The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains of Aira's bedroom, casting a soft glow across the room. She stirred beneath the covers, slowly waking up to the sound of faint clinking in the kitchen. For a moment, she blinked groggily, disoriented by the unfamiliar sensation of not being alone. Then, memories of the previous night came rushing backâher teasing Tawan into staying with her, the awkward tension as they shared the bed, and now, the comfort of knowing someone was nearby.
Aira stretched lazily, letting out a small sigh of contentment. The apartment smelled... different. Warm, savory scents were drifting in from the kitchen. Curious, she slipped out of bed and padded down the hallway, her steps quiet on the hardwood floor.
When she reached the kitchen, she found Tawan standing by the stove, expertly flipping a pan of eggs with one hand while chopping vegetables with the other. The sight made Aira blink in surprise. Tawan, in her usual calm and composed manner, looked completely at ease cookingâsomething Aira hadn't expected from her stoic bodyguard.
"You're cooking?" Aira asked, her voice still laced with sleep.
Tawan glanced at her briefly, nodding. "You need a decent breakfast. Your fridge, however... leaves much to be desired."
Aira raised an eyebrow, leaning against the counter with a teasing grin. "Oh? What's wrong with my fridge?"
Tawan turned back to the stove, her movements precise as she plated the eggs. "For starters, half of your ingredients are expired. You had milk that went bad two weeks ago. There's barely anything fresh in there. If you keep eating like this, you'll make yourself sick."
Aira chuckled softly, touched by Tawan's concern. "So, what are you saying? You're going to start cooking for me every day now? You're starting to sound like a housewife."
Tawan placed the plate in front of her, raising an eyebrow. "I'm just making sure you don't pass out from exhaustion. If you took better care of yourself, I wouldn't have to."
Aira grinned, sitting down at the kitchen island and eyeing the breakfast in front of herâa perfectly cooked omelet with a side of toast and sliced fruit. She glanced up at Tawan with a teasing smile. "I don't know, Tawan. You're cooking, cleaning, watching out for me... Are you sure you're not secretly auditioning for the role of housewife?"
Tawan blinked, her face unreadable for a moment before she rolled her eyes slightly. "Pretty sure that's not in my job description."
Aira laughed, picking up her fork. "Well, you're doing a great job so far. Cooking, cleaning, and making sure I stay healthy? You're practically perfect."
Tawan crossed her arms, leaning against the counter. "It's my job to protect you, not pamper you."
Aira shrugged, her smile widening. "Either way, I appreciate it. It's nice to have someone looking out for the little things. You don't have to, but it's... nice."
Tawan didn't respond immediately, but there was a softness in her eyes as she watched Aira eat. "Just take better care of yourself. You can't perform if you're not healthy."
Aira's heart fluttered slightly at the concern in Tawan's voice, and she found herself more touched than she expected. "You're right. I'll try."
Later that morning, as Aira was finishing breakfast, her phone buzzed with a message. She picked it up, reading the notification with a sigh. "The photoshoot for today's been canceled. Something about a scheduling conflict."
Tawan, who was cleaning up the kitchen, glanced over. "Looks like you have the day off, then."
Aira stretched her arms above her head, smiling. "Lucky me. Guess I'll just relax."
But Tawan's eyes narrowed slightly, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "Or... you could use this time to do something productive."
Aira raised an eyebrow. "Productive? What do you have in mind?"
Tawan crossed her arms, leaning against the counter. "Exercise. You've been running yourself ragged, and it's important to keep your body strong. I can help you with some basic self-defense training, too."
Aira blinked, caught off guard. "Self-defense? Isn't that your job?"
Tawan smirked slightly. "It doesn't hurt to know a few things. Come on, you'll thank me later."
Aira groaned dramatically, dragging her feet as she followed Tawan to the apartment's private gym. "You're relentless, you know that?"
Tawan glanced over her shoulder, amusement in her eyes. "You'll survive."
Once they arrived at the gym, Tawan handed Aira a towel and motioned for her to follow. "Let's start with some stretches first. You need to warm up your muscles."
Aira sighed dramatically but followed Tawan's lead. "Stretching I can handle. Anything else, we'll see."
Tawan positioned herself in front of Aira, demonstrating a simple stretch. "Alright, reach down and touch your toes. Hold it for a few seconds."
Aira bent forward, trying her best, but her flexibility left a lot to be desired. She groaned, wobbling slightly. "This is harder than it looks."
Tawan chuckled softly, stepping closer. "You're not going deep enough. Here, let me help."
Aira's heart skipped a beat as Tawan placed her hands gently on her lower back, guiding her into the proper position. The warmth of Tawan's touch sent a shiver through Aira's body, and she suddenly became very aware of how close they were.
"Just relax," Tawan said, her voice calm, but Aira's mind was racing. She could feel her face heating up as Tawan's hands lingered for a moment, helping her deepen the stretch.
Aira squeezed her eyes shut, trying to focus on the stretch itself, but it was impossible to ignore the flutter in her chest. "Uh, right. Relaxing. I can do that."
Tawan moved away slightly, her hands still hovering nearby to support Aira. "Good. Now hold that for a few more seconds."
Aira exhaled, trying to regain her composure as the stretch began to feel more natural. She glanced over at Tawan out of the corner of her eye, catching the subtle concentration on her face. There was a quiet strength in the way Tawan moved, something that both intimidated and intrigued Aira.
After a few more stretches, they moved on to a standing pose. Tawan stood behind Aira, demonstrating how to pull her arms back for a shoulder stretch.
"You're too tense," Tawan commented, her breath warm against Aira's ear as she adjusted her posture. "Relax your shoulders."
Aira swallowed hard, trying not to let her nerves show. "I'm trying. It's not easy with you standing so close."
Tawan paused for a second, perhaps catching the meaning behind Aira's words, but she didn't comment. Instead, she stepped back, letting Aira complete the stretch on her own. "Better."
Aira straightened up, her cheeks still flushed from the closeness. She felt a little embarrassed by her own reaction. "I don't normally have someone coaching me through stretches, you know."
Tawan's lips twitched in amusement. "That's clear."
Aira rolled her eyes, playfully nudging Tawan's arm. "Alright, alright. What's next?"
Tawan led her to the next part of the training. "Now, we'll work on some basic self-defense moves."
She demonstrated a simple blocking move, then instructed Aira to try it. Aira gave it her best effort, but she stumbled a bit, unfamiliar with the motions.
"No, not like that. Let me show you." Tawan moved behind Aira, taking her wrists in her hands, guiding her arms into the correct position. "You need to keep your balance. Shift your weight forward like this."
Aira's pulse quickened again at the feel of Tawan's hands on her, gently correcting her stance. She could feel the warmth of Tawan's body close behind hers, and it made her heart race in a way that had nothing to do with the exercise.
"Like this?" Aira asked, her voice coming out softer than she intended.
Tawan's breath was warm against her neck as she leaned in slightly to check Aira's posture. "Exactly."
Aira bit her lip, trying to focus on the task at hand, but the closeness was distracting. She could feel her face heating up again, her mind racing with thoughts she tried to push away. "You're good at this," she muttered, half hoping to change the subject and half wanting to break the tension.
Tawan stepped back, satisfied with the adjustment. "I've had a lot of practice."
Aira turned around to face her, still feeling the flush in her cheeks. "You could've fooled me. I thought bodyguards were all about standing still and looking tough."
Tawan raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smirk playing on her lips. "You'd be surprised."
Aira grinned, but before she could tease Tawan further, she misstepped again, her foot catching on the mat. Her eyes widened as she stumbled forward.
Tawan moved in an instant, trying to catch her, but the momentum knocked them both off balance. They tumbled to the floor together, and Aira landed right on top of Tawan.
For a moment, everything froze.
Aira blinked, realizing she was now sprawled across Tawan, their faces just inches apart. Her heart was pounding, and for a brief second, she forgot how to breathe.
Tawan lay beneath her, wide-eyed, clearly surprised by the fall. Neither of them moved, the air between them thick with tension.
Aira's mind raced. She could feel the warmth of Tawan's body beneath her, their faces so close that she could see every detail of Tawan's features. The room seemed to blur around them, and all she could focus on was the steady rise and fall of Tawan's chest beneath her.
They stared at each other in silence, the moment stretching longer than it should have. Aira's pulse quickened, her cheeks burning with embarrassment and something else she couldn't quite place.
She swallowed hard, feeling her breath hitch in her throat. It was then that she realized just how close they wereâso close that if she moved even an inch, she'dâ
Tawan cleared her throat, snapping Aira out of her daze. Her voice was steady but quieter than usual. "Are you okay?"
Aira blinked, shaking herself out of the moment. "Uh, yeah. Sorry about that."
Quickly, she scrambled off of Tawan, her face redder than ever. "I didn't mean toâ"
Tawan sat up, brushing off her clothes with an ease that belied the tension of the moment. "It's fine. Just be more careful next time."
Aira stood, feeling flustered as she tried to regain her composure. "Right. Careful. Got it."
There was a brief, awkward silence before Tawan stood as well, her usual calm expression back in place. "Let's finish up. I think that's enough falling for one day."
After the workout and a quick shower, Aira felt refreshed as she collapsed onto the couch in the living room. Her muscles ached, but there was a pleasant sense of satisfaction. "Okay, I admit it... that wasn't so bad."
Tawan joined her, sitting at the edge of the couch. "Told you."
Aira grinned, glancing over at Tawan. "Thanks for pushing me today. Even if you are a little too intense sometimes."
Tawan's lips twitched into a faint smile. "I'm just doing my job."
Aira leaned back, her body relaxed, but her mind kept wandering back to the gym. That moment when they had fallen togetherâhow close they had been, the rush of heat that had coursed through her. She barely knew Tawan, but her heart had reacted faster than her thoughts. And even now, the memory made her pulse quicken.
She stole a glance at Tawan, who sat beside her, as calm as ever. How did Tawan remain so composed? Aira couldn't shake the curiosity bubbling up inside her. There was something about her, something Aira wanted to understand.
Breaking the silence, Aira leaned in slightly, her voice playful. "So... have you always been like this?"
Tawan raised an eyebrow, glancing at her. "Like what?"
Aira smiled, teasing. "All serious and professional. Don't you ever... you know, have fun?"
Tawan's expression remained neutral. "I have fun."
Aira chuckled, sitting up a bit and resting her elbow on the back of the couch. "Oh really? I never would've guessed. You seem like the type who always plays it safe."
Tawan's lips twitched slightly. "I know how to have fun when I need to."
Aira raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk forming. "Oh? Come on, there's got to be someone who's cracked that tough exterior of yours. Like... a special someone, maybe?"
Tawan blinked, the question clearly catching her off guard, though her face remained composed. "It's not something I think about much."
Aira raised an eyebrow, pressing on with playful curiosity. "Oh, come on. Someone as tough and capable as you must've caught someone's eye. Or are you just that good at keeping everyone at arm's length?"
Tawan's gaze flickered, but she remained steady. "It's easier to focus on my work."
Aira narrowed her eyes, sensing a subtle shift in Tawan's tone. "But that doesn't answer my question."
Tawan hesitated for a moment, her eyes meeting Aira's, before she shrugged lightly. "There was someone... once."
Aira leaned in, her smile widening. "Ah, so I was right! Who was it?"
Tawan looked away briefly, her voice quieter now. "It was a long time ago."
Aira's teasing tone softened a little. "I didn't think you'd be the type to leave things in the past."
Tawan looked at her, her face unreadable. "Some things are better left there."
Aira held her gaze, her smile fading slightly as she considered the weight behind Tawan's words. She had meant the question as a joke, but there was something deeper behind Tawan's response, something she hadn't expected.
Aira leaned back, her voice softer now, though she kept it light. "Well, maybe one day someone will make you loosen up again."
Tawan didn't respond right away, but there was a hint of something in her eyesâsomething unspoken that lingered between them.
"I'm not sure about that," Tawan finally said, though her voice held a faint warmth that Aira hadn't heard before.
Aira smiled gently, letting the conversation slow, sensing that she'd pushed enough for now. But the tension between them hadn't fadedâit was still there, hanging in the air, a quiet hum that made Aira's heart beat just a little faster.
"Guess we'll just have to wait and see," Aira said, her tone playful again, though her gaze lingered on Tawan a little longer than usual.
Tawan glanced at her, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Maybe."