Only us [LingOrm]

2

Nowadays

Ling's pov

I wiped down the barrel of my gun, making sure every inch gleamed under the harsh fluorescent lights of the training room. The cold steel felt reassuring in my hands, like an extension of myself. With practiced ease, I loaded the ammunition. Raising the weapon, I took aim at the target in front of me and squeezed the trigger. The sharp crack of the gunfire echoed through the room, the paper target absorbing the impact of each bullet as I drilled holes into it with precise, controlled shots.

Satisfied, I lowered the gun and holstered it, turning away from the firing range. Practice had already started, and the sound of footsteps and muted conversation filtered through the halls. I moved quietly, my senses alert, scanning the area for any signs of trouble. Years of training had honed my instincts to a razor's edge, and I caught the faintest movement out of the corner of my eye—a shadow shifting in the periphery of my vision.

Without hesitation, I pivoted and fired two shots, the first one dropping the person closest to me, the second taking out another figure further away. I didn't flinch as my targets went down, their simulated deaths a reminder of the stakes in our line of work. Stepping closer, I studied their expressions—surprised, but not panicked. They had expected this.

"You failed," I said evenly, my voice cutting through the silence. "Go back to training."

My teammates nodded, their faces flushed with embarrassment as they moved to reset. They knew the rules—no mistakes allowed. Not in this job. I turned to leave, but a sudden movement made me pause. Something small and fast was hurtling towards me, and I instinctively dodged, the object whizzing past my head.

I looked up, spotting the familiar figure standing in the doorway. Our commandant, Ying, was watching me with a sly smile on her lips, clearly pleased with herself.

"Ying," I said, my tone light and teasing. "Trying to kill me?"

She laughed, shaking her head as she stepped forward. "Just testing you, Ling," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of approval. "Come, I have a job for you."

My heart quickened at the prospect of a new assignment. The thrill of adrenaline buzzed through me, a sensation I had come to crave. I followed her to her office, my mind already racing with possibilities.

"Okay, who's the target?" I asked, eager to get the details. My fingers itched with the anticipation of action.

Ying rolled her eyes, a familiar gesture that told me I wasn't getting the type of mission I had hoped for. "No one you're going to murder," she said dryly. "You'll be a bodyguard this time."

I raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued but slightly disappointed. "For who?"

She handed me a file, her expression serious. "Orm Kornnaphat."

The name struck a chord of recognition, though I couldn't immediately place it. I opened the file and glanced at the photo—a young woman, blonde, with striking features that hinted at her celebrity status.

"She's famous," Ying continued, leaning back in her chair. "And with fame comes danger. Stalkers, obsessed fans, all kinds of unsavory characters. Her mother hired us to protect her."

I stared at the picture, trying to reconcile the image of the glamorous celebrity with the memory tugging at the edges of my mind. "You want me to babysit a kid?" I asked skeptically, flipping through the pages of her bio.

Ying's gaze hardened, and she leaned forward, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Ling, she's not a 'kid.' She's your client. And more importantly, her family pays well. You do your job, and you don't let anything happen to her. Got it?"