Aster Veren
Episode 72

- Esther

"So they had a fight?" Teo asked after hearing my story.

I saw that he had leaned his body against the sofa he was sitting on with his right hand rubbing his chin, even one of his legs had been superimposed on the other leg.

His face looked very serious, his eyes focused on the teacup before him. He looked like he was considering something.

"Hem," he muttered as he scratched his right cheek with his index finger, "actually I have no right to tell you about Kalea, but because I don't like to see you confused like this. Then I'll tell her, her story during Junior High." It made my heart beat faster, even my throat started to dry up and I struggled to swallow my saliva when I remembered Kalea's cold expression yesterday.

"Do you know that Kalea was good friends with Nadin?" Her question made me nod quickly, "i don't know when exactly, but there are rumors that their friendship was ruined because Kalea was ruining Nadin's relationship with the person she liked. Then Nadin started spreading rumors about Kalea's past that always bothered you to avenge her–" I cut him off immediately.

"Wait on! Ma–mean from the person Nadin liked that ...,"Tanyaku could not continue my own words because I could not imagine how their situation was at that time.

"So, I'm lazy to explain it .. Then one day the school invited Nathan to fill a certain event, you know yourself that Kalea likes Nathan since Elementary? At that time, Nadin again acted by disturbing Kalea until Kalea's patience ran out and slapped Nadin in public. I who watched from afar could not hear what they were fussing about. But I could see the sight that was not wearing and Kalea's expression that was holding back her sense of regret before Nathan's brother who suddenly appeared between them. Everyone also began to whisper about the truth about Kalea who has a hobby of hitting and getting away from Kalea." Obviously at length I can't say anything.

"Kalea ...," I muttered as I clenched my palms in my lap, imagining the situation of Kalea back then.

Surely he felt annoyed with himself because he had been rude to his best friend, in public. But ... Why do I feel Nadin is guilty here? What's wrong with me?

"... then the day of graduation arrives and all those who wish to enter the academy must take the entrance examination or seek acquaintance from within if they do not wish to take the entrance examination. But of course their national exam scores must meet the requirements. Kalea and I took the entrance exam and passed with quite satisfactory grades, but Nadin took a step by becoming Nathan's partner. Surprising right? Though I thought he would take the entrance exam and compete with Kalea, but he instead became Nathan's partner and made a situation where Kalea hated him even more." He went on to tell the story of Kalea.

"Are you able to become a partner of someone who graduated from the academy?" Ask me to start speaking up, anyway brother Nathan has graduated from the academy now, but Nadin became his partner? Isn't that weird?

"Yes, it doesn't matter because of a certain relationship." He answered while throwing his eyes off me.

"Specific relationship?"

"The point is Nadin has become his fiancee brother Nathan." He answered after breathing out his tiredness.

"Tu–engaged? How can? I mean, he just graduated from Junior High and Nathan's brother just graduated from the academy ...." I was very surprised when I heard Teo's reply.

"But Nadin's age is older than you and Kalea, and again there is no prohibition they should not be engaged. Even from my observation, many students who have such relationships are also in the academy. When they graduate, one to two years are married. Of course only rich families do that" he explained before grabbing his cup of tea.

"Why is it that only rich families do that?"

"Especially if it is not for the business of enriching their families, let's just say their fiance is a kind of political matchmaking that can benefit both parties."

"He? So they're engaged not on the basis of love?"

"Most of the time, but there are also those who engage on the basis of love. But only in the academy, in other schools where there are teachers who allow such a relationship in their school." He answered after sipping tea in his hand.

So Nathan and Nadin's brother made a match? My mind is not inexhaustible with what I just heard, I even just knew there was such a thing in the academy.

I don't know why I feel so unfair, when they look so close that I think their friendship won't collapse easily just because of the little things. But when I heard that Kalea destroyed Nadin's relationship with the person he liked, I felt that Kalea was too outrageous. But if you look again, did not Nadin do more cruel things by destroying the life of Kalea Middle School?

He made Kalea excommunicated ....

"What's wrong?" Teo's voice broke my daydream, I saw he was already looking at me with his serious gaze.

"No, I just .. thought to Kalea." I try to show my best smile as much as possible.

"Why?" Her question made me stop smiling when I realized her expression I couldn't lie to.

"Why, why what?" I asked back because I didn't understand her gaze that was bothering me.

"Why are you thinking about that guy? Isn't he the one who scratched bad memories for you? Wouldn't it be more normal to ignore it?" Clearly after a long sigh and justifying his sitting position.

"That's .. I don't know why either? But, I feel that Kalea who is now has changed. And again there's no reason for me to avoid it the way I used to." I replied recalling an old memory as I tried to avoid Kalea for not wanting to be bothered by her. But strangely now I want to be his friend.

Maybe because I know what it's like to be alone and not have any friends. So my conscience drives me to get close to him.

After all, Kalea once showed a worried face for me when my illness recurred, when my father took me to the hospital in a hurry and Kalea followed my father behind along with Aunt Claretta.

"You're weird, aren't you?" Teo's words made me return his serious, warmed-up gaze.

"Hehe...is that so?" I asked while chuckling and scratching my left cheek with my index finger.

"Yes, you even made friends with a troublesome brat like Carel. How can you be that familiar with him? Though I always wanted to run away from him because of his ignorant and annoying nature." He answered after keeping the tea cup in front of him.

"Pft.. You're right he's so ignorant and annoying .. but it's not as thick as you think. Sometimes he can be a good kid too." I almost laughed when I heard Teo say about Carel.

"Yes, he's just nice to you. I can't deny it ...." He must have looked annoyed, and somehow his upset face looked very funny now.

"Then, what about Carel? You know about him being shunned by his friends, too?" I continued when I remembered the words of Kalea who mocked Carel back yesterday.

"On that .. I don't know because I didn't go to school with him." He answered while turning his gaze in any direction after pausing his words for a few seconds. Looks suspicious.

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Thanks for reading...