Your Guardian

Chapter 4: Behind the Guard

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 back—her 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 cooking—something 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 her—a 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."