|Katherine|
The next morning, aboard the plane, the steady hum of the engines wrapped around us like white noise. The attendants moved with practiced grace, serving drinks almost as soon as we settled into our seats. Glasses clinked softly against the trays, the fizz of champagne rising in delicate streams.
“What are your plans once we get home?” he asked, his tone calm but edged with something thoughtful.
I swirled the pale gold liquid in my glass before taking a slow sip. “Hmm… maybe head back to Iloilo, manage our business again,” I said lightly, as though it were a casual decision. My voice softened as I added, “And of course, I need to keep an eye on Grandpa.”
Silence followed. A silence that stretched, deepened, until I felt the weight of it pressing against my skin. When I final
