Aster Veren
Episode 90's

- Esther

"Hoaamz ..," I muttered as I yawned, I quickly shut my wide-open mouth with my right palm.

I lazily got up from my sleep and immediately put on the sandals in the room that was stored under my bed. Then tidied up my bed before walking towards the door and grabbing a bottle of water on my desk.

Looks like Lea's still sleeping huh? My mind watched Kalea who was still asleep in her sleep. Then I grabbed the door in front of me after unlocking the door.

"Today I'll make sure we go to the academy together!" I felt so excited and excited when I woke up earlier than Kalea.

My fever has also completely gone down and my condition has improved completely thanks to the housewife who took care of me for the past two days.

Three days of not going to the academy feels so boring huh? I really miss the class atmosphere. I guess the day that Carel took care of me I was actually able to recover quickly because my fever had gone down. But who would have thought that at night my fever was back high and made me have to go back to rest for two full days under the supervision of the hostel mother. My mind while taking a long breath.

"... well, what matters today is that I'm recovering. And today, I will also make Kalea go to the academy together with me. Before that, I want to fill the warm water first." I continued while watching the bottle in my hand as I walked down the stairs to the ground floor.

Arriving on the ground floor, I immediately walked towards the dispenser and placed my drinking bottle under the hot water faucet. Then pressed the red button on the faucet, and the hot water flowed out, filling my bottle.

I read the big wall clock on the exits of the girls' dormitory, "it turns out it's still 05:00 in the morning." I muttered while removing my finger that pressed the red button on the dispenser. Then I moved my bottle down the other dispenser faucet, and I pressed the blue button on the faucet.

"Desai–" My mummy stopped when I heard the words of two women who came down the stairs, heard from their approaching footsteps.

"... So you are? The news is not a lie,"

"It must be hard being Sean? If Albert had not married that woman. Surely Sean wouldn't get into this big of a deal, would he?"

"But to my surprise, how could they have planned such a premeditated murder? Isn't that so horrible?"

"It's a good thing that Mr. Albert divorced the woman before his wife's crime was exposed. Just try if they're not divorced, she'll have trouble too, right?"

What are they talking about? My mind wondered what I heard, "and again, why should I hide from them?" I muttered, confused by the reflexes I had.

I saw that the two women had disappeared while my attention was distracted by my drinking bottle that I had not been able to carry. I quickly brought my bottle that was still stored on the dispenser. Then rushed back to my room as I felt the cold air sweeping across my facial skin.

The air this morning was colder than usual. Maybe because of that I could wake up earlier than usual.

"... But what are they talking about? Why did he say it must be hard to be Sean? What is Sean? Did I hear they were relieved that Mr Albert was divorced? That's–meaning divorced with Aunt Claretta right? Kalea's mother? Why?" Ocehku while stopping my steps on the last step of the stairs.

"Did Kalea know about this? He must know, right? Since those two people knew about it as well, that means that everyone in the academy is talking about this as well? Why has he never told you this? Besides ... Did I hear about premeditated murder? It can't be, right?" I didn't get the answers to all the questions that came my way this morning.

I took my legs back to my room and Kalea. Then I opened the door of the room in front of me and went inside with the confusion I got.

I quickly uncorked the bottle in my hand and sipped the warm water in my bottle until the remaining half was left, still standing leaning against the door behind me.

"You're back?" Kalea's voice surprised me who almost choked on my drinking water, "I thought you were ready." It made me watch my nightgown with my hair that was breaking. It really looks like you just woke up.

Though not until ten minutes I came out of the room, but Kalea was done preparing? My mind glanced at the small clock on my study table. How surprised I was when I saw the time already showed at 05:25 am.

"A–aku's gone for almost half an hour?" I muttered, not believing what I saw. Is it possible that I eavesdrop and daydream too long?

But ... time spent half an hour?

"I'm leaving now." Say Kalea while reaching for her school bag on her desk.

"Wait!" Prevent me from stopping his steps right in front of me.

I gathered all my courage to ask the truth about Kalea's mother's divorce from Mr. Albert. It's nothing, I just want to make sure Kalea is okay with the rumors.

"That ... are you okay? I heard your mother is divorced from Mr. Albert ..," I couldn't stare at Kalea's blue bead. All I could do was watch the bottle in my hand and play it.

"Have you heard?" His words made me stare at his blue bead that had widened in surprise.

"Why? Can't I know? But, those people already knew about the divorce. I–"

"Did you also hear about those who were caught by the police on charges of premeditated murder on your grandmother?" Ask to cut my words. How surprised I was when I heard his words.

"What did you say?" I dropped my drinking bottle. It felt as if my fingers were squeezing when I heard what Kalea said.

***

- Carel

I saw the time it was 10:00 in the morning, and I still haven't found Aster anywhere. Though this morning I had crossed paths with kalea to ask the condition of Aster.

But what I heard was bad news about Aster who already knew everything. All the news that was hot was discussed by everyone in the academy.

Though I have taken pains to muffle the news, but there are still people talking about it. Really annoying! My mind was upset that all my efforts to protect Aster had gone to waste.

Plus, Teo was late in reporting to me about Aster not getting into class this morning. For the first time I saw him ditching, when he used to nag me if I ditched. But now? Look who's ditching?

"Hah~" I breathed heavily while running around looking for her whereabouts. I had to spend my first break looking for him, but there was no sign I could find him.

"... Are you actually hiding where Aster is?" I muttered again running around looking for a figure that I have not met again for the last two days because the dorm mother is always around.

.

.

.

Thanks for reading...