Aster Veren
Episode 60's

- Esther

It was 06:30 p.m., and Carel and Khael had returned to their homes. Don't ask Uncle Eric and Brother Hana, they also returned to the red uncle's residence according to the orders given to them this morning.

And now I was daydreaming on the porch of my room upstairs, waiting for the return of my father who had not yet returned from his work.

"This house feels lonely" I murmured, recalling my days with my grandmother, because my grandmother would usually accompany me if my father had not come home from work.

But now, I'm back to how I was when I first lost my mom and grandma. That night I stared at the stars in the sky in front of the terrace of the house until bi Siti found me pensive alone there.

"When do you come home?" I murmured again before sighing deeply along with a gust of night wind that greeted my body gently.

My memories are really wandering now, thinking about things. Starting from the busyness of the father who was getting busier than before, then the expression of Carel that I had never seen before this afternoon and the strange feeling that I felt at this time. I don't know, I feel so lonely right now.

Usually at times like this Carel will stay until papa comes home. But he left ten minutes after Uncle Eric's car came out of the granny's gate.

That kind of attitude really bothers me. My mind again sighed a long sigh while watching uncle Rigel's car coming out of the grandmother's residence.

"After Uncle Eric's car, then Uncle Tomi's car and now Uncle Rigel's car. When will you come home?" I muttered again looking at the stars in the sky.

"What are you doing there?" My father's voice surprised me, making me immediately turn my body toward the source of the voice.

"When do you come home?" I asked to rush into his warm embrace that I had missed so far, "I didn't even hear the sound of papa's car." I continued who did not realize the arrival of my father's car.

"You don't see me downstairs? Though papa had called you when he just got out of the car. In addition, do not stand on the floor using thin clothes like this. You can catch a cold later." Said my father made me chuckle when he heard the scolding with the face of the wall.

"Papa's job done?" I was trying to shift the direction of dad's conversation.

"... already." The answer looks lethargic.

Looks like papa is so exhausted huh. My mind watched my father's lethargic gaze staring deeply at the wall of the room beside me, then before long I could hear his long sigh before his gaze returned to me.

"Eat already?" I was still looking at my tired expression.

"Yet, have you eaten yourself?" Reply father asked back while stroking the top of my head with his right palm.

"I'm waiting for papa to come home."

"So not eating yet?"

"Hhehe... not yet."

"Hah~ you are very naughty, even though I have often reminded you to eat on time. Why do you always delay eating?"

"Aster doesn't like to eat alone, so wait for papa to come home to eat together."

"Well, you wait in the dining room. Papa's gonna take a shower first." Said father before releasing his palm from the top of my head.

"Good." I answered with a big smile.

***

- Carel

"Where have you been? Why did the clock just come home?" My father's voice surprised me who quietly passed through his study to get to my room.

Though I thought he was so busy, why could I see me from such a small door gap? My mind grumbled while remembering the door of his study that opened a little. But now the door was already wide open with the figure of the father who was already standing on the doorstep.

"Ck, usually also the father never protest. What's with dad today?" I felt annoyed when I put both my hands in my jeans pocket.

"You're visiting your mother again? What about his condition now?" The question made me look upset at his words, how could he not know the condition of his own wife? Did he never visit my mother?

All parents are the same, right? They always prioritize their work over their family. I murmured while tightening my fist.

"Good night young master." Greet some servants who cross paths with me.

"Hem."

"Anu young master." Said one of them stopping my steps, I lazily turned my body towards them.

"I–ini the invitation that Sir Ian entrusted to the young master. He said it's an invitation from the Ravindra family for the young master." Clearly, while showing the invitation letter in his hand.

"Invitation?" I muttered as soon as I reached for the invitation, "go away." I made him leave before I went into my room.

I lazily opened the invitation in my hand and read it after sitting comfortably on the edge of my bed.

"Nathan's graduation party as well as his birthday celebration?" I muttered remembering that shitty guy.

"... but here it is said to be especially for those students who attend the Academy ... who are in the capital, what does this mean?" I couldn't take my eyes off the invitation paper in my hand.

Waitaminute! Does this mean that grandfather has enrolled me in the academy without my consent? My mind was irritated, without realizing my hand had squeezed the invitation paper with all my might.

***

- Esther

"So Aster's school at the Academy through a partner line because the entrance exam has been closed?" I was trying to digest what my father said I was going to the Academy and stay in the dorm for three years. And will only return home once every six months after the semester exam is completed.

"Yes, you will enter the academy as Teo's partner." Reply to father before sighing his weight again.

"Ta–but why did you suddenly send Aster to the academy? Though my time in Singapore papa didn't allow me to go to public school and make me home schooled." I'm saying I can't understand my father's mind in any way.

"Hah~ actually I don't want to say. But it seems like it has to be explained so you understand." Said the father after sighing heavily for the umpteenth time.

"What?" I can't turn my back on my serious look.

"The Carel family wanted to get Carel into the academy to prepare him as the next successor of the Alterio family, but the boy insisted on not going to the academy. So they asked me to get you into the academy, so Carel might change his mind." Obviously dad looks lethargic.

So that's why he's been so moody since this afternoon? He keeps thinking about this? My mind remembered Carel's moody expression.

"But with this, I can also prepare you to be the next successor of the Veren family, as your grandmother would have liked." Said the opposite father with the expression of his face that looks upset.

"... but I should just refuse the request, if it's like this I won't be able to meet my daughter for a long time, you little Ian si*lan!" The father grumbled in annoyance while stabbing a piece of meat in front of him with a eating knife. Even the look in his eyes looked so sharp now.

My father is really .... My mind is speechless other than to continue my dinner quietly.

"Ah yes, we have an invitation from the Ravindra family." Said father after being content to grumble by himself.

"Ravindra?" I muttered feeling familiar with that clan.

"It looks like they sent the invitation to celebrate his son's graduation day as well as celebrate his birthday" the father explained as he cut the meat on his plate with a dinner knife and fork.

"We're coming?" I asked before devouring pieces of meat in my carpuku.

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Thanks for reading...