Off Camera

Chapter 39

Tae POV

My heart races and I blink, hoping this entire conversation is a figment of my imagination, but it isn't. It is real.

My palms glisten with sweat. "You want me to do what? I thought all the events and fan meets were cancelled. Why didn't you tell me there was still some scheduled?"

My chest tightens, and the shrill voice that haunts my dreams rings in my ears.

This can't be happening to me.

Jane stares back at me.

Concern fills her eyes. "I told you about this. I've also talked to Tee about it, too. The fans want more, and I was wondering if the two of you can show off a little PDA. Not too much, but enough for the fans to scream and jump for joy."

Her eyebrows furrow together. "I thought the sessions with Dr. Heartland were helping."

My throat tightens, and I gasp for air. "They are, but this..." My voice trails off, and my mind goes blank.

I blink and shake my head. "I don't know about this." My voice fades to a whisper. "She might be there."

I can't even bring myself to say the crazy woman's name. If the sessions were helping me like she thinks, I wouldn't have any problems saying her name or talking about her, but I can't. The words get stuck in my throat, and I end up opening and closing my mouth like a fish.

Jane gently pats my arm. "It is okay. I will be there, along with Tee, and the biggest security detail you have ever seen. We will make sure nothing happens to you." She pauses and looks at me. Sympathy swirls around in her eyes.

I shake my head. "But she might be there too."

My feet shuffle backwards as my body trembles.

I don't want to see or hear the crazy stalker woman again. The previous times are enough for the rest of my lifetime.

Jane steps closer to me. "Tae, I promise I'll make sure she can't do anything to you or get close enough to touch you. Plus, Tee will but up there beside you. He won't let anything happen to you, either."

My eyes instantly dart around the studio for him. He has been my rock and my strength through this entire mess. My daily doses of his medicine have kept me sane.

When I spot him on the other side of the building, he is looking at the director and listening to whatever the director is saying.

My nerves calm slightly, but the tightness in my chest doesn't disappear.

Will Tee be enough for me, so I can get through the event? Not just any event, either. It is at the mall where the space between the small stage and the fans barely exists.

My heart beats wildly as an image of a similar event I did pops into my mind. It was before my crazy stalker, and I had nothing to worry about. When the fans surged towards the small platform, a wave of panic had washed over me. Luckily, they stopped before they got too close, but it is still something I won't forget.

If something similar happens now, I wouldn't be able to handle it. I probably would run off the stage and hide somewhere. But where do you hide in a mall where there is no backstage or true barrier between the fans and us?

My heart races, and a thin layer of sweat explodes across my entire body.

Jane pats my arm. "Tae. I promise I will make it safe for you. The agency won't allow me to cancel it. The cancellation fee is too high, so we have no choice but to do it. I'm sorry." Her voice softens with a bit of regret.

How could they do this to me?

I thought the agency protects their actors first instead of pushing them into doing something they don't want to do all because of money.

My feet shuffle backwards as I stare at her.

She steps closer to me. "Tae, I'm going to do whatever I can to protect you, even if I have to stand up in front of you on the stage to stop anyone from trying to reach you. You don't have to worry."

That is easy for her to say. She has no idea what I'm going through.

A sad smile slides across my face as I slowly shake my head. My words of protest lodge in my throat and won't come out.

What are they thinking?

"Tae, are you alright? You don't look so good."

My feet continue to shuffle backwards as my mind tries to figure a way out of this horrible nightmare.

The pounding of my heart echoes in my ears as the room begins to spin.

I blink, trying to bring everything back to normal.

I waver back and forth. I reach out with my hand, hoping to find something to grab onto to steady myself. But I find nothing.

"Tae. You aren't looking good at all. You need to sit down."

Sit down. No, I need to run far away, but my feet feel like they are encased in cement and I can barely lift them off the floor.

My stomach churns as the room spins again, but much faster this time.

"TAE!"

The room tumbles while my breathing shallows out to short, quick pants. My chest tightens to the point it is almost hard to breathe at all.

As the room tumbles and almost turns upside down, strong arms wrap around me and the sweet voice I love to hear frantically asks, "Tae. Are you alright? You are scaring me." Panic overrides his usually sweet and alluring voice.

I turn my attention to his beautiful face. Tears fill his lovely brown eyes.

His warmth engulfs me and comforts me, while the room slowly stops spinning.

I gently caress his cheek and give him a small grin. "You're all I need."

A tear slides down his cheek, and I gently wipe it away with my thumb.

He guides me to a chair behind me, but when he goes to let go of me, I wrap my arms around his waist and pull him onto my lap. "Don't leave. I still need my medicine."

I barely register Jane's question. "What medicine?"

Tee shakes his head. A few more tears strike down his face. "No. Not here. We need to call Dr. Heartland. You are having a panic attack."

I shake my head. "I'm fine as long as you are here, and I get my medicine."

Everything around us fades away, but Jane's faint voice. "Medicine? Did Dr. Heartland give you some medicine?"

My eyes lock with Tee's red, puffy ones, which are still beautiful to me. The love in them warms my heart and shines a bright light in the growing darkness around me. He shakes his head and whispers. "Not here."

My hands snake around his sides and up his back.

I slowly nod. "Yes."

Before he can protest again, I lean forward and capture his moist lips in a tender but needy kiss.

He hesitates for a moment before he wraps his hands around my neck and kisses me back.

My nerves slowly calm down as I dive deeper into his mouth, seeking the comfort only he can give me.

Published November 10, 2022