In the days that followed, Tawan pressed on her meditation routine to calm her mind. She could have never imagined that just lying next to Ira at night would invite vivid dreams, each one bolder than the last. As a result, she ended up nodding off on the sofa until morning before going to bed and meditating immediately after waking up. Ira couldn't understand why she kept finding Tawan sleeping on the sofa every morning. Seeing Tawan's exhaustion pained Ira, but she had no clue why the situation was as such.

"P'Tawan!" - Ira hugged a pillow, sitting on the bed as she watched Tawan emerge from the bathroom after a shower.

"Hmm?"

" I'll sleep in the other room tonight, okay?"

"Why?" - Tawan asked, blinking in surprise.

"It feels like you don't want to sleep next to me these days. Every morning, I wake up and find you sleeping on the sofa." - Ira's tone was dejected.

"That's not your fault..." - Tawan immediately denied it.

"Then why weren't you sleeping?"

"I've had trouble sleeping lately and didn't want to disturb you by tossing and turning." - Tawan lied without batting an eye.

"It's fine. Tonight, just sleep in, no matter how much you toss or turn. I can put up with it." - Ira spoke seriously, while Tawan silently chanted a mantra to herself.

"Alright." - Tawan nodded, agreeing.

"Come here, let me dry your hair." - Ira's mood quickly brightened.

Tawan sat on the bed as usual, basking in Ira's gentle care. Perhaps because she hadn't slept well the past few days or for some other reason, her eyes felt heavy, weighed down by exhaustion. She closed them, leaning back onto Ira's shoulder behind her. Seeing Tawan so tired that she dozed off, Ira set the hairdryer down, gently supporting her to lay her down on the bed. She then tidied up, quickly adjusted the lights, pulled back the blanket, and slipped in, propping herself on one elbow beside Tawan. Ira noticed that lately, Tawan had been acting strangely—often avoiding her gaze, keeping her distance, her ears frequently turning red. Could it be that Tawan felt something for her too? Ira reached out, her finger lightly tracing the high, straight bridge of Tawan's nose. Disturbed, Tawan scrunched her face and turned away, prompting a soft chuckle from Ira; Tawan was clearly fast asleep now. Smiling, Ira lay down as well, her arm instinctively wrapping around Tawan's waist as part of their nightly routine.

Thankfully, Tawan was so tired that she managed to sleep straight through until morning without any dreams troubling her.

***

After getting dressed, Tawan headed toward the door but paused in thought. She turned back to the bedside, opened a drawer, and took out a gun. After what had happened, she became more cautious, deploying teams to monitor and track locations 24/7, with a car always on standby nearby for immediate support. Tawan checked the magazine before securely wrapping the gun and slipping it into her bag. She then donned her blazer and left the room. Downstairs, Ira was ready, waiting for Tawan to drive her to work.

"Let's have Omakase for dinner tonight!" - Tawan said with a smile as she stopped the car in front of Ira's office.

"Sure!" - Ira nodded in agreement.

"Give me your hand."

Ira extended her hand, and Tawan took out a small box from her pocket. She carefully retrieved a bracelet, identical in design to the previous one, and fastened it around Ira's wrist.

"I've improved the clasp and tracking system. Aside from me, no one else will know how to unlock it. Whenever you need me, just press the butterfly symbol—it will automatically scan your fingerprint, and I'll receive the signal. No matter when or where, I will come to you!"

"Got it. Thank you, P'Tawan." - Ira smiled happily.

"Also, the bracelet has a body heat sensor. If someone forcibly removes it, I'll know right away."

"Wow"

"I won't let you face danger ever again. I promise."

"Thank you." - Ira's smile lit up her entire face.

***

[At the studio]

After taking several days off, Ira initially struggled to find her usual balance with the intensive work. Things felt a bit off, but she quickly caught up with the pace of her colleagues.

"Ira, keep your back straight and work on your balance!" - the choreographer reminded her.

"I'm sorry. I'll do my best."

Ira repeatedly practiced the moves but couldn't quite nail them. When practice ended, and everyone else had left, she stayed behind to work on it. Tawan, who had been quietly observing all along, walked over to her.

"May I help you?"

"Of course, but how?"

"It's because your legs don't have enough strength, and the posture of your back, head, shoulders, and neck aren't quite right—that's why you're struggling with this move!" - Tawan commented honestly.

"So what should I do?"

"Let's see," - Tawan glanced down, noticing Ira was wearing one-inch heels today - "Stand with your feet together in those heels, arms extended straight out to the sides, back straight, head up!"

Ira quickly followed Tawan's instructions. Tawan glanced to the side, grabbed a magazine, and placed it on Ira's head. It immediately slid off, but Tawan swiftly caught it.

"You need to stand in this position without letting it fall!" - Tawan held the magazine in front of Ira, gesturing.

"Got it!"

Tawan placed it back on, but after a moment, it fell again. She repeated the action—catching it, then placing it back on Ira's head.

"I can't keep practicing anymore! I'm too tired!" - Ira whined.

"No way! This is exactly the time to practice! Keep going, you can do it!" - Tawan, like a strict teacher, looked at Ira and placed the magazine on her head once more.

Ira looked at Tawan—now all stern and teacherly—and couldn't resist the urge to tease. She stuck out her tongue, tossing a cheeky glance her way.

Tawan stifled a laugh and turned her face away, lips twitching. Noticing the reaction, Ira paused for half a beat, then placed a hand lightly on Tawan's shoulder. The gesture was playful—innocent.

Yet.. Reacting instinctively, Tawan grabbed the hand on her shoulder, spun around, and locked Ira's arm in a swift motion.

"Ouch..."

Tawan reached out to pull Ira upright, intending to help her continue practicing, but the other girl was restless and kept teasing. Ira stretched out her hand to grab the back of Tawan's neck, trying to pull her closer, only to be firmly held back by Tawan. Ira pursed her lips, adding her other hand to tug Tawan nearer.

Tawan let out a sigh; with anyone else, she could have easily broken free by twisting their arms, but she didn't want to hurt Ira. Instead, she opted to evade. Tawan ducked and turned to slip out of Ira's grasp, but in the process of lowering her head, she accidentally brushed against Ira's nails.

Ira hadn't expected Tawan to duck, and she felt her nails graze the other woman. Startled, she froze, then hurriedly stepped forward in a panic. Tawan looked up at Ira standing there, feeling a sharp sting across her cheek—she guessed her face had been scratched.

"I'm so sorry..."

Ira hurried toward her, eyes brimming with unshed tears. Her hand lifted, reaching instinctively for the wound on Tawan's cheek where blood had begun to bead, but stopped short, hovering uncertainly in midair—she was afraid to cause more pain. Guilt rose like a tide. She never should've had those charms fixed onto her nails yesterday. Nail care had always been her harmless indulgence, something she found joy in, but now, that very choice had hurt the person she loved. And Ira loathed herself for it.

"I'm fine," Tawan said softly, sensing the warmth of Ira's hand near her skin. The calm she'd carefully maintained all evening now stirred again under that touch. Seeing the worry in Ira's eyes, the way she was drowning in remorse, something fragile and unguarded inside her gave way. "It's nothing. Really, I'm okay."

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Tawan..." - Ira's voice trembled, her hands shaking as she gently touched Tawan's cheek. She was genuinely terrified of seeing Tawan hurt.

Tawan looked at her, and something inside shattered. It came rushing out, wild and unstoppable. Her heart urged her to pull Ira into her arms, to comfort her. Her soul screamed to kiss the lips that kept stammering apologies. Every part of her—legs, arms, fingers, breath—ached to close the distance, to hold Ira, to kiss away the tears welling in those eyes. Her whole body burned with the need to reach out.

But she bit down on that feeling, forcing it back into its cage.

Unwelcome voices rose up inside her.

"Duty and emotion must never mix."

"You walk in darkness. Don't drag others into your abyss."

"She's just a client—no different from the rest."

"Tawan... I—"

"Stop." Her voice came sharp and cold.

But it wasn't just for Ira. It was for herself—for her trembling heart, her unraveling soul, and for those chilling voices that echoed in her mind like ghosts she couldn't exorcise.

"Stop...? What do you mean?" Ira gave a fragile smile, but her hand fell away, unsteady. She could see it clearly now—how Tawan's gaze, once warm and open, had drawn back into something distant, almost unfamiliar. This wasn't the Tawan who had stayed by her side these past few days. "I... I just didn't want to see you hurt..."

"You know what I'm talking about." - Tawan's voice was detached, her gaze piercing through Ira's amber eyes.

"What are you talking about? I didn't mean to hurt you, Tawan. I truly didn't mean it." - Ira's voice quivered as she tried to explain. Deep down, she felt Tawan was beginning to push her out of her world.

"Ira." - Tawan sighed deeply. - "What we're doing now... it's not right".

"Not right?" - Ira frowned, trying to remain calm. - "What do you mean, "not right"?"

"We're not compatible." - Tawan's words were cold and direct.

"Not compatible?" - Ira was on the verge of losing her temper. - "What does that even mean?"

" ..." - Tawan remained silent, watching Ira's face twist in frustration as she struggled to contain her emotions.

"Then what is compatible? What is right?" - Ira's voice was sharp, each word biting. - "Tell me!"

"This is just a contract between us. You're the client, and I'm your bodyguard. That's all. There's no future for us. Besides, you're a public figure—a star. Things like this aren't right. You and I... we're from two different worlds. We don't belong together." - Tawan's voice was cold, and her words were deliberately cruel.

Ira stood frozen, staring at her as if each word had driven a blade deeper into her chest. She couldn't speak. She didn't want to lash out, didn't want to cry or scream or hurt the woman standing in front of her. She simply pressed her lips together, turned away, and walked straight out the door, holding back the tears that threatened to spill. The air suddenly felt thin—like there wasn't enough oxygen to breathe. Her heart clenched in tight, painful waves, each one sharper than the last.

Tawan watched Ira's retreating figure, rooted to the spot. Her heart and soul screamed in protest, questioning her, but her rationality forcefully suppressed them. Trembling, Tawan raised her hand to her cheek, where the warmth of the person who had just left still lingered. The air still carried the sweet scent of that girl, and those clear amber eyes, filled with sorrow, had just walked away. Tawan lowered her head, unsure of what to do, uncertain of how to make things right. She feared she wasn't worthy of Ira, that they weren't meant for each other, that her world would make Ira despise her, that everything about her would hurt Ira. Tawan didn't dare let Ira into her heart, afraid her heart wasn't good enough for her.

Eyes closed, she let the pain seep in, creeping into every corner of her being. It carved her open slowly, mercilessly, while her soul screamed accusations—why couldn't she be brave enough to love Ira, to hold on to her, to protect her? Why did she force herself to give up the one thing her soul cherished? Her heart, too, loathed her for it. It whispered bitterly, asking why she denied it the warmth it had always longed for, why she condemned it to solitude, why she wouldn't let it embrace the one it loved.

A single tear slid from the corner of Tawan's eye. Someone once said that when only one eye cries, it's the deepest kind of sorrow. Tears of happiness fall from both, but anguish only escapes from one side.

All these years—through pain, through isolation, through every wound—she had never shed a tear.

But now, as Ira stepped out of her world, Tawan's tears followed, drop by drop, tracing the path Ira had left behind.

***

Ira stood on the rooftop, gazing out at the dying light of dusk. The sun dipped slowly beneath the horizon, its golden glow swallowed by the encroaching dark—just like her love, slipping away without mercy.

Five years of quiet devotion, all culminating in a single, shattering truth: It wasn't real. They were "not right" for each other. It was "inappropriate." Just a bodyguard and a VIP client. Just duty. Just protocol.

So everything—every moment, every glance, every heartbeat—was nothing more than obligation. Those fleeting sparks she'd mistaken for something real were nothing but illusions. Moonlight reflected on water. Beautiful, unreachable, and never truly there. Tears streamed silently down her cheeks, gliding over her delicate features. Ira wrapped her arms around herself, trembling, as grief hollowed her from the inside out.

From behind, Tawan stepped onto the rooftop. She saw that slender silhouette standing alone beneath the fading glow of twilight, shoulders bare and shaking ever so slightly. The sight pierced something deep inside her, as though invisible hands were tearing her heart apart. Slowly, she walked closer, each step heavier than the last.

Ira's face was streaked with tears. The pain in Tawan's chest tightened.

"Ira..." she called softly.

Ira turned to look at her. Her gaze was cold. Distant. "Go home. I want to be alone."

"I can't," Tawan replied, her voice barely above a whisper as she fought to steady the storm inside her. "I'm responsible for you. I have to take care of you. That's... my duty."

Ira didn't respond, turning her face to the side to avoid looking at the person before her. This person, who always claimed she would protect her, who risked herself to find her, who didn't care about bleeding just to save her, had made Ira believe she was special. But in the end, it was all just a matter of duty, a job, a contract worth the price of a new house that made Tawan shed blood for her.

So it had all been one-sided. A foolish illusion Ira had built alone.

"If it's just a job, then your shift is over," Ira said coldly, not even sparing her a glance. "You can go now. I'm not asking you to stay anymore."

Tawan stood in silence for a moment, watching the curve of Ira's face, the anger tightening her jaw, the heartbreak she was trying to hide. Her voice was quiet, almost trembling. "I can't," she said. "I'm... worried about you."

"But what you're doing now isn't part of your duties!" - Ira's voice erupted into a shout. She had reached her breaking point. She couldn't stand having everything Tawan did for her be reduced to responsibility or obligation anymore.

"..." - Tawan stood silently, watching Ira's anger pour out.

"Have you ever noticed how I feel about you?" - Ira's voice trembled, tears streaming down her face. Her heart ached unbearably, torn apart by the inner turmoil. - "From the moment I first saw you, your image has consumed my heart. You've been the person I've held onto for five years..."

"..." - Tawan watched the tears cascade from Ira's amber eyes, each word tearing at her mind. She clenched her fists tightly, not wanting to see Ira in so much pain. Those amber eyes, now clouded with sorrow and torment, made Tawan's soul scream in anguish.

"Not a day has gone by that I haven't thought of you, not a moment that I haven't loved you..."

Ira cried her heart out, her sobs filled with anguish. Since when had she become so pathetic? Since when had she disregarded herself to cling to someone like this? Since when had she cast aside her pride to stubbornly chase after someone in this way?

"I've done everything I could just to be by your side, Tawan. I know you've never loved me, not even for a day, but... mmph...?"

Ira's eyes widened, her body freezing in place. Tawan's face loomed large before her, her aching heart skipping a beat. She felt the softness of Tawan's lips against hers, the familiar scent that belonged to Tawan enveloping her.

Ira froze, lips parted in silent disbelief, as Tawan slowly pulled back, the gentle, fleeting kiss slipping away with her.

"Is it too late... for me to say I love you?" - Tawan's voice was soft, her gaze tender as it met Ira's.

This person, who carried even the smallest injury, sent waves of pain through Tawan's heart. Now, seeing Ira cry so sorrowfully because of her, Tawan couldn't bear it. She didn't know if what she was doing was right or wrong. She only knew she didn't want Ira to cry anymore. She wanted to see Ira's smile. Reason lay discarded in the corner of her mind, as her heart and soul reveled in their victory.

Tawan gazed at Ira with tender affection. Just a hint of pain in this person was enough to make her heart ache as if it were dying and coming back to life, let alone seeing her now, crying in heartbreak because of her. Tawan didn't know if what she was doing was right or wrong; all she knew was that she didn't want Ira to cry. She wanted to see this person smile. Her rationality lay in a corner, defeated, while her heart and soul rejoiced in their victory over her rigid logic.

The moment she pressed her lips against those trembling, ruby-red lips that were speaking words of love through their pain, Tawan understood her own heart. Her world was standing right in front of her, the thing she needed was right there, the person she wanted to protect for a lifetime was present in this very moment. Tawan no longer wanted to deny it, no longer wanted to lose her. She would give everything she had to tell Ira she loved her.

Ira looked into Tawan's eyes, brimming with deep love, her aching heart now swiftly filled with happiness. Those amber eyes, once clouded with sorrow, now sparkled with radiant light. She nodded gently, staring intently at the person before her, waiting for Tawan to say she loved her.

Seeing Ira's unspoken answer, Tawan didn't rush. She stepped in slowly, deliberately, and kissed her once more—a kiss that poured out all the burning affection she had kept buried for so long. She paused for just a breath, waiting. Ira didn't keep her waiting long. She closed her eyes and offered her lips freely, feeling every bit of warmth and devotion Tawan pressed into her. It was a kiss filled with tenderness, rich with emotion, steeped in reverence.

And in that kiss, Ira's heart and soul overflowed with happiness so full it felt unreal.

Tawan lost herself in the sweetness of Ira's lips, unwilling to part until the lack of air finally pulled her back. Reluctantly, she drew away.

"Ira... I love you! I truly love you!" - Tawan looked into those gentle eyes, her voice firm as she declared her feelings.

Ira nodded, smiling with happiness, falling into Tawan's embrace. She felt Tawan's tight hug, as if afraid she might disappear, and she, in turn, held Tawan just as tightly, feeling the reciprocation of this love. Finally, she had waited for this day—the day Tawan said she loved her.

Tawan's heart swelled with joy as she held Ira close. But in that moment of ultimate happiness, a flash of light caught her eye, and her gaze turned icy. She swiftly spun Ira around, positioning her behind, shielding her with her body. Tawan stood in front, quickly assessing the situation, her right hand coldly drawing her gun and raising it.

"Bang..."

The gunshot shattered the air. Ira flinched, startled by the deafening sound. Tawan's expression turned grim, locked into a hardened focus.

Tonight... would be a long, long night.

END CHAP 13