Ira stirred, slowly waking as her body adjusted to its natural rhythm. It had been a long time since she'd slept so soundly. Then—a sensation.

Something incredibly smooth, warm against her palm. Her mind, still sluggish from sleep, took a second to register the unfamiliar feeling. But the moment realization dawned—her drowsiness vanished entirely. Her eyes widened in shock.

Tawan's face was right there, mere inches away, still deep in sleep. And worse—Ira's hand was beneath Tawan's pajama top. Her fingertips were pressed against firm, sculpted muscle, the defined ridges of Tawan's toned abdomen unmistakable beneath her touch.

Ira jerked her hand away as if burned, her heart pounding in sheer panic. But she couldn't move. Something was holding her in place. A slow, creeping horror spread through her as she realized—Tawan's arm was draped securely around her shoulders. All night... Tawan had been holding her? A violent blush exploded across Ira's face. This was too much. Her gaze flickered back to Tawan, who was still peacefully asleep, completely unaware of the rising body temperature of the one lying nearby.

Should she throw off the blanket, sit up, and carefully cover Tawan again? No—that wouldn't work. If she did that, Tawan might get cold and wake up. Then should she try slipping under the blanket and sneaking out? No—also impossible.

Tawan's arm remained firm around her shoulder, locking her in place. Ira's thoughts spun wildly, her mind a chaotic mess—like a startled deer trapped with nowhere to run. Then suddenly—a soft exhale. The warm breath ghosted against her skin, and Ira froze. She didn't dare move.

She looked up to admire Tawan's face in slumber; in sleep, Tawan's usual dominating presence softened, adding a touch of tenderness. Ira gazed with fascination at the sharp features of the woman she admired. She didn't know why her eyes were drawn to the slightly parted lips of the sleeping figure, her gaze gentle, waves of emotion washing over her. Ira breathed softly, her heart racing, her rationality still asleep, letting her soul act on its own accord, urging her to do something she had never done before.

Ira surrendered to the pull that had been silently beckoning her all this time. And then—her lips met Tawan's. A soft press. A stolen moment. A first. The instant she felt the warmth, the softness, reality snapped back. Ira jolted upright, and retreated, her face flushed as she turned away, her hands covering her burning cheeks.

"What's wrong?" - Tawan's drowsy voice came from behind her, jolting Ira further.

"N-nothing..." - Ira stammered, unwilling to look back. Normally Tawan's voice was firm and authoritative, but her just-woken tone carried a surprising softness. It made Ira's heart itch in ways she couldn't explain. - "I-I'm going to brush my teeth."

"Hmm." - Tawan didn't press, still half-asleep. She stretched lazily, savoring the rare feeling of having slept so well. It had been far too long since she'd experienced such peace. Still lying on the bed, she called after Ira as the younger woman hurried away. - "You know, my room has a bathroom too."

"A-ah, does it? Well, um... you should use it. I'll go back to my room instead."

Before Tawan could say anything, Ira quickly ran back to her room as if fleeing for her life, the sound of two doors closing almost simultaneously making Tawan chuckle. Yesterday, she was bold enough to ask to sleep together, and this morning she was retreating like a turtle hiding its head. What on earth happened? Tawan smiled, not thinking about it further. She turned back towards her familiar side, but then she caught the scent of Ira in the air, softening her heart. The sweet fragrance lingered, and the warmth Ira left on the sheets and pillows made Tawan feel comfortable and at peace. Once again, her eyelids grew heavy, and she drifted back into sleep.

Meanwhile, Ira was wide awake, staring at her flushed face in the bathroom mirror. She couldn't believe what had just happened.

"Did I... just kiss her?" - Ira whispered to her reflection, her amber eyes wide in disbelief.

Her mind replayed the moment over and over, her heart racing anew each time. Ira had always admired Tawan as a hero; she always wanted to see Tawan again, to be by her side because she felt safe and at peace. She thought her feelings towards Tawan were of utmost admiration.

But today... she finally understood.

The moment her lips met Tawan's, her heart cried out in pure exhilaration—her soul trembled in silent celebration. It was as if electricity had surged through every cell in her body, awakening something she had never dared to name before.

And with that single moment, the truth became undeniable. This wasn't just admiration.

Admiration doesn't make you want to kiss someone. Doesn't make you crave their touch, their embrace. Doesn't make you yearn for them to love you back.

"So... this is love" - Ira murmured, her voice trembling as she studied her reflection.

Is this how her face would look every time she thinks of Tawan? Eyes filled with affection, cheeks slightly flushed, Ira smiled softly.

So, her feelings for Tawan weren't simply gratitude;

...so, her heart didn't just need to see Tawan;

...so, what her soul yearned for was the heart, soul, and even the body of the other.

"Tawan..." - Ira whispered the name she had held dear for five years, now realizing it belonged not just to her hero but to the one she loved.

When Ira returned to her room, it was over an hour later. She knocked on Tawan's door, and seeing no one answered, she gently opened it and went inside. To her surprise, Tawan was still deeply asleep in bed. Ira thought to herself that perhaps Tawan was more exhausted, and with the blood loss, it was only natural she'd be tired. Ira couldn't have imagined that it was the warmth she left behind that made Tawan linger in such a deep sleep.

"P'Tawan..." - Ira called softly, kneeling beside the bed.

"Hmm..." - Tawan stirred, catching a stronger whiff of Ira's scent as she woke. She turned toward Ira, blinking slowly as her amber-brown eyes adjusted to the light.

"Are you feeling okay? Maybe you should rest today. I can go to work on my own." - Ira's voice was gentle as she reached out to brush Tawan's hair away from her face.

"I'm fine. I'll take you to work." - Tawan allowed Ira's hand to linger in her hair, finding the gesture oddly soothing.

"Alright, I'll wait for you." - Ira smiled softly, not pushing further.

"Hmm. You can wait here or downstairs." - Tawan sat up, her movements unhurried.

"I'll wait here." - Ira stood, watching Tawan.

"Unless... you want to watch me get dressed?" - Tawan teased, turning her gaze to Ira.

"..." - Ira's face turned bright red, her guilt over the morning's kiss making her flustered. - "I-I'll wait downstairs! But wait—I need to rewrap your bandage first!"

"Alright." - Tawan nodded, watching Ira flee the room. A small smile tugged at her lips as she wondered why Ira seemed so skittish.

Tawan didn't take as long as Ira; she was downstairs in about 45 minutes, approaching and sitting down next to Ira, allowing her to remove the old bandage and tend to her wound. As soon as the old bandage was taken off, Ira inhaled sharply; the wound was stitched up like the legs of a centipede, with blood still clinging to the edges, surrounded by an unsettling purple bruise. Beneath the skin, small blood vessels crisscrossed, visibly swollen.

"Are you scared?" - Tawan asked, noticing Ira's expression.

"No..." - Ira's voice was quiet as she gently held Tawan's arm. - "I just feel... heavy-hearted."

"Heavy-hearted?" - Tawan repeated, surprised.

"You've been hurt twice now because of me, and the injuries keep getting worse..." - Ira's voice wavered, tears threatening to spill.

"Ira..."

"Tawan, promise me..." - Ira looked up, her amber eyes shimmering with unshed tears as she met Tawan's gaze. - "Promise me that if there's ever a life-threatening situation, you'll choose your safety over me. Please."

... - Tawan frowned deeply, the sight of Ira's tears cutting through her resolve.

"Tawan, this is a demand!" - Ira wiped away the tears on her face, looking at Tawan with a commanding tone - "I demand that you, in situations where your life is in danger, choose safety, your own life. If it comes to that, then it's also the time when your duty ends; you don't need to continue to stubbornly adhere to the contract! This is a demand, not a request!"

"..." - Tawan's brows furrowed even tighter; it was clear Ira was speaking to her as if giving her last wishes. Tawan's heart ached to the point of breaking, but she gritted her teeth, forcing herself to hold back and nodded.

Ira, reassured by Tawan's response, smiled with relief and continued to focus on treating Tawan's wound, oblivious to the evaluative gaze of the person in front of her.

After some initial awkwardness due to inexperience, Ira finally finished treating Tawan's wound.

"It's not very pretty, is it?" - Tawan chuckled lightly, glancing at the clumsy bandaging.

"It's my first time!" - Ira pouted, her face flushing.

"Will it be better tomorrow?" - Tawan teased, her tone soft.

"Definitely!"

"I'll trust you." - Tawan stood, gently patting Ira's head. She knew Ira had never done such tasks before, and this was already a big effort. - "Let's go."

Ira's heart swelled with joy at Tawan's affection. Smiling brightly, she followed her out the door.

Tawan brought Ira to the recording studio. The moment Ira stepped inside, she seamlessly slipped into work mode, her focus sharpening.

Tawan, on the other hand, remained outside, leaning against the wall, watching through the glass partition. Her gaze softened.

This woman... when she worked, she exuded something entirely different. There was a quiet intensity in her, an irresistible allure that pulled Tawan in. Without realizing it, Tawan found herself unable to look away. A faint smile slowly formed on her lips. But inside the booth, Ira was just the same. Her eyes—brimming with love, full of unspoken emotions—were locked onto the woman standing outside.

Her heart swelled, nearly overflowing. And when she realized Tawan was watching her too, something inside her soared, as if her very soul was rejoicing. For that moment—it was just the two of them. The rest of the world faded away. Just Tawan and Ira. Then, the first notes of the song drifted through the air. A soft, delicate melody.

Ira's heart trembled. Her lips parted—and her voice, gentle as a whispered confession, filled the room. She sang, pouring everything she felt into each lyric, her gaze never leaving Tawan's. As if, at this very moment, the song was meant only for her. And outside, Tawan stood completely still, entranced.

She could feel it—each note, each word, slipping past her defenses, wrapping around her like a quiet, heartfelt declaration. The cold walls around her heart, ones she had spent years fortifying, began to crack.

And for the first time in a long time... Tawan felt herself begin to fall.

"ยามเมื่อฝน เทลงมา เดาว่าฟ้านั้นอวยพร

When the rain pours down, I think the heavens are blessing us,

ให้ความรักเราทั้งสองครองคู่ไปนิรันดร

Granting our love to last forever.

ฮักเจ้าหลาย ฮักเจ้าหลาย จงยื่นมือให้ฟ้าท่านเถิด

I love you, I love you! Reach out to the sky above!

ฝนที่เทลงบนมือเราดั่งงานวิวาห์

The rain falling on our hands feels like our wedding day!

หากวันใด เจอพายุ คงไม่กลัวสักเท่าไหร่

If one day we face storms, I won't be afraid,

ต่อให้ฝนสาดดวงใจ รักจากเธอนั้นปลอบฉัน

Even if the rain hurts me, your love will soothe my heart,

ฮักเจ้าหลาย ฮักเจ้าหลาย จงเต้นรำยามฟ้ากระหน่ำ

I love you, I love you! Let's dance as the storm rages,

ขอแค่มีเธอทุกๆ วัน ก็เป็นเหมือนวิวาห์

As long as I have you every day, it feels like our wedding day!"

END CHAP 07

Song: Rain Wedding - Jeff Satur

This song was once posted by Orm on Instagram