Beginnings

"Spring, the season of new beginnings. I can't even recognize her anymore," Mr. Rockern said, sighing. "Two weeks. She's healed from the traumas that fast?" 

"It took me way longer," I admitted. "But she's mature and sensible. Most importantly, I've figured things out, and she trusts me dearly." 

"Blood is indeed thicker than water. She opened up to you so fast. It's amazing. It's like she can understand your intentions." 

"Haha. I wish."

Though my lips furled into a smile, a slight shudder could not help but run down my spine. Mr. Rockern was Mr. Rockern after all; it was incredible how astute he was, guessing the reason almost perfectly in only a matter of a few words. 

We watched as the crowd of enraptured college students threw a collective round of applause and cheers. The majority of the girls were with a strange combination of emotions. They squealed with delight, sniffling in between, wiping away their tears, all while filming on their phones. The boys who had paid attention were a different story. They were much more silent and solemn, standing in a daze, a torn, pained expression hanging on their faces. 

"Whose little girl is this? She's so cute and her singing is amazing!"

"Yeah, when I was her age, I couldn't even remember the lyrics to the itsy-bitsy spider, not to mention Shadow Season!"

"Could she be the daughter of a senior? Or the granddaughter of a professor? Shadow Season was produced by one of our faculties. It's not well known to the public. She's so familiar with the song so..."

"I can't believe it; a child has gone through a heartbreak harder than mine..." 

"I've yet to fall in love but even I can hear the sadness in her voice. If a little girl is this destroyed by love, maybe it's best to stay single..." 

"Ough! My heart can't take it! Which little brat dared to break my sweet and cute angel's heart?" 

"It's making me remember you again... tell me why you did leave me..." 

I turned to Mr. Rockern, grinning a silly and stupid smile. The praises and comments were cotton candy to my ears, the extra glucose swelling my head bigger, invigorating me. "So, how was it? How was the surprise?" 

"Just look at the reactions around. I'm the same as them, flabbergasted. It looks like I don't have to worry about you now."

The commotion of the students had died off as Lumi disappeared without any chance for an interview, so I began to lead Mr. Rockern back to the drop-off zone. This was all within Daniella and I's expectations. Lumi would run off to Daniella who was mixed near the corners of the crowd, and they would hoop around the park to meet us at the car again. 

We wanted that mystery about her identity. We hoped it would help the videos recorded of her singing become viral faster and greater. Thus, the path to become a singer and then a superstar would only fall like dominoes. 

"I've been focusing all my efforts on developing Lumi into a child star of the sorts. I found a qualified teacher for her, and we have a plan and everything for her to debut as a singer. That's the reason why I've been away from work these past two weeks... consider it as an investment on Lumi." 

Mr. Rockern craned his neck to the side towards me, his eyebrows raised, his tone suspicious.

"Is being a star or a singer so profitable already? I heard that you bought a literal truckload worth of things the other day. If you didn't reassure me with our conversation the other day, I would've thought you robbed a bank or something." 

My heart skipped a beat. My legs skipped a step, so I almost tripped. I recollected myself as fast as I could and put up an auspicious, knowing smile. 

"Haven't you heard how so many star actresses and singers are getting busted on accounts of fraud and tax evasion? As the saying goes, the entertainment industry is a place where money is made. Yes, it's profitable. I expect our income to double in the coming months." 

"Yes, the newspaper did report a scandal of that sort of some time ago," Mr. Rockern mused, scratching his chin. Then his face dropped. He sighed. "I guess I'm too old to keep up with the times. Those stars didn't make this money ten, twenty years ago. They weren't even half as popular." 

"Well, they aren't even half as good as Lumi," I boasted, trying to divert the topic away from money. 

Although the special black card Meteor had granted assured that my identify was safe and the transactions were so-called clean Mr. Rockern's proved a point. To prying eyes, buying so much so suddenly raised many questions and eyebrows. I was too complacent, thinking I did not need to bother. Now, I knew better to be more low-key. 

I would never let a scandal like so affect Lumi and our dreams. Even though the ultimate aspiration was to have her person and her singing so beloved that she would be immune to these scandals, we were far from there. We were still on the inklings of the beginnings. 

Her singing was good, but it was not a historical treasure yet. 

As I mulled over my thoughts, we had reached the car. Lumi must've read my mind, for bright beaming look of excitement on her face dimmed as she ran to me. She nuzzled up against my chest, a frown forming. 

"I saw you in the crowd, Dad! You made it!" She paused. "W-was my singing not good enough?" 

I gave her a deep kiss on the cheek under the heavy gaze of Mr. Rockern.

"It was amazing, dumpling. Don't worry about Dad, he's thinking of grander things. You should worry about those students instead. Their hearts were broken from heartbreak already, but your cuteness and singing may have broken them again." 

Much to my relief, happiness, joy, and a swirl of positive emotions surged within Lumi. She giggled, her eyes glimmering as bright as a star. 

"I didn't know singing was so much fun. The more I sang, the less scary it was. I want to continue singing for everyone now!" 

I noticed Mr. Rockern give me two light coughs and a look in his eyes. Lumi's attention was all on me. She was yet to notice him. I gave her hair a handful of loving strokes before I turned and faced him.

"Well, there's someone special that you sang to tonight, and he wants to talk to you."