I refuse that invitation?

After I was really a troublesome child, I didn't want to trouble anyone. Nor would I hinder my uncle and aunt from selling their house, if I stayed with them .. wouldn't it trouble them too?

Where should I go now, mother? Inner wondering.

“Ka–then let aunty help pack your things yes.” Auntie said with a smile to me.

Ah I really can't resist it, aunt's face looks so relieved now. Though all this time aunt always put on an anxious expression when she saw me, but now .. aunty looks relieved with her warm smile.

Inevitably I also went to the house I lived in together with bi Siti, leaving uncle Zaenal together with uncle red in the living room of their house. I saw that red uncle still had his smiling expression on me as I turned to him before leaving the room.

“How now?” My mummies feel completely wrong following the steps of bi Siti entering my home, a house full of memories with my mother and grandmother. But now I have to get out of that house.

***

My preparations were done, I only brought one suitcase of clothes, one medium-sized cardboard box containing school equipment and one school bag containing my school uniform and school shoes.

I saw red uncle standing in front of his car with the driver who drove me home. But now I have to go with them again.

“Aster baby, auntie is happy you are finally not alone anymore. Your mom and grandma must be happy to see you from up there.” Aunty's voice while tightening her hand when holding my hand.

“It's done?” Asked red uncle when I got in front of him.

I didn't even dare look him in the eye, I somehow felt bad for him because he was driving me home, he had to take me back home.

I am troubling others again. My inner self was irritated at myself while squeezing the tip of my clothes.

“What's the son?” Aunty's voice broke my daydream, I quickly showed her my best smile.

“Come Aster, we're back at my house. Now you will stay with me.” Continue while taking my right hand.

“Take care of yourself son.” Auntie said with tears made me want to cry too, but as hard as I could try to hold her back.

“When you can visit meet us, be a good boy yes.” Further uncle Zaenal while embracing bi Siti.

“Then we say goodbye now, thank you for keeping Aster all this time.and sorry I just came today.” Said uncle tightened his hand grip made me look at him who had bowed his body in front of bi Siti and uncle Zaenal.

Then we got into the car, left the residence bi Siti and all my memories stored in the house.

“Ma—forgive me uncle.” My voice trembled slightly while squeezing the shorts I was wearing.

“Why?” He asked with a clear circle that fell back in my eyes.

“Au–” My answer came to a halt when I felt my uncle's palm touching the top of my head gently, even his smile returning and looking at me in the shade.

“It must be difficult to live alone at your age which is still as young as this.” Said uncle made the roar of my tears more intense.

Somehow his words sounded so soft and attentive, when we had not met for long. But uncle was acting this well on me. Are there people in this world like uncle?

“Why even cry?” He asked while wiping away my tears that were still falling.

“Uncle hiks ... Aster promise will not trouble uncle,” murmured me while plunging into his arms involuntarily.

Seeing him so good to me really made me feel like I had a father. And I want to think of him as my father, is that okay? I want to have a father like my friends.

I wanted to show it to my schoolmates that I also had a father like them, so they would stop mocking me later. But ... Such a request sounds inappropriate right? Especially after uncle saved me and brought me back with him.

“Aster?” Uncle's voice was heard back in my ear. His hands began to gently caress my hair.

Just once, is it okay for me to pretend to sleep in her arms? I still want to feel the warmth, at least until we get to uncle's house. Let me just think of him as my father for a second.

“She slept.” My uncle's voice rang out in my ear, and the next second I heard his tired breath.

“Sorry young master, shouldn't you ask the opinion of the mistress first? Madam would have been surprised to see you brought this child to her home.” This time I heard the driver.

“Means I said we went home to my house. I won't take her to my mother's house.”

“But sir, the mistress asked me to escort the master to her house.”

“I said we go home to my house, after that we just go to mother's house.”

Looks like I brought trouble for uncle's family. Mommy can't you take me away too? I don't want to keep bothering the people around me.

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Thanks for reading...