Starting Over •JJK• ✔️

Twenty Five

As expected, the photos hit the public the next morning, along with a short article. I was sitting at the counter in the guys' apartment sipping my coffee when Joon announced that it dropped. Jin was cooking behind me while everyone else was scattered between the kitchen and living room. Everyone fell silent as Joon read it out loud.

"Jungkook, member of world-famous K-pop group BTS, was seen out and about recently on what appeared to be a romantic dinner date. We don't know much about the lucky lady on his arm, but our sources tell us that her name is Madelyn-"

I almost choked on my coffee when Joon read my name. I took another sip to calm my throat and stood up from my barstool. "How the hell do they know my name?" I looked across the room at JK when he also stood up. My eyes were wide and my mind was racing.

No one else moved. They all looked as shocked and confused as I was. Tae broke the silence. "I guess we're never going back to that restaurant again since we obviously can't trust them."

"No, I don't think it was them." JK walked over and tightened his arms around me. "They have never broken our trust after this many years and have no reason to now."

I was trembling as I hugged him, pressing my cheek against his chest. I guess this came with the territory of dating an idol, but there was still no reason for these mysterious people to know who I was at this point.

I jumped when my phone started to ring on the counter, signaling an incoming video call. I read the name, having saved the number after the last time he called.

JK reached for my phone but I stopped him. "No. Let me handle this." I looked around the room and answered their questioning looks. "It's Trevor."

Joon and Yoongi quickly stood up and Jin spoke behind me. I'd never seen nor heard him be this angry. "Please answer it so we can tell this motherfucker to fuck off."

"I will, but I need you guys to be silent." I pulled away from JK. "And don't go near the camera. Don't let him see you and don't make a sound, okay?" Everyone nodded and I sighed to try and compose myself. Leaving my phone face up on the counter, I reached down with a shaky hand to answer it.

"Madelyn."

I winced. It had been weeks since he last called. He hadn't sent any messages, either. But seeing his face and hearing him speak still felt like a knife in the gut.

I kept my voice flat and calm. "Hello."

"How was your dinner date?" Trevor's tone was as condescending as always. "It looks like you had a wonderful time."

My eyebrows creased. The article was only published about thirty minutes ago. They also didn't use my last name, so how did he even know about this?

Then it clicked. The article used my full first name. He's the only person who uses my full first name.

Yoongi quietly appeared at my side holding his phone. It was facing mine and he was recording everything. He winked at me and nodded for me to keep the conversation going.

"It was really nice, actually." I crossed my arms. "News travels fast, especially since my last name wasn't printed."

Trevor chuckled. "Come on, Madelyn. You know that I have people all over the world who are always around when I need to dial in a favor." I watched as his smile widened. "Who do you think hired someone to sneak around for me?"

I closed my eyes and tilted my head back. My literal worst nightmare was coming true.

"It took me a few more weeks of deep digging, but I finally found you." Trevor sat back in his seat. "And it turns out that publications will pay a mint for some dirt on those Bangtan Boys, or whatever they're called."

"Please leave them out of this." My eyes were still closed. A tear crept out and slid down my cheek when I felt JK's hand move across my upper back. "They have nothing to do with this."

Trevor chuckled again. "Pretty sure they have everything to do with this. They're the reason why I came home from a business conference to find my house empty and my girlfriend gone without a trace."

"I left for the job, not for them." I wiped my tear away. "I'm begging you. Please leave them alone."

"We'll see." Trevor moved closer to his phone again. "I read that they'll be touring over here pretty soon, and I'm assuming that you'll be joining them. We should meet up so we can bury the hatchet."

I didn't respond. I didn't want him to hear my voice as I began to cry.

"Yes? No?" Trevor shrugged. "We'll see. Until then, tell your superstar boyfriend I said hello."

The call ended and I closed my eyes again with a sigh. "You guys don't deserve this." My mind continued to race with a million different thoughts, and I opened my eyes to see everyone standing around the kitchen. JK went to put his arms around me again but I stepped back, shaking my head. "I shouldn't be here. I have to go." I grabbed my phone and pushed my way between JK and Jin, moving towards the door.

"What do you mean?" JK followed me. "Stay. We'll figure this out."

I turned to look at him with tears burning in my eyes. I shook my head again. "I thought I left my baggage buried back in the States, but now it's back to haunt me and is involving you too." I sniffled as I looked over at each of them. "I don't know what I would do if anything were to happen to either of you as a result of all of this."

Hobi came towards me. "Security is aware of this. Plus, Yoongi recorded that whole conversation. Nothing will happen to us. Or you."

"We don't know that. He won't stop. He's capable of anything." I opened the door and looked at JK. His eyes were red and it broke my heart to see him hurting. It was even worse to know that it was my fault. My own words shattered me but I had to do what I felt was right for the both of us. "I'm a threat to you now, and having to endure all of this isn't fair to you, Kookie. I just need some time to figure things out, more for your safety than mine."

JK's chin trembled. "Don't go." Jimin appeared at his side to comfort him but he shrugged him off.

"I'm sorry." I wiped my cheeks again. "You have a lot more at stake to lose than I do."

I heard him storm off when I turned to leave, followed by a door slamming down the hallway a few moments later. I looked over my shoulder at the rest of the guys. "I really am sorry."

I closed the door behind me as I left. The lump in my throat was starting to suffocate me as I waited for the elevator to arrive. When it finally did, I stepped on. And when the doors closed, I sobbed.