Guarding Her Silence

Chapter 15 - Blades and Secrets

Jhoanna had just wrapped up a long day—hours spent inspecting construction sites and attending meetings with stakeholders. The weight of responsibility clung to her, but she felt some relief in knowing everything was progressing smoothly. The day was beginning to wind down, and the sun was dipping low, streaking the sky with orange and pink hues.

They sat together in the backseat of the car, the soft hum of the engine vibrating beneath them as the vehicle cruised through the streets. Colet sat rigidly by the window, her gaze fixed on the scenery flashing by. She kept her distance, leaning as far to the side as possible, her entire posture disciplined and restrained. It was the stance of someone conditioned to observe and act—always on alert, never allowing herself to relax.

Jhoanna, however, had no such hesitations.

She shifted in her seat and scooted closer, inch by inch, until her shoulder brushed against Colet's. The assassin didn't flinch or move away. She simply continued staring out the window, as though she hadn't noticed—or perhaps she just didn't care.

Jhoanna's boldness increased with the lack of resistance. She closed the gap between them entirely, her shoulder now pressed fully against Colet's. Feeling the warmth of the assassin's body against her own, Jhoanna glanced up at her, studying Colet's expression.

"Colet," Jhoanna said softly, her voice carrying a hint of weariness, "can I sleep on your shoulder?"

Colet turned her head to meet Jhoanna's gaze, her expression unreadable. After a brief moment, she raised her hands to sign "You literally have a neck pillow right there."

Jhoanna let out a soft huff, giving the pillow a dismissive glance. "I don't want it," she said, her tone stubborn but playful.

Colet's fingers moved again, her signs brisk and to the point. "Do what you want, Jho."

Jhoanna grinned and leaned against Colet, resting her head on the assassin's shoulder. Colet didn't push her away or say anything further, though the tension in her posture suggested she wasn't exactly comfortable with the closeness.

Minutes passed in silence, and Jhoanna's breathing slowed as the exhaustion of the day caught up with her. Soon, she was sound asleep, her breath soft and steady against Colet's neck.

It was then that the unexpected happened—Jhoanna stirred in her sleep, her body shifting until both her arms slipped around Colet's waist, pulling the assassin into an unconscious embrace.

Colet froze.

The sudden warmth of Jhoanna's breath on her neck sent a hot jolt through her body, igniting something deep and unfamiliar within her. Her heart thudded heavily in her chest, and for a moment, she forgot to breathe.

She knew she should move, untangle herself from Jhoanna's hold, but she couldn't. Her body betrayed her instincts, remaining still as stone while her mind scrambled to regain control.

This—this was dangerous. Not the physical kind of danger she was trained to handle, but something far more insidious. Jhoanna's arms around her, the soft press of the heiress's body against hers, the trust in that unconscious embrace—it was a kind of vulnerability Colet was not prepared for.

She sat there, staring at the dimming horizon beyond the car window, every muscle in her body tight with tension. And yet, despite everything screaming at her to pull away, she stayed.

Because, for reasons she didn't fully understand, a small part of her didn't want to move.

The car rolled on through the streets, the sound of the city fading as twilight settled over them. And in the quiet, with Jhoanna sleeping soundly against her, Colet felt something she couldn't name—a mix of warmth and fear, comfort and uncertainty, all wrapped in the silent chaos of emotions she wasn't used to feeling.