Aster Veren
Episode 68's

- Kalea

The dance session was over, Carel quickly left me to meet a man dancing with Aster.

I set my feet to follow him and saw his childish behavior that made a scene, stealing the attention of some people around them.

"Hah~ is really a boy, how old is he now?" I murmured after sighing tiredly, just by looking at it my eyes were already tired. How could Aster be friends with someone like him?

It seems like she was also unaware of Carel's feelings huh? I continued in my heart while watching Carel's annoyed expression that was still babbling at the man before her. While Aster was just silent unable to say anything, his expression looked puzzled.

"Looks like he's having trouble dealing with Carel's stupidity." Assume I again sighed while circulating my gaze to look for papa's whereabouts.

"Where is it? I think it was still standing near my father ..," I continued still looking for the whereabouts of papa who was not near my father, I mean uncle Ansel. It was hard to call him uncle after a long time calling him father.

Bruk!

I accidentally bumped into someone's body and almost fell because I did not pay attention to the road, lucky my legs can quickly balance my body. Why did the fool go alone? Can't he lead me to the edge of the room? My grunts in my heart, annoyed with Carel's indifference.

"Ma–maaf." I feel guilty for hitting him.

"... you?" His voice made me look up to see who I just accidentally hit.

"G ...." I muttered feeling very unlucky for dealing with my new husband mom–ku.

"What's the matter, baby?" Mother's voice made me glance towards her arrival.

"No he–" he answered cut off by the presence of his two sons. I know because I see their photos on the internet, even the wedding of the mother looks luxurious broadcast live on television.

Albert Alaric, I don't know what he's famous for, what I do know is he's a high-status man judging by how he's caught the attention of reporters at his wedding. Can I imagine how much money he would have spent covering his wedding if he wasn't a high-status person, and again there were fools who would cover the marriages of ordinary people? And again who wants to watch the wedding of an unknown person?

My head throbbed at the thought of my mother's wedding on television, and again .. Mom didn't even invite me, lastly she just said "Live in peace with your father and forget me! If we meet somewhere, act like we don't know each other. Understood?" That's what he said with a look I never expected.

Why should I face them? Mom's gaze .. really bothers me. My mind could not distract me from the look in my mother's eyes that were so disturbed by my presence.

"I get it, I'll be gone so stop looking at me like that!" My murmured was irritated many times more than before.

"Once again I'm sorry for not paying attention around, then excuse me first." Before leaving them.

"Who is dad?"

"Don't she look like you?"

"You're aware of that too?"

"Hhaha, that? How anyway? You guys enjoying the party tonight? We haven't been together for a long time at a show like this, have we? I'm so happy to be with you guys again ...." Obviously the mother before me was completely away from their side.

Look at him looking happy now .. It's good to see you happy with your new family. My mind is squeezing my clothes with anxiety.

***

It was 10:00 pm, the evening was almost over and I decided to go home after Dad asked me to go with Aster and Dad.

"You never said you had a sister" Aster protested to Carel who was walking beside him.

"Wickedly, you never told your friend about me?" Whiney white-haired man who previously danced with Aster, who else if not her brother Carel?

"Whispering Dwi!" Carel's jerk looked troubled by the man's whimper behind him.

"You guys, get away from my daughter!" Dad's words made me feel good, considering I was walking between dad and papa.

"Stop acting like that" continued Uncle Ian who walked beside me.

"Right sir, you can't keep acting like that. Didn't you promise not to intimidate your friends again with your sharp gaze, sir? While in Singapore also–" Obviously Uncle Rigel who was walking behind came to a halt when he saw father glancing at him with a threatening look.

"Shut your mouth, it's Rigel!" His words are full of emphasis.

"You've really changed, haven't you? Where did that ice-cold you go?" He said after sighing heavily.

I don't know why, I feel like a mosquito among them all.

"You can't play with us!" Carel continued while blocking Aster from his brother, he really looks annoyed and again Dwi's brother looks to enjoy every reaction shown by Carel, it seems like he likes to tease his sister in front of the people he likes, huh?

"You don't come to my house anymore either!" Said the father who had pulled Aster into his arms.

What's wrong with me? My mind while holding onto my chest unconsciously, it felt like my heart was not happy to see Aster's closeness with father. Though I have long forgotten my irish feelings, even I have been living with papa for a long time in the last few years, just like Aster with my father. So it's only natural that their relationship gets that close, right? Why is my heart like this?

It feels really claustrophobic. It's really unfair, isn't it?! Aster lived surrounded by good people like Arsel's father and uncle, he even made friends like Carel. But me? Dumped by my mother and abandoned by my best friend as well ....

"Pa–papa? Se–sak, please let me go!" His murmur could not dwell in father's arms.

"There's no end to watching them, Lea papa grab the car first huh. You wait here for a minute." Papa's words made me turn to him and nod obediently.

Nah! I am not alone, though mother does not acknowledge me as her daughter anymore . I still have a father who loves me sincerely. My mind immediately shook my head to shake off all my negative thoughts while looking at the back of my father who was away from me.

"Excuse me." The voice of a grown man behind me attracted everyone's attention.

"Mr Albert, good night." Said Uncle Ian with a friendly smile.

"What do you need?" Ketus dad still hugs Aster.

"Pa–papa is not good at talking like that!" Aster said as he let go of his father's embrace.

"Rigel get the car ready now!" Then I made Uncle Rigel hurry.

"What kind of situation is this really?" I muttered not quite understanding of this awkward situation.

"Ansel Veren and Ian Alterio, nice to meet you. I'm sorry for being late to say hello to you guys, looks like you're going home already?" He replied to Uncle Ian's friendly smile.

"True sir, it seems like you are also preparing to go home huh?" Reply uncle Ian along with the arrival of his second son master Albert.

Looks like mom hasn't come yet .... My mind is agitated.

"Can I ask you something?" Dad's voice made me look at him who already looked serious.

"Of course." Sir Albert answered with a friendly smile that I did not like.

"Don't we hurry? You said there was an important meeting, right? Why waste time here?" Said a man beside him who was none other than his son.

"It's okay, just for a second. Your mom's still in there with your sister, isn't she? And again there's something that's been bothering me since." It definitely made me fret when I saw Master Albert's cold-looking gaze glancing at me carefully.

"Can you take me to the restroom for a minute? Papa I'll go for a minute, yeah," Aster said, surprising me as his hand grabbed my left wrist and pulled me towards the restroom.

"What are you doing?" I asked to speak up while releasing his grasp.

"I'm sorry, I .. didn't like that uncle's look when he glanced at you."

"You realize that?"

"Uh–ya, he looks watching you and your gestures also look–"

"I ... Why are you being nice to me? I used to be mean to you, couldn't you just ignore me?" I said get my thoughts out, after all, isn't it weird that Aster is still being nice to me? Wouldn't it be more normal for him to hold a grudge against me?

"I, I can't forget what happened in the past. But ... I don't understand why I'm acting like this to you. I just, felt that your expression was very bothersome to me. It feels strange to see you become so quiet, when you used to always look cheerful together with Nadin. But–" Obviously I immediately cut when I saw his expression that bothered me.

"Stupid! You are stupid, aren't you? If I were you, maybe I would never forgive someone like me. Even that kid still can't forgive me, so how can you act like this to me? Totally incomprehensible ...." I said to remember what Carel said while dancing with me earlier.

You really can't hold a grudge, Aster? How can a kid like you be this good to someone like me? I don't understand, really! Our age is the same. But, it feels like he's more mature than me.

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Thanks for reading...