Aster Veren
Episode 09's

- Arshel

The time is 08:35 am now. Aster has also left for school with Eric delivered, I just want him to keep an eye on Aster until he returns home while I'm busy working at home.

My work space is really messy right now. My mind saw several rolls of cloth scattered on the floor along with some paper that came scattered on the floor.

Ting tong's...

The sound of the house bell caught my attention, I lazily went from my workroom to check who was coming this early. I think there have been a lot of disturbing guests lately.

"Yes, wait a minute!" I screamed when I heard my doorbell ring again. Then my right hand immediately grabbed the door knob of the house and opened it.

"Why is it so long?" He asked me who had time to look at the figure of my brother who came to my house so early.

"Ka–kak? Wh why? When home? Why not tell me?" I asked while turning around and following his steps that had gone into my house.

"I came in last night, mom kept pestering me these few days because you canceled your match with Michelle. Then I heard you adopted a child too, is that true?" Obviously while throwing his body on the sofa in the living room.

"So you came to lecture me too? Replacing mom so?" I asked to snort in annoyance.

"You'd better go home and talk about everything, and for your adopted son. You just give him back to the orphanage." He said while loosening the red tie he wore.

"Don't just rule me! I didn't adopt the child from the orphanage anyway." I felt annoyed at his words.

"So you adopted a child whose origins are unclear?" The question again made my patience run out.

"I know the origin of it so I adopted it." I sternly returned the sharp gaze he had been giving since entering my house.

I know she doesn't like it when her job is interrupted. And again, my sister dislikes being involved in my personal and mother's matters the least. But why would he bother to come? I just ignored me as usual.

"What do you mean by knowing its origin?" Her question sharpened her gaze.

"What if I told you the boy was your son with Helen's sister? Are you gonna believe me?" I was obviously a little cold sweaty.

"What did you say? I've never had a child with Helen, and you know that." He said after sighing tiredly.

"You think I'm kidding?" My toot.

"As far as you are concerned, I will not interfere in your affairs with your foster child. All I want now is to go home to your mother and talk about everything. See you soon." He said as he rose from his sitting position and immediately left my house without saying much more.

"Bas on stupid brother!" I feel annoyed myself.

Anyhow I'll convince her .. letter! Why didn't I show him the letter? My mind remembers the letter from Helen's sister that was given by bi Siti on that day.

"Arrgh, I didn't think about it." I get angry at myself.

***

- Esther

School bells ring loudly all over the school. I quickly put all my writing equipment and notebooks in my school bag.

"Wait!" Kalea's voice stopped my steps right on the doorstep of the classroom.

"A–ada what's Lea?" I asked a little trembling at the hostile blue bead.

"Who told you to go home? Pickets, clean up the class just got home." The answer.

"Eh? But today is not my picket schedule ...." I dare not look him in the eyes.

"Just do it, don't answer much!" Nadin said as he pushed my body into the classroom.

"I forgot, hehe ...." Nadin's laughter made me squeeze the end of my school bag strap.

"Oh, let's just wait outside. Quickly finish cleaning! I want to go home soon." Kalea made me hurry to finish the class.

Lift all the chairs up on the table, then sweep the floor and mop it. Sometimes I turn my attention to the figure of Kalea and Nadin who are talking in front of the class.

I saw them so close and often made me feel envious. If I had a father, would I have friends? My inner.

"It's over?" Nadin asked a little scream in front of the open classroom door.

"I–iya has already." I answered while tapping a small bucket with a mop lap inside.

"Then let's go home now." Said Kalea while groping Nadin with her.

***

"Enterrifying ...." I murmured while wiping my sweat away and walked towards the school gate.

"When you're tired try to catch your breath slowly, don't wait until it's tight." Mother's soft voice still lingers in my memory if I start having trouble breathing.

Well right, set your breath slowly Aster. You must remember the words of mother .... My mind is trying to catch my breath.

Then my steps came to a halt when I saw Kalea being picked up by a grown man, her face was really handsome in the suit she was wearing. His body was also very tall, probably over 165 cm.

I saw the man grabbing the top of Kalea's head as she plunged into his arms with a crisp laugh.

Delicious .... My mind was jealous of him again.

"Why did it take so long?" Uncle Eric's voice surprised me, making me immediately look at his car.

"Ah it .. picket. I finished the picket first hehe ...." I answered while scratching my neck.

"Then let's go home now. You're waiting for the lady at home." He said, holding my right hand and taking me to the parking lot.

"Sir driver why uncle? Why did uncle pick up Aster today? Though yesterday the driver said he would take Aster every day." Ask me before you get in the car.

"He's on some other business, so today I'm taking his place." He replied with a warm smile like a red uncle.

"I've heard everything from your homeroom teacher about tomorrow's event. Why did the lady hide it from the young master?" Eric asked his uncle after getting in the car and starting the engine.

"Eh? Uncle's looking for her?" I asked to see my uncle's gaze from the reflection of the rearview mirror of the car.

"Aster just didn't want to trouble red uncle any more than this. Aster is a stranger to uncle, after all." Continue while bowing my head.

Can't cry anymore Aster! Don't cry! My mind was trying to hold back the puddles of tears that were interfering with my vision. But the next second the clear circle even fell into my hands.

"Did the young master ever tell Miss Aster a stranger to him?" Uncle Eric asked me to raise my head and see the look in my uncle's eyes reflected in the rearview mirror.

"No. Uncle said I was his family." I remember what he said last night.

"Young master would love to hear about the art show tomorrow. I'm also sure he'll come to watch the miss show tomorrow." Uncle Eric smiled warmly again.

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Thanks for reading...