"What do you mean?" Jeongguk asked, not wanting to believe that this was actually happening. He was finally happy after so long and he wouldn't let some reporter just take it away. He glanced in the kitchen and he watched how Cecilia hummed as she worked along. There was no way he wanted to destroy her happiness, but he would have to tell her, won't he? He sighed in defeat.

"The reporter mentioned how your apartment is more in use now and you seem to be making frequent visits as well so you must have guessed it by now, they have photos," Mr. Bang explained and Jungkook just listened to everything dumbfounded and a little mad.

"I want to talk to the reporter if that's okay," Jeongguk said calmly though his heart was beating a little faster and he hoped things wouldn't get messy.

"Considering how this is related to you, I think you should, " Mr. Bang replied. "I'll send you the details then."

"Thank you," he said a little zoned out as he closed the phone and dragged himself into the kitchen.

Cecilia turned around and faced him with a bright smile.

"I was expecting you come sooner but it's good you didn't," Cecilia said as she leaned against the counter.

"Why is that?" Jeongguk asked as he raised his eyebrows, moving closer towards her.

"Because I can't focus when you are close to me," she replied, her hands on his chest as they slowly drag up against the thin material. "I start thinking about you a little too much."

"I like that though," Jeonguuk smiled and he forgot momentarily about everything that upset him as he was now focussing on her and only her. He never thought he would say something like this, but love was really such a strange thing. It's always surprising in its own way and though Jeongguk was on the wrong side of it for so long, he was finally realizing that happy moments were supposed to exist more.

Cecilia looked up as she held his hands.

"I'll keep that in mind," she turned him around and Jeoonguk was surprised to see the strength she had. Though she wasn't the tallest, she sure pushed and turned him around pretty well. " Time to eat baby."

"You are done?" Jeongguk asked a little surprised as he didn't think he took that long.

"No, but I made starter so I want you to start eating, " Cecilia told him as she made him sit down.

"Let me help you," he stood up, only to get glared at.

"I want do this for you so please let me, " Cecilia said a little softer and Jeongguk couldn't say no as he sat in his place, munching on the food she had placed. He had tried salads many times before but this was the best salad he had in a while.

Cecilia had been watching him for a while as he munched on the food and a smile formed as she noticed him frown a little while eating. To some people, he might have looked angry, but she knew he had the cutest angry face when the food was good, so this only meant she had succeeded.

She continued to work through the rest of the food and realized she had taken way too many dishes upon herself but the menu was already decided so there was no going back now.

Jeongguk couldn't get enough of the food as he found himself enjoying everything, but he would be lying if he said that the seat in front of him didn't feel too empty.

"Baby, why don't you eat with me? " Jeongguk called out in hopes to get her attention. It was cute how focussed she had gotten while cooking. Her eyebrows creased in concentration and he knew the strands of her flying hair had been getting on her nerves as she kept trying to fix it back.

"Just a few minutes," Cecilia yelled back and he shook his head, wondering if these were the only Korean words for time she knew. He stood up from his chair, went into the kitchen and lifted her into his arms, hearing her squeal.

"Jeongguk put me down," she said frustrated which only made him smile as he placed her on the counter.

"It's not fun eating alone," Jeongguk told her, crossing his arms and he had a little pout on his lips.

She leaned closer, placing her hand on his cheeks to pull him closer until their lips touched for a few seconds.

"I'm sorry," she looked up to him, feeling a little guilty.

Jeongguk pinched her nose lightly.

"I'll help you now so you can eat the last dish with me, okay? " he asked with a smile and she nodded, telling him what to do.

Cecilia realized she should have let Jeongguk helped her earlier as things were way easier now that she had him around the kitchen. They had even managed to finish the dish earlier than Cecilia thought was possible and were now eating the dish.

Though Jeongguk was bright as always on the table, she could feel there was something bothering him as he kept zoning out after a while.

"Jeongguk," she said softly, taking his hand in hers and placed a kiss on it. "What's wrong?"

"What do you mean?" He asked, brushing it away as he smiled brightly. "There is nothing wrong."

Her heart shattered as she knew what he was doing. Jeongguk was used to not relying on people and letting his problems eat at him, but she knew the feeling of it all too well and she couldn't just sit and watch it happen to the person she loved.

"You can't lie to me," Cecelia told him as she stood up and grabbed his hand, bringing him back to his room and made him sit down. "I don't know what bothering you, but  least don't lie to me about it now. I can tell you are sad"

She wrapped her arms around him, catching Jeongguk off guard.

"Let's talk about it when you ready," she comforted him as she drew circles on his back. "I know it hard for you to talk about things so I won't ask to tell me everything, but it okay to admit that you are sad gukkie. "

Jeongguk listens to her words, tears forming in his eyes as he feels comforted for the first time. Was it because those were words were from her? Probably that was the reason he felt at ease.He buried himself into her, wrapping his arms around a little tighter as he basked in her scent. After years of feeling a burden weighing him down constantly, he felt some of it lift of his shoulder and he pulled back, looking at her with a teary smile. 

"This is why it's so hard for me to tell you what I found out," Jeongguk confessed and he held both of her hands. "Promise me no matter what you hear, you won't break up with me."

Cecilia got worried as she held his hands tighter.

"Baby, why would I break up with you?" she caressed his cheeks gently. "but I promise I won't"

Jeongguk explained everything as Cecilia's hand dropped from his cheek and she looked at him sadly before pulling him into a hug.

"Even in place where your reputation getting harmed you worry about me more. " she started after pulling away and smiled at him warmly. "I won't break up with you like this. I love you Jeongguk and nothing ever change that so don't worry. Yes, this hard and I am not used to attention or this kind of life but I am sure about us."

"But what if you change your mind?" he asked worried as his heart sank of the possibility of her leaving. There was only so much someone could take. Even though he knew the real fans would never hurt her, but about those stalkers and reporters? They might start keeping an eye on her more. He knew how hard these few months were for her and there was no way he could dump his drama too.

"I won't" Cecilia said confidently, looking into his eyes that the worries in his mind started washing away. It's like everytime he started to drif t away further, she would pull him right back not letting his thoughts wonder. "Let's get through things together and live a life we both want."

He nodded, placing his head against her as he closed his eyes to ease his thoughts more.

***************

"Let's get straight to the point here, why did you take these?" Jeongguk asked calmly.

"It's usually the company dealing with, but seeing that you asked to meet... this sthis is important to you right?" the reported asked.  "My name is Kang Byung-woo. 

Jeongguk sighed. 

"Nice to meet you Mr. Kang but I don't want any of these photos out in the public nor do I want to see more reporters following me around," Jeongguk stated sternly. "Most of my life is on cameras and I don't mind sharing things with ARMY, but I am not comfortable with you exposing things before I want to."

"Oh, but that's not how it works," he looked at him with a smile. "It's not always your choice. You are from the biggest group in the world right now so anything related to you makes headlines. We need that content."

"With all due respect, the people you are trying to make headlines out of are human and before becoming a reporter you should have polished up your morals," Jeongguk stated monotonely as it was becoming harder for him to talk nicely. "If you need money, there are always others ways so instead of focusing on my apartment trips, you could perhaps foscus on our new music or even donations we have made. There is always something else."

"I think maybe I should write about your mannerisms instead," Byung woo scoffed. "For someone who is said to be kind, you sure are so rude to me."

Jeongguk stared blankly unable to belive the way the man was straight up twisting his words. 

"You can try as much as you want, but unlike you, I have ARMY with me," Jeongguk said with a smile. "Do you really think they would believe you over me? Instead of creating unnecessary problems, let's settle this on a good note where you can make your money and I can have my life to myself."

"How do you expect me to do that?" Byung woo asked curiously.

"I'll pay you and talk to the company about your job," Jeongguk looked at him after thinking about everything with a clearer mindset, "The way you were talking makes me think this was your last chance for a big scoop so I'll take care of that and your company will have the chance to interview BTS. I'll tell them that we met and you convinced me for the interview.All of this for a small price of you staying out of my private life. What do you say?"

He noticed how Byung woo was lost in thought, thinking deeply about Jeongguk's offer and though Jeongguk looked calm, he was nervous about the reporter's response. If Byung woo didn't agree then there was nothing to be done.

"I agree, " Byung woo said after while, breaking the silence. "I'll destroy the photos and no more medling."

Jeongguk screamed internally with happiness as everything seemed to be getting sorted out right in front of him.

"How can I be sure?" Jeongguk asked, looking at him and the reporter handed him the chip. 

"This has all the photos so I hope you keep your word," Byung woo stated. "I know I am not doing anything but what about the others? you can't keep this a secret forever."

"I will, you don't have to worry, "Jeongguk smiled then nodded. "I know that, but I want to do it on my own pace"

Jeongguk stood up an walked outside, placing the chip in his pocket. He looked at the sky and smiled.

"Things do seem a little brighter, don't they?" he mumbled to himself, heading home once more. Things were slowly getting into place on their own as if bad things weren't meant to happen no more, but a little thought did bother him, how will everything change once Cecilia would be revealed to the world. Would people lover her just as much as he did? He really hoped so because she meant everything to him, but for now he wanted to focus on the little things in their life.

*********************************

Will the next chapter be the last? I don't know yet but it could be. The story is wrapping up and I hope things don't feel rushed in any way. My main concern is always to make sure I don't disappoint my of you so I hope that will be the case. 

No idea why it's hard for me to push chapters out, but I guess because this book is very precious to me, it's getting hard for me to let go. I hope none of you regret reading my book.

Thank you for everyone who is still here and reading my book. I appreciate you all really.

see you all soon. Bye!!!

Take care,

Sera