Only You - LingOrm Unofficial Fanfic - (IraTawan)

Chapter 12: The Edge of Love and Loss

Tawan returned to her temporary apartment, a few floors below Ira's, her heart heavy with guilt.

The words she had spoken to Ira earlier echoed in her mind like a broken record. The coldness in Ira's eyes when she looked at her, the hurt in her voice—it all weighed down on Tawan like a burden she couldn't escape. She had thought distancing herself was the right thing to do, that keeping her emotions hidden would protect Ira. But now, with every passing minute, she regretted it more.

Around 6:30 PM, something on the security feed caught her eye—Ira leaving the apartment without a word. Panic shot through Tawan as she quickly pulled up the camera footage. Ira was headed toward the rooftop. Alone.

A sense of dread washed over Tawan. She grabbed her phone, intending to call Ira, when her phone rang with a call from Somchai.

"Tawan, I need you to be more vigilant. The attack might happen sooner than we thought. You need to stay on high alert and protect Ira at all costs," Somchai's voice was tense, his words an urgent warning.

Tawan's blood ran cold. The sense of impending danger now felt tangible. Ira had gone out by herself, unaware of the looming threat. Without hesitation, Tawan bolted out of her apartment, her mind racing as she headed toward the rooftop.

When Tawan reached the rooftop, the sight of Ira standing at the edge, her facing the city, made her heart drop. Ira was hugging herself, gazing out over the lights of Bangkok, but her posture screamed of heartbreak. Tawan could feel the guilt gnawing at her insides, knowing she was the reason for Ira's pain.

Tawan took a deep breath and stepped forward, her footsteps quiet against the concrete.

"Ira?" she called softly, careful not to startle her.

Ira turned slightly but refused to meet her eyes. "You can leave," Ira said coldly, her voice as distant as the horizon she was looking at.

Tawan's heart twisted at the rejection, but she knew she couldn't leave Ira like this. "I can't. It's my job to take care of you."

Ira scoffed, finally turning to face her. Her eyes were red, tears brimming at the edges. "If you think taking care of me is just a job, then take the day off. Go home."

Tawan's chest tightened as she took in Ira's pain. "I can't... because I'm worried," Tawan said, her voice softening, the weight of her words hanging in the air.

Ira's eyes finally met hers, filled with frustration and sadness. "But what you're doing is not right! Do you even know how I feel about you?" Ira's voice cracked, and the dam of emotions she had been holding back burst. Tears streamed down her face as she cried out, "You've been in my heart since the first day we met! Not a single day goes by that I don't think of you, that I don't love you! And you just... you push me away like none of it matters!"

Ira's emotions spilled over, her words raw and painful. "I've done everything I can to show you how much you mean to me, even though you don't love me... You never loved me, not for a single day!"

The words hit Tawan like a punch to the gut. She couldn't bear to see Ira like this anymore. Without thinking, without waiting, Tawan closed the distance between them and kissed her. It was soft but intense, a kiss that spoke of all the love and longing she had kept bottled up inside. She tasted the salt of Ira's tears as they fell between them.

Ira's eyes widened in shock, but she didn't pull away. When Tawan finally broke the kiss, Ira took a step back, her breath shallow, her mind racing to process what had just happened.

"Is it too late for me to say I love you?" Tawan whispered, her voice trembling with vulnerability.

Ira stared at her, tears still falling, but now they were tears of overwhelming emotion. She had waited so long to hear those words, and now that they were finally said, all she could do was cry harder.

Tawan stepped closer again, gently cupping Ira's face, wiping her tears away. She kissed her again, and this time, Ira responded, her lips moving against Tawan's with a passion that had been building for far too long.

It was a kiss that promised everything they had held back, a kiss that broke all the walls Tawan had built to protect herself. Fireworks exploded in Tawan's chest, her heart beating so fast she thought it might burst. When they finally pulled apart, they were both smiling, their foreheads pressed together, breathless.

"I do love you," Tawan whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

They wrapped their arms around each other in a tight embrace, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Tawan felt light—free from the burden of hiding her feelings. But then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw it.

A red dot. A sniper's laser, aimed directly at Ira's head.

Tawan's heart skipped a beat, and without hesitation, she pushed Ira to the ground, drawing her gun in one swift motion. She fired at the source of the laser, and a figure with a small sniper rifle in the distance ducked and ran.

Tawan's heart pounded in her chest as she quickly turned to Ira. "Are you okay?"

Before Ira could respond, another shot rang out. This time, it hit its mark.

Ira's scream pierced the night as Tawan staggered backward, blood blossoming on her chest. Her world slowed as she felt herself falling, her body hitting the cold ground hard. The pain was sharp, but it quickly turned into a dull, numbing sensation.

"Tawan! Tawan, stay with me!" Ira's voice was frantic as she dragged Tawan into the safety of a blocked corner. Tears streamed down Ira's face as she fumbled to stop the bleeding.

Tawan's vision blurred, but she forced herself to focus on Ira. She reached up, her bloodstained fingers brushing Ira's cheek. "Call... Somchai... My phone password... 230522..." she whispered, her voice growing weaker with each passing second.

"No, no, no... Stay with me! Don't you dare leave me!" Ira cried, dialing for an ambulance with trembling hands.

"I love you, Ira... Only you," Tawan whispered, her eyelids growing heavy. She was so tired, the numbness spreading through her body. She could feel herself slipping away, but before the darkness consumed her, she managed to whisper one final thing.

"Don't be sad, Ira... I'm always with you..."

And then, everything went dark.