Fate | Jakehoon

chapter 31: 3 a.m with you

Jake never knew what being in love feels like until he felt it, deep in his heart, for Sunghoon.

When Sunghoon had told him he was in love with him, Jake was over the moon. He didn't need time to think about it because he had felt it for a while and that moment only intensified his feelings.

For Jake, being in love is like an exhilarating whirlwind that sweeps him off his feet, yet grounds him at the same time. A constant warm glow in his heart that shines even on the darkest days.

The new year brings new challenges for Jake and the members. With Fate tour finishing up on a high in the Philippines — an amazing concert with an unforgettable firework show and audience — the busiest period of their lives has begun in full swing.

They've started working on two new albums, rehearsing for their Fate+ encore concerts in Seoul, all the while traveling to nearby countries for different events and fansigns.

But the hardest part isn't the workload — it's the increasing invasion of their privacy that's the most alarming.

It's the relentless mobbing at the airports, which the staff can never seem to handle and it's not only affecting them, but other passengers passing too. The persistent calls they keep getting from unknown numbers, especially during lives — to the point that they're tired looking at their phone every time it rings to see who it is and the leaking of their private information.

So, as soon as they're all back to the dorm from the company tonight, Jungwon calls for a team meeting in their apartment.

"It happened again. I was doing a live in the studio today and someone kept calling my phone number, even though I told them to stop," Heeseung sighs.

"It's getting out of hand. They took pictures of me and Jay sleeping on the plane a few days ago. How did they even know our seat numbers?" Jake asks, seriously perturbed.

"Someone definitely leaked the info," Sunoo says.

"Probably the airport staff. They know how we're seated," Jungwon rubs his temples.

"And let's not forget that someone actually stalked you and Sunghoon at the hotel we stayed at," Jay says, visibly irritated.

"She kept knocking on my door for ten minutes until Seojun-nim came and told her to stop," says Sunghoon.

Sunghoon was texting Jake at that time, but none of them were allowed to leave their own rooms for their safety, so Jake wasn't able to go see him.

"Do-Il hyung reported her for disturbance to the reception, but they couldn't do anything about it except give her a warning," Jungwon tells them.

"Which was useless because she tried to enter your room, Jungwon," Jay's stern tone cuts in. "It's unacceptable!"

"What?!" everyone else looks at Jungwon.

"She tried to go in your room?" Ni-Ki's expression is filled with worry.

"She was forcing the door," Jungwon replies. "But she couldn't have gotten in, don't worry," he assures Ni-Ki with calm and confidence.

Still, he must've been scared while it was happening.

"That's so messed up," Sunoo furrows his eyebrows.

"Yeah. I wish they wouldn't do these things," Jake says truly disappointed. "We love meeting our fans but this is not it."

"People that act like this aren't our fans, Jake. They're stalkers," Jay emphasizes, and he agrees along with the others.