Aster Veren
Episode 69

- Esther

I opened my eyes slowly when I heard the whispers of some people in my room. I lazily got up from my sleeping position while rubbing one of my eyes, still feeling sleepy.

"Uwah, Hana look! Brother Aster is awake, "Khael's tiny voice that I can't forget, makes me really awake now.

I saw the boy standing next to me, cupping his palms in his face with a sweet smile.

"Khael?" My mutter could not help but smile when I saw her adorable expression appear before me this early in the morning.

"Miss, the warm water is ready." Hana's voice made me look at her.

"By the way when are you guys ti–ba?" I asked while watching the figure of Kalea who was enjoying lemon tea which smelled fragrant by my sense of smell, the girl was so calm sitting on the sofa facing my bed.

"Kaleas? Why did you–" My resume was immediately stopped by Khael's tiny hand pulling on the edge of my nightgown as my eyes met a face with Kalea's blue bead that looked as cold as last night.

"It's best that Aster's sister go take a shower first." His advice has me hurrying.

"Let me help you bathe, miss." Kak Hana followed my steps towards the bathroom door in the corner of my room with a white towel in her hand.

"No need!" Reject me while taking the towel from Hana's hands.

"Ta–pi miss ...." I don't care so much about shame with Kaela.

She must think I'm still a child now, why did sister Hana come without telling me first? If you knew sister Hana was coming, I would have woken up earlier ... and again, Kalea? He too, shouldn't he be coming over for lunch? Inner me grumbling.

***

"It's over." Said sister Hana after finishing combing my hair and braiding it.

"Khael likes chocolate, huh?" Kalea's voice caught my attention, making me turn towards them after being satisfied to look in the mirror at my makeup spell.

I saw Kalea sitting next to Khael who looked adorable with a picture book in her hand.

"Yes, but mom forbade Khael to eat chocolate because Khael's teeth were hollow." His reply looked glum along with my footsteps that stopped right near the sofa facing them.

"... i'm sorry to keep you waiting." My words caught Kalea's attention while landing my ass on the couch.

"It doesn't matter, I arrived early anyway because papa had an appointment with dad this morning. So I came quickly with papa. I'm sorry I woke you up when I heard you were so exhausted." He said with his calm expression.

"Khael also came with papa." Khael continued with his sparkling expression, inviting my smile and Kalea's.

"Hee... But why did Khael come? Does Khael miss me?" I asked in a seductive tone.

"Back you Arsel!" Papa's voice sounded annoyed from the room next to mine, making me surprised. Even Kalea and Khael jumped in surprise.

"It looks like Mr. Arsel was scolded all out by Mr. Ansel huh?" Murmured sister Hana made me look at her who just returned from the kitchen with some snacks on the tray she was carrying.

"Why is uncle scolded by papa?" I don't understand. Besides can sister Hana not disappear all of a sudden? I continued in my heart when I saw him approaching with a tray in his hand.

"So–soalnya sir was very upset when he saw the lady wearing an open dress last night." Sis Hana replied with a stiff smile after serving all the snacks she brought on the table.

"Khael can eat that too?" Khael asked as he pointed the chocolate cake in front of him with his head turned to Brother Hana. He even put up his puppy eyes

"No way young master, later young master's teeth can hurt again. The madam will also take the young master to the dentist this afternoon, so the young master should not eat chocolate-based food just yet." Replied Brother Hana while shaking his head slowly making Khael's eyes teary.

"Sister Aster ...." Continue to whine at me.

"I–itu ..," My murmur could not continue my speech, I wanted to allow it but if sister Hana to speak like that. That means Khael's teeth often hurt because of the frequent eating of sweet foods, right? Moreover, the boy said himself that his teeth were hollow.

But ... My heart wavers at her heart-wrenching expression. How'this? Should I let him taste his chocolate cake a little? But-but if later Khael has a toothache how? But I want to give you that cake, but–

"Can't!" Kalea's voice breaks down my daydream.

"He?"

"I know what you're thinking, you better stop pampering her. It's all for Khael's good anyway, right? If he eats his cake he could have a toothache again. So I suggest you stop thinking stupid things." It definitely makes me not wiggle.

Since when was Kalea's nature as thick as this, she was even almost similar to Carel. Carel would have said the same thing if he was in his position, right?

"Huh, Brother Aster and sister Lea are evil! Khael hates you both. Hana's bad too!" Khael shouted as he ran out of my room with the patter of his tears.

"Wait Khael!" I felt guilty and rushed after him, but the boy had already disappeared from my sight.

"How fast is he running? Can a 4-year-old run that fast with his little legs?" Continue wondering.

"Let me who is looking for young master, please lady continue chatting with a friend of the lady." Sis Hana passed me in front of the door with her quick steps.

"But–"

"If you're worried about it, we better go and find Khael." Said Kalea who was standing next to me.

"Sorry to trouble you too." I feel guilty.

"I think you've done the right thing by preventing me from giving the cake to Khael, if I give it to him he could be in pain again because his teeth are hollow." I said while following his steps down the stairs.

"Is that so?"

***

- Carel

Today was really tiring, but I just woke up a few hours ago. But my body feels so tired, is it possible because of last night's party? My inner being yawned and stretched my muscles as I entered the Veren family residence.

"Young master!" Hana's shout attracted my attention who was about to go to Aster's room.

"Young master? Meaning Khael?" I muttered as I walked closer to Hana.

"What's wrong?" I asked when I got near him.

"That's .. the young master left Miss Aster's room because she wasn't allowed to eat chocolate cake. Looks like he's angry ...." With his guilty expression.

"Why isn't he allowed to eat chocolate cake?"

"Because her teeth are hollow, and the mistress ordered me not to give her chocolate because this afternoon the lady will take the young master to the dentist." Evidently.

"Ah~" muttered as I glanced at the large window that showed the view of the rose garden when I saw the shadow of a small child running towards the big tree there caught my attention.

"Have you met?" Ask Aster who just arrived between me and Hana, there is even Kalea beside him.

"Carels!" Next time I meet you.

"Not yet, miss, it seems like the young master is hiding somewhere. He often does this when he's angry." The answer.

"Then I help you find the boy, you go somewhere else." I immediately walked to the rose garden.

"Good." Answer them while hurrying.

***

"Brahel!" I said as I got to the tree where the boy was hiding.

"Hihi, thank you papa." His voice caught my attention along with the gust of wind that hit my body.

"Papa?" My murmur grew more and more focused on sharpening my sense of hearing the typical sound of Khael's laughter, even as I moved closer to the tree now.

The kid didn't cry? My mind when I hear her voice again.

"Promise don't tell mama that papa gave you chocolate."

"Yes!"

"I guessed it!" I said when I found Khael with his stupid father. They were hiding while secretly eating the chocolate that I don't know who took it.

"Ca–carel?" Said the big man looking so surprised, especially if not uncle Arsel?

"Khael, aren't your teeth hollow?" I asked to make the boy's eyes re-glazed, like he knew that I was going to nag him.

"Uh–ini ...." His reply immediately hid the chocolate in his hand behind his body.

"Bu–not as you can see!" Uncle Arsel made me look coldly at him.

"Hee... You think I can be tricked that easily? Look at the chocolate on your son's face! You think I'm stupid?!" I thought it made them both panic.

"I heard your wife was on her way to pick up her son. If he knew you were giving chocolate to the kid he'd take to the dentist, what would he do to you?" I continued to make Uncle Arsel's expression pale.

"That's–please keep it a secret from her, I just don't want to see my son grieving."

"Mr,"

"You don't want to see him grieve for a moment but don't think about how he was in pain because his teeth were hollow?" Obviously I'm making him not wart.

"He's a fool!" Ansel's uncle's voice surprised me and Arsel's uncle, who had been pecking at his place, looked like an undead now.

What exactly is going on? My mind wondered when I saw the black aura coming out of the body of Uncle Ansel who was standing behind uncle Arsel with one of his hands that had been ruffled waist.

"Pa–papa?" Khael's voice sounded worried when he saw his father's pale expression.

.

.

.

Thanks for reading...