The plane dropped through a thick blanket of clouds. For a moment there was nothing outside the window but white. Then the clouds broke apart, and Singapore spread out below like a maze of glass and green. Highways curled into each other. Buildings rose in clusters as the plane landed at Changi Airport.
Inside the cabin, the seatbelt sign flicked off.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Singapore."
The voice came through the speakers, warm and practiced.
First-class passengers began gathering their things. The quiet hum of the cabin gave way to the rustle of bags and low conversations.
Kai Voss stood up last, slinging his black backpack over one shoulder. His messy dark hair fell across his forehead, and his stormy grey eyes scanned the aisle with bored indifference. The black t-shirt and ripped jeans he wore looked out of place among the crisp suits and designer bags around him, but he didn't seem to care.
A few seats ahead, Lila Chen rose gracefully. She smoothed her white blouse, long dark hair falling neatly down her back, and picked up her small designer bag. Everything about her was polished — from the way she moved to the quiet confidence in her posture.
Kai stepped into the aisle right behind her. As the line moved forward, he shifted impatiently and accidentally bumped her shoulder with his bag.
Lila turned sharply, her bright eyes narrowing. "Watch where you're going."
Kai barely glanced at her. "It's an aisle, not a show-off party room. Maybe you should leave the pathway if your feet don't want to move."
She stared at him for a beat, lips pressing into a thin line. "Some people need to learn basic manners before stepping off a plane."
Kai let out a low, careless laugh and turned to look at her. "Manners? You're the one standing there like the whole airport should clear a path for you. Yet you talk about manners?"
"I only stopped because someone behind me was trying to breathe down my neck."
"Someone behind you was trying to walk past and go home. There's a difference."
Lila's grip tightened on her bag strap. "At least I know how to walk without knocking into everyone. Some of us weren't raised in a barn."
Kai smirked, stepping even closer as the line shuffled forward. "Cute. Tell me, does that little attitude come with the designer bag, or did you buy it separately?"
Lila did not reply. Instead, she turned away, shoulders stiff, and kept moving.
They exited the plane together in the same slow flow of passengers. At the arrival hall, the crowd began to split. Lila headed toward the priority exit, head high. Kai followed the regular lane, but as they neared the baggage claim area, he moved faster and cut in front of her again, nearly stepping on her foot.
Lila stopped abruptly. "Are you doing this on purpose?"
Kai turned, eyebrows raised, completely nonchalant. "Doing what? Walking? Last time I checked, that's allowed."
"You're unbelievable," she muttered, voice cold.
Kai leaned against a nearby pillar, arms crossed, and looked her up and down. "And some people think a small ass and a fancy bag make them important."
Lila's eyes flashed with real anger. She stared at him, then down at herself, fuming and stunned at the same time. She never expected him to body-shame her like that. The words hit hard. She opened her mouth to respond, then closed it, choosing silence instead. She stepped around him without another word, her back straight and steps quick as she disappeared toward the exit.
Kai watched her go for a second, then shook his head with a dark smirk, fully satisfied with the feud.
He continued walking toward the main arrival area. Near the exit, a girl in a white sundress jumped up and down, waving both hands wildly. His younger sister, Mia. Beside her stood their driver, Mr. Lim, holding a small sign that read "Voss."
"Kai!" Mia screamed, bolting toward him the second he passed the glass doors. She threw her arms around his neck and squeezed tight. "You're finally home! I thought you died in America and everyone kept it from me."
Kai let out a low chuckle and hugged her back with one arm. "If that is your way of saying you missed me, I missed you too, troublemaker. You've grown taller. Or maybe I just got used to short people over there."
Mia pulled away and punched his shoulder playfully. "Shut up. I'm still the same height. You're just being mean because you missed me so much." She grinned wide, showing the small gap between her front teeth. "It's unfair. Even for Mom's birthday you did not come. Your presence would have been great for the celebration."
"I'm sorry. I was very busy."
"Busy doing what?... getting expelled?"
"Mia!" Kai shouted, looking around to see if anyone had been paying close attention, but no one did.
"What? I know. Everyone in the house knows. Come on, tell me everything. Did you really get kicked out for… you know?"
Kai raised an eyebrow. "You really want to talk about that right here?"
"Why not? It's exciting!" She linked her arm with his as they walked toward the parking lot. "My friends at school are going to die when they hear my big brother is back. Especially Priya. She kept asking about you. Said you looked hot in the photos I showed her."
Kai shook his head, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Tell Priya to calm down. I'm not here to entertain your little friends."
Mia laughed and skipped a step. "Too late. I already told her you're coming."
Kai listened as they reached the black Mercedes. Mr. Lim opened the trunk and loaded his bag. Mia kept talking nonstop, her voice bright and fast like she had saved every story just for him.
Once inside the cool leather seats, Kai leaned his head back and closed his eyes for a second. The engine purred, and they pulled out into busy Singapore traffic. Tall buildings rose on both sides, glass windows flashing in the afternoon sun.
Mia kept chattering. "You have to come to my school's charity fair next month. Everyone dresses up. You can be my cool older brother and scare away all the annoying boys who keep bothering me. Please?"
Kai opened one eye. "I'm not your bodyguard, Mia."
"But you're good at it," she said sweetly, batting her lashes. "For me?"
He sighed, but the corner of his mouth lifted. "I am not making a promise."
"You will. I can be very persuasive," she let out a grin.
The drive home felt shorter than he remembered. Soon the car turned into a quiet, tree-lined street and the tall gates of the modern white mansion opened automatically.
The moment the car stopped, the front door flew open. His mother hurried down the steps, elegant in a soft blue blouse and cream pants. Her face lit up.
"Kai, my boy!" She pulled him into a tight hug, her perfume wrapping around him. "Look at you. So tall and handsome. I'm so happy you're home."
Kai hugged her back. "Hi, Mom."
She stepped back and cupped his face with both hands. "You must be tired. Come inside. I asked the cook to prepare all your favorites."
They walked in together. Mia bounced beside them. Kai's eyes flicked to the open front door. He already knew what waited inside. Right through that door, his dad was waiting, ready to pounce on him. He had been threatening fire and brimstone over the phone, and now that he was back home, he knew he was definitely done for. Mr. Voss would take anything but not a disgrace to the family name — which Kai had done.
Mia walked ahead, her flip-flops slapping against the marble. At the entrance to the hallway, she paused and looked back at him, her usual playful grin gone. Her voice was flat.
"Oh, and one more thing," she said.
Kai stopped.
"Dad's waiting for you inside."
She turned and disappeared into the house without another word.
Kai stood at the threshold, staring into the dimly lit hallway ahead. His jaw tightened. His hands curled slowly into fists at his sides.
He took a slow breath.
Then he stepped inside.