The Kingpin's Possession

90: Unexpected News

Kit:Kit stood in his room, clothes, and essentials sprawled out over the bed. Packing had started casually enough—he’d just been grabbing a few shirts and some toiletries, tossing items from his closet onto the mattress. But as his suitcase began to fill, the reality of the trip hit him hard.

What was supposed to be a light-hearted vacation to celebrate finishing his second year of college had taken a dark turn. He was going to Chiang Mai, but it wasn't just for the sights or the fun. It was to find his father, the man he once looked up to but now blamed for everything that had gone wrong in their family.

Kit’s fingers paused over a stack of neatly folded shirts, and his mind started spiraling. How was he supposed to confront the man who had caused so much pain? The thought twisted his stomach, and he realized he hadn’t taken a full breath in a while. Slowly, he forced himself to inhale and exhale, trying to shake off the anxiety that was creeping up on him.

Amid his racing thoughts, he didn’t hear the soft knock on his door. Lost in the what-ifs and the could-have-been, he didn’t realize someone was in the room until he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. Kit jumped, heart pounding, and spun around to find his elder sister, Kanya, standing there. Her eyebrows were raised, a look of concern crossing her face.

“You alright, Kit?” she asked, tilting her head slightly. “You look… I don’t know, like you’re miles away. I’ve noticed you’ve been kind of on edge lately.”

Kit swallowed, his gaze shifting to the floor as he fumbled for an answer. “I… uh, yeah, I guess I have been,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you.”

Kit tried to shake off the feeling of heaviness as he zipped up one of his bags, turning to find Kanya still watching him with that unreadable, knowing look. It made him feel even more on edge. He had enough going on without having his elder sister poking around in his head, guessing his worries before he could even process them himself. He managed a half-smile and shrugged.

“Mai pen rai naBut P’Kanya just narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. “Uh-huh, sure. And I’m supposed to believe that?” She shook her head, her mouth twitching in a faint smirk. “Kit, come on. You’ve been acting weird for days, and now you’re just brushing me off? You think I can’t tell when something’s bothering you?”

Kit sighed, rubbing his temples, knowing Kanya wasn’t going to drop it. He’d tried to play it cool, but of course, she could see right through him. There was no point in lying to her outright—it would just make her dig deeper. So he decided to offer her something, hoping it would be enough to keep her satisfied.

“It’s really fine, P’Kanya,” he said, meeting her eyes, “it’s just going to a different district with only my friends, so I was wondering how the arrangements would be. That’s all.”

Kanya didn’t look convinced. She cocked her head to the side, studying him, her gaze unrelenting. “That’s all, huh?” she echoed, not sounding convinced at all. “So, does this thing have anything to do with Kim?”

Kit blinked, caught off guard. “What? Why would you ask that?” he said, maybe a little too quickly. He hadn’t thought she’d bring Kim into it, and the question threw him off balance.

Kanya’s brow arched. “Because,” she replied, her tone gentle but firm, “you’re not the only one acting strange. Even Kim’s been distracted lately. I’ve seen him around, and he looks… I don’t know, like he’s on edge, almost as if he’s waiting for something to happen.”

Kit opened his mouth, then closed it, trying to think of the right thing to say. Kanya’s observation struck a chord, and he couldn’t deny that he’d sensed it, too. P’Kim had seemed a little distant, a little tenser than usual. But Kit didn’t want P’Kanya to get the wrong idea about their relationship; that was the last thing he needed her to worry about.

“Look, it’s not like that, phi,” Kit said, softening his tone. “P’Kim and I are fine. Really. There’s nothing wrong between us.”

P’Kanya raised an eyebrow, still skeptical. “Then what’s got him so distracted? Don’t tell me it’s ‘nothing’ again. I know he tells you things, Kit. Things he wouldn’t normally talk to even Kla about.”

Kit sighed, scratching his head. “Honestly, I think it’s just because the shooter hasn’t been caught yet. It’s been hanging over us all, you know? I’m sure it’s weighing on him, too, even if he doesn’t show it.”

Kanya looked down, nodding slowly. “Yeah… that makes sense, I guess. But you know you can talk to me, right, Kit? I mean, if anything was wrong… between you and Kim, or with whatever’s on your mind… I’m here.”

Kit managed a small, appreciative smile. “Thanks, P’Kanya. I know I can count on you. But honestly, there’s nothing wrong between us. P’Kim and I… we’re good. Better than good. He’s been there for me, even with all the stress and, well, everything else going on.”

He watched Kanya’s face carefully as he spoke, hoping she’d believe him. After a few moments, her expression softened, and she gave him a gentle smile.

“Alright,” she said, her tone warm. “I trust you, Kit. Just… don’t shut me out, okay? It feels like you’re carrying a lot on your own, and you don’t have to. You’ve got me, and you’ve got Kim, too.”

Kit nodded, feeling a weight lift off his chest. “I know, P’Kanya. And I appreciate it. I guess I just don’t want to worry anyone more than necessary.”

Kanya laughed softly, nudging him. “You don’t have to protect me, you know. I’m tougher than you think.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “I know you are. But I guess it’s just how I am.”

She rolled her eyes but smiled, understanding. “Fine, fine. Just don’t forget you’re not alone. And don’t overthink things with Kim. I think he’s probably just as worried about you as you are about him.”

Kit smiled, feeling lighter for the first time that day. Maybe she was right. P’Kim had been his rock, steady and supportive through everything. Kit knew, deep down, that whatever challenges lay ahead, P’Kim would be by his side. And P’Kanya, too.

“Thanks, P’Kanya,” he said, meaning it. “I think I needed to hear that.”

She grinned, hopping off the bed and stretching her arms. “Well, someone’s got to knock some sense into you once in a while.”

“Glad you think it’s your job,” he joked, rolling his eyes.

Kanya turned to leave, her expression softer and more relaxed than when she'd first walked in. Kit felt a warmth settle in his chest, knowing he’d managed to put her mind at ease—if only for a little while. As she moved toward the door, something occurred to him, and he called out to her.

“Hey, wait,” he said, leaning against his half-packed suitcase. “What were you doing here in the first place? Did you need something?”

Kanya hesitated, her hand hovering on the doorknob. Her gaze shifted, suddenly looking a little uncertain, which only made Kit’s curiosity grow. “Actually,” she began, and then she paused, glancing back at him. “I came here to tell you… that I’ll be leaving tonight.”

Kit blinked, not quite understanding. “Leaving? For where?”

Her lips curved into a small, almost nervous smile. “Europe. P’Kla and I are flying out tonight. It was all kind of last-minute. P’Kla has some business there and he wants me to go with him, and I thought… well, it might be a good opportunity to see a bit of the world.”

Kit’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, his heart sinking just a little. Europe. Tonight. He hadn’t been expecting that. His mind raced, trying to process her words, and the thought of her leaving left him with a strange, bittersweet feeling.

“Europe?” he repeated as if saying it aloud would somehow make it more real.

Kit swallowed, his gaze dropping to the half-folded shirt in his hands. He’d been so caught up in his worries, in the idea of his trip to Chiang Mai and the mission awaiting him, that he hadn’t even considered the possibility of Kanya heading off on her own adventure. It made him feel a bit unmoored, knowing that she’d be halfway across the world while he faced the challenges waiting for him.

“Wow,” he said finally, glancing back up at her. “That’s… that’s pretty big news. Kind of a huge deal.”