The city outside the window seemed peaceful, but Tawan felt the tension crawling beneath her skin. Sitting in the front passenger seat of the car, she scanned the traffic around them, her instincts sharper than ever. Something wasn't right. She couldn't pinpoint it yet, but the feeling was thereâsomeone was watching, following them.
Aira was seated in the back, her phone in hand, silently scrolling through her messages. She looked relaxed, unaware of the creeping danger, but Tawan's gut told her otherwise. They're getting closer.
She glanced at the rearview mirror, catching sight of the same gray sedan that had been trailing them for several blocks. Her eyes narrowed. Is it just a coincidence? Or is that car following us?
Her phone buzzed in her lap, the faint vibration pulling her attention. She glanced down at the screen: "All clear, no sign of immediate danger," the update read. Tawan frowned, her fingers tightening around the phone. All clear, huh? It didn't feel clear.
Aira's voice broke the silence from the back seat. "Are we almost there?" she asked, her tone casual, oblivious to the unease that weighed heavily on Tawan's shoulders.
Tawan nodded without turning around. "Yeah. Just a few more minutes."
Aira shifted slightly, her movements barely audible, but Tawan could feel her presence behind her. She kept her eyes on the road ahead, trying to focus on her surroundings, but Aira's presence seemed to pull at her more than usual today.
Focus, Tawan. Don't get distracted.
She adjusted her position in the seat, her gaze flicking back to the mirror. The sedan was still there. It wasn't close enough to raise alarm, but it had been following them for too long. She didn't like it.
Maybe it's nothing. Or maybe this is exactly what they're waiting for.
Her thoughts drifted to the message she had received yesterday. Aira's father's enemies were closing in. It was only a matter of time before they made a move. But when? And how? Tawan wasn't going to wait around to find out.
Her phone buzzed again. She glanced down at the new message. Another update: "All routes clear. No unusual activity."
No unusual activity? Then why does it feel like we're being watched?
Tawan's gaze shifted to the side, catching a glimpse of Aira's reflection in the window. She looked calm, but Tawan could sense the pressure building beneath the surface. Aira had been trying to hide her anxiety, trying to act like everything was normal, but Tawan saw through it. She always did.
She doesn't deserve this, Tawan thought, her grip tightening slightly. All she wants is to live her life, to feel normal. But normal isn't an option right nowânot when they're after her.
The weight of her responsibility pressed down on her, heavier than usual. Tawan had always been able to separate her duty from her emotions, but with Aira, it was different. The protectiveness she felt wasn't just professionalâit was personal. And that scared her more than the threat itself.
Tawan shifted again, glancing at the side mirror. The gray sedan was still following. Her instincts screamed at her to act, but her rational side held her back. Don't overreact yet. Stay calm. Wait for a real sign.
She glanced back at Aira for a moment, meeting her eyes in the rearview mirror. Aira smiled faintly, but there was a hint of curiosity in her gaze. "You're awfully quiet," Aira said lightly. "Everything okay?"
Tawan forced a tight smile. "Just focused. We'll be at the venue soon."
Aira chuckled softly, her smile easing slightly. "You're always focused."
Tawan didn't respond immediately, her mind racing with thoughts of security measures, potential escape routes, and the constant pressure of keeping Aira safe. She has no idea how close we are to real danger.
As they approached the event venue, Tawan's mind was still on the gray sedan. If they make a move today, I'll be ready.
Whatever happened next, Tawan knew one thing for sure: she would protect Aira. No matter what.
The city rolled by outside the car, but inside, the tension between Aira and Tawan was almost palpable. Aira watched the passing streets, her thoughts drifting to how trapped she felt despite being constantly surrounded by people.
"You know," she started, her voice breaking the silence, "I feel like I haven't had a real day off in forever."
Tawan, sitting in the front, kept her eyes on the road, but her voice was softer than usual. "I've been trying to make things as normal as possible for you."
Aira raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Normal? How's this normal?"
Tawan hesitated for a second, then spoke. "Well... I've been cooking breakfast for you. We went to the gym together, even though you didn't like it." There was a faint hint of amusement in her voice, though she tried to keep it professional. "It's for your safety, but I've been trying to make sure you don't feel too... restricted."
Aira let out a small laugh. "You dragged me to the gym. You know I hate exercise," she teased, remembering how much she had grumbled through the session.
Tawan's lips twitched slightly in the rearview mirror, a brief glimpse of a smile. "You did fine. And you needed it."
"Right, right," Aira said with a smirk, though her tone softened. "You're just doing your job, though, aren't you? Making sure I'm safe. I get it." She paused, her gaze shifting out the window for a moment. "But normal for me would be hanging out with friends, meeting someone... without all this danger hanging over my head."
Tawan's grip on the steering wheel tightened, but she didn't say anything at first. Aira noticed the tension in her posture and decided to push a little further.
"It's professional," Aira continued, her tone lighter. "You're doing what you have to, but I miss real normalâgoing out without thinking about threats or security. I can't even imagine what that feels like anymore."
The silence that followed felt heavy, and Aira could tell Tawan was weighing her words carefully. Then, suddenly and almost impulsively, Tawan blurted out, "I can be your friend."
Aira blinked, genuinely surprised. Tawan had never said something so personal before. A slow smile crept across her lips.
"Just friend?" Aira asked, her voice playful but laced with curiosity. She leaned forward, her eyes narrowing in on Tawan's reflection in the mirror. Then, without thinking, she added, "That's too bad. I thought you could be something more than a friend."
There was a brief moment of silence, the air between them thick with an unspoken tension. Tawan kept her eyes on the road, but Aira noticed the small telltale signsâthe slight stiffening of her shoulders, the way her fingers gripped the steering wheel just a bit tighter.
Stay professional.
Tawan told herself, but Aira's words were getting under her skin in ways she hadn't expected.
Aira, always perceptive, picked up on the subtle shift. She leaned forward slightly, her voice softer but teasing. "I mean, with how much care you've been putting into things... it's hard not to feel a little... special."
Tawan's breath hitched ever so slightly, though she quickly masked it. "I'm... just doing my job," she replied, though the words came out more stiffly than she intended. Her eyes flicked to the rearview mirror for just a moment, meeting Aira's gaze.
Aira's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Really? Just your job?" She leaned back, her tone teasing but gentler. "You're always so serious, Tawan. I'm just saying, sometimes it feels like it's more than just about protection."
Tawan didn't respond immediately, her gaze fixed on the road ahead, but Aira could sense the internal struggle in her silence. The tension between them was thick, yet neither of them was ready to fully acknowledge it.
"I'm just trying to make things feel as normal as possible for you," Tawan finally said, her voice quieter now. It was as if she was choosing each word carefully, not wanting to step out of line but also unable to fully hold back.
Aira tilted her head, her smile softening as she realized how much thought Tawan had put into her care. "I know you are," she said softly. "But normal... it's more than just routines and safety. It's feeling free. I miss that."
Tawan's gaze flickered in the rearview mirror, her eyes meeting Aira's for just a second longer than usual. "I'll do my best," she said, her tone almost vulnerable, as if the words carried more meaning than just a professional promise.
Aira leaned back in her seat, watching Tawan closely. Something between them had shifted, something unspoken but undeniable. And for the first time in a long while, Aira felt... intrigued. There was more to Tawan than the stoic protector, and she wanted to figure it out.
For now, though, the silence between them was enough, charged with a tension that left Aira curiousâand perhaps wanting more.
---
The sun was setting, casting long shadows as Tawan and Aira arrived at the venue. Aira stepped out of the car, her mood lighter after their earlier exchange. But Tawan remained tense, her instincts telling her that something was wrong.
The venue itself was quiet, unassuming. Aira gave Tawan a casual smile, the kind that said, Don't worry, I'll be fine.
"I'll only be a couple of hours," Aira said as she walked toward the building.
Tawan gave a curt nod but kept scanning the area. Something felt offâtoo calm, too perfect. Her eyes landed on a man lingering near the entrance, his face obscured by a cap. Another figure stood a few yards away, glancing at a phone too often. She had seen them before. That's not right.
Aira disappeared into the building, and Tawan stayed close, her muscles coiled, ready for anything. Her phone buzzed with a message from the security team: Perimeter clear. All secure.
She didn't trust it. Her gut was screaming. The air felt wrong, charged with something she couldn't pinpoint. Tawan's gaze flickered to another figure moving through the alleyway, too discreet for a normal passerby. Something's coming.
Then, it happened. A loud clatter from the other end of the hallâsomething metal falling, maybe a tray, but too loud to be an accident. Tawan's heart raced as she bolted toward the meeting room. A diversion. They're moving in.
She burst into the room just as two men grabbed Aira. One of them pressed a cloth over her mouth, and Aira's eyes widened in panic as her struggles slowed. The other restrained her arms, dragging her toward the rear exit.
"Aira!" Tawan shouted, rushing forward, but one of the attackers stepped in her way, blocking her path. He didn't engage with forceâhis movements were calculated, designed to delay her.
Tawan fought him off with swift, efficient strikes, but every second spent on him was a second lost. She threw him aside, her breath heavy with frustration. She had to reach Airaânow.
As she lunged forward, she caught sight of Aira just as the attackers dragged her through the door. For a brief moment, their eyes metâAira's wide with fear but filled with trust. She wasn't screaming for help. She didn't need to. That look said everything: Tawan, you'll save me.
But Tawan couldn't reach her.
Another man blocked her path, delaying her just long enough. She shoved him aside with raw force, her heart pounding, but by the time she reached the alley, the van was already speeding away.
Tawan's eyes locked on the van's taillights, her breath ragged as she sprinted after it, her legs burning with desperation. She ran as fast as she could, her hand reaching for the van's door handle, but it slipped out of her grasp as the vehicle rounded the corner.
Her feet slowed, coming to a halt as the van disappeared from view. Aira was gone.
Tawan stood frozen in the alley, her fists clenched at her sides. She had failed. Her heart raced with the weight of that failure, her mind replaying the moment over and overâI was too late.
Her phone buzzed in her hand, but she barely felt it. She called for backup, her voice steady despite the storm inside her. "They've taken her," she said through gritted teeth. "We need to track them downânow."
As distant sirens echoed through the alley, Tawan's face hardened. She had always been able to stop the threats before. But this time... this time, she had failed.
Her jaw tightened as she looked down the dark street, the van long gone. I will find you, Aira. No matter what it takes.
---
Aira's head swam as she slowly regained consciousness, the dull thrum of a van's engine rumbling beneath her. Her eyelids felt heavy, her thoughts clouded and disjointed. She blinked, struggling to focus as the events of the past hour came rushing back to her.
The men. The cloth. Tawan's voice, calling her name.
Her heart raced as panic crept in. She was bound, her hands tied behind her back, her body slumped awkwardly against the cold, hard floor of the van. The air felt thick and stale, and every bump in the road jolted her body painfully.
She tried to steady her breathing, her pulse thundering in her ears. Stay calm, Aira. Tawan will find you. She always does.
The van's interior was dimly lit, and she could make out two figures in the front, their voices low, indistinct. They weren't watching her. Aira's hands tugged at the bindings, but they were too tight. She bit her lip, trying not to make any noise.
Through the fog of her fear, fragments of their conversation reached her ears. "...make sure the father knows... she's just leverage... nothing personal."
Aira's stomach dropped. This wasn't random. It was about her father. Political leverage. But why her? Why now?
Her eyes stung with unshed tears, but she forced them back. She couldn't break downânot yet. Tawan was coming. She had to believe that.
Aira shifted slightly, trying to find a more comfortable position, but every movement sent a sharp pain through her shoulders. She gritted her teeth, breathing through the discomfort. She had to stay strong, had to hold on.
But as the van kept speeding down an unknown road, doubt crept in. What if Tawan didn't make it in time? What if... she was truly alone?
Forcing her mind to stay focused, Aira closed her eyes, centering herself. I trust you, Tawan. I trust you.