Anatomy of an Heiress

Chapter 19

"You should have invited Akira and Asher tonight," Papa told Kingsley as he takes a bite on his steak. 

Nasamid naman ako sa sinabi n'ya at wala sa oras na napainom ng tubig, nagkatinginan pa kami ni Kingsley. 

We're having our last dinner together at a restaurant Asher recommended. Aalis na mamaya si Kingsley.

"I think they also had a family gathering tonight," Kingsley said and just focused on eating. 

That's true. I invited him to join tonight but he declined because it's his grandmother's birthday. But he said he'll be the one to bring Kingsley to the airport, kasama kami ni Akira syempre. Dadaanan n'ya daw kami sa bahay. 

"Your internship is approaching," Papa brought up after a while.

I chewed my food first before answering him. "Yeah, thesis writing also," I added and he just nodded. 

"What are your plans?"

"I'm thinking to have my internship at the company... without special treatment, of course," I smirked and sipped on my glass of wine. He chuckled as he chews his food. 

"Understood," he joked and Kingsley also chuckled. 

Nagkwentuhan pa kaming tatlo and it was the longest conversation we had together without one of us picking a fight. All night, we were just laughing, chuckling, smiling. It was so different. 

My father was already paying the bill when I saw Kingsley fidgeting, uneasy. 

"Napapaano ka?" I asked, concerned. He kept on checking his phone. 

"Naje-jebs na ako! Malapit na flight ko," he panicked as I burst out laughing. 

"Pauwi na tayo..." I tried to say while still laughing. 

After n'ya makitang nakapagbayad na si Papa, tumayo na kaagad s'ya at kumaripas na papunta sa CR. 

"Where is your brother going?" My father asked after drinking water. 

"Comfort room," I said, still laughing. He seemed to get why I was laughing and did the same. 

Pagbalik ni Kingsley, we were both stifling a giggle. "Paalis na ako mamaya, pagtutulungan n'yo pa ako," sabi n'ya pa habang umiiling. 

I stood up from my seat and walked behind him, "kawawa naman pala ang bunso," I annoyed him as Papa chuckled. Nauna na akong maglakad sa kanila at lumabas na ng restaurant. 

Lumabas na rin naman sila agad at nakarating na rin kami agad sa bahay. Papa wouldn't be coming with us to the airport because he said he'll be early tomorrow for work, may flight din s'ya kinabukasan.  

Kingsley actually wasn't okay with that at lalo ako, kaso wala naman kaming magagawa. I'm now helping Kingsley pack his other things. 

I looked around his room and it was already empty, kahit sa banyo n'ya. Wala na s'yang tinira. A sense of panic consumed me... na baka hindi na n'ya gustuhing bumalik. 

Baka mas magustuhan n'ya roon at ako ang tumulak sa kanya mismo para umalis.  

"Babalik ka naman, hindi ba?"

Nagulat ata s'ya sa tanong ko at muntik na mabitawan 'yung mga dala-dala n'yang paperbags. He smiled as he continued to fix his things. "Wala namang rason para hindi," he assured. 

It wasn't enough assurance but I still continued to help him with his things and it was harder than I thought... helping your brother pack his things up to leave. It's like I am helping him drift away from me, from his life here.