Unbreakable Duty

Making You Safe

In the heart of Bangkok, where the city pulsed with life and lights glittered across the skyline, a young woman was envied by many in the social circle. Earn Sanithada, the beloved daughter of Thailand's highest-ranking general and a respected actress, was known throughout the metro for her beauty, charm, and lavish lifestyle. Her parents influence ensured that she never heard the word "no", and she's living off the said privilege. Earn had an insatiable appetite for life, organizing over-the-top parties that attracted the young generation of Thai's elite society. The life of the party, her laughter echoing through the night like the sound of a wind chime in a breeze.

But there is one thing Earn desired above all else, one thing that she couldn't get: the attention of the stoic and stone-faced woman assigned to protect her, Captain Fahlada Thananusak.

Captain Lada, as everyone called her, is a model of discipline and restraint. A rising star in the Royal Thai Armed Forces, her reputation is as unyielding as her demeanor. A woman of few words, she preferred quiet effective work over idle conversations. It is said that her loyalty to duty was unmatched, and her focus never wavered, even under the most challenging situations. Her combat skills were commendable. Having served missions that are almost impossible, Capt. Fahlada comes out almost unscathed. When General Sanithada entrusted his precious daughter's safety to Lada, he knew that his most trusted and capable woman in uniform was the best person to safeguard the security of his only daughter.

Earn was used to bending people to her will with just a glance or a smile, but Fahlada was different. The captain treated her with utmost respect, but there was a distance in her eyes, a cold professionalism that Earn could not penetrate. This intrigued and frustrates her the most. Lada's nonchalant demeanor became an obsession for Earn, who was determined to crack that icy facade.

One night, after one of her infamous parties, Earn found herself standing alone on the balcony of her penthouse, overlooking the city lights reflecting over the lake. The air was thick with humidity. She knew Fahlada was nearby, silently watching her as always. "God, does she sleep?", Earn thinks.

"Fahlada," Earn called out, her voice with a hint of mischief. " Why don't you ever join the fun? Don't you get tired of standing in the shadows? By the way, you are very good at that. I don't think any of my guests knew you were here."

The captain emerged from the darkness, her posture was perfect, her expression unreadable. "My duty is to protect you, Miss Sanithada, not to join you in your parties."

"Cold as always." Earn sighed, moving closer to the older woman, her eyes searching for Fahlada's emotion. "Is that all I am to you? A job? An order from my father?"

Fahlada didn't blink or flinch, her gaze was steady and professional. "Your safety is my priority. Nothing more, nothing less."

Without thinking, Earn moved closer to her, reaching out to touch her arm. "Captain Lada, do you ever wish things were different?"

Fahlada looked down at Earn's hand on her arm, then back to her face, her eyes softening slightly. "Wishing doesn't change reality, Miss Sanithada."

Earn's hand dropped, her heart feeling a slight hurt from the captain's words. "I just wish... I wish you could see me more than a job."

For a second, Fahlada's stoic mask faltered, revealing softness in her eyes. Something Earn had never seen before, but not a stranger to the captain as she's soft for the general's daughter when she's asleep. It was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by the familiar cool professionalism. "It's better this way, miss," Fahlada said quietly, her voice steady but tinged with sadness. "For the both of us."

Earn felt a pang in her chest, realizing there was more to Fahlada than she had ever imagined. But before she could say anything, the young captain had already retreated herself back into the shadows, her posture once again that of an impenetrable guardian.

Author's Note:

I planned this as a one-shot only, but it's getting late and I have to go to work early tomorrow, so I guess an action-packed chapter 2 will follow. Hope you'll like this. =D