Chapter 25: Chapter 23

An Unexpected Turn

The morning after their peaceful evening, Y/N felt an unusual sense of calm. She brewed her usual cup of herbal tea in the shared kitchen, the scent filling the apartment. The house was quiet, save for the faint sounds of the city outside. Rosé and Duru were still asleep, and Kenan had left early for practice, but not before leaving her a small note.

"Thanks for last night. Let’s do it again soon. -K."

Y/N smiled, tucking the note into her journal before getting ready for the day. By noon, she was back in the studio with Rosé, rehearsing tirelessly for their upcoming tour.

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At the Studio

The sound of synchronized footsteps and music filled the studio as Y/N and Rosé worked through their choreography. The intensity of their movements reflected their focus, but the break between songs brought a moment of reprieve.

Rosé: “We’re going to kill it on this tour.”

Y/N: wiping her forehead “If we survive rehearsals first.”

They shared a laugh before collapsing onto the studio floor to catch their breath. As Y/N reached for her water bottle, her phone buzzed with a message from a familiar name: Mehmet, one of her former security team members.

Mehmet: "Y/N, it’s Mehmet. Can we talk? It’s about something I came across. It’s important."

Y/N furrowed her brow and showed the text to Rosé, who was peeking over her shoulder.

Rosé: “What does he want? I thought he left the team months ago.”

Y/N: “He did. But if it’s important, I should probably hear him out.”

Rosé: “You’re not meeting him alone. I’ll come with you.”

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The Meeting

By 8 PM, Y/N and Rosé arrived at the café near the studio. The place was busy, but Y/N immediately spotted Mehmet sitting in a corner booth, looking around nervously. Rosé gave her a reassuring nod before heading to a nearby table, keeping a watchful eye.

Y/N: “Mehmet. What’s going on?”

Mehmet: “Thanks for meeting me, Y/N. I wouldn’t have reached out unless it was serious.”

Y/N: “I figured. What’s this about?”

He leaned forward, lowering his voice.

Mehmet: “I’ve been freelancing since leaving your team, and last week I worked a private event. Someone there was asking a lot of questions about you—and Kenan.”

Y/N: frowning “What kind of questions?”

Mehmet: “Personal ones. About your schedule, your relationship, even your family. It didn’t feel right.”

Y/N’s stomach tightened. She glanced at Rosé, who was watching them closely.

Y/N: “Do you know who it was?”

Mehmet: shaking his head “No name. Just that they seemed... influential. It wasn’t casual curiosity. They’re digging for something.”

Y/N: “Why are you telling me this?”

Mehmet: “Because I still care about your safety, Y/N. And Kenan’s. You need to be careful.”

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Back at the Apartment

When Y/N and Rosé returned home, they found Duru lounging on the couch, scrolling through her phone.

Duru: “What’s with the serious faces? Did something happen?”

Y/N sighed, sitting beside her. She quickly explained what Mehmet had told her. Duru’s relaxed expression quickly turned into a frown.

Duru: “That’s... creepy. Do you think it’s a fan?”

Rosé: “Could be. Or someone in the industry. It’s hard to tell.”

Y/N: “I don’t know, but we need to keep this quiet for now. I don’t want to involve anyone else until we know more.”

Duru nodded but didn’t look convinced.

Duru: “Just promise you’ll let us help if things get worse.”

Y/N: “I promise.”

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Kenan’s Call

Later that night, Y/N was trying to process everything when her phone buzzed again. Seeing Kenan’s name on the screen, she quickly answered.

Kenan: “Hey, are you free? I need to talk to you.”

Y/N: “What’s wrong?”

Kenan: “Some weird stuff happened at practice today. Can I come over?”

Y/N: “Of course. I’ll let you in.”

When Kenan arrived, his usual easygoing demeanor was replaced by tension.

Kenan: “This guy showed up at practice today. He said he was a journalist, but the questions he asked didn’t feel normal.”

Y/N: “What kind of questions?”

Kenan: “About you. About us. How serious we are, if you’ve been acting differently. It was invasive.”

Y/N shared what Mehmet had told her, and Kenan’s jaw tightened as he listened.

Kenan: “So, it’s not just me. Someone’s targeting you—or both of us.”

Y/N: “I hate this. I just want to focus on my work and not worry about this kind of thing.”

Kenan: “We’ll handle it. Together.”

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A Quiet Conversation

As the tension in the room eased slightly, Kenan moved closer to her on the couch.

Kenan: “You’re not dealing with this alone, Y/N. Whatever this is, I’m here.”

Y/N: softly “Thank you. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Kenan: teasing “Probably drink more tea and stress yourself out.”

She laughed, leaning her head on his shoulder.

Y/N: “You’re not wrong.”

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Ending Note

The unease from the day lingered, but Y/N felt a flicker of comfort in Kenan’s words and presence. Whoever was behind the questions had disrupted their peace, but together, they were determined to face whatever came next.