Tawan stepped out of the bathroom, droplets of water falling from her wet hair onto her bare shoulders. Her right arm was tightly bandaged to keep it dry. She quickly grabbed a silk robe and slipped it on when she heard a knock at the door.

"What's wrong?" - Tawan asked as she opened the door and saw Ira standing there, hugging a pillow.

"P'Tawan..." - Ira lowered her head, her voice small, hesitant—like a child caught red-handed.

"What?"

"Can you..."

"No."

"Hey! At least let me finish!" - Ira immediately looked up, protesting the blunt rejection.

"I don't need to hear the rest to know what you're about to say."

"How would you know that?" - Ira pouted.

"You want to sleep here with me, don't you?" - Tawan leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms over her chest, her injured arm resting on the other.

... _ Ira's face turned red, and she averted her gaze, caught off guard by Tawan's accurate guess.

"Go back to your room. I'm not used to sharing a bed with anyone." - Tawan explained, a rare occurrence, before straightening up to return to her room.

"Wait..." - Ira quickly grabbed the hem of Tawan's robe.

"What?"

"I... I feel a bit scared..." - Ira whispered.

"Are you afraid of ghosts?? - Tawan asked, surprised.

"No... it's just that... what happened this morning... I still feel scared. So just for tonight... can you stay with me?" Ira's voice was soft, hesitant, tinged with embarrassment. She wanted to be close to Tawan, but this wasn't just an excuse—the fear from earlier still clung to her.

"And... it's a new place... I'm not used to it yet."

Tawan studied her. Ira's head was lowered, her gaze fixed downward, too timid to meet her eyes. Even without looking, Tawan could tell—she was petrified. The slight tremble in Ira's small hands didn't escape her notice. And just like that, Tawan felt something in her heart soften.

"Fine, just for tonight. Come in." - Tawan stepped aside, breaking her usual rule.

Ira quickly stepped inside, afraid that Tawan might change her mind. As soon as she entered the room, she felt an unusual warmth that the other room lacked, with different furniture arrangements. The large 2.2-meter bed was covered with pristine white sheets, and the warm yellow light from the lamps created a cozy atmosphere. A faint blend of scents lingered in the air—essential oils, the light sweetness of body wash, and something distinctly, undeniably Tawan.

Ira stilled for a moment, her breath catching.

That scent... it was intoxicating

"What's wrong?" - Tawan sat on the bed, noticing Ira standing still, lost in thought.

"Nothing!" - Ira snapped out of it and quickly went to grab a towel and hairdryer.

"What are you doing?" - Tawan blinked as Ira began to towel-dry her hair.

"If your hair stays wet, you might catch a cold. Let me dry it for you."

"This... it's not necessary." - Tawan, unused to such care, felt a bit awkward.

"It's fine! You got hurt because of me, so let me do something for you."

Tawan didn't refuse this time.

The words "You got hurt because of me" carried a trace of guilt and self-reproach that didn't go unnoticed. She didn't want Ira to feel indebted or blame herself.

And besides...

When Ira's slender fingers threaded into her hair, gently massaging at the roots, a sensation of pure relaxation washed over Tawan—something she had never quite felt before.

Her eyes fluttered shut, her body instinctively leaning back, surrendering to the soothing touch.

Seeing this, Ira quickly climbed onto the bed, kneeling behind her for support. Just as Tawan fully let go—her body tipping backward without a second thought—she landed against something impossibly soft, warm, and undeniably distracting.

In an instant, her senses snapped back.

"Sorry..." - Tawan apologized, embarrassed.

"It's okay! You can lean on me." - Ira gently pulled Tawan to rest against her.

Tawan said nothing, letting her body relax under Ira's touch. Her eyes drifted shut, surrendering to a sensation she had never known before. Even her usual sharp instincts, always on guard, slowly unraveled. For the first time, she allowed herself to be beside someone without a trace of defense.

Sleep crept in, seeping into her mind like a slow tide. The gentle warmth on her scalp, the softness against her back—it was impossible to resist. Bit by bit, she sank into slumber.

Ira dried Tawan's hair, feeling the long, silky strands that she couldn't get enough of. The familiar scent of shampoo mixed with Tawan's unique fragrance enveloped Ira in a distinctive aroma. She tenderly pampered the hair of the person in front of her, a satisfied smile creeping onto her lips. In this moment, the world was just hers and Tawan's. Ira thought to herself that if she could trade anything, she would forsake worldly concerns to extend this moment forever.

After finishing, Ira set the hairdryer aside and reached to unplug it, not realizing Tawan had fallen asleep. When she shifted, Tawan, now without support, leaned back and startled awake. Ira quickly turned around, catching Tawan's head before it hit the bed, setting them up in an intimately close position.

Tawan jolted awake as she lost her balance—only to find herself pressed against Ira. Her head had landed on something soft and undeniably warm, and before she could process anything else, she realized Ira's arms were wrapped around her. The air in the room suddenly felt thicker, heavier, charged with something unspoken.

Ira's breath hitched as she took in the sight before her. Tawan's deep, dark brown eyes—clear as glass—reflected her own face perfectly. The sharp lines of her nose, the firm, sculpted features, the lips that were slightly parted... so dangerously close.

With Tawan's head resting against her chest, Ira froze, completely at a loss. Heat crawled up her neck, her cheeks turning a telltale shade of red, and even the tips of her ears burned with the realization.

Tawan could hear it—the erratic rhythm of Ira's heartbeat, hammering against her ribs. And for some reason... her own pulse followed suit. She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. Those hazel-brown eyes, tinged with hints of green, pulled her in—deep, consuming, inescapable.

The space between them felt thin, blurred, dangerously undefined. Ira barely noticed the way her body moved on its own, as if drawn by an unseen force.

She leaned in.

[Ring~~~]

The sudden sound of a phone ringing broke the moment. Ira quickly sat up, flustered, and Tawan followed, adjusting her breathing. She glanced at Ira, whose nightgown had slipped off one shoulder, revealing smooth skin and a delicate collarbone. A faint blush rose on Tawan's face as she quickly looked away, closing her eyes to steady herself. Ira noticed where Tawan's gaze had lingered and hastily fixed her gown, her face burning as she turned away.

[Ring~~~] [Ring~~~]

The phone continued ringing. Annoyed, Tawan frowned at the interruption. For some reason, she felt like the call had ruined something significant. Picking up the phone, she checked the caller ID, silently hoping it was important enough to justify the disturbance.

"I'm listening."

"Am... am I bothering you?" - Pey's cautious voice came through, sensing Tawan's irritation.

"Yes. So, this had better be important."

"..." - Pey swallowed nervously. - We've finished interrogating the five men from this morning.

"Who's behind it?"

"They saw a bounty posted on Z. Our team tracked the hidden IP to a deep web account in Cambodia. The methods are sophisticated, and we haven't uncovered much yet. I've already contacted Ace." - Pey reported seriously.

Tawan's frown deepened. Z was a hidden web platform used by assassins to accept jobs. It was known only to a select few, mainly powerful individuals or crime lords. The missions were ranked from F to SSS, with assassins ranked similarly based on their success rates and difficulty of jobs completed. The higher the rank, the harder it was to hire them. Tawan glanced at Ira, who had her back turned to her. A deep sense of unease rose within her.

"I want results by tomorrow. If you can't get them, I'll handle it myself."

"Roger that."

Tawan ended the call and studied Ira's slender back thoughtfully.

"Done?" - Ira turned, noticing Tawan had finished the call.

"Yes. Get some sleep. I'll take you to work tomorrow." - Tawan climbed into bed, holding her iPad.

"Aren't you going to bed now?"

"It's still early. I have things to review."

"It's almost midnight."

"You sleep first."

"P'Tawan!" - Ira suddenly sat up.

"What is it?" - Tawan asked, surprised.

"Switch places with me." - Ira gestured for Tawan to move to the inner side of the bed.

"I'm not used to the inner side" - Tawan refused.

"Neither am I" - Ira pouted, explaining, - "But your right arm is hurt."

"Huh?" - Tawan looked at her injured arm and realized Ira didn't want to accidentally hurt her.

"If I sleep on the inside, I might roll onto your arm. That wouldn't be good. So, P'Tawan, please sleep on the inside."

"Fine." - Tawan couldn't refuse Ira's thoughtful reasoning. She moved inside, making room for Ira on the outer side.

"Nice" - Ira lay down, glancing at Tawan. - "Don't stay up too late."

"Sleep well, little girl" - Tawan instinctively patted Ira's head before pulling her hand back, embarrassed. Ira giggled softly, and Tawan buried her face in her iPad to hide her blush.

Tawan tried to focus on her work but couldn't. Ira, supposedly tired, kept shifting restlessly.

"Can't sleep?" - Tawan asked.

"Sorry... I don't know why." - Ira admitted sheepishly.

"Try looking at your phone. It might help."

"I don't want to. It's just pictures and videos of me—nothing interesting."

... - Tawan realized she'd forgotten Ira was a popular idol. Of course, seeing her own face all day would get boring. - "How about working out? Exercise might tire you out."

"P'Tawan! Are you seriously suggesting I exercise at midnight?"

"Well..." - Tawan blinked. That was her go-to method—hitting the punching bag or training until she was exhausted. It clearly didn't apply to Ira.

"No way! I don't have that kind of energy."

"Then what should we do?" - Tawan sighed, helpless.

"Let me borrow your hand."

"Huh?"

"If I hold your hand, I'll feel safe enough to sleep."

Ira extended her hand, waiting expectantly. Tawan hesitated but couldn't refuse Ira's pleading eyes. She offered her left hand, and Ira immediately clasped it, holding it with both of hers and gently stroking Tawan's fingers. Tawan's heart fluttered at the soft touch.

Ira relished the warmth of Tawan's slightly rough hands, neither too smooth nor overly calloused. They felt strong yet comforting. As she played with Tawan's fingers, her eyes grew heavy, and she drifted into a peaceful sleep, her hands still clutching Tawan's.

Tawan tried to concentrate on her iPad, but the sensation of Ira's gentle touch and her steady breathing filled her with an inexplicable sense of calm. Unable to focus, she set the iPad aside, dimmed the lights using her phone, and lay down next to Ira.

As she adjusted her position, Tawan tried to withdraw her hand, but Ira held on tightly. Tawan sighed softly, resigned, and let Ira hold on.

Just as she settled, she felt Ira shift closer.. Tawan opened her eyes; the light was dim, but her vision was sharp. At that moment, Ira had just wrapped her arms around Tawan's waist and then fully lay on her left arm, the position extremely ambiguous. This was the first time Tawan had been this close to someone, so she immediately blushed. She wanted to remove Ira, but when she touched Ira to get her to let go, Ira grimaced in discomfort, her tired expression softening Tawan's heart. She stopped her movement, her left arm instinctively lifting to embrace Ira, thinking to herself that Ira had been scared today, so this was her way of comforting her. Tawan quickly found a reason for herself and gently stroked the shoulder of the sleeping person, whispering:

"Sleep well, Ira."

Whether by chance or unconscious desire, neither of them pulled away—not even for a moment. Ira held onto Tawan's waist the entire night, her embrace unwavering. Meanwhile, Tawan's arms remained wrapped around Ira, holding her close in deep, unbroken slumber. It was the first time either of them had ever slept beside someone else. And yet, they surrendered to sleep—completely at ease, completely unguarded. As if, on some unspoken level, they trusted each other beyond reason, beyond logic.

A peaceful night for both...

END CHAP 06