Your Guardian

Bonus Chapter 2: In The Spotlight

Aira tugged the brim of her cap lower over her eyes, glancing around the grocery store. Despite the casual disguise of a cap and oversized sunglasses, she couldn't help but feel exposed. It had been a while since she'd gone out like this, and though the thrill of doing something normal was exciting, she was grateful for the comforting presence of Tawan by her side.

Tawan, who had somehow managed to look effortlessly cool and composed even in a simple T-shirt and jeans, was focused on picking out fresh vegetables. Aira watched her for a moment, smiling softly. There was something endearing about the way Tawan moved with such quiet confidence, even while doing something as mundane as grocery shopping.

Unable to resist, Aira sidled up to her, slipping her hand into Tawan's back pocket with a mischievous grin. "Hey, bodyguard, are we having a healthy dinner tonight?"

Tawan turned, raising an eyebrow as she tried to keep a stern expression. "We're trying to. Someone needs to eat more greens."

Aira feigned a pout, leaning into Tawan's side. "But I want ice cream."

Tawan sighed dramatically but couldn't hide the smile tugging at her lips. "Fine, you can have some. But you're eating all your vegetables first."

Aira beamed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You're too good to me, you know that?"

Tawan's eyes softened, and she reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair away from Aira's face. "I just want you to be happy and healthy."

Aira's heart fluttered at the gentle touch, and she found herself leaning closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You make me happy."

Before Tawan could respond, Aira stood on tiptoes and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. Tawan blinked, her cheeks flushing a light pink as she glanced around nervously. "Aira, people might see..."

"Let them," Aira said playfully, enjoying the rare sight of Tawan looking flustered. "I'm proud to be here with you."

Tawan's gaze softened further, and she let out a quiet laugh. "You're going to get us in trouble."

"Trouble's my middle name," Aira teased, squeezing Tawan's hand. "But really, I'm just happy to have some normal time together."

They continued down the aisle, Aira clinging to Tawan's arm and chattering about what they should cook for dinner. Tawan listened patiently, occasionally adding her own suggestions, but mostly just enjoying Aira's light-hearted enthusiasm.

Unbeknownst to them, a few aisles over, a group of young fans had spotted them. They exchanged excited whispers, recognizing Aira even through her disguise. One of them pulled out her phone, discreetly capturing the couple's sweet interactions—the way Aira laughed, the way Tawan looked at her, the casual, affectionate touches.

The fans quickly uploaded the pictures to social media, captioning them with heart emojis and speculation about Aira's "mysterious" companion. The images spread like wildfire, and within minutes, they were trending, with fans buzzing about whether Aira was finally revealing her romantic side.

Meanwhile, oblivious to the storm brewing online, Aira and Tawan made their way to the checkout. As they paid for their groceries, Aira squeezed Tawan's hand again, her eyes sparkling. "Can we get flowers too?"

Tawan raised an eyebrow. "For you?"

Aira shook her head, smiling sweetly. "No, for you. I want to get you flowers."

Tawan looked genuinely taken aback, her expression softening. "You don't have to do that."

"I want to," Aira insisted, reaching for a bouquet of bright yellow sunflowers. "Because you're amazing, and you deserve to have flowers."