STARDUST

My Boy • XXI

"Wha...but you promised me, momma," Lianna wailed, her lip already trembling.

She was sitting on the couch looking at me, her dark eyes glistening with tears.

I cringed; I hated when she cried. "No, sweetheart. Please don't cry. I know I promised you we'd go today...but something came up. Don't you want to do something else today? Like we could go to the park and get some ice cream. Doesn't that sound good?" I pleaded with her.

I was trembling, but it wasn't just because my daughter was upset. If Mr Kim was right, Kento was just down the street from me. I don't want to take that chance of possibly seeing him. Nevertheless with Lianna, his daughter.

She shook her head violently, the tears coming full force. It was hard to comprehend her words, "You aided," hiccup, "il wake."

I grew silent as I listened to her sobs. I did promise her; I felt terrible.

My mind wandered. What would happen if Kento were at the bookstore if we went? Surely, he would see Lianna.

But this is your chance to tell him. You can get all of this guilt off your shoulders, and you can finally tell Anna whom her father is.

Oh Lord, what do I do?

I bit my lip, staring at my daughter.

"Lianna," I started. I stopped. What was I exactly planning on saying? "We'll go to the bookstore, okay?" I mean, I didn't want to lie to her ag-

What the hell did I just say?!

She looked up at me, her sobs decreasing, "Weaay?

What did she say? Oh God, did I tell her we would be going to the bookstore?

I felt sick; my head was spinning so I sank down on the couch heavily. Okay, let's sort my thoughts out.

I just told Lianna we would go to the bookstore...

...but I never said which one. Yeah, I could always go to the one in the mall.

But for some reason, my thoughts traveled back to what would happen if Kento found out about Lianna. My heart stopped when I realized why.

I wanted Kento to know about her. I wanted Lianna to grow up with a father. I wanted Kento.

I stilled completely and Lianna's little eyebrows drew together in confusing. She climbed on my lap, putting her hand on my chest, "Momma?"

There were no more traces of her tears; they vanished completely. It always amazed me how children could sober so quickly. It didn't even look like she had been crying.

"We'll go to the bookstore," I whispered to her, running my fingers through her hair. "Go brush out your hair, okay?"

She squealed, a big smile gracing her face, racing off my lap.

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to calm my rapid heart. There was always a chance that Kento already had his book signing, or it's happening later today. I'm just being paranoid, that's all.

A cracked my knuckles unconsciously, a nervous habit I never got rid of.

The car ride over to the bookstore was sickening. I felt like vomiting; my stomach was turning violently. Lianna seemed oblivious for she was singing quietly in her car chair, brushing the hair of one of her dolls.

When I finally pulled into the parking lot of the bookstore, my heart fell. It was crowded, which only meant one thing.

He was there.