BINI IMAGINES

Deadly Devotion | OT8

6/10

THIRD PERSON POV

TIME SKIP | FERNANDEZ BUILDING — KYLA's OFFICE

Kyla sat at her desk, the soft glow of the desk lamp illuminating the piles of paperwork before her. It was late, and the building had mostly quieted down, the usual buzz of activity replaced by the stillness of the night. The others were on a coffee break, leaving Kyla alone in her office with Maloi, who stood by the window, looking out at the city lights.

"Loi?" Kyla called softly, her voice breaking the silence.

Maloi quickly turned, her cheeks flushing at the sound of the nickname. "Hm?" she replied, her gaze flickering to Kyla.

Kyla walked over to the couch and sat down, her posture relaxed but her expression serious. Maloi noticed the subtle shift in Kyla's demeanor and immediately felt a wave of concern wash over her.

"Can you promise me something?" Kyla asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Maloi's heart skipped a beat at the vulnerability in Kyla's voice. She moved closer, her chest tightening with anticipation. "Ano yun?"

Kyla took a deep breath, her eyes glistening under the soft moonlight that filtered through the office windows. She reached out and gently took Maloi's hand, her grip firm but tender.

"Please... catch my mother's killer and protect me." Kyla's words were like a plea, a quiet vulnerability she rarely showed. Her eyes glowed with a mix of hope and fear, and before Maloi could respond, a tear slipped down Kyla's cheek.

Maloi felt her heart break at the sight. She quickly moved to kneel in front of Kyla, her hand still holding hers, and brushed away the tear with her thumb. "Don't cry," she said softly, her voice soothing. "Nandito lang kami... nandito ako to protect you."

Kyla sniffled, trying to compose herself. "N-natakot lang ako..." she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. The fear that had haunted her for so long now seemed to pour out in the quiet of the room.

Maloi didn't hesitate. She wrapped her arms around Kyla, pulling her into a comforting embrace. "I know... it's okay." Maloi whispered into her ear, her hand gently patting Kyla's back. "Everything's gonna be okay. Nandito lang kami."

Kyla clung to her, feeling a sense of warmth and security she hadn't realized she needed. For the first time in a while, she allowed herself to let go of the tension that had built up inside.

After a long moment, Maloi pulled back slightly, her fingers still lightly cupping Kyla's face. She gazed into her eyes, seeing the pain and fear in them, but also the trust Kyla had placed in her.

Without thinking, Maloi leaned in and kissed Kyla on the lips, her kiss soft and gentle. It wasn't filled with urgency or passion, but with the quiet promise of protection. Kyla's eyes fluttered shut, her breath catching in her throat as Maloi's kiss calmed her, easing her fears.