Zen's POV

I try to contain my interest, but a mere five minutes after Jumin leaves for work, I find myself snooping. His condo is so spotless and orderly I don't expect to find much. Unfortunately, my assumption turns out to be dully accurate. No diary. No nudie-mags. No hemorrhoid cream. Even his huge stack of books only seems to include classics and nonfiction texts. With a sigh, I set down Jumin's copy of "Managing Unruly Assistants" - poor Jaehee - and head to the kitchen looking for something to eat.

As expected, Jumin has a variety of fresh, healthy foods and wines. No junk food. No beer. Oh, and of course, cat food. Ugh. I scowl as I close the cabinet containing some sort of wine for cats…

"Meow."

The soft sound comes from behind me.

"Ahh!" I turn, pressing my back to the counter as I try to move myself as far away as possible from the white monster. "Go. Away." I order stiffly, trying to breathe as little as possible. "I'm not going to feed you."

Elizabeth takes a few steps towards me, and I back away, sliding myself along the countertop until I'm cornered near the fridge. Her every step in my direction makes me flinch and my nose tickle in anticipation. I force my eyes shut as she nears. I hold my breath, waiting for a huge sneeze to come barreling out of me.

And then I feel a gentle rub along my leg, accompanied by a soft motor sound.

One of my eyes peers open and looks down. I see the white furball rubbing its face and body against my leg, then turning around and doing the same thing on the way back. As if it can sense my gaze, it pauses and looks up at me. Sparkling cobalt blue eyes stare patiently into mine.

I wait and wait for the sneeze to come, but it doesn't. Finally, the tension I'm holding begins to relax.

"Holy shit," I mumble to myself. "Is this allergy medicine really working that well?"

Deciding I'm not ready to fully test it, I gingerly move myself away from the cat and into the open area. Checking over my shoulder, I see that Elizabeth isn't following me, but staying right next to the fridge.

"I guess I'll just eat later, then." I scratch my head as I look around Jumin's living room. "Hmm… Where would be the best place to work on my audition monologue?"

Ping!

I pull out my cell phone, seeing that I have a personal message from Jumin in the RFA app.

"Why is he messaging me…?" I huff.

Jumin: Please communicate to Assistant Kang that you are alive and well.

"Huh? Jaehee? Is she worried about me?" I ask out loud as I navigate in the app to the main chatroom and scroll back through the messages. I finally find the new messages and see that Jaehee posted late last night, after I had already passed out.

Jaehee has entered the chatroom.

Jaehee: Excuse me, is anyone else here?

Jaehee: Has anyone heard from Zen?

Jaehee: I spoke with Mr. Han not long ago for work purposes, but he was very vague when I asked how Zen has been managing at his home.

Jaehee: I worry about Zen's allergies…

Jaehee: *cry emoji*

707 has entered the chatroom.

707: The wondrous 707 has important information to share!

Jaehee: Luciel. Have you heard how Zen is doing?

707: NO!

707: But thanks to my master hacking skills, I have discovered that Zen's stalker is still at large!

Jaehee: *gasp emoji*

707: They were spotted at Zen's apartment yesterday trying to break in! Luckily, I was watching the security feed and immediately alerted the proper authorities.

707: Unfortunately, since the space police are not adjusted to Earth's gravity, they were too slow to apprehend them… so the villain is still at large!

Jaehee: …;;

707: But don't worry! Secret Agent 707 is on the case!

707: *fist pumping emoji*

Jaehee: To think the stalker went to those lengths and actually broke into Zen's apartment. I'm glad Zen was not home at the time.

I pause, staring at my phone in horror. What? My thumb shakes as it hovers over the screen, not daring to scroll further. The stalker… actually broke in?!

I stumble back to Jumin's shitty, expensive couch and sit. I reread what Seven had said - that the stalker is still at large. And as much as Seven likes to joke, I'm sure he sent the real police after this person. Yet somehow they evaded them.

My lips set into a grim line as I continue reading.

707: Don't worry! That's why Zen is at JuJu's!

707: He'll be safe there until I've caught the scoundrel~

707: *glasses eye twinkle emoji*

Jaehee: Yes. I am grateful for that at least.

Jaehee: However… I still haven't heard from Zen. That's the whole reason I am messaging so late. I'm quite worried for him, even at Mr. Han's.

Jaehee: Poor Zen… I hope that special allergy medication Mr. Han had me order is working.

707: I'm so jealous he gets to nuzzle Elly!

707: *crying fist waving emoji*

707: BUT

707: *glasses lift, eye twinkle emoji*

707: I hope he's collecting clues…

707: Secret Agent Zen!

707: Then we can rake in the profits!

707: *fist pumping emoji*

707: And profits means gas for my babes~!

707: *heart eyes emoji*

Jaehee: Clues…? Profits…? Luciel, please try to be clear with what you are saying.

707: Don't you know?

707: *heart eyes emoji*

Yoosung has entered the chatroom.

707: With Zen at Jumin's place, he's sure to discover proof that our Jumin Han is gay!

Yoosung has left the chatroom.

Jaehee: *sigh emoji*

Jaehee: Yes. Well. I must finish filing these documents before I head to bed.

Jaehee: Please let me know if you hear from Zen.

Jaehee has left the chatroom.

707: *crying fist waving emoji*

707: I'm all alone now…

707: Zen!

707: Check the pudding! Then report back to me, Agent!

707: *glasses eye twinkle emoji*

707 has left the chatroom.

Trust Seven to jump from the solemn topic of my stalker breaking in to making jokes about Jumin being gay… I sigh, setting my phone at my side and letting my face fall forward into my hands. My head throbs with stress and indecision. I realize that I never gave much weight to this stalker situation originally. I thought a day- maybe two- at Jumin's, and life would be back to normal. But it doesn't seem like I'll be so lucky.

I feel a soft rub against my shin, and peel my hands off my face to look down.

"Elizabeth," I murmur. I brace myself to sneeze again, but other than a slight tickle, I seem to be fine. And she's only a few feet from my face. "This medicine is wild…"

"Meow!" she chirps happily, then rubs my leg again.

"I guess that's a good thing. Especially since I may be here a while longer than I thought," I muse in a whisper.

Anxiety grips my chest at the thought. How much would that change things? I think ruefully. I mean, my allergies, which I thought would be the biggest issue, seem to be under control. But what about work? My audition coming up next week? Staying here…with Jumin? I think about Seven's joking question, and my very real dream. I quickly suppress my train of thought, but I can still feel my body heat up.

"Ugh!" I smack myself on the cheeks a few times, trying to snap out of it. "Focus on the problems at hand, Zen! Stalker! Audition! Messaging Jaehee!"

With that settled, I pick up my phone and pull up the chatroom again. I won't bother dealing with Seven's games right now, but I should at least say something for Jaehee.

Zen has entered the chatroom.

Zen: Anyone online right now…?

Zen: Well, it doesn't matter. I can't stay on long. I need to focus on my next audition as much as possible.

Zen: But I would like to say I'm fine. I'll be back on the messenger later.

Zen: Jaehee, thank you for being concerned for me.

Zen: *winky heart emoji*

Zen has left the chatroom.

I let out a slow breath and lean back on the couch. Phone put away, I sit idly for a moment, thinking things over.

"Meow."

Elizabeth jumps up next to me. I immediately lift my hands in a defensive posture, but she simply sniffs my hand, then rubs her cheek against it. I hear that low motor sound again.

A soft laugh escapes my smiling lips. "You're purring, aren't you?" Tentatively, I reach out and pet the top of her head. "Oh, wow… your fur is so soft!"

Her purring gets louder, and she climbs part way onto my lap. I can feel my smile widen. My pets become longer strokes down her velvety back.

"Okay," I concede, "maybe you're not so bad after all."

Untroubled blue eyes twinkle up at me. I'm not sure why, but something in them gives me the feeling Elizabeth knows something I don't, and it calms me.

Everything about the last 24 hours should be driving me mad, and yet here I am - somewhere I never pictured myself in a thousand years - relatively content and happy.

Jumin's POV

"Mr. Han." I glance up from my work to see Assistant Kang in the doorway to my office. She is smiling, with her hands folded across her chest. "Zen messaged that he is doing well. I think that allergy medicine you got is working after all."

"Yes, as I expected," I answer idly.

Zen messaged? Good. Now Assistant Kang can stop barging in here every fifteen minutes asking about him. But despite my belligerence towards Assistant Kang's behavior, a tightness in my chest eases at the knowledge Zen said he is doing well in my home. It pleases me greatly that the medication is working. It is a new experimental medicine prepared by the world famous specialist Dr. Gould, as recommended by my family doctor, Dr. Silence Lee. Technically, our personal use of the medication is illegal, but it seems a small price to pay for Zen's wellness during this trying situation. And he is indeed well. I haven't heard Zen sneeze even once since I administered the first dose.

"Of course," replies Assistant Kang. "Also, Sir, I have sent you the updated report on last quarter's textile exports. Would you like me to forward that to the Chairman, or allow you to review it first?"

"I'll review it first."

With a nod, Assistant Kang backs out of my office, closing the door behind her.

I reflexively turn my gaze back to my work, but I find the words difficult to focus on. Zen is doing well. I wonder what that means. What could he be doing right now in my home? I picture him out on the balcony, where I left him this morning. I picture him on my couch, watching something silly on TV and laughing, that bright smile of his shining. I picture him in my kitchen, chopping scallions while wearing an apron. I picture him playing with my dear Elizabeth the 3rd… ah. But no. That one would be impossible.

I lean back in my chair. Staring at my blank office ceiling, I think, No… Zen is too hard working. He will most likely be running lines, or working out. Perhaps singing. It would be a joy to hear his beautiful voice echo across my empty walls. Will I ever get to hear it?

A tightness grips at the air in my chest, making it difficult to breathe.

Perhaps allowing Zen to stay was a bad idea. I offered, or rather demanded, that Zen stay with me for his safety. He is, after all, one of my closest and most trusted friends. Keeping him contained in the optimum safety of my condo felt like an obvious decision. But now… here I am. Feeling things. Feeling things I have never felt before. Each thought of him in my home, in my life, sends thrills through me. And each realization that this is temporary sends crashing waves of pain.

With a hard swallow, I resolve to keep my emotions further at bay. I cannot allow them to rule me. I must continue to live by my customary routines. Focus on work. I can not be taken over by… Red eyes, white hair, and a gorgeous smile fill my thoughts. By Zen.