Aster Veren
Episode 52

- Esther

After saying goodbye to bi Siti and uncle Zaenal, I immediately went home with my father to my grandmother's house.

But it looks like grandma hasn't come back from her office yet, dad said grandma's going home late so tonight I can't sleep with grandma to listen to stories about dad's and uncle's childhood again.

I want to hear more stories about my father and uncle. My mind felt disappointed while glancing towards the new wall clock at 08:18 p.m.

"You haven't slept?" My father's voice surprised me along with the sound of the door of the room already open.

"Papa." I muttered to see the figure of my father who had walked up to me after closing the door to my room.

"Why not sleep?" He continued asking while sitting on the bed, facing me.

"Not sleepy." I replied Hugging the teddy bear that Grandma bought some time ago.

"Come here, your hair is still wet. If it's not dried properly you can catch a cold later," said the father, lifting my body and sitting me in front of the grandmother's dresser, then his left hand grabbed the hair dryer and his right hand immediately grabbed the comb on the grandmother's dressing table.

I was late to take a shower today because I was busy preparing my things to take away tomorrow. Although not much, but still choosing luggage is tiring. Red uncle and Carel helped me too. But my body felt so tired that it lingered in the bathroom just to soak, but it never used to soak because the bathroom in my place did not have a bath.

"... when tomorrow morning we have to go to the airport early in the morning, but you still haven't slept." Dad continued grumbling, and I could only see my father's flat expression from the mirror reflection in front of me silently.

If you notice the expression of the father is very funny, not in sync with his words. How could his voice sound annoyed when his expression was like that.

I wonder how could you meet this handsome papa? My mind involuntarily giggled when I saw father's expression.

"Why? Is there anything funny about what I said?" Dad asked to surprise me.

"Ti–no." My answer immediately threw away my gaze from any direction when I met the red bead of the dismin father.

"Then what are you laughing at?" Asking again didn't want me to answer, but the pressure around me slowly changed and required me to answer father's questions.

"... duh papa this, Aster is just another penny." I answered, but yes I was happy. I felt happy to meet my father and for the first time I could feel my hair being combed by my father.

After a long time I crave the figure of a father, intelligent and envious of all my friends. I finally had a father, and it made me very happy. Even though my mother and grandmother are gone, I feel like I can survive now because I have so many people that I love.

"Happy?" Asked the father looked confused by the pain of his approval, "didn't you look very disappointed because you couldn't sleep with grandma?" Continue while placing the hair dryer and comb in her hand on the dressing table.

"That's .. hehe, Aster was a little disappointed because grandma came home late. But there's papa." Obviously I smiled at my father and turned my body to face him.

"Is there me?" Ask dad while folding both his hands over his chest.

"Yes–it ... papa would you like to sleep with Aster?" Then I felt the heat on my face, for the first time I asked to sleep with my father. Whereas in the past I only dared to ask for the company of sleep by sister Hana.

Red uncle? Uncle Arsel would offer to accompany me to sleep together, so it wasn't me who asked for it. But now, I'm the one who asked you directly. It feels really embarrassing.

"Do you still have nightmares?" Ask dad with worried eyes.

"Eh?" I muttered in confusion seeing her expression change like that.

Did you hear that from uncle? I felt guilty in my heart for making everyone worry about me.

"No, it's been a long time since Aster has had nightmares. What ... Papa won't sleep with me?" My answer is disappointed.

It seems like today I asked too much huh, just because papa granted one of my requests doesn't mean he will grant my other request right? Am I in a hurry for being too happy? Inner wondering.

"No! that's not what I meant. Thank goodness you never had a nightmare again ...." He said as he gently stroked the top of my head, even the look in his eyes warmed up again with his lewd expression.

"So ...." I can't turn away from Dad.

"Good!" I said straight down from my grandmother's dressing chair and ran towards the bed excitedly.

"Be careful, you can fall if you run around like that." Said Dad I didn't listen.

"Hehe.. Here papa, sleep next to me." I said directly lying on the bed patting the empty part next to me.

"You are this ...." Guman dad sighed tiredly and walked over to me.

***

- Ansel

I opened my eyes slowly as I felt a tightness in my chest. I quickly wiped away my tears that kept flowing out.

"Why?" I muttered not understanding why I could cry like this while I was asleep.

I lyrics new wall clock shows at 02:30 in the morning, then switch to the figure of Aster who is still asleep in his sleep with a curled position facing towards me who was sitting on the bed.

My feelings are really fucked up. My mind immediately sipped the water in the glass until it ran out and stored the glass back on the nightstand next to the bed.

Then a flash of memory began to come into my head, displaying the figure of Helen who smiled sweetly at me with her warm eyes.

"I remember!" I said while massaging my forehead while remembering my dream, a dream that made me cry like this.

"Ansel ..," Helen's voice still lingered in my memory, even though it was just a dream but it felt really like it was real.

"I miss him so much ...." I can't stop remembering my dreams.

"It looks like you've met Aster, huh?" Helen's voice re-filled my head along with the memories of the darkness that were slowly fading by the light displaying Helen's figure in my dream.

"Helen," I murmured again again imagined her beautiful face and her purple hair that was gently whipped by the wind.

"... My daughter is very pretty, isn't she? He inherited your black hair color and your cleverness, he's also very good at playing the piano like your father. I'm truly grateful that she was born healthy and gifted by her father's family." He sounds happy.

"Didn't she inherit your beauty? your faces are very similar especially the purple beads she has." I said fill my pirkanku.

"You're right, I'm glad Aster doesn't just look like you." He said with a big smile to make me smile with him.

"Ansel," he continued to spit out my smile as he looked at his purple bead that looked into my eyes deeply.

"... I'm sorry that I had to go faster and hand Aster over to you. I believe you can raise her well, live happily with our daughter." His words surprised me.

"Helen ...," I muttered as I realized the time of my separation with her, ". I will try my best. Thank you for coming to my dream, Sorry for being so stupid–aku—" My murmur came to a halt as I felt Helen's hand touch on my face and made our eyes look at each other as my tears spilled.

"I'll always be with you and our daughter ..," she said as she touched my chest with her right hand, "I love you Ansel." He continued while bringing his forehead closer to my forehead before disappearing along with my screams asking him to stay.

"It looks like you came after I visited you along with Aster huh." I muttered considering my visit to Helen's grave this afternoon.

Then I read Aster who looks peaceful in his sleep, "Did you also meet your mother?" I watched him smile in his sleep.

I'll take good care of Helen, you don't have to worry. My mind as I stroked Aster's forehead and went back to lying next to him with my mixed feelings.

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Thanks for reading...