Unbreakable Duty

Decisions

The private plane cruised steadily above the clouds, its cabin eerily quiet despite the soft hum of the engines. The tension was palpable, thick enough to make even the usually chatty Bow shift uncomfortably in her seat.

Tan, seated with his arms crossed and head tilted back, seemed entirely unbothered by the atmosphere. His eyes were closed, though the faintest smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. Whether he was genuinely relaxed or simply pretending to sleep to avoid the brewing storm was anyone's guess.

Rossami sat diagonally across, her gaze flickering between everyone in the cabin. Her trained eyes picked up on the subtle cues—the stiffness in Bow's shoulders, the restless tapping of Earn's fingers against her armrest, and the distant look in Fahlada's eyes. Something had happened before they left, but no one was speaking about it, and the silence felt heavy.

Bow shifted in her seat, her usual bravado absent as she tried to shut her mouth. It was almost comical, watching her fight her natural instincts to fill the quiet with her trademark humor. But something told her that saying the wrong thing now could cause an explosion.

Earn sat across from Fahlada, her posture deceptively composed. Yet, her eyes betrayed her calm façade, darting every so often toward the captain. She was waiting, not so much for a confrontation but for answers—answers she wasn't sure she wanted to hear but desperately needed.

Fahlada, meanwhile, was miles away, her gaze fixed on the window but unfocused. Her thoughts churned like the storm clouds they had left behind in Bangkok. General Phongphipat's words echoed in her mind, their weight pressing heavily on her chest. The responsibility of protecting Earn was nothing new, but the added layer of personal stakes had shaken her resolve. Could she truly compartmentalize her feelings and her duty? The uncertainty gnawed at her.

The silence stretched on, oppressive yet unbroken. Bow's foot tapped nervously against the floor, and for a moment, it seemed she might crack, but a sharp look from Rossami kept her in check. Tan let out a soft snore, or at least something resembling one, seemingly unbothered by the drama swirling around him.

Finally, Earn couldn't take the silence anymore. She cleared her throat softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Captain," she said, her words directed toward Fahlada but hesitant. "Do you—"

The words hung in the air, unfinished, as Fahlada slowly turned to meet her gaze. Her expression was unreadable, her walls firmly back in place.

"Do I what?" Fahlada asked, her tone even but edged with exhaustion.

Earn hesitated, her courage faltering under the weight of the moment. "Do you think... we'll be safe in Singapore?"

Fahlada's lips pressed into a thin line, her gaze softening just enough to acknowledge the vulnerability in Earn's question. "Yes," she said firmly. "We will be."

It wasn't the conversation Earn had been hoping for, but it was enough for now. Bow exhaled audibly, finally breaking the tension with a nervous laugh. "Well, let's hope Singapore's tourist spots are as safe as their laws. I've got a list of food stalls to raid, and I don't want any interruptions."

Rossami rolled her eyes, while Tan's supposed snore turned into a chuckle. For a moment, the tension in the cabin eased, but the unspoken emotions lingered, waiting for another opportunity to surface.

==================

The tension in the cabin dissipated after the brief exchange, leaving a more bearable silence in its wake. No one spoke further, but the suffocating heaviness from earlier had lightened.

Earn leaned back in her seat, placing her earpods in her ears and scrolling through her playlist. She chose a familiar song, one tied to a simpler time. The music flowed softly, wrapping her in its comforting embrace as her thoughts drifted, the lyrics blurring into fragments of memory and feelings.