STARDUST

My Boy •XVIII

Four Years Later

"Lianna, darling, what are you doing up? It's early," I asked when I saw Lianna sitting in a kitchen chair as I entered the kitchen, finally finished with putting my braids up into a loose bun.

"I'm ready for pweschool, momma," she answered, swinging her legs back and forth.

I chuckled softly and went to go pour her some cereal, "It's preschool, sweetie."

She stared back at me with the same eyes as her father. Actually, she got almost everything from Kento, but I didn't mind. She only inherited my skin colour and personality, but with her Facial structure and dark eyes, it was almost impossible not to know who her father really was. Sometimes, I even got comments from random people walking down the street or at restaurants.

"Wow, your daughter looks a lot like that author. Kento Tanaka, I think his name is."

I never got used to the fact that Kento was practically famous now.

I smiled softly as I put the bowl of cereal down before Lianna. Last I heard, Kento was somewhere in New York doing a book signing for his latest novel. Already a best-selling author with only two books out and I couldn't be more proud of him.

But, I hadn't heard from him personally in a while. And even when he did call which was only about one or twice every year, he was stressed beyond belief. When he wasn't writing or traveling somewhere, he was sleeping. And even though I was bitter sometimes, telling myself that he could at least spare a couple minutes to call me, I couldn't be mad at him long.

"Momma, I'm scared," Lianna's voice cut through my thoughts and I stood behind her, weaving my fingers through her gorgeous hair.

"About what?"

She looked at me over he shoulder. "What if they don't like me?" She asked, her words choppy.

"Oh, sweetheart, who couldn't like you?" I asked, smiling at her. She giggled and went back to her bowl, while I started some coffee.

College went by faster than I had expected. And having just graduated about three months ago, I knew what it was really like to struggle. During the day when I was in class, my mom would take Lianna and I would pick her up later unless I had some essay to do. I stayed up late, worked two jobs, and I found that I barely had enough time for my daughter. And overall, I was exhausted. But I was thankful that was all over now.

I found a job as a secretary to a small business company. It paid enough and I absolutely adored my boss, Mr. Kim. He was an elderly old man that helped me with my job because I needed it, since I didn't have any experience as a secretary or receptionist whatsoever. And he had even taken a liking to Lianna as well whenever I needed to bring her into work with me whenever my mom or Mel couldn't watch her.

But Lianna was really shy around men because she didn't grow up with any around at all. Her father doesn't even know she existed and my dad had died in a car accident when I was seven.

I sighed and looked toward my daughter, "Ready to go?"

She cast her eyes downward and said, "Momma, I'm scared."

I chuckled, "You said that already."

"I know, but I really really really am," she got off her chair with some difficulty, and looked up at me, waiting for my answer.

I knelt down in front of her, "Just like the time when you thought there was a monster under your bed?"

She nodded vigorously, "Yes, yes that was really scary, momma."

I swept some hair out of her face, "And what was that monster when momma looked under the bed?"

She thought for a moment, blowing air out from her chubby cheeks. "It was a monster, right momma?"

I laughed, "No, it was your stuffed animal, remember? Preschool is just like that. You think it's scary, but it's really not. Okay?" After she nodded, I picked her up, "Come on, let's go get you ready."