Subtle Endearment

6. Airport Fashion

Kira

The two days of resting fly by relatively quickly. It helps that I get regular updates about work from Daniel, and Violet calls me to talk for hours at a time whether it's about having to work for Ian or her boyfriends laziness. "I have to go now, Kira. I'll talk to you tomorrow morning," Kira says from the other side of the phone. "Ok, bye see you tomorrow." I place my phone on my night stand and pick up the ice pack beside it situating it on my bruised thigh.

The swelling has gone down significantly since the incident days ago. The purple hue is no longer there and although there is still some pain it's bearable enough for me to walk. I can't say the same for the wound on my arm, it seems to be taking its time healing. Still, I'm happy that I can walk, this means I can go to work tomorrow.

Since I had nothing to do over the two days I took to unpacking my stuff as soon as walking became slightly bearable. If felt good to sleep in a clean apartment. It was now four o'clock and I'd just wrapped up my review of the files Daniel had sent. My packed suitcase sits neatly beside my bed and I run my hands over the handle seeking stimulation.

Placing the ice pack on my bruise with one hand and picking up my phone in the other I begin to scroll through my contact list. Malik's name sits under family contacts and I click it. "What are you up to, Malik?" I ask as he picks up the call at the first ring. "Nothing, I'm about to go to the pool with some of my friends," he answers coolly. "Okay, I was just calling. I haven't heard anything from you since- since you went back to boarding school," I say struggling to find the right words.

There's a long pause before Malik speaks again. "Are you handling the bills okay, Kira? I can help if you n-" he begins. "No, I'm doing well. Everything is getting paid for. Everything is great. I told you I got a new job at FixedTech. This job pays me well. I won't need help paying the bills and I'll be paying your tuition this Friday too," I answer cheerfully. "But-" He attempts to continue. "Don't worry about it, I promise everything is fine, just worry about those grades of yours. You know m- just keep up your grades for me alright?," I chuckle. "Okay, Kira."

"I have to go now, I'm starving and need to get to making dinner, I'll be on a plane for six hours tomorrow but I'll call you afterwards," I assure him. "Okay, talk to you later," he says with evidently less spirit than before the conversation started. Malik seemed to have taken our parents death the hardest. For the week that he was granted off to mourn he'd locked himself in his room for four of those days.

It was around his second week back at school that he began to open up more about it. It was probably due to the counselor the school had assigned him. Whenever he tried to bring up the incident I couldn't help but shy away. I don't know why but the feeling I feel isn't quite sadness. I can't relate to the feelings that Malik has, I wasn't nearly as close to our parents as he was.

Light illuminates from my phone indicating a notification and I click the pop up to find that Ian sent me my ticket for California. This will be my first business trip as a FixedTech employee. It almost seems unreal. Just a week ago I was wondering if I could afford to keep Malik in school now I'm working at the biggest tech company in the United States.

I can't wait to go to California, it'll be my first time going. I can't wait to.. to... now that I think about it I don't even know my role. Maybe I should text Ian.

As I begin typing the question I suddenly recall my previous promise to myself. If I want to keep the job I have I should stay out of the boss's way and figure things out on my own. I quickly switch to Violet's phone number and ask her the question. It was a relief to find that as the secretary she was also required to attend the meeting. Just earlier today she'd spent an hour explaining how these types of meetings were the worse and not only wasted your weekend but were also draining since all employees would have to be in close contact with Ian for three whole days.