PROTECTION AGENCY

CHAPTER 2: MISSION ACCEPTED

“Miranda Charles.”

Her name left my lips like poison—slow, bitter, unavoidable. I clenched my teeth so hard my jaw ached. Of all the people in this entire agency, why did the universe insist on sending her to me every time my mood dared to improve?

Miranda had been a permanent thorn in my flesh since the very first day we were recruited as children. Even now, just hearing her voice was enough to ruin my mood for the entire week. And unfortunately, that voice filled my doorway like the screech of a chalk on stone.

She folded her arms and smirked. “I see you’ve been given another operation.” Her tone was light, airy—and dripping with venom. “I honestly don’t know why the commander still bothers with you. You’ve failed every single thing assigned to you. You couldn’t even guard a three-year-old child.” She laughed mockingly. “Losers like you don’t deserve repeated chances. The commander must really like you.”

I inhaled sharply.

God knows I was itching—aching—to drag her to the floor and beat the arrogance out of her, consequences be damned. I could practically feel the adrenaline pushing me forward, urging my fists to swing. But the agency’s rule against internal combat was strict, and the punishment for breaking it was far worse than a week of bruises.

So I swallowed the impulse and forced my expression into something blank—something that wouldn’t betray the storm building inside me.

“I really don’t have time for your nonsense, Miranda.” I said, flipping another page of the file deliberately, pretending to focus. “Unlike you, I’m actually busy. So go find someone else to irritate.”

She scoffed loudly. “You don’t need to pretend to be busy. You’ll still fail this mission, just like every other one.”

Her smile widened, sharp and cruel. “After all… you’re a loser. And if you fail again, no one will be surprised. We’re all expecting it.” She leaned forward slightly. “Maybe if you learned from me—followed my path—you wouldn’t be so pathetic.”

The words hit harder than I wanted to admit.

A strange, ugly pain twisted in my chest. I pretended not to hear it, not to feel it. I forced myself to keep flipping through the pages as if she were nothing more than background noise.

Silence stretched between us for a moment. I could tell she was irritated that she wasn’t getting the reaction she wanted. Miranda thrived on breaking me. On seeing cracks. On watching me crumble. But today, I refused to give her that satisfaction.

She muttered something under her breath—too low for me to catch—and turned on her heel, her footsteps fading down the hallway.

When the echo finally died, I exhaled shakily.

I stood, closed the door, and leaned against it for a long moment. Then my legs gave out, and I slumped onto my bed, pressing a hand to my chest.

It hurt.

God, it hurt.

Not because it was new. Miranda’s insults were as regular as morning drills. She never missed a chance to call me useless, to remind me how I “didn’t belong,” to show off her superiority like it was stitched into her uniform.

This wasn’t the first time. And it definitely wouldn’t be the last.

So why… why did her words still cut so deep?

Why did my chest feel tight?

Why did it feel like something in me was shrinking, curling into itself, begging for relief?

They were just words.

Words shouldn’t matter.

I knew that. I had repeated that to myself a thousand times.

Yet every time she spat venom at me, it felt like she knew exactly where to strike—exactly which wound hadn’t fully healed.

I stared at the ceiling, wondering how someone could make me feel this small without ever laying a hand on me. Wondering why I couldn’t seem to grow numb to it. I should’ve been used to this by now. I should’ve built a wall as high as the agency gates.

But for some reason… I hadn’t.

A soft knock pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts. It wasn’t at my door—just the sound of my conscience reminding me of the file still open beside me.

The mission.

The opportunity.

The escape.

This was my chance to finally leave this place and start living like a normal teenager. To breathe air that wasn’t monitored, to wake up without arms aching from drills, to choose my own future instead of having it written for me.

And it all depended on protecting a girl who had run off more than twenty bodyguards.

If I did this—if I succeeded—I would finally be free.

If I failed…

The commander’s words echoed in my mind:

You will spend the rest of your life training. No missions. No freedom.

I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes. The file lay open on my bed, its pages filled with the life of the girl I was supposed to protect—the last daughter of the prestigious Gamancia family. Arrogant. Stubborn. Reckless. Spoiled. A nightmare wrapped in designer clothes.

But beneath the chaos, I couldn’t deny something else:

She seemed… interesting.

Dangerously interesting.

“Alright…” I whispered to myself. “Let’s do this.”

I stood, grabbed the file, and took a deep breath. I could almost feel the weight of my decision settling on my shoulders. This mission wasn’t just another assignment. It wasn’t about proving myself to the commander. It wasn’t even about showing Miranda she was wrong.

It was about me.

About reclaiming my life.

My choice.

My freedom.

With newfound determination, I stepped into the hallway, heading straight to the commander’s office. The walk felt different now—steadier, heavier, like every step brought me closer to something bigger than myself.

When I reached the door, I didn’t hesitate. I knocked twice.

“Enter,” he said.

I pushed the door open and stood tall.

“Sir,” I said firmly. “I’ve gone through the file.”

“And?” His eyes narrowed, measuring me.

“I accept the mission.”

For the first time in years, my voice didn’t waver. My hands didn’t tremble. My heart didn’t shrink.

For the first time… I felt ready.

The commander studied me for a long moment, as if searching for the failure he always expected to see. But this time, he didn’t find it.

“Good,” he said, sliding another document toward me. “Your departure is tomorrow morning.”

Tomorrow.

So soon.

I nodded once. “I won’t fail.”

“You better not,” he said coldly. “Your future depends on it.”

I turned, left the office, and walked back toward my room with the strangest mixture of fear and excitement twisting in my stomach.

This was it.

My real beginning.

The mission that would change everything.

And I didn’t know it yet—but the girl I was about to protect…

Would change me too.