Archive of Our Own

“Miss Yao.”

“Gah! E-Eve!” Astra spins at the sound of her name. “Hey…w-what are you doing here at this hour?”

“I believe that question is yours to answer,” Evelyn replies coolly. “You know you're not meant to be wandering around the streets alone.”

Frankly, Evelyn is unfazed by yet another one of Astra’s nighttime escapades. The singer's done this far too many times to count—let alone remember. Evelyn is merely thankful that Astra always comes back unscathed.

“I-I wasn't wandering,” Astra rolls her eyes, standing her ground. “Just…lost. Yup, totally lost.”

“Lost? Please—you snuck out through a window of the studio,” Evelyn crosses her arms, sighing. “Do you have any idea how hard I had to work to calm the producer down? I had to reschedule your recordings again.”

Astra stares at her for a moment, her fingers fiddling the hem of her dress. “I couldn't stand him anymore. I just decided I needed a break—that's all.”

In all honesty, Evelyn wants to wrestle Astra into the back of her car and take her home—far away from this creepy alleyway in Lumina Square. But she knows that forcing the singer would only make things harder, and so, Evelyn decides to approach things civilly. 

“You…” her gaze softens on the singer and she extends a hand towards her. “You could've just told me if you wanted a break.”

“I know, I know…” Astra answers, stepping closer to Evelyn. The playful glint in her eyes is still present. “Sorry, really—I didn't mean to make things harder for you.”

“...It's fine,” Evelyn feels herself relaxing as the singer reaches for her hand. “But we should get going now—you have a long day ahead of you tomorrow.”

“We could do that,” Astra hesitates, hand hovering over Evelyn's. “Or…”

At the pause, the singer retracts her arm, a smirk curling on her lips. Dread enters Evelyn at this action. 

“Or, since we're already here…let's hang around Lumina Square for a bit longer!” Astra suggests, her voice teasing. 

Evelyn sighs deeply, a frown beginning to form. She should've known better than to think that the Astra Yao would give in so easily. 

“Miss Yao,” the bodyguard furrows her brows. “It's late. We can always come back to Lumina Square on a different occasion.”

“Come on, Eve…” Astra trails off, clasping her hands together. She says in an exaggerated tone, “can we just stay here for a little longer—please?”

It's uncanny how well the ‘most well known celebrity in New Eridu’ is playing the role of an innocent child. The singer's antics are almost too much for Evelyn to handle, but each time, she can't help but smile at them.

It's hard to deny that Astra can be adorable when she tries. 

Still, Evelyn stands firm, crossing her arms in protest. 

When she doesn't answer, Astra persists, giving Evelyn a playful pout. “Eve…you know how hard we've been working—I'm sure you could use a break too. I won't take too long.”

For a moment, Evelyn stares at her, exasperated. They've known each other long enough that the bodyguard can tell when Astra’s being sincere—she doesn't sense any ill intent coming from her. 

“...Fine,” Evelyn sighs in defeat when Astra doesn't back off. “But we'll only visit one store—after that, I'm sending you straight home.”

Astra’s face lights up—and Evelyn almost regrets giving in. But seeing the joy on the singer's face makes it feel worth it. 

“Thank you, thank you—thank you, Eve! You're the best!” Astra exclaims in excitement, her sunglasses slipping down her nose as she jumps up into the air. 

“It's…nothing,” Evelyn dismisses the singer, turning away. “Just make sure to stay by my side—don't wander off again.”

“All right, all right, I get it,” Astra stretches her arms behind her back. She walks ahead, clearly enjoying Evelyn's reaction. “Have some faith in me, will you?”

Evelyn watches in silence as Astra marches in front of her, her frustration fading. 

But then, Astra stops suddenly, inching even closer to the bodyguard—a mischievous gleam evident in her eyes. 

“M-Miss Yao…?” Evelyn stammers, ignoring the subtle way her heart races. Astra’s close—too close—and Evelyn can practically feel her breath on her lips. 

Astra says nothing, merely leaning in even closer. Evelyn takes a step back, almost tripping over her own feet. 

“Boop!” In a sudden flash, Astra pokes her nose, before turning around and running off—her laughter echoing through the alley. 

Shit. 

The bodyguard is caught off guard by the gesture, her face scrunching up at the sudden attack. 

Evelyn stands frozen for a moment, blinking in disbelief. When she regains her composure, she sees Astra in the distance waving at her. 

“Last one to San Z Studio’s a rotten egg!” Astra calls out, her voice cheerful and full of energy. 

Evelyn groans, cursing herself for not remaining alert. But there's no time to dwell on it, she's got to catch up to the Astra one way or anot—

Taking a step forward, Evelyn freezes, a sudden chill crawling under her skin. 

Is someone here? 

Evelyn looks around, but the alleyway is empty. Nothing unusual. Perhaps it's just her imagination? Or just a street cat? 

“Damn it, Astra…” Evelyn mutters. 

Shaking off the unease, Evelyn refocuses. Astra’s still ahead, and she's not going to let her go too far again this time. 

-----

Evelyn takes a second to register the headline on the newspaper. 

‘Famed Singer Astra Yao’s Midnight Rendezvous Sparks Romance Rumours!’

She takes another for her gaze to flicker to the accompanying picture below the headline—a blurry shot, clearly taken by an amateur.

If memory serves her right, the picture was most likely snapped when Astra had run off to Lumina Square a few days ago. It was probably the moment when Astra had invaded Evelyn's personal space, throwing her off guard.

But in this particular image? The angle of the shot made it seem much more intimate than it really was. Simply put, it seemed like Astra was…kissing someone. 

Of course, that wasn't how it played out. But it's not like the media ever cared about context—they've done this countless times before. 

Thankfully though, only Astra’s face is clearly seen in the picture; Evelyn's face is barely visible—just the back of her head. However, from what Evelyn had gathered from the article—it seemed like the image had spread to Inter-Knot, and fans were speculating on who this ‘mysterious person’ could be. 

This definitely wasn't good. 

Evelyn looks up from the newspaper to see a rather unhappy looking Hobson glaring at them, his expression darkening. After the mess at Starloop Tower—Evelyn was already on thin ice with the secretary—and now, with such news appearing in the headlines, she's sure it's only going to get worse.

“Care to explain how this happened?” The secretary says through gritted teeth, suppressing his anger. 

“It…isn't what it looks like,” Evelyn states. “You know how the paparazzi are—they're just looking to start rumours.”

“Telling me how the paparazzi work isn't helpful!” Hobson shouts, gesturing at the newspaper laid across the table. He turns to face Astra. “Do you have any idea how this could affect your image?!”

Seeing the fuming secretary, Astra only lets out a giggle. At least one of them found it funny. 

“My Astranauts really are something else!” Astra says in between chuckles, wiping a tear away from her eye. She pulls out her phone showing it to Eve. “Some of their guesses are like…way off!”

Evelyn scans the screen in front of her. Among names of various high profile actors and singers in New Eridu, there was one that stood out most—her own. 

That's right—‘Evelyn Chevalier’ seemed to be the number one suspect for Astra’s secret lover. 

“What?!” Hobson cries out, snatching the phone away from the singer. “Give me that!”

Steam is practically coming out of the secretary's ears by now as he aggressively scrolls through Inter-Knot on Astra’s phone. 

“I don't get what's the big deal,” Astra shrugs nonchalantly, leaning back on her chair. “It's not like it's anything new—the Astranauts have been shipping us since forever!”

It wasn't untrue—there have been plenty of occasions where pictures of Evelyn and Astra had spread online, sparking rumours. Hell, they even created a ship name for them—‘Astralyn’ if Evelyn remembers it correctly. 

But then again, there have never been rumours to this extent—no doubt fueled by the leaked image. 

“I'm…sure the rumour will die down eventually,” Evelyn clears her throat, mustering up the courage to calm the raging secretary down. “Perhaps we could contact the journalist who wrote the article?”

Hobson shakes his head, clearly exasperated. “There's no use now—it's all over Inter-Knot.”

She can understand the secretary's frustration—this didn't seem like any minor issue. With Astra’s fame reaching new heights recently and the singer being such a public figure in New Eridu—rumours like these could easily get out of hand, especially with the intensity of social media and eager fans. It could affect Astra’s reputation as a celebrity—which Evelyn knew Hobson was most worried about. After all, a cancelled celebrity wasn't going to make money for Odeum.

“Come on,” Astra remains seemingly unbothered. “It's not like other celebrities haven't had romance rumours—it's just one picture. What's all the fuss about?”

“Miss Yao…” Evelyn starts, her voice calm as she tries to regain control of the situation. “This isn't just one picture. This is a very specific rumour. You know how tabloids love to twist things—and with your previous ‘scandal’ regarding Starloop Tower—this could have a serious impact on your reputation.”

“Not to mention Odeum’s reputation!” Hobson shoots her a sharp look. “You just released your latest single—do you know how hard it's going to be to contain something like this?”

Astra sinks back into her chair at the secretary's outburst, annoyed by how he was treating her. It didn't feel right to the bodyguard to allow such things to happen. 

“Please excuse Miss Yao’s behaviour,” Evelyn straightens up, furrowing her brows at Hobson. “I'm sure we can find a way to settle this mess. Perhaps Odeum could release a statement, or we co—”

“NO!” Hobson cuts Evelyn short, slamming his fist against the table. “I've had it enough with you two!”

“Every. Single. Week. News articles or pictures of Astra pop up on Inter-Knot, because YOU” Hobson points at Astra, “can’t seem to follow any simple rules.” He then turns to face Evelyn. “And because YOU can't control her!”

Evelyn scratches her neck, unnerved by the scolding the two were receiving. She already knew that Hobson had a…grudge held against her due to her links with the ‘Organisation’, but she'd never seen him this angry before. His face was practically red with anger.

“Mr Hobson—” Evelyn begins but is immediately shut down. 

“You two will fix this mess you both created,” Hobson declares. “I don't care how you do it—just shut it down.”

Astra shoots Evelyn a confused glance, but the bodyguard remains silent.

The singer glares at Hobson. “Hey, you can't talk to us like th—”

“...Yes, sir,” Evelyn sighs, raising a hand to quiet Astra. “We'll sort this mess out. You don't need to worry.”

“Good,” Hobson huffs, his anger still boiling. “I better not see another scandal in the news or else you two are gone. Understood?”

Evelyn can only nod in resignation as Hobson storms out the room, slamming the door shut behind him. When he's finally gone, the bodyguard lets out a long breath. The tension in the room is like a taut string—and all Evelyn is focused on is controlling the storm inside her.

On the other hand, Astra seemed much more relaxed than Evelyn. She glances over at her, clearly bothered.

“How could you let him speak to you like that?!” Astra exclaims in disbelief. “It's not like we did anything wrong—those paparazzi are the ones to blame!”

“Let's…Let's just go, Miss Yao,” Evelyn rubs her temples, the weight of the situation falling on her shoulders. “You have to be at the studio in a few hours.”

With Evelyn avoiding the question, Astra can only frown, quietly asking. “But what about the picture in the news?”

Evelyn, tired and drained, doesn't have the energy for another debate. “...I'll think of something.”

Astra falls silent, but her small nod of acknowledgement is enough. For once, Astra doesn't argue.

“Come on, let's get going—all right?” Evelyn extends a hand, giving Astra a small smile to lighten the mood. “We can't have you running late again, can we?”

“I'm sure the producers won't mind,” Astra grabs her hand, the touch warm in Evelyn's palm; the bodyguard can't help but feel a fleeting sense of comfort. “Besides, I'll always have the best manager ever to cover for me!”

Evelyn chuckles at this, leading Astra out the door.

For now, she puts the situation at the back of her mind—simply enjoying her current time with Astra.

-----

The drive to the studio is quiet for the most part, broken only by Astra's occasional rambling on random topics. Evelyn listens intently, offering a smile here and there as she runs through Astra's schedule in her head—as well as the studio's various exit routes.

It never hurts to be prepared, after all.

As their limousine pulls in, Evelyn can already spot the people waiting outside the studio. It's not uncommon for reporters or even fans to show up, hoping for a glimpse to catch Astra—but the sight always hits Evelyn with unease, a constant worry for the singer's safety. 

Thankfully, Evelyn had requested backup as a precaution and various bodyguards were holding the overly eager people back—ensuring they were kept at bay.

As they step out of the car, various sights and sounds hit them.

“Miss Yao! Could you please tell us about the release date for your next album?”

“Miss Yao—are the romance rumours true?”

“Astra Yao, I love you!”

Questions, shouts and exclamations fill the air as Evelyn leads Astra forward, a hand gently resting on the singer's back. The blinding flashes of cameras stun the bodyguard for a moment, but she pushes through, guiding Astra to the entrance of the building.

The singer waves towards the crowd, putting on her brightest smile—but doesn't answer any questions.

When they reach the entrance, Evelyn holds the door for Astra, gesturing for her to step inside.

But Astra just stands there, turning to face Evelyn. She's got a grin on her face as she raises her eyebrows in quick, suggestive movements—as though signalling for Evelyn to do something.

Clueless, Evelyn stares at her blanky, furrowing her brows. She doesn't get the singer's hint.

“Miss Yao?” Evelyn asks, gesturing at the door. “What are you waiting for?”

Astra shakes her head, chuckling as Evelyn's confusion deepens. “Sorry in advance.”

“Sorry?” Evelyn's cocks her head, still unsure. “What fo—”

Her question is answered as two hands gently grip her cheeks as Astra pulls her closer. Evelyn flinches, caught off guard by the sudden action, and before she even processes it—

Their lips meet.

They part rather quickly—the kiss barely lasting for a second—but the crowd erupts. The lights from cameras increase dramatically, as fans shout and gasp in awe of what they've just witnessed.

Evelyn doesn't know what emotion reaches her first. Shock? Confusion? She stands there as still as a statue, thoughts on what had just happened rushing to her.

Astra had kissed her.

In front of everyone.

Oh. 

Oh no.

Hobson was going to kill her.

But it doesn't matter right now as Astra yanks her by the arm into the studio, shutting the door behind them—the noise from the crowd now fading.

“Come on, we're going to be late!” Astra says nonchalantly—as if she hadn't just kissed Evelyn a minute ago. 

Shaking off her residual shock, the red faced bodyguard can only follow after the singer, as obedient as ever.

-----

“You kissed me,” Evelyn says a few hours later.

They haven't had a chance to talk about…that—with Astra's recording session and all. It didn't seem like Astra was affected by the kiss, as she was acting like her usual self in the car. But for Evelyn, she was practically in a dazed state the entire time at the studio, mixed emotions hitting her.

“What about it?” Astra shrugs nonchalantly, scrolling through her phone. “It's not like I haven't kissed you before.”

To be fair, Astra wasn't wrong. She had kissed Evelyn on the cheek multiple times throughout the years. She's just never done it like that.

“But you kissed me…on the lips,” Evelyn feels her face grow warm as she looks away from the singer. “In front of your fans.”

“Eve?” Astra giggles, eyeing the suspiciously red bodyguard. “Don't tell me you're—”

“Are you blushing right now?” Astra nudges Evelyn, her laughter increasing. “You're so red!”

“I'm not,” Evelyn furrows her brows, rolling her eyes. “We were meant to dispel the rumours—not fuel them.”

“Well, I just thought that we might as well give the Astranauts what they want!” Astra’s grin grows bigger at Evelyn's protests. “It'll give me publicity, and also technically get rid of the rumours! I'm sure that's all Hobson cares about anyway.”

Evelyn pauses, the gears in her head churning as she processes the words entering her ears. She doesn't know how Astra comes up with her ideas. While she may be a lyrical genius—the bodyguard isn't so sure about the singer's abilities to come up with feasible plans. 

“So what—you want us to ‘put on a show’ in front of your fans?” Evelyn glances towards the cheerful singer, mumbling. “...I would've appreciated being notified of your plan before you kissed me.”

Astra sees the way Evelyn avoids her gaze and that only spurs her on even more. “I'm sorry, I should've told you beforehand,” Astra says in a sing-songy voice, hand placed on the bodyguard’s shoulder. “Come on, Eve—are you actually mad at me?”

Evelyn wasn't mad per se—she doesn't think it's physically possible to stay mad at the singer—she's just…embarrassed. 

She turns to face Astra who has a blinding grin on her face. With the puppy-eyes the singer was giving her, Evelyn knows she's fighting a losing battle. The bodyguard sighs, her mind no longer racing with plans and strategies—just mere confusion and frustration. 

“I'm not mad,” Evelyn says slowly. “Just didn't know that ‘acting’ as Astra Yao’s girlfriend was part of my job description.”

That gets a laugh out of the singer. “You just seemed stressed about the whole situation and you're always helping me solve my problems—so I thought I would solve yours for once,” Astra’s tone softens as she places her hand over Evelyn's. “Besides, your reaction was definitely worth it!”

“That's not the point,” Evelyn shoots her a look, her eyes narrowing. Despite her expression, she still holds the singer's hand in hers. “I was just caught off guard.”

“I'll take your word for it then,” Astra smirks. “So…are you in on my plan, or not?”

“Do I really have a choice?” Evelyn says sarcastically, crossing her arms. 

Astra rolls her eyes. “Hey! Don't be like that,” the singer complains. “I'll make it up to you, all right?”

“Hobson’s definitely going to get rid of us once he finds out,” Evelyn jokes, shaking her head. 

Astra doesn't say anything else, just resting her head on Evelyn's shoulder for the remainder of the ride. 

The bodyguard can only try to ignore the way her heart thumps as she wonders whether the kiss was just an accident, or the start of something more. 

-----

Surprisingly, Hobson wasn't all that mad when he found out about Astra’s little plan. Albeit somewhat in shock at first, he ended up supporting the idea after Astra had explained the benefits to doing so. So much so, that Odeum had already arranged for the pair to attend a Gala together—as a way of publicly announcing their ‘relationship’. 

The singer also seemed rather excited about this PR stunt—showing Evelyn posts on Inter-Knot every now and then, of fan speculations about their relationship. 

The only person who wasn't as keen on the idea was Evelyn herself. 

Her role beside Astra has always been clear—to keep the singer safe and protect her from harm's way. And yet, recent events have only made Evelyn question whether their relationship was strictly that of a celebrity and their manager. 

Throughout the years Evelyn has been by Astra’s side, they've already blurred the lines between a contractual bond—rather treating one another as friends. Actually, she's always thought of Astra as more than a friend—an important person in Evelyn's life. The events at Starloop Tower only solidified this belief. 

And yet, after the surprise kiss by Astra that day… 

Evelyn doesn't know why she's bothered so much by it. Perhaps it's the way Astra brushed it off like it was nothing? Or maybe it's because she wants it to happen again? To kiss Astr—

What was she thinking?! 

It's unusual for the bodyguard to let such a small matter get to her to this extent. Her heart races everytime she's near Astra—and the fact that Evelyn's meant to pose as the singer's girlfriend, will only result in their increased proximity. 

She attempts to slow her breathing, fidgeting with her tie as she stares ahead at Astra; She seemed to be focused on her reflection in the mirror.

“Oh!” Astra suddenly exclaims, spinning around in her chair to look up at the bodyguard. “We need a cover story!”

“What?” Evelyn raises a brow at the statement. “Is that really necessary?”

The singer rapidly nods her head. “Obviously,” Astra replies. “You know—in case people asked how we started ‘dating’.”

“And just what should that story be?” Evelyn walks over to Astra, moving to stand in front of her. 

“Hmm…” Astra pauses, as though racking her brain for any ideas. “If anyone asks, tell them that you've been secretly in love with me for years—and that one day after my New Year's concert, you finally cracked and confessed!”

“What?” Evelyn nearly trips over her own feet at this. “Why would I be the one who confessed first?”

“Because you're always following me around like a lost puppy—duh,” Astra giggles, standing up. “Plus, it’d be funny to tell people that!”

“...” Evelyn grows red at the tease. “Are you done yet, Miss Yao?”

“You know, you've gotta stop calling me that. Just call me Astra, like you always do when we're at home!” The singer reaches for Evelyn's tie, adjusting it along with her shirt collar. “People won't believe we're dating if you keep referring to me like that—and it makes me sound old.”

Evelyn glances away, attempting to ignore the fact that Astra’s leaning closer into her personal space. “I'll keep that in mind, Miss Y—”

Astra shoots her a look, which makes Evelyn cut herself short. “...Astra.”

Satisfied, Astra pats Evelyn on the chest, smiling down at her. “That sounds better doesn't it?”

Evelyn hums in agreement, expecting Astra to say something else, but she remains silent, staring at the bodyguard. “Astra, is something the matter?” The name still feels foreign on her tongue, but she says it nonetheless. 

“Oh, no. It's nothing, ”Astra blinks in quick succession, before stepping away—like as though she was broken out of a trance. “You just look rather…dashing in these clothes.”

Has Astra gotten slyer overnight? 

The sudden change in the singer's demeanor makes Evelyn feel both flattered and oddly unsettled. Evelyn can't quite figure out how to respond to Astra’s words, leaving them lingering in the air. She clears her throat, in an attempt to steer the conversation back onto the right track. 

“Well, thank you,” Evelyn ignores the way her breath hitches, pulling at the sleeves of her shirt absentmindedly. “We're attending a Gala after all, so it only felt appropriate to dress up.”

The bodyguard pauses, before continuing. “Could you remind me of the plan again?”

The playful glint in the singer's eyes return, enjoyment clearly evident on her face. “Well, all we need to do at the Gala is mingle around with the other guests, act like the perfect couple in front of the journalists, and maybe I'll even give you a kiss or two!”

Evelyn is taken aback by the statement, cheeks warming. “...If you keep talking like that I'm going to start thinking that this isn't an act.”

“That's part of the fun, isn't it?” Astra snickers, before grabbing Evelyn by the arm. “Anyways, we should get going!”

“Of course,” Evelyn rolls her eyes, sarcasm leaking through her words. “Lead the way, my dear Astra.”

-----

As their limousine pulls into the venue, the cameras and the surrounding crowd ignite. 

Like always, Evelyn steps out of their vehicle first, before extending a hand for Astra to hold onto. The singer gives her a grin as they walk hand in hand down the red carpet, accompanied by flashes of cameras every now and then. 

Thankfully, being a private event, the crowd was less rowdy this time—being made up of mostly reporters and journalists. Combined with the fact that Evelyn would be spending the whole night being right beside the singer, it put the bodyguard’s mind to ease. 

The Gala wasn't anything too stressful—mostly just meant for New Eridu’s celebrities to mingle around, and for journalists to collect gossip. It doesn't take long before Hobson spots them from across the room, and the pair are dragged to someone interviewing this night's attendees. 

Evelyn tries to ignore their interlocked hands the whole time. 

“Ms Yao—Thank you for agreeing to this interview!” The bubbly man welcomes the two with open arms. “It's great to have you here!”

Astra chuckles, putting on her celebrity persona. “Oh please, the pleasure is all mine!” 

The interviewer flashes a gleaming smile, before starting to fire questions at the Singer. Most of them were basic ones—like the reasons for Astra’s attendance, or how she was enjoying the Gala so far. Astra answers them with relative ease, just like the countless times she's done so before. Cameras flash, but Astra shines even brighter. 

By her side, Evelyn remains a solitary figure, intently listening in on her inputs. She now has an arm wrapped around Astra’s waist—a part of her wondering whether the cameras were capturing her hand placement. 

It isn't until the interviewer clears his throat, that Evelyn realises he is looking at her. His eyes darted between the two before speaking again. 

“Now, apologies if I may be intruding—but regarding the rumours floating around on Inter-Knot recently…” The man pauses as though afraid to ask the question. “Do you have anything to say about it, Ms Yao? Or perhaps…you, Ms Chevalier?”

“I, uh—” For a moment, Evelyn is taken aback by the interviewer's sudden focus on her. 

“Well, if you really must know,” the Bodyguard is saved by Astra, who puts a hand on her shoulder. “Yes—the rumours are true!” Astra glances at the woman beside her, smiling. “It's only been a few weeks but we're happy. Isn't that right, Eve?”

The singer pats Evelyn on the shoulder, as though signalling for her to respond. “Yes, that's right.”

Her response comes out almost robotic—unfamiliar with being the target of such an interview. But Astra manages to keep the conversation going with practiced ease. 

“We would appreciate it if my Astranauts could respect our privacy, ” Astra continues, giggling. “Eve’s a bit shy, you see.”

The way Astra always teases Evelyn no matter the given situation, just makes her even more embarrassed at the remark—but she doesn't say anything, not wanting to ruin their plan. 

“Ah, of course! I'm sorry,” the interviewer nods, changing the topic. “How about we go on to the next question?”

As the interview bounced between Astra and the man, Evelyn couldn't help but think about how the singer was putting on a show for the cameras. And yet, gestures and expressions weren't something you could easily fake. The soft caresses, accidental brushes, and the way Astra’s eyes lit up when talking about Evelyn…they all seemed genuine, in a way. 

She knew it was just acting—Astra was an incredible actor after all. But it seemed too good—like it wasn't an act. Or perhaps that was just what Evelyn subconsciously wanted to be true. 

Whatever it was, it repeats itself throughout the night like a cycle. The pair would mingle with the other guests or interviewers. Astra and Evelyn would act like a couple in front of them. Then, Evelyn would replay Astra’s touches in her mind—overthinking about the singer's true intent—and before long, the events would repeat themselves again, driving Evelyn deeper into despair. 

By the end of the night, the bodyguard is exhausted—drained from the many interactions at the Gala. She wonders how Astra could always stay so energetic even after such events. 

“You did a great job out there,” Astra says when the two are back in the limousine. “I think it's about time you start your acting career!”

“I appreciate the compliment,” Evelyn rolls her eyes. “But…I think I already have my hands full—making sure you don't run off again and all.”

Astra lets out a breath of laughter that makes Evelyn's heart skip a beat. “Well, either way, I had fun tonight,” the singer pauses, looking out the window of the vehicle. “Even if we had to talk to all those interviewers.”

“Oh?” Evelyn perks up at the statement. Astra’s never been…fond of attending such events. In her words, she ‘hated talking with the big-wigs’. “I thought you hated these parties. What's so different this time?”

“It's you, silly,” Astra smiles under the dim glow of the light in the limousine. 

Evelyn doesn't know what to say. The warmth bubbling inside of her was getting harder to ignore. She hesitates—unable to come up with a proper reply to the singer's words. 

“You're so hard to read, Eve,” Astra sighs, shaking her head solemnly. “You know you can tell me anything…right?”

“Astra…”

This was her chance. To spill every emotion she's been bottling up for who knows how long, to tell Astra how shes truly feels. And yet…

The words freeze on her tongue, and her eyes squeeze shut. 

“I'm glad you had fun,” Evelyn swallows down her nerves, managing to let out a sound. “I…had fun with you too.”

The words only fuel the bitter taste in her mouth. 

-----

Frankly, Evelyn has been in worse situations. 

From her time in the ‘Organisation’—she's dealt with many different scenarios that had varying degrees of danger. Near death experiences, injuries—you name it, and Evelyn has probably experienced it before. 

She's always been able to walk it off, never faltering under the pressure, never letting it stop her from carrying out her duties. And yet… 

“...Is this really necessary?” Evelyn mutters, eyes darting across the room, unsure of where to look. 

Her current predicament was a bit…peculiar. An unintended—or perhaps warranted in Astra's case—consequence of another one of Astra’s ‘brilliant’ ideas. 

The singer sighs at this, fussing. “Come on, Eve, hold still!” She grabs Evelyn by the chin, directing her head to face her. “It's going to smudge if you keep moving!”

Evelyn brings her legs up, burying her face into her knees. “I didn't agree to…whatever this is.” Evelyn persists, her cheeks growing warm. Her eyes flicker up slightly, her head still buried. “You told me you wanted to try your new lipsticks. Not like this.”

If anyone were to walk in on them right now, it would be a long story to explain—with Evelyn's face full of lipstick marks, and Astra holding an assortment of different shades of lipstick. Evelyn can already feel her embarrassment spiking just thinking of it. 

“Well, I'm testing it out right now, aren't I?” Astra giggles at the way the tips of the bodyguard’s ears turn red. “Look up, please? I promise this is the last one.”

Evelyn takes a peek at Astra opposite her again. She can't recall a time where she hasn't agreed to the singer's whims. The bodyguard raises her head slowly, half dreading her current predicament, but knowing full well that there was no escape. 

“...Just once more,” Evelyn frowns, declaring. “And then, I'll wipe it all off.”

Astra’s eyes sparkle with mischief, her lips turning into a smirk. “Of course! Trust me, you'll like this one.” She reaches for yet another tube of lipstick—dark red this time—before applying it on her lips. 

“You already said that about the purple one, and the pink one, and even the coral one,” Evelyn groans, ignoring the way her heart flutters as Astra looks at her with adoration. Her eyes narrow. “I'm starting to doubt your true intentions regarding this whole…‘experiment’.”

Evelyn protests are cut short when Astra leans forward. She freezes as the singer gives her a soft kiss on the forehead. “There! Now you look amazing!” Astra exclaims, passing a mirror over to Evelyn.

“I look ridiculous,” Evelyn murmurs, hugging her knees even tighter as she stares into the mirror. Her face was red from sheer embarrassment. “You've made me look utterly ridiculous.” She repeats. 

Evelyn wasn't necessarily mad at Astra for doing this. But it wasn't helping with her underlying feelings for the singer at all. It also wasn't helpful that they still had their fake relationship going on. 

After sitting on the singer's bed for roughly thirty minutes—kissing, laughing, and feeling more overwhelmed by the second—Evelyn was about ready to combust. 

“I think you look cute,” Astra says, capping away the lipsticks. She reaches for her phone, smiling at Evelyn. “Hey Eve, look here!”

Evelyn glances up at Astra, staring at the singer’s phone like a deer in headlights. It's only when she hears the sound of a shutter before Evelyn realises what Astra had just done. 

“This is such a great photo!” Astra laughs, examining the picture on her phone. She turns it around for Evelyn to see. “The Astranauts are going to love this!”

“What?” Evelyn protests. “Astra, you can't post that—I look absurd!”

“Oh, really? ” Hearing this, Astra’s smile only grows even bigger. Evelyn tries to reach for the phone, but Astra yanks it back before she can. “I'm sure it'll do wonders online though!”

“Astra.” Evelyn furrows her brows, extending her hand towards the singer. “Phone. Now.”

“And what if I don't?” Astra replies, the playful tone in her voice evident. “Why don't you stop me?”

If it's a game Astra wants to play, Evelyn might as well indulge. It was only fair after all. 

Evelyn lets Astra’s words linger in the room, before lunging for the phone in the singer's hand, catching her off guard. Astra giggles as she tries to avoid the bodyguard’s grasp.

“You're too slow, Eve!” Astra teases, grinning as she holds the phone just out of her reach. Astra notes the way Evelyn's blush grows deeper at the taunt, the same time a small smile appears on her face. But what she doesn't notice is Evelyn diving straight at her—sending them both crashing down onto the sheets. 

Astra’s back crashes into the mattress first, as Evelyn soon follows—falling on top of the singer. For a second, they lie tangled on the bed, momentarily stunned by the collision. 

Then, Astra breaks the silence first. “That's definitely cheating!” She's clearly unbothered by Evelyn's weight on top of her. 

The bodyguard pants, pushing herself up by the arms. Astra still has her phone in a tight grip, but Evelyn can't find it in herself to care about the picture anymore—not when her mind is racing with a million thoughts about the sight beneath her. 

Evelyn's face grows hot as she stares at Astra splayed out across the bed, her hair a mess. They're close—so close that Evelyn can feel the warmth of the singer's body against her. They're close—so close that Evelyn can hear the sounds of their laboured breaths in sync—tickling against her skin. They're so close—that the sight of it overwhelms Evelyn in the best and most terrifying way possible. 

Her eyes flicker towards Astra’s face.

“Eve?” 

Astra doesn't say anything else when Evelyn continues to hover over her. 

She doesn't say anything when Evelyn leans in closer, hesitating at the last second. 

No words are certainly spoken when their lips meet in synchrony—the phone slipping from Astra’s grasp, now long forgotten.

It seems so right.

But it feels so wrong. 

It all comes rushing back to her as Evelyn pulls away, despite Astra’s grip on her neck. What has she done? Was she insane? 

She's just crossed a line she can't uncross. 

That feeling of warmth that Evelyn felt, instantly vanishes. She pushes herself away from Astra’s figure, sitting back on her haunches. 

“I-I'm sorry—” Evelyn stutters out, now moving away from the bed. She feels sick to her stomach. “I didn't—”

“Wait, Eve—” Astra pushes herself up by her elbows, trying to reach out and grab Evelyn by the hand, but the bodyguard yanks her arm away—as though disgusted by the touch. “Listen to me, it's fine!”

“I…I need to go,” Evelyn shakes her head, backing away from the bed. She continues looking at Astra, her brows furrowing as she steps out of the bedroom, almost tripping over her own feet. “I have to go.”

“Wha—Eve!” Astra calls out, chasing after the woman, but Evelyn doesn't turn around to look at her. She can't. Not now. Not after what she just did. Instead, she storms out of the singer's bedroom, making a beeline to the entrance of the house. 

“Where are you going?!” Astra asks, tries again to grab onto Evelyn's wrist again to no avail. 

Evelyn avoids Astra’s touch. Key in her hand, she unlocks the door, never pausing. “I have an errand to run.”

“An errand?” Astra questions, exasperated. She stands in the hallway, watching as Evelyn steps out of the house. “It's the middle of the nigh—”

The door slams. 

Evelyn's shudders, not meaning to use that much force. But she doesn't turn back, walking away from the door. 

The further she gets away from the house, the more the guilt starts to sink into the bodyguard. 

She hadn't planned on what to do once she left, but Evelyn continued walking forward. 

What could she possibly do to fix this mess? 

She doesn't know what possessed her to initiate such an act—even so, it was wrong—she took advantage of Astra. She was supposed to protect the singer, not exploit her role as her bodyguard to get closer to her over some nonsensical feelings! There wasn't any way to take back what she'd just done.

Her steps quicken, each step feeling heavier than the last. She doesn't know where she's going, but she doesn't stop. She doesn't want to think, doesn't want to—

“Evelyn!”

She knows that voice, but doesn't dare look back at its source. For a brief moment, she stops—footsteps halting on the pavement. But as quick as she stops, Evelyn resumes her escape. 

“You should return home, Miss Yao,” Evelyn musters the words out, voice stiff. “It's late.”

“We need to talk about it!” Astra declares, following closely behind. “Can you please stop walking away?”

This time, Evelyn does. 

It's not because she wants to, but because her body betrays her at the sound of the singer’s pleas. Her feet remain rooted to the floor, her shoulders tense. She knows if she faces Astra, knows that if she even dares look her in the eye—her guilt will fully consume her. 

“I-I shouldn't have done that,” Evelyn admits. “We shouldn't have done that.” She reaffirms. “We shouldn't have even started this whole…thing in the first place.”

“...Why not?” Astra asks quietly. 

“It was inappropriate of me to agree to something like this,” Evelyn clenches her fists, breath shaking. “You're my client, and I'm supposed to be your bodyguard. This shouldn't have happened. At all.”

“...” Astra pauses, taking her words in. “Was it so wrong of you to kiss me?”

“So wron—Astra, why don't you get it?” Evelyn chokes out, struggling to keep her emotions in check. They're on a random sidewalk in the middle of the night for crying out loud. “I crossed the line—your boundaries—even though I knew it was wrong. I knew from the start that I was taking advantage of you just because of… I don't know, some stupid feelings?”

She knows she's making a scene, the words coming out her mouth as though she's quoting them directly from some cliché romance movie. But they're not in one. Not when Astra’s standing there, as real as ever, confronting her about their situation. 

Evelyn is suddenly spun around by a harsh pull by her forearm. Before she can even react, she's met with the sight of Astra—eyebrows furrowed, eyes glistening, under the soft glow of the moonlight. Evelyn knows she's done for. 

“What if I wanted to kiss you?” Words spoken softly, as though a whisper, Astra squeezes Evelyn's arm. 

The confession leads to a pin-drop silence. 

“I—what?” The words are all Evelyn can muster. She can barely hear herself over the sound of blood rushing to her ears. Her eyes dart around. “We can't—”

Astra only grasps Evelyn by the chin, forcing the bodyguard to meet her gaze. Her voice is low, yet the sentence seems all too loud for Evelyn. “Why can't we?” She simply asks, despite the quiver in her voice. “Why are you running away from something we both know we want? Something we both desire?”

Evelyn's frayed resolve is already on the verge of collapsing. Her heart thumps in her chest, not allowing herself to believe the words. “I…”

The resounding noise of an unknown thud, causes Evelyn to snap out of her stupor, pushing herself away from Astra’s grasp. She flings her blade in the direction of the sound on instinct. 

Her blade slices through the air with practiced precision, wrapping around its target with ease. Evelyn's mind clears as she realises just who it was. Well, who they were. 

It's Fugue. 

Under the dim glow of the streetlight and natural moonlight, Evelyn can make about the silhouettes of multiple figures—with one now tied up by her blade. 

It's been a while since Fugue had last ambushed the two—or more specifically, Evelyn—ever since her ‘betrayal’ at Starloop Tower. They'd held a grudge over the stunt she pulled, and haven't backed down since. Honestly, this feud has been going on too long for Evelyn's liking; Fugue was simply wasting resources by sending men to harass the pair to no avail. 

Regardless, Evelyn knows that her number one priority is protecting Astra. She can't let her feelings get in the way of her duties this time. 

“Astra, I need you to listen to me carefully,” Evelyn's back faces the singer as she scans the situation in front of her—making out her next course of action. “Go back to the apartment. Do not open the door for anyone.”

“But…” Astra protests, trying to move forward. “I can't just leave you here!”

“It's my duty to protect you,”Evelyn sighs, and this time she looks at Astra with confidence. “Listen to me just this once, please?”

A brief moment causes Astra to nod, before she sprints back in the direction of the apartment. 

Evelyn on the other hand, charges forward—blade in hand—tackling one of the attackers. The sweltering heat from the flames of her rope only fuel her to push on, new strength flowing through her veins. 

This time, Evelyn is determined to not make another mistake. 

-----

The first thing Evelyn notices when the door clicks shut, is the fact that the apartment is pitch dark. She can barely make out the shapes of the furniture, nor any living soul. 

It's as though no one was home. 

“Astra?” Evelyn cautiously calls out, flicking on the light switch to her right to illuminate the barren apartment.

Before she can formulate her next sentence, a figure comes rushing out of the bedroom, tackling Evelyn. The bodyguard’s back hits the door with a resounding thud, as Astra strangles her into a hug, wrapping her arms around the shorter figure. 

“Are you all right? They didn't hurt you did they?” Although slightly taken aback by the sudden appearance of the singer, Evelyn can't help but ask. It's her fault Astra’s been the target of these ambushes in the first place after all. 

“You dummy!” Astra proclaims, squeezing Evelyn even tighter, tucking her head into the crook of the bodyguard’s neck. The gesture makes Evelyn blush once again, feeling the warm breath of Astra tickling her neck. Astra pauses briefly, continuing. “I should be the one asking you that! Do you know how worried I was?”

Evelyn hesitates, hand hovering in the air—unsure of what to do in such close proximity with the singer. But in the end, she settles a hand on Astra's back, caressing her in an attempt at providing some level of comfort. “...I'm fine, Astra.” It wasn't a lie—probably. The ambushers that Fugue sent were subpar at best, and they didn't harm Evelyn that much, but a few had some lucky shots that Evelyn's sure will bruise tomorrow. Either way, she doesn't tell Astra, not wanting to worry her more. 

“It's…late, Astra,” Evelyn attempts to shuffle out of the singer’s grasp. “You should prepare for bed.”

“Wait—” Astra pulls Evelyn back into the hug, not letting her go. Her voice quivers as she speaks in a hushed tone. “Can you stay with me tonight?” Her request is simple. “Please?"

Astra grips onto Evelyn, knuckles fisting into the back of the bodyguard’s shirt. It's as though she's afraid to let go—afraid that if she does, Evelyn will run off and disappear, never to be seen again. And honestly, Evelyn still wants to rum. To avoid the feelings that have been slowly gnawing at her, down deep to her core. 

But she's realised by now that doing so is only delaying the inevitable. That it's doing more harm than good. 

“...Okay,” Evelyn breathes out. “I'll stay.” 

“I'll stay,” Evelyn repeats, though in a different tone. One that sounds like an unspoken promise. She knows there's no point in turning down the singer’s pleas anyways. There never has been. 

They don't separate immediately, their arms intertwined as they savour the warmth of each other. The silence settles over the two like a thick blanket, and it's somewhat comforting to Evelyn. 

Eventually, Astra is the first to pull away. She doesn't say anything more, merely clasps onto Evelyn's hand, the corner of her lips turning into a subtle smile. The singer then proceeds to lead Evelyn down the corridor of their empty apartment, the bodyguard kicking off her shoes before doing so. 

They soon settle into Astra's room—onto Astra's bed—neither of them bothering about changing out of their clothes. An actual blanket surrounds the two in shared warmth as they lay on separate sides of the bed. 

Their hands, however, never seem to let go of the other, remaining intertwined. 

Evelyn knows how inappropriate this is for someone of her status, yes. But she can't find it in herself to care anymore, not when her eyes begin to droop as sleep overtakes her body, their breaths beginning to fall in sync. 

For now though, Evelyn decides that this is how she'll right her wrongs.

-----

The sliver of sunlight escapes the shield of curtains, illuminating the bedroom, and casts a bright glow on the bodyguard’s face. 

Her face crunches, as she rubs her eyes with one hand, while the other clutches at the sheets beneath her in an attempt to gather her surroundings. 

The first thing she notes was that this wasn't her bed, nor her bedroom. 

Evelyn takes a quick glance at the stationary figure to her left, only to be met with the ethereal sight of Astra, peacefully sleeping away. Right—she had slept in Astra's bed that night. 

Suddenly feeling self conscious—about being somewhere as intimate as the singer’s bed—Evelyn gently shifts away from the bed, trying to slip out quietly. 

“Where do you think you're going?” Astra murmurs from behind, her voice laced with drowsiness. Her arms snake around Evelyn's waist, pulling the bodyguard back underneath the comfort of her covers. 

“A-Astra, I…uh—” Evelyn stutters, letting herself be positioned by the singer. The breath caressing the back of Evelyn's neck leaves chills down her spine. “We should get up.”

Astra's chuckle is soft, almost sleepy. “My schedule’s free today, isn't it?” Her voice is low and teasing, the vibrations reverberating against Evelyn's neck once again. “What's the rush?”

Evelyn bites her lip, the tension in her body loosening as she lets herself be held in Astra's arms. 

After the events of the previous night, Astra seems fine with this. She's fine with them…being like this? Evelyn wants to believe so.

“Did you…” With her back turned towards Astra, Evelyn musters the courage to ask. “Did you truly mean what you said yesterday?”

“Do you want it to be?”

“Astra.”

“I meant it, Eve,” The singer sighs. “I don't care what TOPS, Hobson or the public thinks, I want to be yours and for you to be mine!” Astra states, hands roaming tighter around Evelyn's waist. “You mean the world to me, Eve. Nothing could change that.”

Evelyn swallows hard, unsure if the words were a blessing or a curse. But there's no stopping their feelings now—not when they've gone this far. 

She shuffles her body slightly, flipping over to meet Astra's adoring gaze. That same gaze that always makes Evelyn give in. 

“I'm…not the best at things like this,” Evelyn says. 

Astra smiles, her cheeks a tinge of red. “I know.”

“I can't guarantee you're safety, considering my past with the Organisation.” The statement doesn't seem to bother Astra at all. 

Her smile only grows wider—almost unrealistic. “I know.”

Evelyn can't even begin to ignore the thumping in her chest, knowing that Astra could probably hear it too. It's undeniable how hard she's fallen for Astra; It's as though the singer has her on a leash. All this time Evelyn thought something was wrong with her—that there was something to fix—but the missing piece of the puzzle was simply accepting her feelings towards Astra as her own. 

“But you still think of me so highly?” Evelyn questions, the weight of the words escaping her mouth. 

Astra reaches a hand up to cup Evelyn's cheek. “Because you're you, silly.”

This time, the look Astra gives her is one Evelyn can decipher. She nods, allowing herself to be pulled closer to Astra, who eagerly closes the gap between the two. 

The kiss is no longer filled with unbridled guilt, instead, it's…satisfying in a way. The way Astra grips onto Evelyn like she's her life line, the way Evelyn clasps onto the palm that gently caresses her cheek—it all feels surreal. But it's also all Evelyn could ask for. 

Astra pulls away first, forehead resting against Evelyn's as their unsteady breaths mingle in between. 

“I guess we don't have to pretend anymore, do we?” Astra teases, nudging Evelyn by the shoulder. 

The bodyguard rolls her eyes, grinning at the singer. “I don't think we were even pretending in the first place.” 

That gets a rise out Astra, who laughs even harder at the quip. She leans in again, catching Evelyn off guard and leaving her a flustered mess.

Between the warmth of tangled limbs and the removal of the weight that's been settling on Evelyn's chest—that morning was definitely a good one by her standards. 

-----

“I don't deserve you!”

“Of course you do!” The voice from the television resounds out the speakers. “I'll love you, no matter what happens. Why can't you understand that?”

“Isn't this a bit too…” Evelyn raises a brow, skeptical of the scene unfolding in front of her. “Cliché?”

Astra had suggested that they watch a newly released romance film, insisting that she ‘needed to support Monica's latest role’. Evelyn had obliged, leading to the two being sat shoulder-to-shoulder on the sofa. 

Although Evelyn's mostly desensitised to Astra's casual touches by now, the slight contact—that the singer had insisted was absolutely necessary—still made her heart flutter. 

“Really? Francois kind of reminds me of you though,” Astra inches closer towards Evelyn. “You're both so oblivious and…hopeless.”

Evelyn frowns at this, but decides to let the jab slide. “So you're saying our relationship is straight out of a rom-com?”

“I mean, we're practically the living embodiment of the ‘bodyguard romance’ genre, aren't we?” Astra plants a quick kiss on Evelyn's cheek, right before nestling herself into the crook of the bodyguard’s neck. “I guess you could even say our relationship is straight out of a movie.”

“Just like the movies, huh…?” Evelyn says to herself, focusing her attention back on the movie. 

Their relationship is new, that's true, and they're taking it slow. At times, Evelyn still wonders how they'd ended up here—how something so improbable, so fictitious, could have become her new reality. But one thing was certain: Evelyn wasn't scared anymore. 

“Hey, Astra?”

“Hmm?”

“I love you.”

Evelyn pulls Astra in for a kiss, supporting those three words with something quiet yet filled with passion—an unspoken promise, wrapped in warmth.