Heartbeat // JK

13 - Where It All Began

I scrolled through the subtitled clips of the livestream for the second time that morning, the voices of Jungkook and the rest of BTS echoing in my mind. Their calm, firm words should have reassured me, but I couldn't shake the unease that lingered.

Most of the comments now were supportive. Fans praised their message, calling for kindness and respect, and hashtags like #ProtectEva were trending.

But even with the overwhelming positivity, the fear hadn't disappeared. There were still a few vocal voices clinging to suspicion and hate, enough to remind me that things weren't back to normal yet.

I set my phone down with a sigh just as it buzzed with a new text.

Emma: I'm outside. Can I come in?

I hesitated. We hadn't talked much since the concert, and I wasn't eager to have this conversation. But ignoring Emma would only delay the inevitable, and she never left things alone for long.

Eva: Fine. Door's open.

Moments later, Emma stepped in, carrying a tray of coffee and pastries. She flashed me a smile that was just a little too bright, her red ponytail swinging behind her as she walked in like she owned the place.

"Figured you could use something sweet," she said cheerfully, setting the tray down.

"You've had a... rough few days."

"Yeah," I muttered, wrapping my hands around the warm coffee she handed me.

Emma settled into the chair across from me, folding her legs neatly as she picked up a croissant.

"I saw the livestream. They really went all out, didn't they?"

"They were just trying to stop the hate," I said quietly, not wanting to get into this with her.

"Of course," she said, nodding thoughtfully.

"And it worked, for the most part. It's nice that they care about you so much." She took a sip of her coffee, pausing just long enough to add, "Although... it must feel strange, having the world suddenly know your name."

I kept my face neutral, but my grip on the cup tightened. Emma always had a way of making compliments feel like something else entirely.

"I guess," I said, keeping my tone flat.

Emma leaned forward slightly, her expression softening into something that might have been mistaken for genuine concern.

"I mean, I get why they did it. They were protecting you, and that's sweet. But... you have to admit, this kind of attention? It's a lot. People are watching everything you do now."

I shrugged, not trusting myself to say anything without snapping.

"I just worry about you," Emma continued, her voice lowering to something more intimate.

"You've always been so private, Eva. This kind of spotlight... it changes things. You can't really go back to normal after something like this."

I glanced down at my coffee, my stomach twisting uncomfortably. She wasn't wrong—not entirely, at least. Things had changed, and I didn't know if they would ever go back to normal.

"I didn't ask for any of this," I said quietly, my voice steadier than I felt.

"I know," Emma said quickly, as if she didn't want me to feel defensive.

"That's what makes this so unfair. You didn't ask for it, but now you're stuck in it. And... well, you know how fans are. They'll never really stop watching."