Chapter 15

It was a dark room, Zen couldn't see a thing. It was eerily quiet, but he could hear a woman's cry.

It's not Ha Eun's voice, he's sure of it. But who?

'Why... Why....'

He couldn't follow the source of the voice no matter how many steps he took, but he suddenly felt his hands wet. He looked down and he saw blood on both of his hands.

"What....."

Then Ha Eun's body was suddenly on his hands, blood gushing through her abdomen. Her eyes, lifeless.

"HA EUN?!"

Zen leaped from his bed, his breath heavy and suffocating with sweats all over his body

It's his psychic dream again. But he will not let this happen. No more harm should ever fall on Ha Eun ever again.

---

The dream makes Zen start his day in a bad mood. He was uneasy.

He was on his way to the drama set when his phone ring. 707.

"Oh Seven."

"Knight Seven came bearing good news!"

"What is it?", asked Zen.

"For now, I still don't know who took the pictures from your phone. But the most likely way is someone sneaked into your dressing room or whatever and send the photos. Since you've been to a lot of places these past time, it's impossible to check every CCTV of the places you've been to. But I've frozen any online circulation of the photos."

"That's not exactly good news.", Zen replied unamused.

"Wait, there's more!", exclaimed Seven.

"Real good news?"

Zen pulls away from a group of girls, suspecting them to be some fan and it'll be bad if they heard what he was talking about. This problematic times, added with Zen's psychic dream just makes him as paranoid as ever.

"I found the address of the one that posted the photos on your fan-café."

"Really?"

"You are talking to God Seven!"

"So, who was it?", asked Zen.

"The apartment was signed under a young woman's name."

"A woman?"

"Maybe a heartbroken fan of yours?", suggested Seven.

"Maybe. Seven, can you give me the address?"

"Are you acting on your own?"

"Maybe I can talk some senses to that woman."

"All right. I'll message it to you."

Seven's report ended there, but he can feel that Zen has something more to say. Zen knew that Seven has a special feeling towards Ha Eun. All men will know that look, especially Zen, the expert of the dating scene. Seven may hid it well from others, but not Zen.

"Seven.", he called.

"Yes?"

"You're watching Ha Eun all the time right?"

"Uh... Of course."

"You have to protect her.", said Zen sternly.

You don't have to say it.

---

Inbox:

707: Hey, why are you home early? You went to work, right? With that get-up and all, but you're back in the afternoon.

Seven has been displaying the hallway of Ha Eun's penthouse on a small corner of his desktop. Whatever he's been working on, he can always check on Ha Eun. It's rather unlikely that an anti-fan would ever find where Ha Eun's been living at or even get up to the floor. But he just enjoyed watching her spend her days.

Inbox:

H.E: So that's how you know if I went to work or not. The nerdy get-up? Well, I did went to work today. To submit my resignation. It was a bold move, I know. But I just felt it was the right thing to do.

707: You quit your job? Does that mean you got accepted to your new job?

Ha Eun went to the kitchen to make her lunch. The penthouse kitchen is of course much better than her apartment with Zen. Top notch kitchen utensils, high end equipment and all. But nothing can replace the feeling of eating at the same table with Zen. She mostly had her meals alone here and it starting to make her feel miserable. With Zen, he can always make her smile, laugh, his voice, his presence.

Inbox:

H.E: I haven't heard from them since the 3rd call, but I'll be optimistic. In case I didn't get the job, I can work as Hyun oppa's manager. He'll be superbly happy.

707: Did you tell Zen about it?

H.E: Not yet, I think he'll go mental. Besides, he has been doing a lot of schedules lately. I don't want to disturb him and we're both afraid of any more anti-fans.

707: Then it calls for a celebration! Do you want to come over for a Honey Buddha Chips party? And lots of PhD. Pepper!

Vanderwood approaches Seven because he wasn't answering when Vanderwood called him. Well, Seven was wearing headphones and also ..... texting. Vanderwood flicked Seven's head that was replied with an angry grunt.

"Ya! Why are you not working, but texting? Are you a teenage boy or something?", asked Vanderwood.

"I'm doing my job!"

"While texting! You know you have a deadline, right?"

"I do and I'm finishing it soon."

Vanderwood noticed the phone that Seven is holding.

"Are you texting that girl again? You are seriously acting like a teenage boy."

"It's not your problem."

"It is. You think you can have personal relationships? You can't? Besides, that girl belongs to another RFA member right? It's the more reason that says 'no you can't'."

Seven wore his headphones back and backed away from an angry Vanderwood to resume his work.

Inbox:

H.E: That's a very kind offer, but I don't want to disturb your job. Besides, I already called Jaehee and we are having a Jalapeno night. I'm afraid to borrow it from her because she'll kill me if the DVD got scratched the tiniest bit, so it's better to ask her to watch it together and let her do it. Good luck with your work Seven! Thank you~~

---

Zen knocked at a certain numbered door. It was the address that Seven gave him earlier. He suddenly feels nervous. What if his fan responded with anger? Or what if she cries her heart all out? Will he lose fans?

But it's for Ha Eun, right?

He pressed the doorbell once.

"Who is it?!", an angry voice answered from the door.

"Uhh... It's Zen..."

No answer, instead he can hear footsteps going away. Zen knocked again on the door impatiently and pushes his face closer so his voice can be heard.

"No, it's really me! It's Zen-zen. Actor. I need to talk to you."

Zen heard hurried footsteps towards the door. A young woman probably in her mid 20s opened the door. Plain face, straight black hair, surprised eyes that looked back at him.

The girl was even more surprised when Zen bowed down low at her.

---

Ha Eun went to check her phone that she had left in the table. Jaehee has just left the apartment after watching the Jalapeno musical and screaming with joy whenever Zen came up, and Zen's role is quite a lot. She seems to have memorised the dialogue by heart, it amazes Ha Eun.

Ever since moving here, Ha Eun didn't check her phone as often as before. Zen usually texts her before calling, and the company usually did the correspondence by email. She just checks them whenever she had nothing to do.

A text from Zen.

Inbox:

ZEN: Can I call you? Are you busy?

The text came before Jaehee came to visit, and it's pretty late now. Zen should be resting by now, it may be just his usual 'I miss you' call.

She'll text him in the morning.

Morning came, Zen admits that he was a bit disappointed that Ha Eun didn't call him back. It was an agreement between them to text first before calling, to see if it's a good time or not. He rolls back and forth on their bed, he's starting to feel exhausted with all these and he had to do it without Ha Eun.

Ping!

Zen grabs his phone immediately.

Inbox:

H.E: Call me when you have time.

Now is the time!

Ha Eun was in the middle of making her breakfast when her phone plays Zen's ringtone. She just left for a minute, she didn't even get the chance to turn on the stove again.

"Oppa."

"Where did you go last night? Why didn't you call me back?"

"I watched Jalapeno with Jaehee, and I thought it was late and you must be sleeping, so I didn't call you."

"I was worried so I slept really late.", sighed Zen.

"I'm sorry about that. Did you work out till late again?"

"Last night?", asked Zen," No. I went to search for new shibari styles, you know I haven't really figured out the diamond-like pattern. I spent the whole night looking at some album. I can't wait to do it."

Ha Eun felt her face blushed bright red. Seriously, it's still morning and their conversation has begun to swerve the other way.

"Oppa, .... This is still morning.", said Ha Eun.

"It was night when I was checking it!"

"Are you calling me to tell me just that?"

"What? No, actually. It's good news. So, I think I may have figured all this out.", said Zen proudly.

"What do you mean?"

"I met with my fan that posted your picture online and left hateful comments. I reasoned with her and she agreed to stop. But she said she got the original pictures from somebody else online. So we haven't figured out who took the photo from my phone."

"Is she okay, then?"

"Well, she seems hurt and surprised. But I think she should understand. Turns out she was an old fan of mine and has been following my works for a long time. I'm honoured."

Ha Eun sat back on one of the bar chairs. The tension on her body seemed to loosen up a little bit.

"Now, let's just wait for your job. After that we can be together. I'm going to make our relationship public after that, so get ready for the exposure.", Zen said again.

"Are you sure?"

"I didn't care about the consequences, if I have to lose fans, so be it. But no harm or hate should fall before you because of me. No more, Ha Eun.

"Well, if you're really sure about that."

Ha Eun touches the necklace on her neck, the one with the same colour as Zen's eyes. Sometimes, it gives her comfort, it gives the same amount of comfort like Zen's presence. Her ultimate saviour during tough times without Zen.

---

The hall of one of the top hotel in the city was full with guests that night. It was one of the gathering of the nation's leading businessmen and conglomerates. Of course, Mr. Han Jumin was there. His father preferred to be absent from the party.

It was a good way to connect and find new business partners, but tonight Jumin had another agenda in mind.

To find the owner of XX Company that recently spread their wings in the city, the same place Ha Eun placed her application. It was Zen's request, of course, without Ha Eun's knowledge. Zen wanted so badly for Ha Eun to be accepted so that she can achieve her dream, just like she had helped her achieve his. Jumin agreed to it, he can use it as leverage if Zen ever wanted to stop being his cat model.

Jumin has pitched his way into making small talks with the owner. Now, it's time for business.

"Oh, I am honoured that your company decided to make a research centre here.", said Jumin.

"It's necessary to understand more about the Asian countries."

"In fact, a personal friend of mine applied for a position in your place. I hope you remember her, Song Ha Eun."

"Oh, Miss Song. How can I not remember her? I watched over the selection process with some other staffs. She excels and shines. Between her peers, she didn't dominate nor control, but she seemed to hold the flow of everything and people look up to her. Her knowledge of her study was vast as well. She's a treasure. I'm putting a staff of mine in charge of the place, and I was planning on giving her the same amount of authority, I'm sure she can develop the place to be magnificent."

Zen was worried for nothing.

"That's a very thoughtful compliment, Sir. I'm sure my friend would very appreciate such words from you."

---

Ha Eun got the job.

She was so happy, she wanted to jump and hug Zen, but there was no Zen to hug in her penthouse. Just a pillow wearing Zen's shirt over it. She hugged the pillow tightly, in turn.

She wanted to call Zen, she wanted to see him. This is all over, she can be with him now.

But she wanted to tell Zen in person, make it a surprise.

On the other hand, she felt the need to talk to that fan of Zen's.

That fan staked it all. Turned so far away from her ways, from a fan to a hateful one. And Ha Eun can't deny she caused her change of heart.

"Seven.", Ha Eun called Seven for help.

"Good afternoon~~"

"Seven! Hyun oppa said he found the place of the fan that posted my photos. It must be from you right?"

"No...Yes..No..."

"Yes, right! Please give me the address!"

"What? Why!"

"She's angry with me. Zen may have talked with her but she must've had some thoughts about me, things she wanted to say. She'll feel better if she talked to me. Trust me...."

"This fan is angry with you, and you're just giving yourself like that?", asked Seven.

"I'll take Driver Kim with me, he'll keep me safe."

"Call me if anything happens."

Why does Seven have a bad feeling about this?

---

"Miss, this seems to be the address.", said Driver Kim.

Ha Eun arrived at a certain number written on the address Seven sent her. Driver Kim presses the doorbell. Once, twice, but no answer.

"It looks like there's nobody home.", he said again.

For some reason, Ha Eun thought to try the door. And it opens.

"The door was left unlocked.", mumbled Ha Eun.

She enters the apartment slowly, when her feet tripped on something. She looked down and found a camera on the floor.

"What's a camera doing here?", she said.

She turned the camera on, finding only one thing in it, a video. She played the video.

"Zen-oppa, do you remember when you met me? You said to continue pursuing my dreams. If I really wanted it, the world will recognise it. Ever since then I had wished for you to recognise me again. You become my sun, my everything. I give you every single penny I had, I buy your albums, posters, I send you all gifts that you might need. All in hope that you'll see me again one day and love me.

But now, you said you love another woman. You love all other fans too. They are not like me! They don't love you the way I am! They don't deserve your love! You are mine and mine only. That woman should not have you, no other fans should have you. If you can't love me, then no one else should receive your love! You belong to me, and we will be together forever!"

"Is this...."