Aster Veren
Episode 59's

- Carel

When it was 03:20 in the afternoon, I saw Aster and Khael sleeping in their sleep with their bodies leaning against the couch facing the big piano I was playing.

The corner of my lips lifted when I saw the two children sleeping with their peaceful faces, Khael's head leaned against Aster's shoulder with one of his hands holding the violin in his lap. And Aster's head rested on Khael's tiny head with his right hand clutching a music book.

"It seems they're tired of playing." I still play my fingers on the piano keys, playing Chopin - Nocturne op.09 No.02.

It was a relief .. My longing feeling really paid off after playing music with Aster like it used to be. My mind with a smile remembers my violin and Aster's play before he sleeps with Khael.

But before long, that annoying memory came back into my head right after I finished playing the piano.

"Ck! I left my house to forget my conversation with my grandfather. Why do we even remember it again? It sucks!" I murmured after clucking annoyed.

How could Grandpa behave like that? Even father didn't defend me when I denied grandfather's wishes. My mind recalls my debate with my grandfather and father last night.

After returning from the Veren family residence, I was guided to my father's study by Tomi. And the first thing Grandfather said was "You should go to that school and clear your good name before becoming the next successor of the Alterio family." with a serious expression.

Highlighting my father's eyes also emphasized that I won't be able to refute grandfather's decision.

"Don't I ever say grandpa? I won't be the successor of–" I came to a halt when I saw grandfather's piercing gaze. I painstakingly gathered up all my courage to go back to my words.

"Isn't it unfair to pressure me like that? Why don't you ask me about my decision? Are my feelings not needed?" I tried to speak as calmly as possible staring at the red beads of grandfather and father in turn.

"You think after making a big fuss last year, you can decide what you want?" Grandpa asked me to open it one year ago.

At that time I was involved in a small fight in a narrow alley along with Teo, yes it should have been a small fight. Somehow that little fight became a big fight for me.

I fight to help Teo who is bullied by bad boys, then my emotions peak when I see Teo sprawled with bruises on his face, fresh blood also flowed from his nose and his ankle was broken along with all his dirty clothes.

Without a second thought I beat the children's hearts and broke their legs mercilessly even though they were whining to be forgiven, I didn't care as if my ears were suddenly deaf and my eyes were suddenly blind when my emotions had already exploded. All I thought about was giving them a lesson.

Unfortunately that day someone saw the bad thing happen, and it looks like he immediately contacted the police. Proven by the arrival of the police and ambulance cars to the scene of the crime.

Teo was immediately rushed to the hospital with the children who had beaten him. And I was taken to the police station as the criminal, anyone would think of me as the villain after seeing Teo and the children lying there grimacing in pain before me who could still stand with a slight cut and the corner of my lip.

My grandfather and father, who got a call from the police station, picked me up and gave me medical money to all the families of the children I had beaten up.

At that time I was still grateful because Teo did not see me go berserk because he lost consciousness after receiving a kick from one of the children who looked like the leaders of other children. Although I was very sorry for being late to save her, she had to receive such severe injuries and had to be hospitalized because her ribs and ankles were broken.

Arriving at home, Grandfather immediately punished me by locking me in my room for a week full of strict supervision from the servants after giving a hard slap on my face.

Since that incident, bad rumors about me began to spread in the school and my family's reputation was a little tarnished thanks to the people of grandfather and father. If it wasn't for them maybe the reputation of the Alterio family would have been beyond help.

"Carel, haven't we talked about it in the first place?" Dad's voice broke my daydream at the time, and I saw he was already showing a faint, annoying smile.

"I'm sure I rejected it too!"

"You just need to get into that school with a partner line, I've talked about this with Victor and you can come in as his daughter's partner." Obviously grandfather after sighing heavily while leaning his body onto the back of the work chair he was sitting on. While Father who stood beside grandfather could only glance at him.

"No, I'm not interested in going to a school that I don't want to go to." I try to manage my own emotions.

"Just follow what your grandfather said, it's all for your own good. After all there will be no good school that will accept you after hearing bad news about you–" Father said as he patted my shoulder with his right palm and was immediately cut off by grandfather.

"If you hadn't acted foolishly and fought with those children, I wouldn't have had any trouble repairing our family's reputation." Obviously Grandpa made my heart even more hurt.

"I guess .. in the end all you care about is the reputation of the Alterio family" I said trying to show my best smile while brushing my father's hand off my shoulder.

... exactly whose fault did I grow up to be like this? Is it wrong that I'm upset because my friend was hurt by those kids? Are you too busy working? Don't you think I need your attention? I also want to be watched. Tell me what I can and cannot do, tell me how I should act in such desperate times. Tell me how to control the right emotions. Tell me straight away, don't ask Tomi to explain everything and take your place as my parents.

"Hah~ I understand now .. I who used to be too small to understand the reason why you left home, I finally understand now." I murmured while sighing long considering the day of big brother's departure.

"Carel?" Aster's voice shattered my daydreams, I quickly turned my face towards him who was standing next to me with his worried expression.

"What's wrong? Why daydream?" Further asked.

"You awake?" I try to avoid the question. It's nothing, I just don't want to worry him and I don't want to involve him in my personal matters.

"... I seem to fall asleep, Carel himself why daydream? What are you thinking?"

"Nothing."

"Lied!"

Aster's hand immediately pinched my cheek in a trembling manner similar to the adorable expression he was making right now. A sharp annoyed look stared deeply into my eyes, her cheeks were also made more chubby. He seemed to be upset by my answer.

"Oh, sick tau!" My words immediately let go of the pinch, "I didn't think of anything, really." I continued trying to show my best smile that might look strange in her eyes. I can even feel how big my feet are now.

"Yes fine, it's up to you. I'm not gonna force you to tell a story." His grunts were upset while sitting next to me with his adorable expression of regret. Then his fingers began to touch the piano keys and began to play the song Chopin - Nocturne Op.9 No.1.

"It turns out you can play the piano with that ugly face yeah ...." My ejek was not heard.

Yeah, well she was really mad at me for not being able to hide my lying expression from her. Besides, I can't possibly tell you my quarrel with Grandpa and Dad, right?

I just want to do what I want to do, why is it so hard? My mind remembers my mother's soft voice while advising me.

Although mother is rarely at home, she is not the same as father and grandfather. Mothers spend more time in the hospital, especially lately the condition of the mother is also getting worse.

Then once again I glanced at Aster who was still a henchman playing the piano beside me, even unconsciously the corner of my lips was raised again when I saw his regretful expression had changed with his happy expression. For some reason when I saw her smile .. My worry for mom was a little less.

I don't want to make him sad again if he finds out about my family's problems, but his condition has started to improve than yesterday. My mind does not want to talk about my problems with her when it remembers the sound of Aster's crying that makes my heart ache.

He used to cry like that when his cat died ....

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Thanks for reading...