Aster Veren
Episode 240's

- Esther

I felt the cabin I was riding in getting higher and higher leaving the land, and the scenery I saw more and more. A lot of people were passing around the bianglala rides all the way to the place where Carel and I were lining up for the roller coaster this afternoon.

Then elsewhere, I saw many tall buildings as far as the eye could see. Even the night sky also looks beautiful decorated by the sprinkling of stars that spoil the eyes, the gusts of wind that enter through the ventilation cabin makes my sultry taste slightly reduced.

Then I turned my gaze to Carel who was silent for quite a while, I didn't even notice it due to being too focused on the scenery outside.

"Carel?" I asked when I saw him watching me with his shady eyes.

"Hmm?" He muttered while smiling faintly with his narrowed eyes. So adorable.

"Ke—his surprise?" I asked back in excitement when I saw her expression that I rarely saw.

"Wait a minute."

"Huh? Why wait—gu?" I asked again along with the reanglala that suddenly stopped making me surprised and lost balance. Luckily Carel was holding my head when I almost hit my head with the door.

"Be careful ...," he murmured looking panicked.

"Hehe, thank you." My words along with her sighs that sounded relieved.

"But why did the barn stop spinning?" I made Carel look out.

"It's time, huh?" His murmur made me frown in confusion, then I saw Carel sitting next to me and grabbing my hand for him to hold.

"Look outside." His words made me even more confused, then doubtfully I turned outside my window. And I saw a very beautiful fireworks eruption out there.

His voice that makes me a little surprised was defeated by the beautiful appearance of fireworks that continue to arrive.

"Carel this—" I said stopped when I turned to him and found him inserting a ring into my ring finger.

Huh huh? What the hell is he doing?

"Ca—Carel?"

"It turns out that it is still loose, it seems that it should be worn like before. Let's buy a new necklace so you can recollect the rings." He said with a warm smile, making me immediately grab the ring in my hand and take it off.

I saw that the ring was so familiar and when I confirmed the inside, it turned out that the ring Carel had put on was the mother's wedding ring that I sold to pay Carel's money and Aunt Nina's care.

"This?" I asked to look at him seriously.

"It took me a long time to find it, but thank God I found it in time. Are you surprised?" She replied as she gently stroked the top of my head, "the ring is precious to you right? So keep it well." It made my tears come.

I never even thought my mother's ring would come back into my hand when I sold it that day. I'm really ready to lose my mother's precious relics to me. But Carel, this kid? Can he find her and return her to me?

"It's amazing, you're so great. I never even thought my mother's ring would come back into my hand. But tonight, this ring is in my hand? How can you find him? And again I didn't think that the surprise was mom's ring, it really surprised me." I said as I wiped my tears before looking at Carel.

"That ... I found it with a little effort?" His answer looked suspicious, especially when he was trying to throw his eyes off me.

"What the fuck?"

Looks like you did try hard to find him huh? I know Carel must have a hard time finding it because I sold it in a pretty tough place. But he found it, it was amazing. My mind could not move away from her joyful looking face as we laughed together.

In retrospect, it seems like everyone started to move after learning that the mother ring was on the black market right? Then the commotion on the night of the festival happened. But, did Carel immediately look for the mother's ring after finding out the ring was sold there?

It seemed impossible if he had searched for it recently, as items sold in such a place would usually be sent outside on smuggling ships. Moreover, the mother ring is quite expensive and rare even though the design is as beautiful. Ask why is it rare? Perhaps because the ring maker is dead and the designs made by the deceased include rare designs.

"Can I now put a ring on me?" Carel's voice brought me back to reality, and then I saw Carel's hand grab my hand and put the ring on my ring finger.

"Other than this?" I asked to see the ring that was already coiled on my ring finger. It looks beautiful with a small sapphire blue gem, and the design is also beautiful.

"Gift from me." His reply did not distract him from the ring he had already placed, "it fits perfectly on your finger, the size fits well too. Does it feel uncomfortable?" After looking at the ring and turning to look at me who had already noticed Carel.

"No, it's very convenient. And I like it too, thanks to Carel." I saw a sparkling jewel in my ring after smiling at him.

"But I didn't prepare anything for your gift. It would be unfair if you were the only one to give a gift. I also want to give you a gift." I was upset that I couldn't give anything to Carel.

If Carel had told me that he would give me a gift, I would have prepared one too. But all I heard, he's just gonna show me a surprise.

Though the atmosphere is very good for ... is all this planned by Carel? Starting from the cessation of firecrackers to fireworks? And the ring too? My mind looked at the sight of fireworks still erupting above the altitude.

"I don't need a gift, it's okay—"

"can't. Anyway, when we get off, I'll buy you something." Cut me off immediately took my eyes off the fireworks and looked at her seriously while clenching my right hand that was clutching my mother's ring while my left hand was still held in a hand by Carel.

"No, I really don't want it. You've had enough for me." Rejecting him again made me even more eager to give him a gift. Especially when you remember Carel who gave me a gift when I was going to Singapore.

Come to think of it, Carel always gave me presents. While me? I only give him gifts on his birthday?

One year and one gift, why does remembering that make me feel stingy? My mind cursed myself for being so stupid.

"I'll give you a gift too, so—" I said stopped when I heard Carel's south breath. Is he angry?

"Hah~ you won't stop until you return the gift I gave you right?" He asked after sighing resignedly while brushing his bangs back and looking at me seriously.

"Yes!" Call me very confident.

"in that case, I'll take my gift." His words surprised me. Then I felt the touch of his lips touching my lips gently making my heart beat back up.

Ci—kiss? We kiss again? My mind remembers what happened last night that I had forgotten, but now that Carel kissed me again, the shame I had buried rose again with a new sense of shame.

"... are you satisfied?" He asked after he kissed her, and then I saw that the red hue on Carel's face had adorned him making me feel hot on my face as well.

"That ...," I muttered unable to continue my words because I was too nervous, let alone my heartbeat I could not control when our gaze met together with the fireworks that had stopped erupting, the bianglala that had stopped also turned back around.

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Thanks for reading...