Aster Veren
Episode 155's

- Carel

"... So what are you hiding from me?" I can't help my curiosity any longer.

I saw Aster sigh deeply before leaning his body against the back of the chair he was sitting on. Then his purple bead looked at me coldly, looking very foreign. Is he really the Aster I know?

"What makes you curious? My presence at Alterio's residence? Or my holiday in Singapore? Or stop me from the academy? Choose one, because I won't answer all of them." Her question made me flinch at her words.

"Miss ..," Hans murmured a little glance at the figure of Aster sitting beside him, then shortly after two servants came to serve food ordered by Aster.

"Thank you." Aster said to the two maids, then they left in front of us after nodding their heads and smiling faintly at Aster.

"Tell me everything!" I made him undo the intention to reach for his drinking glass.

"I'm giving you a choice, can't you choose Carel?" Ask sounds annoyed.

"Don't you know I need you? Why aren't you there? Don't I mean anything to you? Are you .. You didn't even give my mother your last word. You–"

"... why am I there? You'll have Lusy who can comfort you ju–" he said, cutting my words, and I quickly cut his words.

"I need you! Not Lusy!" I cried a little to raise my tone while clenching my hands together as tightly as possible, trying to withstand the outburst of my emotions that had reached its peak.

"You didn't even apologize to me for what happened that day, and then you didn't care about me when I needed you. I–" My resume came to a standstill when Aster cut me off again.

"Sorry."

"Ha–hah?"

"I said I'm sorry, you want me to apologize, right?" Her question made me gawk when I saw her cold expression.

"Actually ... What exactly has happened to you in this short time?" I can't believe the strange-looking Aster in my eyes right now.

"Is there nothing you want to say anymore? If there isn't, you can leave now. Right now I want to eat quietly." He said back to surprise me, he could have kicked me out. All this time he never did this to me.

"Hans!" The exclamation really pissed me off, I forcefully kicked the table in front of me while rising from my sitting position, staring fixedly at the cold-looking purple bead.

"I can go alone!" I said as Hans intended to take me away, "Come on Teo!" I continued as I left the restaurant.

***

-Teo

"You sure you don't want to explain everything to that kid?" I asked to pay attention to Carel's back that was getting away, then turned back to the figure of Aster who looked sad.

"Yes, please keep everything a secret. Right now, I need to focus on something else. Please take care of Carel for me." It made me clench both my hands in annoyance.

"Do it yourself. Don't burden me with that kid." I said as I stood up after sighing deeply to ease my emotions.

"If I can, I'll do it without you asking." Clearly, while showing a smile that managed to surprise me.

Actually, what are you doing now Aster? My mind wondered at his change of attitude.

"Let me take you." Hans's words made me snort bitterly.

"I can do it myself!" I cried while leaving them, but Hans followed me and let Aster eat alone at his desk.

"Why are you following me? I told you I could sen–"

"You think Carel hasn't had any trouble in his life? Recently abandoned by his mother, Aster behaved childishly by hiding the facts about his disappearance to the hospital and his arrival to the Alterio residence? Didn't she think of softening up a little?" I try to speak as best I can.

"I know, but miss ... at this time her condition is also not okay. After returning from Singapore, the lady daydreamed more until she forgot to eat. Then all of a sudden miss has to quit the academy to take care of Mr. Ansel's company here. It must be hard for miss to part with her close friends at the academy." Obviously at length, it doesn't make me sympathize.

"I don't care. All I know is, she shouldn't have to act like that to Carel." My grunts rushed away from the front of the restaurant, leaving Hans there.

***

"Ck, why should the headphones be left there?" Decak me back to the restaurant where Aster ate earlier.

Actually I'm reluctant to go back there, but how else. The son of a bitch asked me to get his headphones that were left there. And took my headphone with him. Yeah, he went back to the academy without me.

Why would he pull out his headphone if it wasn't worn? Inconveniencing. Gertutuku.

I stopped my steps when I saw Aster and Hans coming out of the restaurant. My eyes can't turn away from Aster now, not just because she's beautiful. It was just one of the reasons I noticed her, the other reason that made me unable to take my eyes off her was, her body that looked changed.

Her body looks thinner than it was the last time we met, and I just realized it now. We were sitting in front of each other in the restaurant, but why didn't I notice?

"How's dad doing now?" The voice of Aster caught my attention.

The news? Did something happen to Mr Ansel? Inner wondering. My curiosity suddenly peaked.

"The conditions are still the same as last time–" Hans replied truncated.

"Actually when will you wake up?" Aster muttered to me in surprise.

Woke up?

"Mr Arsel will definitely give news to the lady if Mr. Ansel has passed his coma period. For that, miss must also be strong and maintain the condition of the body to stay healthy." Obviously Hans made me come back shocked when he heard his words.

So, Mr Ansel? My mind still doesn't trust my sense of hearing.

"Can you tell me everything?" I just couldn't hold back my curiosity any longer, I really didn't want to guess without knowing the truth like a fool.

"Theo?" Aster muttered looking surprised at my presence.

"Ah, sir must be looking for this right?" Hans asked while giving Carel's headphone to my hand. I hesitantly took Carel's headphone from his hand.

"Tell me!" I don't want to forget their conversation anymore.

"Tell me what?" Aster asked with a hostile expression.

"What does Mr. Ansel mean by coma? What the hell happened to him? Does that have anything to do with you suddenly quitting the academy?" My son asked, trying to be patient.

"Close your mouth! You say it too loudly, what if my father's enemies hear?" Aster immediately covered my mouth with his right palm, then his gaze traced around. Make sure no one hears me but Hans and him.

"So right?" Ask me again while releasing Aster's hand from my mouth.

I saw him sigh deeply and nod lethargic, "get inside. I'll tell you everything." He said as he opened the car door next to him.

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Thanks for reading...