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“You’re pretty,” he said before I could say anything. “You’re pretty when you smile.”

Emotion clogged my throat. “Well, you’re pretty too, baby. More than pretty.”

His cheeks flushed pink. “Boys aren’t supposed to be pretty.”

“But you are to me.” I ruffled his hair to which he gave me a toothy grin.

Who hurt this precious boy, and how the hell do I find their address and kill them?

I didn’t know how the time passed, but soon, it was time for the kids’ and Luka’s evening study time. And that was the time for us to sadly leave too.

“Will you come next week with Mr. Matty, Katiew?” Luka looked at me expectantly when I hugged him goodbye.

My heart tugged with unknown emotion at the way he said my name. And I couldn’t help but say yes to his request. “Sure, and I’ll bring you a chocolate milkshake, okay?”

“Okay, I never had a chocolate milkshake before,” he said innocently, blinking at me.

For some reason, my eyes stung as I hugged him closer, promising to buy more than one.

What the hell was this little boy doing to me?

It felt like I was leaving my heart with Luka when we all finally bid him goodbye and walked over to Matty’s car.

“That boy, Luka…” I started as I met Matty’s eyes in the rearview mirror. “What happened to him? Why is he distantfrom the rest of the kids?” I only saw him interact with the three of us and one other girl called Mitchell. And while the other kids were more active in their bubbly energy, Luka was the only one more withdrawn.

Sierra flashed me a sad smile over her shoulder while Matty inhaled sharply at my question.

And I knew even before he said something that it was going to scar my heart for this lifetime.

I was openly crying by the time Matty finished his story. Sierra seethed with fury at hearing his story again while she tried to console me, but I was a goner.

I had crumbled myself into a sad bubble while I cried for the torture that my boy endured at the hands of his previous foster home. I couldn’t even bring myself to think about them starving and beating such a sweet boy like Luka. They must be pure monsters because no human could ever have it in their heart to hurt such a small child.

Knowing the reason for my boy’s thin, frail frame only dug the pain deeper, and my head ached as I silently cried, leaning against the window. I wanted to buy every food in the universe just so I could watch him eat.

It made me think how careless and clueless my relationship with food had been. Instead of being thankful for the food on my plate, I took it for granted and intentionally starved myself to make myself fit a certain norm in the society.

It was only when the NYC skyline came into view as we neared home that I realized I’d been calling Luka my boy. I wiped away the remnants of my tears not knowing why I did that.

It was something about him.

The more I thought of him, the more my mind connected him with a younger version of Lan. Only more sadder.

Then it struck, if I… if I was really pregnant back then and if I had given birth to a child, he or she would’ve been just around Luka’s age.

In the back of my mind, it felt like Luka wasmyboy in a way.

“You’re right, Si. This is kind of nice,” I commented as I felt the peculiar rush of blood seep into every inch of my head.

“Right.” Sierra grinned, dimples popping. “This is the best position ever.”

It’d been about a week, and I was still bunking at my brother’s place like it was my newfound haven. Thankfully, the couple didn’t object to me invading their apartment.

I was happy here.

Only it would feel more complete if my Lan was here.

Now that my head was more clear, I missed him more than anything.