Zen's POV

"We're here!" one of the women squeals. "We're really here, inside Zen's place!"

The four women look around my humble one bedroom apartment with wide, twinkling eyes. They mumble and squeak out little giggles over the simplest of things. The divot on my favorite spot on the couch. The used water glass I left sitting on the counter. My bathroom mirror which gets to look at my beauty every day.

I pretend to pack up a few things while the girls follow me from room to room. Unfortunately, there's not much for me to even pretend to pack since I have all my stuff still at Jumin's. But I go through the motions, nonetheless, trying to stall as much as possible.

"Zen's bed!" More squeals erupt as two move to my bed. They kneel at the edge and begin to rub their hands over it, sniffing the blankets.

Min, the aggressive one, leans against my bedroom door frame as if standing guard. The fourth woman begins to putter around my room, until she comes to a prop that I kept from my very first musical, Tei's Tea Leaf.

"Oh my gosh! This… this isn't from the actual set is it?" She brushes her fingers along the edge of the tea set.

I hesitate. I don't want them to take it or accidentally break it, but obviously my safety matters the most right now, so I don't dare lie. "Yes, it is. It is very dear to my heart, since it's from my first musical."

But rather than freaking out and breaking it, as I had worried, she turns to look at me with a wide smile and tears in her eyes.

"That was the first time you saved me," she says, and her expression seems so pitiful. "My life was such a lie, but when I saw you sing so earnestly it gave me the first flicker of hope I'd had in a long time. Something in you spoke to my soul."

"Oh, same with me," one of the ones next to my bed says. "Of course, I didn't find you until much later, Zen. But it was right when I needed you. Your role in 'Another Way to Live' brought me out of my depression. I had nothing to live for before you."

"Me as well!" says the other by my bed.

And then the time is filled with these women telling me about their horrid lives. Abusive parents, both physically and emotionally. Their struggle to choose life each day, unable to find happiness, love, or support. And they all say the same thing - that I helped them from going over the edge.

I look over at Min in my doorway. Her arms are crossed over her chest, tears welled up in her eyes.

"Is it the same for you?" I ask her.

"Yeah," she says dismissively, and wipes a tear away with the back of her hand.

"I'm so happy I could be there for you all," I say with a genuine smile. I hope that what I say next isn't going to push things too far, but with how they are speaking… I don't think they're as dangerous as I thought. "But… you all realize that I am not your husband, right?"

"Zen!" They all move forward towards me, speaking over each other. "Don't be like that! We need you! I need you!"

"Ladies, you need more than I can give you. You need real help." I stroke the heads of the ones that are close enough for me to reach.

"No! No, no, no!" Min screams. She tugs at her scalp with her dirty fingernails. "There's no one but you!"

She charges at me, and I struggle not to react and push her away. Instead, I stand still, and let her hands rake over me and pull at my clothes as she screams.

"Min, stop!" the others yell. "You'll hurt him!"

"No one else can help me! No one!" Min continues to scream as she claws at me and beats her weak hands against my chest. Finally her movements still, and a sob erupts out of her. "No one will ever love me!"

I wrap my arms around her and hold her tight. "That's not true, Min. You deserve love. It's just that I… I can't be that person for you. But I promise, I'll do what I can to help you. All of you," I add, looking around the room at all of my teary fans.

"Wait," one says, her expression changing to confusion as she looks to my ceiling. "Do you hear that?"

We all listen, and I hear it. A helicopter? The sound gets louder until it is a constant whir, as if it's stopped right above us. My heart pounds. Is it here for me?

"Is that a helicopter?" another girl asks.

"No," Min cries, her eyes wild with hysteria. She grips my chest and shakes me. "Come with us. Please. We need you."

"Min." I brush a strand of hair back from her face. "Please, trust me. I'll make sure you get the help you need, okay?"

She buckles, whimpering, and I grab her elbows to support her.

"Let me go out, first, okay?" I say, slowly side-stepping around the women.

I exit my room and go to the living room, pausing to look over my shoulder. None of them come with me. In fact, all that follows behind me is the sound of multiple women crying hysterically. I run my hand across my chest to soothe the aching my heart is doing for them.

Then I step forward, and swing my front door wide. And when I do, I am… speechless.

Dozens - no, a hundred or more people stand outside my small apartment. They barely fit in between the buildings of my complex. Some are police officers, but most of them are wearing black, and are decked out in SWAT uniforms like in the movies. Looking up, I see the helicopter, which seems to be staying close and hovering above.

Is this… all for me?!

"It's the asset!" a deep voice yells loudly. "Hurry! Grab him and then detain the targets!"

Suddenly a rush of men in black surge towards me. But if they get to the girls, are they going to hurt them?

"STOP!" I scream, trying to be heard over the pounding of boots and the hum of the helicopter. I position myself in front of my door and hold my arms stretched out to the sides.

"Zen!" My eyes immediately dart to the sound of Jumin's voice. He steps forward, out of the sea of security personnel, commanding all attention. Is this all because of Jumin? He continues, "Zen. Let them handle it."

"No! Look, they're not dangerous, okay? I'm not moving until you say they'll handle them gently."

Jumin's eyes narrow. His lips purse almost imperceptibly, then he leans over to speak with one of the men in black. The man then quickly speaks into his shoulder radio. Almost as if a wave of calm washes over them, the people that were surging towards me relax, holstering their weapons and standing loosely, but still at attention.

"Okay?" I call.

Jumin nods, then beckons me over to him. Fuck, does he look cool right now. I know he's not as handsome as me, but damn. I can feel the pitter-patter of my heart going wild as his eyes stay locked on mine. Once I'm within a few feet, he holds out his hand to me, and I notice it's shaking.

My eyes rake him up and down, realizing that what looked like suave assurance from a distance was actually forced composure. Oh, Jumin, I think with a sigh, and continue forward. Rather than take his hand, I keep going until I am pressed flush against his chest. I wrap my arms around him tightly, and in an instant, I feel his arms clutch me back.

"Zen," he murmurs, his hot breath landing on my neck. "I'm so glad you're safe."

"Me too," I say.

I take a moment to enjoy the feel of him, the comfort of his tight presence. Then I loosen my arms and try to pull back out of the hug, but he clings to me. His fingers dig against my back as they pull on my shirt. His breathing picks up, and I can feel it in the heaving of his chest and the heat against my neck. My stomach flips and flutters at the emotion in his embrace. This hug… this hug means something, doesn't it? But what about that stuff from earlier? The wife thing…?

"Jumin, I'm okay," I reassure him.

I squeeze him tighter, feeling like this hug is more to comfort him than me. But as the seconds tick by, and Jumin shows no signs of releasing me, I become hyper aware of the many eyes on us.

"Um, Jumin?" I laugh nervously. When he still doesn't release me, I whisper in his ear. "Don't forget we have a huge audience right now."

Suddenly he stiffens like a board. He quickly releases me and takes two steps back. Bringing his fist to cover his mouth, he looks away and clears his throat.

"Excuse me. I am just very glad for your safety."

"Yeah, speaking of. Don't you think you went a little over the top?" I laugh, bringing my thumb and forefinger together till they almost touch. "I mean, thank you, Jumin. But… do you think this required a hundred security guards?"

Jumin's eyes dart around the crowd. Even in the faint light of dusk, I can see his cheeks gain color. "At the time, it seemed necessary."

"Even the helicopter?" I ask with a skeptical smirk as I point above us.

"Mmm," he grumbles. He looks over my shoulder and says, "The situation seems to be resolved, I suppose. I will call off the unnecessary operatives."

I turn and follow his line of sight. Police officers lead the four women away in handcuffs and into police vehicles.

"Jumin," I say urgently, grabbing the sleeve of his jacket. "These women don't belong in jail. They need help."

"Help?" He rounds on me. "Zen, who knows what they would have done to you. Luciel said they have a high security home where all the women worship you. It's like a cult. What if they had taken you?" His voice becomes more and more harried. "What if they had hurt you?"

"They need help, Jumin. They're troubled. I'm not saying we let them go, just that they shouldn't be in jail."

He scoffs, then sighs. "That is not up to us to decide."

"Then I'll go over there right now and tell the police I'm not pressing charges." I turn to head towards the few police in the sea of Jumin's security.

But he grabs hold of my wrist. "Don't," Jumin says. "I'll handle it. You've been through enough tonight." He lets go of me, smooths his suit, then turns, pointing at the luxury black sedan a few feet away. "Wait inside the car for me, then I'm taking you home. Do you understand?"

His eyes level me with demand and desperation. And right now, I don't have the drive or desire to defy him.

I give him a nod of compliance, but he doesn't move to speak with anyone until he sees me get into his car. Through the tinted windows of the backseat, I watch as he takes charge and speaks with the police officers. The helicopter leaves. The men in black clear out. A few of my neighbors come out, demanding to know what was going on. Even a couple news trucks show up. And I thank God that Jumin's windows are blacked out from the outside, because the embarrassment over the situation is overwhelming. I pray that this scandal doesn't affect my upcoming audition.

I pull out my phone and open up the R.F.A. chatroom. Jaehee might know. Hopefully she's available. I see that Jaehee, Seven, and Yoosung are already online.

Zen has entered the chatroom.

Yoosung: ZEN!

707: *cry emoji*

707: Zen….

707: I'm glad you're okay

707: BUT

707: why didn't you listen to me!?

Jaehee: Zen. I'm so relieved you're safe.

Jaehee: It was almost as if the sun went out and would never rise again…

Zen: Hi everyone

Zen: I'm okay, everything is fine

Yoosung: *cry emoji*

Yoosung: I was so worried…

Yoosung: I couldn't even finish the newest LOLOL raid

Yoosung: *cry emoji*

Zen: sorry my almost getting kidnapped interrupted your gaming

Zen: *sigh emoji*

Yoosung: I didnt mean it like tthat T_T

Zen: And Seven, if things were that bad, why didn't you tell me?!

Zen: I never would have left Jumin's if I knew there was a cult after me

Zen: *sigh emoji*

707: *depressed emoji*

707: I didn't know until tonight

707: Sorry Zen, but I wasn't really making your stalker thing a priority since you were safe at Jumin's

707: My boss is always on me to work work work like a slave

707: *cry emoji*

707: but since I saw you on the security feed, I did a deep dive

707: the police should have gotten to their house by now as well

Jaehee: That's a relief.

Zen: it's fine Seven. You helped in the end

Zen: Though Jumin and his money did a lot too

Zen: You guys know he sent a helicopter?

Yoosung: A helicopter?!

Yoosung: *shock emoji*

Jaehee: I don't feel he overreacted in this case.

707: that's so cool lolol

Jaehee: Now that Zen is safe, and the stalkers arrested, the next issue is how to keep this from affecting Zen's reputation.

Zen: Yeah, Jaehee, I wanted to ask you about that

Yoosung: how would this affect your reputation?

Yoosung: *question emoji*

Jaehee: It is hard to say. We will need to spin the scandal to seem favorable.

Zen: I don't want to spin anything

Zen: I just don't want this to affect my upcoming audition

Zen: I've wanted to play the Monster of the Opera for so long

Zen: *cry emoji*

Jaehee: Don't worry. We won't let that happen.

Just then, the door to the seat next to me opens, and Jumin's gets in. I quickly type into the chatroom that Jumin's here and say goodbye.

"Home," Jumin instructs the driver, then puts up the privacy screen.

As the car turns on and we get moving, silence sits in the air, thick with tension.

"Ah… What did the police say? Will the girls be okay?" I ask gently.

"Yes. They are being taken to a high security mental health facility for now."

I sigh in relief. "And the others? Seven said the police found the house they were staying at?"

"Yes. Them as well. There were eight women in all."

"E-eight?" I say, leaning back against my seat. "Jeez…"

Silence falls between us again. I try to look out the window and relax, but I can feel Jumin's eyes on me.

"Zen."

"Yeah?"

Looking at Jumin, I can see his chest rising and falling in deep, slow breaths. His gray eyes look incredibly strained. But when he speaks, his voice is neutral.

"Are you truly okay?"

"Yeah." I give him a little smile. As long as I can get help for those girls… But rather than look relieved, his face wrenches into a tight grimace. "Are you okay?"

"I…" His eyes scrunch shut and he turns away. "I'm ashamed. What you just went through was traumatic, and yet I am feeling very selfish in my own needs right now."

I let out a heaving sigh and cock my head to the side. "Just spit it out already, will you? I told you not to hold back, didn't I?"

His eyes shoot open and he gapes at me with his mouth open in soft surprise. "So, that wasn't a mistake?" His hand moves slightly closer to me on the seat.

Part of me wants to reach out and take his hand in mine, but… "First, what's with the wife thing?"

Jumin's eyes narrow. "So you did hear. Is that why you left?"

I groan and turn my gaze back out the window. "Eh, kind of."

"Zen," he begins, his hand moving even closer, "having you stay with me… it awoke something in me."

I let my eyes pivot back to Jumin, and find an intense expression of longing. I swallow hard as it makes my heart rise into my throat.

"At first," he continues, "I thought that anyone would do. That I could find a wife to fill this new need for companionship." He leans in closer, and his hand lifts to skim lightly down my arm. The sensation is… wonderful. "But I quickly realized that no one else will do." His eyes bore into mine. "I want you, Zen."

Shit. He said it. This is real now.

"Please," he begs, running his finger back up my skin, "be honest with me. Is there a chance? A possibility? Of… us."

I can't stop the memory of my dream from flashing through my mind again. If it weren't for that dream, would I have ever accepted his feelings? Accepted the possibility of us? I'm not sure. But as it stands now… Seeing his infatuated gaze. Feeling his gentle caress. Hearing his genuine confession…

"Yes."

Jumin's gasp is small, but I still take notice, especially as his finger stops its movements along my arm. His eyes are wide and shifting as they search my face excitedly. Redness slowly spreads across his face and neck as his composure wavers.

So cute. I can't help the soft chuckle that bubbles out of me.

His eyes quickly narrow in anger. "Are you just teasing me?"

"No!" I laugh louder. "I wouldn't tease about that!" I grab his hand off my arm and bring it to my lips, kissing his knuckles. "I was thinking how cute and flustered you look."

He stiffens, making me smile wider. "I… I've never…" He glances away, and sits silent for a moment. "I wasn't expecting you to say yes."

"But now that I have," I say, giving his hand one more kiss before I move our combined hands to the seat between us, "relax. And stop holding back so much. Okay, babe?"

His eyes dart back to mine, and I give him a wink and a little smile.

I feel like I should be nervous. Or at the very least tired from everything that's happened. But seeing the absolute passion in Jumin's gaze right now, I only feel excited.