Aster Veren
Episode 77's

- Esther

It was 07:05 in the morning when I arrived at the academy with my father.

"Hah~ had it not been a fuss with my uncle" I murmured after sighing tiredly as I recalled my father's quarrel with uncle Arsel who came to the house this morning.

It was not without reason that uncle had suddenly visited, he knew I was going to the academy today so he came to give his farewell. Although at first my uncle insisted on going to take me as well, but my father stopped him.

If you recall that Khael did not come to see me. .. why did uncle not bring Khael home? My mind wondered while watching the arrival of the other students who walked into the academy gates in their black and white uniforms.

"Why is papa so long?" I muttered again looking for the whereabouts of the father who disappeared from my sight after saying to wait for him in front of the academy gate. Then go with a suitcase and carry-on bag big enough in his hand.

Did papa go to the dorm? I continued in my heart with the gust of wind that gently hit my hair.

I still can't believe that today I'm going to stay in the dorm. Though this morning papa almost revoked my enrollment in the academy for not wanting to part with me. Thank goodness I stopped his actions.

"That's the woman who danced with Nathan's brother that night, right?" Whispering some people who stopped their steps not far from me, they seemed to be looking at me. Makes me uncomfortable.

"Ah, yes I remember. Before the dance session started, he was already dancing with Nathan's brother." Someone next to him.

"Beautiful ... What is the name of the child?"

"Hem... A–as, who is it? Us, a–ter, yes Aster. He's from the Veren family, right?"

"Veren that, ah lest he's Arsel Veren's niece?"

Se–actually why are they talking about me? Even if you whisper, I can still hear it. My mind is uncomfortable with what I hear. Especially when they talk about my dance session with Nathan's brother. It made me think back to those embarrassing memories!

"... You said his name was Aster? That's the baby that was ever mired, right?"

The deg!

My heart suddenly beat faster than usual when I heard their words, it was uncomfortable, very, very uncomfortable.

"Down your voice is stupid!"

"Aw sick tau!"

"... is he okay? I heard that the person who used to bully him also entered this academy."

"ah! You mean that Kalea? Did he really enter the academy? Does he still have the face to show himself in public?" The words of a blonde woman irritated me, even unconsciously my hands were clenched tightly beside my feet.

My eyes can't turn away from the horde of women either, they seem to like gossip? "Why do they have mouths as light as feathers?" I muttered trying to hold back my emotions.

"... I also heard her mother talking to her!"

"What is karma? In the past he did his best to bully a child weaker than him."

"Can be. And again I heard she claimed to be the daughter of the Veren family too!"

"Se–seriously?"

"Are you really not ashamed?"

"They–" I said almost lost patience if someone didn't show up between us.

"You people! Why haven't you come in? The welcoming ceremony of the new students is about to begin. As upperclassmen you should be able to set a good example for new students. Quick in!" His words made them hurry after giving the man a respectful greeting.

"Sister class here has a pretty bad habit huh?" Continuing the voice I didn't like, I saw him coming out from behind the man's back. The next second I realized that the two people in front of me were Nathan and Nadin's brother. Two people who said they were engaged.

"Good morning Aster." Nadin's voice surprised me.

"Pa–morning ...." I muttered trying to avoid his gaze. Somehow when compared to Kalea, I was even more afraid of Nadin. Maybe because of her treatment of me?

"Why are you following me? The ceremony's almost started." Nathan asked not to be cared for by him, "you also enter Aster." Then turn his eyes to me.

"First off, I'm still waiting for papa." Obviously I was looking for the whereabouts of the father I still couldn't find. I don't know where he's hiding until he forgets me.

"Good morning, brother." Greet some of the students who passed Nathan's sister with a friendly smile.

"Morning," replied Brother Nathan returning their smiles.

"... who was Nathan's fiancee?" Their voices are almost gone.

"Which one? Both of them danced with Nathan's brother last night ...."

"You want to come in with me Aster?" Nadin asked immediately embracing my right hand happily, turning my attention to him.

"Yes, you guys go in first. You can wait for your father inside." Nathan said he agreed with Nadin's words to invite me in.

"You see that? She's so pathetic, why don't you go with her?"

"Where do I want to accompany someone like her, you'll just!"

"Slow down your voice, he's behind us you know!"

"Who?" I muttered with curiosity at the conversation of the two people who had just passed me, I quickly turned my head behind me. I saw that Kalea was walking towards the entrance gate of the academy with her confident little steps. Even his head was not down and looked firm.

"I hope he can live his day well in the academy." Nadin said to make me glance at him who had put on his gloomy expression, looks once mask.

"If only he hadn't done you no harm, he wouldn't have been as ostracized as he is now." Nathan continued to pay attention to the figure of Kalea and make me upset.

"Let's go in!" Nadin said as he pulled my hand, I carefully let go of his hand as everyone's attention was on Kalea.

"What's the Aster?" Nathan's sister asked for Nadin's frozen place with a surprised expression. Maybe he didn't think I'd turn down his invitation.

"I'll go in with Kalea." I replied with a smile as best I could at Nathan's feet, deliberately raising my voice so that everyone would hear it before walking closer to Kalea.

I don't know, I think this is gonna work. If they see me as good friends with Kalea, they might change their mind about my relationship with Kalea. That's how I thought.

"Wait–Aster?!" Nathan's voice I didn't listen to, I quickly walked up to Kalea and held her left hand as hard as I could while greeting her "Good morning Kalea."

Thank goodness Kalea didn't pull my hand. My mind cannot take my eyes off Kalea's flat expression. I was afraid that Kalea would be cold to me and take my hand away.

"Where might papa let me go alone." My answer made Kalea smile thinly with her gaze still fixed to the front.

"You're right .. Where is that fool?"

"The fool? Who?"

"Synt*ng."

"Sin–who?" My question is getting confused with the puzzle given by Kalea.

"Who do you call stupid and sint*ng that huh?!" Carel's voice stopped me and Kalea.

"People showed up." Kalea muttered to my surprise.

"You!" Furious Carel intended to attack Kalea but soon stopped by Teo who had been standing behind him.

"Take carel yourself!" Teo said trying to hold Carel's body by hugging her from behind.

"You're late." Kalea continued while glancing coldly at Carel with her sarcastic smile.

Seeing them this close seems like Carel and Kalea have made up huh? Mercifully.

And it seemed like everyone's gaze had also changed slightly now. My mind looked at the few people around me before paying my attention to Kalea again.

***

- Carel

"What do you see?" Teo's voice surprised me because of his sudden arrival. "Ah ... Why is she so close to Aster?" Then when I realized what I saw.

"Couldn't you?" I asked to still pay attention to the figure of Nadin who embraced Aster's hand even though he knew that Aster was not comfortable with his embrace.

Then along the way to the academy gate, my ears were completely made to itch with the talk of people constantly discussing the matter of Kalea. They really pity Aster by insulting Kalea.

Waitaminute! Since when do I care about that kid? My mind tries to shake my mind about Kalea. But the thought came back to me, especially when they heard what they said about Kalea being abandoned by her mother. It sucks!

"But they don't know what's really going on." Teo's voice made me glance at him who was also still focused on Aster and Nadin.

"You saw him? She's so pathetic, why don't you go with her?" Someone's voice caught my attention, and I saw Kalea walking behind her without caring for their voice.

He slowly started to approach Aster, and I saw Aster walking quickly towards Kalea holding his hand with his best smile after breaking away from Nadin.

"Truly unexpected." Guman Teo was at the same time as the corner of my lips that had been raised.

I could still think of forgiving or not forgiving Kalea after Aster had sincerely forgiven all of Kalea's wrongs to her. My mind immediately stepped on my feet to catch up with those who were about to enter the academy building.

You're really great Aster. In this way everyone's view of Kalea. You've helped her, then I'll petrify her too. I continued in my heart, passing Nathan and Nadin who were still staring at the front gate of the academy. Look at the backs of Aster and Kalea.

"You're not going to separate them, are you?" Tanya Teo guessed the contents of my mind.

"Where can I ruin that smile?" My answer could not distract me from Aster who seemed happy to walk beside Kalea. Moreover, the past few days I have not visited her and cannot see that smile anymore.

"... Then where is that fool?" Kalea asked as I was about to approach her.

"The fool? Who?" Aster answered, asking, and somehow I found out who Kalea meant.

"Synt*ng."

"Sin–who?"

"Who do you call stupid and sint*ng that huh?!" My anger stopped their steps.

"People showed up." Kalea's muttering pisses me off.

"You!" My anger was about to attack Kalea but was immediately stopped by Teo who had been standing behind me.

"Take carel yourself!" He tried to hold my body by hugging me from behind.

"You're late." Kalea continued while glancing coldly at me with her sarcastic smile. I could even see his blue bead giving me the code so I could look in the direction he was looking.

I don't want to see what he's seeing. I saw Aster's hand still holding Kalea's hand tightly, and the boy was trying to heat me up? "Let go of me Teo! I'm gonna finish this kid right now!"

"Hhahaha, what did you say Carel?" Asked with a funny expression he made, making me even more annoyed. Especially the sound of her forced laughter.

"You're really– really!" My murmurs were full of emphasis, trying to escape Teo's increasingly hardened embrace.

"Stop embarrassing yourself like this Carel!" Teo said along with the voice of Kalea who invited Aster to come in and leave me with Teo in front of the school building.

"Wait–you! Don't run!" My screams are not cared for.

They really ... singled me? I continued inwardly watching their backs which were getting farther away. But the next second I saw Aster turn to me and smile sweetly with his warm gaze.

"... You stopped after seeing Aster's sweet smile?" Teo's voice roused me from my brief daydream, "he's really great huh? can make you blush like this with just one smile." It made me feel good, for the first time I showed my shameful side to someone like Teo.

"Whisper!" My words soon followed Aster and Kalea.

"Pft, since when have you been this funny? Your timid face is really cute huh," her taunt pissed me off.

"Teo, can I rip your mouth off?" My threat made her shut up and shook her head quickly as I turned to her.

.

.

.

Thanks for reading...