Aster Veren
Episode 41

- Esther

"The lesson is over, you can go home now." Estelle said to me while cleaning up my answer sheet with all the pages.

"Thank you, then Aster's coming home now. See you tomorrow, Miss Estelle." I said while rushing away from the classroom which was filled only by me and Ms. Estelle because other students/schoolers had been home since 10:45 pm.

"See you Aster." Estelle's reply was accompanied by a warm smile.

I took my foot down the school corridor to the parking lot where my father was waiting for me.

"It's over?" Teo's voice again surprised me and made my steps stop.

"Theo?!" I muttered while stroking my chest so surprised.

This kid always comes suddenly yeah .... My mind noticed his figure still standing beside me.

"Ah, sorry to surprise you. How's testing?" He feels guilty.

"It's over." I continued my steps back to the parking lot.

"Teo's in remedial class too?" Next asked.

"No ...." He answered while walking beside me.

"I think Teo's in remedial class, too. Yesterday also came home this afternoon, right?" Obviously, I glanced at him who had turned his eyes away from me.

"That's .. I'm busy in the library," he said, still turning his eyes away from me, "by the way, Kalea and Nadin are not bothering you anymore huh?" Further asked.

In retrospect, they haven't bothered me since I last went to school and met with Uncle Tesar who kept me from going to school for a week.

"Yes .. I haven't seen them since school." I answered while nodding my head, I somehow worry about Kalea for no reason now.

Maybe because you got closer to me, I became worried about Kalea's feelings.

"That means they don't bother you anymore secretly huh? Thank goodness ...." His murmur confused me when he saw her sighing in such relief.

"You're together?" Carel's voice surprised me.

"Oh you're coming?" Teo stopped his steps right in front of Carel who was standing at the end of the corridor to the parking lot.

"You know each other?" I'm the one standing behind Teo.

"Yes." Yeah." Answer them at the same time and look at me.

"Ba–how could Teo be friends with a brat like Carel?" I just don't believe what I see now. Carel said he didn't want to be friends with anyone more stupid than him. But why would he be friends with Teo? Is it possible that she's smarter than Carel?

"You are yes!" Grumpily Carel instantly grabbed my cheek and pinched it in a fit of anxiety.

"Switch Carel! Ampuey ...." My whine tried to take her hand off my face, but she didn't seem to listen to me.

"Ca–carel you're making him sick." Teo tried to help me by calming Carel down.

"This is so sick of tau!" I said as I stroked my face with my palm after Carel's pinch came off my cheek.

"Why are you friends?" I asked to immediately get a plot from Carel, in contrast to Teo who only gave an answer with a thin smile.

"Bu–not that, I mean ... Carel didn't want to be friends with a fool, does that mean Teo is smarter than Carel?" I try to explain what I think.

"Gt..." Teo muttered visibly holding back his laughter.

"Who are you saying is smarter than me, huh?!" The question is full of emphasis.

"... It's Carel, Aster knows which one of us is smarter." Teo said after successfully controlling himself.

"Hem?" I don't understand what the blond boy said.

"You!" Carel looked annoyed.

"Ah it's this hour, I have to go home quickly. I'll go first, see Aster." Teo immediately left from my presence and Carel after he saw his watch.

It looks like Teo's trying to escape from Carel. My mind is still watching Carel's irritated expression.

"Secret, let's go home!" He answered, grabbed my wrist and took me to Carel's car.

"Why did Carel pick me up?" I asked to be surprised, however dad said he wanted to pick me up today. So I have to wait for him if you're late.

"Uncle Ansel said there was important work he had not finished and asked uncle Arsel to pick you up, but uncle Arsel is having an important guest at his house right now. So I'm the one who came with my driver." Obviously after we got near Carel's car.

"Now come in fast." He continued along with the driver who had opened the car door for me.

With a heavy heart I entered Carel's car followed by him. Then the driver walked to the other door and went inside.

***

- Carel

"We've arrived." My words made the child beside me immediately turned towards me after staring at the old mansion before him.

"This is Grandma's house, why did Carel take me to Grandma's?" Ask with her innocent expression.

"You forgot that? from today you will stay at Aunt Marta's house until your departure to Singapore with your father." Obviously after sighing tired considering the words of Uncle Arsel who asked me to pick up Aster and deliver him to the house of Aunt Marta.

"Haa. I forgot, hehe..." He said as he chuckled, "that's why let's meet grandma." Then immediately get down from my car with enthusiasm, inevitably I also come down and follow him into the house aunt Marta.

"Welcome miss, young master Carel." Said Tomi who was waiting in front of the door.

"That's ...." Aster muttered glanced at me with his index finger already stuck to his chin.

"Tomi, did you forget?" I answered when I realized what he wanted to ask me.

"Ah, I'm coming uncle Tomi." She smiled warmly at Tomi.

"The lady's waiting inside, let me take her to her room." He immediately led us to Aunt Marta's room.

Though I want to take him around first, my mind while sighing tired when remembering Tomi's previous nagging.

I said I wanted to take Aster to Aunt Marta's house and wanted to play with Aster for a while before meeting up with Aunt Marta. But Tomi directly gave a long lecture for me.

I was naughty anyway. I continued in my heart when I remembered my first day visiting Aunt Marta's house with my father. I almost entered all the rooms in Aunt Marta's house and made a big fuss in the kitchen and the private library of Aunt Marta's.

"I even made the servants troubled ...," I murmured as I glanced at Hans who had just come out of the library.

... But since I met Aster, without me knowing it I started to change myself little by little. I continued in my heart while watching Aster's back walk in front of me.

I saw him talking to Tomi. But I didn't pay much attention to him, all I'm thinking about now is how I can spend my time with Aster before he moves to Singapore.

"Where should I take him? play in the house continue to be bored .. what I take to–" My mummy stopped when I saw Aunt Marta coming out of her room with her beaming face.

"Aster!" He immediately hugged his grandson without shame, even though in front of him there was someone else.

"Grandma, how are you?" Aster's voice sounded happy receiving a warm embrace from his grandmother.

"Good baby, good news. Aster also looks healthy yes .. thank goodness." He said as he let go of his embrace and showed his big smile to Aster.

"Tomi please ask the waiter to prepare a snack for my granddaughter." The next made Tomi immediately leave his place after bending a little of his body to Aunt Marta.

"Eh there's Carel too, you guys coming together huh?" Ask surprised me.

"Ya–behind ...." My answer was slightly stirred when I saw the soft look of her eyes slowly sharpening back.

This grandma won't let me take Aster out. I continued in my heart after knowing what she was thinking while looking at me like that. Although I know Aunt Marta is a good person, but she is very terrible if she is bullying others especially when she is angry.

"What's Carel?" Aster's voice destroyed my daydream, "let's go in." The next made me glance at Aunt Marta who had walked into her room.

"Well, then we'll just play at Grandma's house." I muttered with a sigh of resignation and immediately followed the small steps of Aster who walked into Aunt Marta's room.

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Thanks for reading...