Taira stands in the dimly lit bathroom, the only light seeping through the slightly cracked door, casting a faint glow over the marble tiles. Her crimson red eyes glint with fury as she stares into the mirror, her pink hair falling loosely around her shoulders. She grips the edge of the sink, knuckles turning white, and her jaw clenches as she practically hisses into her phone. "How the fuck did this happen, Kenji?! You incompetent piece of shit, you let this bastard see my face and now he's in police custody!" Her voice is low, venomous, but the anger in her tone makes her words carry even through the thick bathroom walls. She doesn’t notice how loud she’s gotten in her rage. Her eyes narrow as she listens to the feeble excuses on the other end of the line, her temper only rising. She continues, her voice now shaking with barely contained fury. "Listen to me, you worthless fuck. You’re going to take care of this, do you understand? I want him dead by dawn, do you hear me?" She practically growls the last sentence into the phone, her voice rising in volume despite her trying to keep it under control. "And don’t even think about screwing this up, because if he’s not dead by morning, I’ll personally see to it that your pathetic family is next! Your wife, your children, all of them, Kenji!" Taira’s grip on the phone tightens as she gives one final, deadly command before ending the call abruptly. "Fix this, or you’ll be begging me for death.”

Her heart races, panic flooding her system as she realizes the gravity of what just happened. She quickly glances at the bedroom door and then back to the bathroom mirror, noticing for the first time that it's cracked open slightly, a thin beam of light seeping through the gap and illuminating half her face. Her heart sinks like lead as she understands why Jay might be calling out for her now. She takes a deep breath, trying to compose herself before walking back into the bedroom, a false smile on her lips.

"Sorry, sweetheart. I didn't mean to wake you," she lies. "I just... needed some air." Her hand brushes against his arm as she walks past him and climbs back under the covers, feigning innocence even though the guilt weighs heavily on her chest like a leaden anchor.

Taira rests her head against his chest, wishing she could truly be the woman he deserves. She takes a deep breath, inhaling the scent of him and pretending for this moment that everything is okay. Her hand finds its way to his arm again, giving it a squeeze. "You're always so warm," she murmurs, her voice barely audible over their shallow breaths. "I never want to be anywhere else." She tries not to think about the cold reality of her life, the threats and danger that lurk just beyond the safety of this cozy little apartment.

With a small sigh, she nestles deeper into his embrace, trying to forget the darkness that lingers just outside their sanctuary. "Alright," she whispers back, closing her eyes as exhaustion finally catches up with her. Tonight, at least for now, she can pretend. She'll find a way to make it through another day without revealing her true self and hopefully spare Jay from the inevitable danger that looms over them both.

Her heart skips a beat as she watches Jay get dressed for work. She forces herself to remain calm, not letting the fear and paranoia take over. "Good morning," she whispers, her voice barely audible above the sound of his movements. Her hand finds its way onto his arm again, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Are you excited for today?" She tries to keep the conversation light, any hint of unease out of her tone.

But deep down, she knows that every moment they spend together is borrowed. The lies and deceptions have become second nature now, but she can't help but wonder how much longer it will be before the truth inevitably catches up with them both.

She smiles softly, her crimson eyes filled with tenderness as she looks at him. "You're always going to be the most handsome man in any room, even if it's just a boring meeting," she says, running her fingers through his hair playfully. Her voice is light and teasing, but there's an undercurrent of sincerity that makes it genuine. "I wish I could come with you too, sweetheart. But we'll have fun together tonight, okay?" She tries to sound confident, as if she truly believes their life together can go on like this forever.

In reality, she knows better.

As Jay leaves for work, Taira watches him go with a mixture of love and dread in her heart. She knows she should focus on the good moments they share, like their plans for tonight. But deep down, she can't help but feel the weight of the life she's chosen bearing down on them both. Even now, as he leaves their safe haven to face a world full of danger and deceit, she feels a growing sense of helplessness and guilt. Yet still, she stands by him, her hand hovering near her phone in case Kenji calls with news of the "incident" last night...

She steels herself, reminding herself that for now, everything is fine. But she knows this won't last forever.

While Taira attends to her "secret" job, she can't help but feel guilty about the lies and deception that have become such a massive part of their relationship. She frequently glances at her phone, waiting for any news about last night's mess-up with the police informant, and each time it remains silent, she feels an overwhelming sense of relief washing over her. But beneath this false calm lies a deepening unease; she knows that their charade can't go on like this forever, and dreads the day when everything comes crashing down around them.

Her thoughts are interrupted by a gentle knock at the door, signaling Jay has arrived home early from work. Her heart skips a beat as she quickly deletes any incriminating evidence from her phone and tries to compose herself before greeting him with a bright smile.

Her heart racing with relief and joy, she rushes to greet him with open arms. "Jay! You came home early! I'm so glad," she says, her voice filled with genuine emotion. She pulls him into a tight hug, breathing in his scent and cherishing the moment they have together. For now, she pushes all thoughts of their dual lives aside, determined to focus on the love they share and make this night as special as possible under the circumstances.

As they spend time together, Taira does her best to be the attentive and loving wife Jay deserves, carefully avoiding any subjects that might trigger suspicion or discomfort. Even as she watches over him, constantly scanning for signs of danger or betrayal, she tries to forget about her own responsibilities and just enjoy being with the man who's brought so much light into her world.

But deep

Her heart skips a beat as her phone begins to ring. For a moment, she freezes, panic welling up inside her. The call is likely about last night's incident with the police informant, and answering it could jeopardize everything they've worked so hard to keep hidden from Jay. But at the same time, ignoring it might mean disaster for herself and her family in the criminal underworld. With a deep sigh, she reluctantly pulls away from Jay and reaches over to silence her phone.

"It's work," she lies, attempting to sound nonchalant despite the tightness in her throat. "I should get that." She forces herself to meet his gaze as she slides out of bed and hurries into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. The phone call could take only a few moments or it might drag on for hours; she has no way of knowing.

Inside the bathroom, Taira picks up the phone with shaking hands and answers it in a harsh whisper. "This better be important." Her heart is racing as she listens to Kenji apologize profusely for the police incident, explaining how he's already taken care of it. She sighs in relief, knowing that at least one problem has been solved. But the stress and exhaustion catch up with her then; her eyes feel heavy, and she suddenly finds it difficult to concentrate on the conversation any longer.

Her heart racing with fear, she hesitates before muttering back "Just finish up, Kenji." She needs to keep her wits about her; there's still much left to do tonight if they want to avoid any further disasters. Closing her eyes, she takes a deep breath and concentrates on regaining her composure. The last thing she wants is for Jay to suspect anything.

After what seems like an eternity but was likely only minutes in the real world, she hangs up the phone and carefully smoothes her hair back into place before returning to the bedroom. She meets Jay's concerned gaze with a reassuring smile. "Everything's fine," she says quietly. "You were right; work can be such a pain sometimes."