Aster Veren
Episode 44

- Esther

It was 06:15 a.m., I had just finished breakfast with my father and grandmother. And now I have to rush to school with my uncle Tomi and grandmother.

"Mom sure you want to take Aster to school? What about mom's job?" Asked the father who looked worried about grandma with that flat expression of his.

It turns out that I have a father who is less adept at expressing himself yes .. Look at the expression of his face that looks flat, when his voice sounds worried. My mind before turning my gaze to the figure of the grandmother who was standing next to me.

"Who would want to work this early? Almost all companies start their work at exactly seventy-thirty in the morning early, at least eight in the morning." Obviously Grandma grabbed my right hand, then led me on my way to the porch followed by my father's step.

Didn't grandma realize that her words were already insinuating to dad? I can't speak anymore to say back to my grandmother. My mind while glancing towards the father who had walked parallel to Grandma.

"Then we go first yes, you if you want to go back to your house or go to work. Just go, don't wait for mom to come home. I'm gonna stop by somewhere first." Said grandma after arriving at the porch of the house with a big smile on my father.

"Well, be careful on the road." Father said after sighing heavily when he saw Grandma's wide smile.

"Aster was school first, papa." Pamitku while hugging father after releasing granny's hand.

"Yes," said the father along with me who turned my head to look at the expression of the father, and I saw the thin smile of the father already engraved on his lips along with his warm gaze that I could not give up.

though just now his expression looked pitiful, like one who lost the battle. This is my father's basis ....

"... Be careful on the road." He continued while stroking the top of my head before I let go of my embrace from him.

"Yes." Yeah." Nod me with a big smile on my father and immediately walk towards the car where the back door has been opened by Uncle Tomi.

***

- Arshel

"Huh ...." I muttered again sighing heavily while lazing on the sofa of my work space.

Since morning I can't focus on working because I keep thinking about what Wanda said last night. Even last night I couldn't sleep well. My mind while glancing at the wall clock that has shown at 11:20 p.m.

"Huh ... What exactly did he say? What did I forget? What answer does he mean?" I murmured again, sighing again for the umpteenth time.

"What's wrong with you, young master?" Eric's voice broke my daydream.

"When were you there?" I asked when I realized his presence was standing near my desk.

"Since the young master constantly sighed and muttered strangely." He answered while tidying up some papers that were splattered on my desk.

"Su–it's been that long?" I muttered in embarrassment to myself, "did he hear everything?" I still mumbled.

"It seems like today young master really can't focus on working huh .. shouldn't the young master rest first?" He said as he walked up to me after finishing with the job of tidying up my desk.

"... Eric," I said hesitantly to continue.

"Yes?" The question made me look into his eyes seriously without me noticing.

"Did I ever say anything to Wanda? He said I forgot something, but I don't know what I forgot. Besides he said he wanted to give someone an answer and I was asked to meet him if I remembered what I had forgotten. What did I forget?" Obviously after convincing myself to ask Eric.

"Are you sure you asked me?" He asked with a faint smile with the look of his eyes that I could not explain, for a moment I felt he was pressing me with that look. Though a few seconds ago his gaze still looks foggy, like a confused person in general.

"Ya–yah, how do you know, right?" I muttered while throwing my face away from him and again sighed heavily.

"Hah .. you seem to be having a hard time huh," said Eric changing his speech suddenly while watching his headphone screen, "actually I want you to remember it for yourself. But I can't let Wanda keep waiting for you, so I'll tell you a little. The rest remember for themselves." Continue while glancing at me.

What'd he say? Inner wondering.

"Your last conversation with Wanda was at the tree house near your mother's house." It definitely made me gape as I felt the fog in my brain disappear.

"I know now!" I immediately got up from my sitting position and immediately grabbed my headphone before running away from my work space in a hurry.

How can I overflow it? I was inwardly irritated by my stupidity.

My feet continued to move quickly down the stairs with the voice of Eric who kept ringing in my head alternating with the memories of my past along with Wanda.

... in the tree house near the mother's house. My mind immediately got the image of Wanda's face that looked serious with the look of her own eyes flashed rapidly in my memory.

"Wanda–"

"Sorry Arsel, please give me some time to think about it ...."

"... sure, I won't force you to directly answer my question,"

"At least you don't reject me as you have before."

"Sorry ...."

That day I went to the tree house together with Wanda with a feeling of joy because I would meet my beloved woman.

We spent all day together there together. Eric also came with me even though he was late.

Then at night when the star cluster looks so beautiful to spoil the eyes, I also ventured to propose to Wanda with Eric as a witness.

But again my feelings were tested again with a frank rejection from Wanda. Yes, it wasn't the first time I was rejected by Wanda, but I never got tired of trying it because my little heart felt confident in my choice, and I also felt able to destroy Wanda's famous defensive wall with its thickness and height.

Since High School, Wanda has been dubbed as a thick-walled girl and jutek because of her treatment of the opposite sex. Even so, I still liked her and continued to try to propose to her many times in the hope that "Maybe one day her feelings for me could change and she would magically marry me".

And now Wanda came to me to give her the answer to my last proposal.

It turned out to be a long time ago.I forgot the day I proposed to her for the last time. Maybe because I thought, I was rejected again by him. That's why I forgot it as if nothing had ever happened.

"Ah why am I really becoming a nervous person now?" I thought about all the things I had forgotten.

"... I'll give you as long as you want. But just remember this one thing ...."

"What?"

"My proposal this time will be my last proposal. I hope you can think about it well, Wanda."

That's how I talked to Wanda that I still remember now. No, I forgot I wasn't reminded by Eric.

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Thanks for reading...