Makati, Manila
A beautiful sunset painted the skies over the palm trees of Makati, Manila. The scene felt surreal—birds chirping, children's laughter echoing softly through the air. Beneath one of those trees, it was just the two of them: Allysa and Gary, smiling and laughing over shared jokes.
As they lay together under the palm's shade, Gary spoke in a calm, gentle voice.
"Hey, Allysa."
Allysa smiled and replied, "Yes, Gary?"
He studied her face, his voice low and uncertain.
"Will there ever be a time you'll leave me?"
Allysa looked at him, their eyes locking. She reached for his hand, holding it tightly as she spoke with a soft, steady tone.
"Gary… there won't be a time I'll leave you. You're my everything, and I wouldn't know what to do if I lost you."
Relief washed over him. He smiled, his eyes saying what words could not.
"Thank you, Allysa…" He exhaled deeply, then added, "For my part, I won't leave you either. You are my everything. I can't even imagine a world without you."
He pointed toward the skyline glowing under the setting sun, then pressed her hand against his chest.
"Allysa, I promise you… I'll do anything for you. I'll protect you with my life, and I'll love you until the very end."
Her lips trembled into a smile, tears threatening to fall. Those words felt as if they would stay with her forever.
"Thank you, Gary…" she whispered, wiping her eyes before chuckling through the emotion. "Why are we even saying this? It's not the end of the world."
Gary chuckled too, his face warming with a blush.
"Yeah, you're right. But hey—that's our promise."
Allysa leaned closer, her voice filled with quiet conviction.
"Then I promise too, Gary. To fight by your side until the end."
She kissed his cheek. His face flushed red, and he laughed shyly.
Then—
BZZZZZ.
The alarm tore through the golden scene, buzzing again and again. The sky darkened too quickly, collapsing into shadows. Allysa's smile blurred, her figure fading into a crowded street with no beginning and no end. She walked away, swallowed by faceless strangers.
She turned once, looking back through the haze, her eyes shimmering with something unsaid.
Click. Click. Click.
Flashes of invisible cameras blinded Gary as he reached for her—but his hand grasped only air.
He jolted awake.
The room was vast and elegant, lined with bookshelves and lit only by the glow of a small lamp. Gary sat up shirtless in his king-sized bed, his breath uneven. He glanced at the watch on his wrist.
3:00 a.m.
The silence pressed in. The emptiness beside him was louder than the alarm had ever been.
Gary stood up and put on his white shirt. He walked past the bed, opened the door to the living room, then closed it behind him. Outside, the city glowed brightly, filled with endless lights. He turned and walked to the bathroom, stepping into the bathtub as if trying to wash away all his burdens and problems.
After the shower, he stood before the mirror and whispered,
"I am a spy. Why would I get affected by small things? I shouldn't feel emotions. Am I too weak… or does the wound she left still hurt?"
He shook it off, washed his face, and whispered again,
"Alright. Focus, Gary."
He slapped himself lightly, turned off the sink, and left the bathroom.
A doorbell rang—crinkle, crinkle.
Gary checked the peephole and saw Miguel holding a paper bag. He opened the door.
"Hey, bro. Good morning. You good?" Miguel greeted.
"Yeah, I'm good, man. Come in," Gary replied.
Miguel smiled politely and stepped inside as Gary closed the door.
They sat down, and Miguel pulled out a drink and some chips from the bag. Watching Gary closely, he asked,
"Didn't sleep?"
"I slept pretty good," Gary replied.
Miguel stayed silent for a moment, then changed the subject.
"Yo, dude. I heard about your new mission."
Gary looked at him.
"Yeah? What about it?"
Miguel chuckled lightly.
"It's just that we're sent to help you—me, Celine, and Zion."
Gary's expression shifted.
"Wait, really? I read the files, and your names weren't there."
Miguel shrugged.
"Well… I don't know about that, but Cassandra ordered us after you left her office."
Gary opened his drink and took a sip.
"Oh, I see… Anyway, thanks for the drink and chips."
"No problem, man. That's what friends are for. It's not like this is the first time," Miguel said, chuckling lightly.
Gary smiled.
"Right, dude."
They clinked their cans together—clink—and drank, sharing the morning and their burdens as brothers in arms.
Hollywood Universal Studio, Los Angeles, California
The gates rose high, shining gold against the California morning sun, bold letters spelling UNIVERSAL STUDIOS like a promise to every dreamer daring to step inside. The moment Allysa walked through, the air shifted—warmth carried the mingled scents of buttered popcorn, cotton candy, and the faint metallic tang of roller coasters twisting through the sky.
Yet beyond the laughter and the rides, behind the facades of movie sets and soundstages, the real magic was unfolding. Past the bustling streets of the park, inside a studio wing reserved for filming, the lights glared brighter than the sun outside. The interview room thrummed with energy—cameras mounted, cameramen circled, producers murmured over last-minute adjustments.
At the heart of it all sat Allysa Sydney Wu, the actress herself. Draped in poise beneath the glare of studio lamps, she seemed untouchable, as though the morning itself had been made to frame her. The ED Show had already wrapped its live segment; her voice and laughter still echoed through the hallways. Now came the follow-up: the one-on-one interview, captured from every angle.
The room felt less like a set and more like a stage waiting for her every word, every smile. Universal Studios was awake, alive—and here, inside this room, its morning was defined not by the roller coasters outside, but by the brilliance of a star caught between cameras and history.
The director approached her, giggling yet sassy.
"Heyyy Allysa~ sweetie, I have good news."
Allysa was talking to the crew, but she turned and saw her manager, Max. Her face lit up with joy.
"Heyyy Max!!" she giggled, rushing to hug him. Max hugged her back just as tight.
"Sweetie, good job on the show today—it's giving slayyaa~" Max teased with a flick of his wrist.
Allysa smiled. "Thanks, Director Max." Then she tilted her head, curious. "Sooo, what's the good news, Maxine?"
Max's expression turned bright and sassy, his energy spilling into the room.
"It's about your endorsement—the biggest perfume industry has approved it!!!"
Allysa's eyes widened, shock flashing across her face.
"Really?? I didn't expect that, Maxine. I didn't think the process would be that fast."
Max planted his hands on his waist, fixing his hair with flair.
"Yesssss, my dear, because the ED Talk Show and your other films are making such good profit lately. Even other directors are looking for an actress like you."
Allysa chuckled softly, still in awe.
"Well… I'm looking forward to that, Director Max. But today I'm tired; I need some rest."
Max gave her a warm smile.
"Alright, my dear, take your time. And again, good job." He hugged her once more, patting her back.
Allysa waved goodbye, walking out of the studio and into the hallway of the film industry building, while Max stayed behind, chatting with the cameramen.
---
As soon as she entered the hallway, Allysa was greeted by staff, their phones raised.
"Hey Allysa! Can we get pictures with you?"
More and more staff approached, voices overlapping.
"Hey Allysa! Sign my autograph!"
She looked around, dizzy from the sudden attention. Just as she felt herself about to faint, someone caught her around the waist. A tall, charming man in a dark suit held her steady. Behind him, three other security personnel formed a protective circle.
"Move everyone! The actress needs space," Security 1 commanded, letting the staff back slowly.
A short female security member helped usher people away. Security 3 added in a low, half-joking tone,
"Move out, people, or I'm—just move."
Meanwhile, the man holding her spoke gently.
"Ma'am, are you alright?"
Allysa opened her eyes and met his gaze.
"Yes… I'm alright. Thank you."
He nodded, steadying her as she regained her balance before letting go.
"Who are you?" she asked.
He smiled.
"I'm Patrick Weston."
"Thank you, Patrick," she said calmly, still recovering.
"Just doing my job, ma'am," Patrick replied smoothly.
Security 1 stepped forward, excitement evident.
"Hello, Ms. Wu! Big fan of your work."
Allysa smiled and nodded politely.
Another staff member squealed,
"OMGGG! I'm seeing the real Allysa Sydney Wu—the ONE AND ONLY!!!"
Allysa chuckled, glancing at the female security member nearby.
"Hello, Ms. Wu! Have I seen you before… oh wait, on TV! My bad, Ms. Wu."
Gary nudged Security 3.
"Ouch. Heyy," he whispered.
"Keep it professional, dumbass," Patrick muttered under his breath.
Allysa broke the awkwardness with a polite smile.
"Uh… what are your names, trios?"
Security 1 introduced himself first.
"Hello, I'm Jonathan Winchester." He extended his hand.
Allysa returned the handshake with a smile.
"I am Cassandra Scarlet West. Nice to meet you, Ms. Wu," said the female security member warmly.
"And I'm Alejandro 'Alex' González, at your service, ma'am," added the third.
Gary spoke in his calm, professional tone.
"Ms. Wu, we are now your new security team personnel."
Allysa and Gary locked eyes, sharing a brief, understanding smile.
"Sir Patrick, thank you for saving me from fainting. I really appreciate it."
Gary's smile was easy, confident.
"It was nothing, ma'am. Just doing my job."
---
Flashback – E.I.S. HQ Lounge
The lounge had an elegant air—the floor a polished clay finish, the walls carved from fine wood, giving the space a mix of refinement and weight. Around a low table sat Celine, Miguel, Zion, and Gary. On the table rested a plain box.
Gary opened it slowly, revealing a set of facial masks inside. He picked one up, holding it between his fingers.
"This," he said calmly, "is what we'll use later."
Zion took one and slipped it on, frowning.
"It's hot inside, dude. I can't breathe in this."
"Shut up, Zion. It's just temporary," Gary replied firmly.
Celine, mischief dancing in her eyes, picked one up with a playful grin.
"Oooh, let's see," she teased, slipping it over her face.
Miguel leaned in, examining the material closely.
"It's artificial… fascinating. Where'd you get this, Gary?"
Gary kept his voice calm.
"I got it from a friend. He works in the laboratory."
Zion groaned, tossing his mask back onto the table.
"Fascinating my ass. This isn't my type, dawg."
Celine smirked, mocking his tone.
"'Fascinating my ass'—Zion, don't get me wrong, but your face is so small."
Zion's head snapped toward her.
"Excuse me, Celine? How dare you—"
"Hey, you two, focus, will you?" Gary cut in, sharp but calm.
Celine crossed her arms with a little huff, pretending to be upset.
"Hmph."
Gary straightened, his voice carrying quiet authority.
"Anyways… you'll each have roles and new identities."
He pointed at Miguel first and handed him an ID.
"Miguel, you will be Alejandro 'Alex' González."
Miguel, now Alex for this mission, nodded.
He handed Zion a fake ID.
"You… you're Jonathan Winchester."
Zion, despite the cover, couldn't hide his disbelief.
Zion looked at Gary.
"Dude, I ain't white… but fine, I'll take this white stupid role then."
Gary, Celine, and Miguel chuckled.
"Classic Zion," Gary whispered with a smile.
He handed Celine a fake ID.
"Celine, you will be Cassandra Scarlet West."
Celine's eyes lit up; she hugged her new identity playfully.
Gary picked up his own fake ID and whispered under his breath,
"And I will be Patrick Weston…"
Then he commanded, calm yet authoritative,
"Everyone, that is your role. For this mission, let's not mess this up."
The trio nodded.
"Suit up."
Present day…
They were still in the hallway, Gary smiling and keeping his manner friendly, when a man appeared behind Allysa. Tall, charming, dressed in a suit and holding a flower, he walked up and stopped beside her.
"Hey, baby," he said.
Allysa smiled and replied sweetly, "Hey, babe." She was shocked to see her boyfriend bring her a flower.
"Omg, you're so sweet, baby. Thank you," she chuckled.
The man looked at the four security guards, then asked Allysa with a calm, professional demeanor, "Who are these, baby?"
Allysa replied, "Ohhh, I forgot—they're my new security. One of them saved me from falling to the floor."
Gary stared straight at him, studying his posture, while Miguel introduced himself first in a calm, professional manner.
"Hello, sir. I'm Alejandro 'Alex' González. We're Ms. Allysa's new personal security. From here on, we'll accompany and protect her."
The man reached out his hand to Miguel.
"Hello, gentlemen. Thank you for 'saving' my future wife from falling," he chuckled. "I'm David Ethan Bernard, Allysa's fiancé."
Miguel observed Gary's posture and body language as Celine introduced herself with jolliness.
"Hello, sir! I'm Scarlet West. Nice to meet you!" she said, smiling and waving.
David chuckled and returned the wave. "Nice… and what a jolly person you are."
Zion introduced himself, half-joking and half-professional. "Bonjour, mon ami! (Hello, my friend.) It is I, Jonathan Winchester, at your service." He bowed and smiled.
David smiled back. "Bonjour, ami, ravi de vous rencontrer. (Hello, friend. Nice to meet you too.)"
David and Zion shook hands. Allysa looked on with confusion—she didn't know French—but she was happy to see the friendly exchange.
David then looked at Gary, who remained silent. "And how about you, good sir? What's your name?"
Gary's eyes showed seriousness before he snapped out of it. "Oh, where are my manners? I apologize. I'm Patrick Weston. Nice meeting you, Mr. David Ethan Bernard."
David smiled and shook his hand. "Again, thank you for not letting my wife fall to the ground."
Gary returned the smile. "It was nothing, sir. Just doing my job."
Miguel stayed behind silently, observing, while Celine and Zion remained next to Gary, chatting with David and Allysa.
---
L.A. E.I.S. Headquarters – Handler's Office
The room was dim, the walls a mix of clay-colored concrete and aged wood. Handler Cassandra Kane sat behind her desk, quietly reading through reports from other agents.
Suddenly, the door opened. A man in a black tactical suit, wearing gloves and a sleek, tech-designed mask, stepped inside. He saluted sharply.
"Handler, we've received a new report from the Washington D.C. District and from our agents," he said in a deep, steady voice.
"Speak, Frontier," Cassandra replied calmly.
"The Washington District has agreed to protect the President after the failed assassination attempt. Our agents are already in position, disguised as members of the President's security detail."
"Well done, Frontier. You actually got those stubborn Washington officials to cooperate," she said with a faint smile.
"Yes, ma'am," he replied firmly. "I managed to convince them. They were easy to manipulate."
Cassandra nodded, impressed. "Well done, Operative 001," she said with pride in her voice. "Report to me once you finish this negotiation with the Washington District."
Frontier saluted, then turned smoothly and walked out. As he stepped out, a guard—different from the others—saluted him. They walked side by side down the hallway of HQ.
"Supervisor Guard, I'll be out for a while. You're in charge while I'm gone," he said firmly, his deep voice calm and authoritative.
"Yes, sir," the Supervisor Guard replied, his tone equally calm and deep.
L.A. Boulevard, Santa Monica
Allysa's convoy was making its way toward her mansion in Beverly Hills. The streets were packed with cars, and the sidewalks were bustling—vendors selling goods, people going about their day. Traffic in Santa Monica had never been this heavy.
One of the cars in the jam was Convoy 2, carrying Allysa in a dark armored Chevrolet Tahoe with Zion, Celine, and David Ethan Bernard. Convoy 1 held Gary and Miguel inside a black Crown Victoria.
Inside Convoy 1, silence hung thick. Gary sat quietly in the front passenger seat while Miguel drove.
"Hey, you good?" Miguel asked, breaking the silence with a calm voice.
"Yeah… I'm alright," Gary replied, his tone low.
"I noticed you've been quiet for a while. Makes me wonder if you're okay," Miguel said, calm and reassuring.
"No, it's nothing. Just… nervous about this mission. It could cost us our lives, you know," Gary admitted.
"I get you, man. It's scary for me too. Who knows what could happen," Miguel said, returning to the steady rhythm of driving. Silence settled over them again.
Meanwhile, in Convoy 2, Zion drove the Tahoe while Celine sat in the front seat, monitoring the surroundings. Bernard and Allysa sat in the back. Allysa rested her head on Bernard's shoulder, and he kept a calm, protective posture.
"Babe," Bernard said softly.
"Yes, babe?" Allysa replied.
"You wanna have dinner later tonight?"
"Sure, that would be great, babe!" She smiled, and they shared a gentle kiss before she rested her head on his shoulder again.
In the front, Celine broke the silence. "So, Mr. Bernard and Ms. Allysa… I know this is personal, and I'm just an ordinary bodyguard, but I'm curious—how long have you two been together?" Her voice was sweet and genuinely curious.
Bernard chuckled. "Haha, it's alright, Ms. West. Allysa and I have been together for five years now."
"Yes, Ms. West. Five years, and we're getting married soon," Allysa added.
"Ohhh, you guys have stayed strong!" Celine said, clearly enjoying the moment.
Zion glanced at her. "Scarlet, don't ask stupid questions like that. It's personal."
"I'm sorry, Mr. and Ms. future Bernard," she said, laughing. "I'm just curious—it's always in my nature."
Bernard chuckled warmly. "Haha, it's alright, Ms. West. People get curious, you know."
Celine looked at Zion, smiling. "True."
The four of them laughed together, the tension of the traffic momentarily fading.
---
Los Angeles — Streets of L.A.
Convoy 1 and Convoy 2 drove through the busy streets of L.A., sunlight gleaming off their black vehicles. As they stopped at a red light, silence filled both cars.
From the backseat of Convoy 2, Allysa gazed out the window. Among the crowd, she noticed an old man sitting by the sidewalk—frail, tired, and ignored by the people passing by.
"Jonathan, can you pull over for a moment, please?" she said softly.
"Alright, ma'am," Zion replied calmly, keeping his eyes on the traffic light as it flicked between red and amber.
Celine turned slightly, concern in her tone. "Ma'am, where are you going?"
"I just want to help that old man over there," Allysa answered, her voice low and gentle as she pointed toward him.
Celine nodded and picked up her radio, contacting the lead vehicle.
Inside Convoy 1, Gary sat in the passenger seat, silent and alert, while Miguel focused on the street ahead, waiting for the light to turn green. The radio crackled to life.
"Convoy 1, come in," Celine's voice came through.
"Convoy 1 here. Go ahead, Convoy 2," Gary replied, his tone calm but authoritative.
"Ms. Allysa requests permission to step out," Celine reported.
Gary raised a brow. "For what reason?" he asked, curious.
"She's going to help that old man on your right," Scarlet replied.
Gary and Miguel turned their heads toward the sidewalk. There, an old man sat hunched against the wall, weak and empty-handed, watching people pass him by.
"Request accepted," Gary said firmly. "Maintain a secure perimeter. I'll step out and assist."
"Copy that," Celine answered.
Back inside Convoy 2, Celine turned to Allysa. "Alright, ma'am. Your request has been approved."
The light turned green. Both convoys slowly pulled to the side of the road near a coffee shop, engines idling, hazard lights blinking.
Celine was the first to step out, scanning the perimeter carefully before signaling. She radioed Gary, "Area clear."
She opened the Tahoe's rear door. Allysa stepped out, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a scarf that partly covered her face. Bernard followed close behind, scanning the area.
On the opposite side of the street, two men on a motorcycle idled behind a van—one gripping the handlebars, the other with a semi-automatic pistol tucked under his jacket. They were watching… waiting for the right moment.
Meanwhile, Allysa, Bernard, Miguel, Celine, and Gary approached the old man she'd seen earlier.
"Hey, mister," Allysa said softly, crouching slightly. "Are you okay?"
The old man looked up, his voice weak. "Yes, ma'am… I'm alright. Just hungry. I haven't eaten since yesterday."
Allysa opened her bag, finding a small bottle of water and a pack of biscuits. "Here, take this," she said, handing them over gently.
The old man's eyes welled up as he accepted them. "Thank you, miss. I'm so thankful for your kindness."
Allysa smiled warmly. Behind her, Gary, Miguel, and Celine maintained a tight formation, their eyes sweeping the area.
Then — a sudden roar shattered the calm.
The motorcycle engine screamed as it sped toward them. The man on the back raised his weapon.
And before anyone could react, gunfire erupted.
End of Chapter 2