Aster Veren
Episode 65's

- Esther

Arriving at the Ravindra family residence I was immediately directed to the event by one of the servants there right after parting with Rigel's father and uncle at the entrance.

Dad was directed to another room by another waiter. Yes, dad said there was an important meeting with his father brother Nathan, even I saw many other parents who were also directed to another room that was different from his sons.

"We've arrived miss." The voice of a well-dressed male servant in a black-and-white suit and a circular black bow tie in a white shirt covered in his black vest.

"Te–thank you for dropping off." I was nervous because I was not accompanied by my father, even Uncle Rigel joined my father as his personal assistant.

What meeting did you actually attend? Why did Ravindra's family have a meeting at her son's graduation ceremony? Especially today is her son's birthday. My mind wondered as it felt my heart beating ever more.

I didn't even have enough time to muster up all my courage to step my feet near the big door that was ready to be opened by the other two servants on duty at the door.

Uh, I'm really scared right now. Why was he directed to another room? Why aren't parent meetings put together in the same room? I'm really alone now .. no one I know, how is this? Am I waiting for papa? But I don't know when Papa will come .... I continued in my heart as I clenched my right hand near my chest, hoping that my heartbeat could be calmer than before.

"Anu–excuse me miss," the voice of the previous male servant who was still standing near me, shocked me.

"You coming in now?" Her next question made me reflexively nod my head as I turned to her.

"Ya–maaf." Reply spontaneously.

Soon the two servants near the door opened a large door in front of me, allowing me to enter the room.

Inevitably, I stepped my feet into the room with mixed feelings that I could not explain.

I saw that everyone had gathered to fill all corners of the room, emptying the middle of the room. Classical music has also been playing enliven the event tonight.

"Be– really nobody I know ... where is Teo? He should have arrived, right?" My murmurs immediately spread my gaze throughout the room trying to find Teo's figure who might be swarming among the women who were clustered near Nathan's sister.

There is no .... My mind sighed resignedly as it found no signs of his existence.

In addition, I was also late to realize Teo's figure, if only I realized it sooner. Maybe I can make an appointment to come along with Teo tonight. But honey, the rice is already porridge now.

Papa, come back quickly.

"Excuse me," The voice of a man surprised me, making me look at him.

I saw Brother Nathan standing beside me smiling kindly with his warm soft eyes.

"Ka–kak Nathan?" My words spontaneously could not turn away from her puzzling facial expression, and immediately exposed my standing position towards her.

When did he walk up to me? I didn't see him leave the crowd of women there. I continued in my heart while looking at the crowd of women who were looking at me coldly.

"Se–seems like they don't like me?" I was sweating coldly.

"Good night Aster, good to see you coming. I think ...." His words confused me with the word hanging him.

"Yes?" My question couldn't distract me from her heart, like something was bothering her and she couldn't tell me. Actually why?

"It's nothing, forget it. Just seeing you present makes me happy" she replied with a sweet smile with her eye smile.

"A–ah, happy graduation and happy birthday to Nathan." I stammered when I realized from my daydream that had been transfixed by the smile that Nathan's brother showed me.

I was completely stunned when I saw her fresh expression like that. Ba– recently I saw him smile like that, my mind recalls all my encounters with Nathan's brother in my old school.

Although Nathan often smiles, his smile never looks as smooth as it is today. So seeing her expression like that was new to me, so it was only natural that I was fixated?

"It's nice to hear it from you" she said, again, smiling sweetly, "ah, since today is my birthday can I ask for my gift from you?" It made me realize that the gift I prepared was left in the car.

How'this? I can't take it because the car is locked, and the key is in Uncle Rigel's hands ...

"Pft... ma–maaf, please wait a minute!" Nathan's voice made my face heat up, he actually tried to hold back his laughter and turned his back on me with his body shaking.

"Ughhh!"

"Hah~ is better. Forgive me," he said with a sigh of relief with his index finger busy wiping away the tears at the corner of his eyes after turning back to face me.

"Se–I should be the one apologizing." My mumbling was really embarrassed to be half-dead now.

"Then may I ask for a change?"

"Replace?"

"Perced one song with me as my birthday present." He replied as he stretched out his right palm along with his wide smile.

"He?" My murmur could not say anything so shameful because it was noticed by many people. Not to mention Nathan's gaze that looked so hopeful, making me unable to refuse his request.

If I refuse, all those gazes will get even scarier, right? My mind tries to avoid their stares that look cynical and envious to me, and some even look at me with sparkling gazes that burden me. It was as if they were saying "Receive and dance, we support you!"

"A–anu brother Nathan, a–I'm not good at dancing." I remember my training with Carel last week.

Besides, I've only trained twice because Carel stopped playing at home the last few days. He became very busy in a few days.

"No problem, I'll guide you." Nathan said with a sweet smile.

Inevitably I received his helping hand and walked to the middle of the room surrounded by invited guests on the edge of the room.

Soon classical music changed and we danced.

Me–shame! I never imagined this would happen, ta–tapan them. My mind felt restless to the point that my feet stepped on Nathan's feet unintentionally due to being too focused on everyone's scary-looking gazes.

"I'm sorry I–"

"No problem, don't worry Aster. It doesn't hurt either." Cutting him back smiling embarrassed me half to death.

"lik! It must have hurt, when I told you I wasn't good at dancing." My movements try to take my eyes off her.

"When you're dancing, look into your opponent's eyes to appreciate it ...." Carel's voice rang in my head, making me look back at Nathan's gold bead with great difficulty.

"ah! Sorry," I said back on foot Nathan's brother.

"No problem, no pain either."

"Stop talking lies like that." I said as I recalled my training with Carel, I accidentally stepped on his foot too and he mocked me with the words "Your body is small but your strength is quite big huh." Doesn't that mean my work hurts?

"I'm not lying, other than that your footsteps are nothing with my back that feels more painful now." His words confused me with the expression he made.

"Back?" I murmured as I glanced behind Nathan's brother a little, and I saw that he was standing there with Rigel's uncle Carel and someone similar to Carel.

"Looks like your dad loves you so much huh? She didn't want to entrust her daughter's hand to anyone else." Obviously it makes me unable to wiggle when I realize the creepy aura that comes out of my father's body, even Carel also gives off the same aura as my father.

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Thanks for reading...