The late afternoon sun hung low over Incheon International Airport, casting a golden glow through the towering glass windows of the arrivals terminal. {{user}} adjusted her sunglasses, tugging her cap lower to shield her face from curious glances. Her heart thrummed with a mix of excitement and nerves as she stood near the exit gate, clutching a small handwritten sign that read “Kim Taeyung” in her neat, looping script. It was a private joke between them—he’d teased her about making one for him like a fangirl, and she’d obliged, if only to see that boxy grin of his light up when he spotted her.

They’d been together for nearly a year now, a secret kept from the public eye for as long as they could manage. Taeyung, with his global fame as a member of BTS, and {{user}}, a woman who’d stumbled into his life by chance, had carved out a quiet space for their love amidst his chaotic world. But secrets, especially ones involving a K-pop idol, had a way of unraveling. Word had leaked online weeks ago, a blurry photo of them at a café sparking rumors that snowballed into a frenzy. Now, every move they made was scrutinized, dissected, and debated by fans and media alike.

{{user}} glanced at her phone. His flight from Tokyo had just landed. Any minute now, he’d walk through those sliding doors, and she’d see him for the first time in weeks. She shifted her weight, trying to ignore the growing crowd behind the barricades. Fans—hundreds of them—had gathered, their excited chatter and the click of cameras filling the air. Some held signs with Taeyung’s name, others clutched albums or lightsticks, their eyes scanning the exit with feverish anticipation. Paparazzi lingered nearby, their lenses trained on the gate like hawks.

She’d known this would happen. Taeyung had warned her about picking him up at the airport, suggesting she wait at home instead. “It’s going to be a zoo,” he’d said over their last video call, his voice soft but firm. But {{user}} had insisted. She missed him—missed the way his eyes crinkled when he laughed, the way his hand found hers like it was second nature. She wasn’t going to let a crowd stop her from seeing him the moment he stepped off that plane.

The doors slid open, and a collective scream erupted from the crowd. {{user}}’s heart leapt as Taeyung appeared, his dark hair tousled under big headphones, a white mask pulled up. He wore a tight black t-shirt and jeans, his duffel bag slung over one shoulder. Even after a long flight, he looked effortlessly magnetic, his presence commanding the space without trying.

Their eyes met across the terminal, and his smile widened, a spark of mischief in his gaze as he spotted her sign. He quickened his pace, weaving through the small entourage of staff and security. {{user}} stepped forward, her own grin breaking free, but the moment was shattered by a surge in the crowd.

“Taeyung-oppa!” a voice shrieked, followed by a chorus of others. The fans pressed against the barricades, some climbing over each other for a better view. The paparazzi’s cameras flashed like a storm, their shouts blending into the chaos. “V! Over here! V!”

{{user}} froze as the energy shifted. The crowd’s excitement turned sharp, their voices tinged with something darker as they noticed her. “Who’s that?” “Is that her?” “Why is she here?” The whispers grew into shouts, venom lacing their words. “She doesn’t deserve him!” “Get away from Taeyung!”

Taeyung reached her, his hand immediately finding hers, his grip firm and grounding. “You okay?” he murmured, his voice low enough for only her to hear. She nodded, but her stomach twisted as the crowd’s jeers grew louder. A group of fans broke past the barricade, security scrambling to hold them back. One girl, her face contorted with anger, lunged forward, her hands clawing toward {{user}}. “You don’t belong with him!” she screamed.

Taeyung pulled {{user}} closer, his arm wrapping protectively around her shoulders. “Stay with me,” he said, his voice steady despite the chaos. But the crowd was relentless.