Aster Veren
Episode 88's

- Kalea

It was 04:30 in the afternoon, class ended an hour ago. And now I'm still sitting in the library with a stack of books that I'm ignoring in front of me.

My mind was completely mixed after hearing the rumors circulating during the break. I couldn't even think clearly after seeing the article about the mother and grandmother that the police arrested on charges of premeditated murder on Marta's grandmother.

Tau-tau now I've been in the library to calm my mind. But instead of being calm, I'm even more worried about my mother and grandmother.

I really don't understand why they could do such a bad thing to Marta's grandmother. What had they thought up to planning such a premeditated murder? What grudges did mother and grandmother have against Marta's grandmother? I really can't understand everything.

Even so, I .. there is a worry that I cannot explain, but I cannot eliminate it. I didn't even know the news was true or not, I couldn't ask my mother. Then, Aster ... I feel afraid to see him now. He must have heard the news, what should I say when I meet him? My mind can't take away my worry.

I really thought of everything, all the kindness Aster had given me and all the kindness I had received from my father. But, for the first time I felt this scared to deal with Aster. I also did not dare to call Uncle Ansel father again.

"Why did my mom and grandma do something this big?" I felt a sense of confusion that I could not explain.

I can't even remove the shadow of Sean's face from my head. After all he was my half-brother, and he must have been in great shock while reading the article. And again, everyone's attention is on her because of the mother and grandmother case.

... I could be worried about other people and the family who have been reaching out to me. My mind sighed deeply, trying to shake off all my negative thoughts. But it's not as easy as I thought, even unconsciously my tears are starting to drip right now.

"Why?" I muttered, feeling the tears that would not stop flowing. I feel like I want to run to my mom and ask her the truth, but I already said it. That I should behave like a stranger if I met him accidentally.

But, even so .. she's still my mother. No matter what her personality and personality, she was my mother. How can I act like a stranger to her? Then pretend not to care about the problem at the moment. What kind of child am I? My mind is wiping away my tears that have not stopped flowing.

"Well, you're hiding out here, aren't you?" Teo's voice surprised me, I quickly turned towards him who was standing with his irregular breathing. Even his appearance looks disheveled.

I quickly gushed my face away from her and wiped my tears back, "are you looking for me?" I try to talk as normally as possible, even though it sounds a little vibrating. Trying to hold myself as best I can.

"It looks like you've heard the news?" He stopped my activities that were repairing all the books in front of me.

Does he know too? Yeah, that's for sure, right? After all everyone in the academy was talking about it, where might he not have heard it. Aster must have heard it too .... My knot in my heart.

"I–" I continued to be cut off as I felt Teo's palm over the top of my head. For the first time I've been treated like this by my opposite sex.

It was like .. I'm not sure, but I feel like everything would be fine if someone else was worrying about me like her.

"No need to hold back Leah." In short, it melted my tears back.

"I ... hiks," I could not continue my words, I don't know how heavy it felt until my mouth could no longer speak. All I want right now is papa's presence, now I feel very, very hugged by papa.

"Don't worry, I'm sure Carel can explain the situation to Aster." He said as he grabbed my body into his arms, trying to calm me down.

"... Why?" I asked after a moment of silence in shock at Teo's sudden embrace.

"Why? Aren't you afraid your relationship with Aster is deteriorating?" His answer was still hugging my body, even his hands had already patted me gently on my back.

I really don't understand what he's saying, I can't even believe that Carel really wants to do something troublesome for me. And again Teo said, Carel will explain everything to Aster? Wh why?

"Because Aster has forgiven you, right? And you're friends now, so you're my friends and Carel, too. Of course we have to help our friend right?" Obviously with a flat expression, but the green bead looks so warm looking at me. Then before long her faint smile began to expand, leaving me speechless.

It feels like I haven't felt this feeling for a long time, making me nostalgic and miss those moments. My mind remembers the smiles of those around me when I was sad. I can even remember Nadin's big smile when he was comforting me.

"... I've never even apologized properly to Aster," I muttered as I recalled all my encounters with him.

***

-Teo

"Where did the boy go?" I was worried about Kalea.

I don't know, I don't really understand why I can worry about it. Though all this time I have never thought about it even though, if I cross paths, I always ignore it.

But now, for the first time I feel worried and sorry for him. If I had to remember the treatment first, I would not like it. But after seeing all the hardships and suffering he had received so far, hadn't all of that already paid off his ill-treatment to Aster first? In another sense, he had already obtained his own karma.

So, is it enough that I pretend I don't know anything about it? Though all this time I saw him suffer from being ostracized by his Junior High School friends first. I even kept quiet when Nadin humiliated him in front of Nathan and his friends.

But this time, I don't know why I can't act like I used to? I can't pretend I don't know about him anymore. Weird right?

"Library," I said as I ran towards the library when I realized that it was the only place I hadn't checked.

"Arrgh, shit! It felt so exhausting running around the academy just to look for the boy." I continue to feel very tired.

I really feel like my body is going to be sore tomorrow. Wh why? Of course because running around like crazy without warming up first.

Arriving in front of the library, with my irregular breath I opened the library door before me with the rest of my calm. Then walked through the entire corner of the library until I found the figure of Kalea who was daydreaming on the library bench.

I quickly stepped my feet toward him who began to sob, "huh, it turns out you are hiding here huh?" My words startled him, he quickly turned his head towards me who was standing with my irregular breathing. It still feels hard to catch my breath after running around here and there, circling the academy with all my energy.

"ka–you're looking for me?" he asked while turning his face away from me, I heard his voice tremble a little. It seems like Kalea is trying to restrain herself from crying in front of me as best she can.

"It looks like you've heard the news?" I said stop his activities that are repairing all books in front of him.

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Thanks for reading...