{Not just a YouTuber}
Her hands trembled.
Her heart felt heavy.
Her mother walked in and, without a word, opened the media coverage.
...And froze.
The photos.
One after another.
Her expression tightened, eyes sharpening.
This wasn't just a "relationship scandal."
Something was off.
Something... planned.
As if someone was paying... not just to spread the photos...
But to expose them.
She looked at Tyla, worry clear in her voice:
"Tyla... this sasaeng is very dangerous."
She paused, then added more seriously:
"I'm afraid they'll find our location
soon. Not just your relationship."
Tyla met her gaze, exhausted:
"You're right, Mom..."
Her mother sighed, another concern weighing on her:
"I'm not worried about us... I trust Ian will protect us."
She hesitated... then whispered:
"But I'm worried about Mrs. Park... and her daughter, Han Siyeol."
On the other side...
İan entered his house.
"You saw the news, right?" his brother said immediately.
"You're trending. Your relationship is exposed."
"I know."
The reply came cold. Quick.
Then he added, his tone tightening:
"But this isn't random... this is my enemy."
His brother exhaled:
"Even so... those photos could lead them here."
...
Ian sat down.
He ran his hand through his hair harshly, taking a deep breath... but it wasn't enough.
Anger. Fear. Guilt.
They were all suffocating him.
He pulled out his phone and made a call.
"Yes, Mr. Kim."
"I need an explanation for those photos, SEO Joon."
"Sir... they were taken by a sasaeng using a simple phone, but-"
He hesitated.
"Your enemy has sent men to Korea. It seems they found your location through the photos."
Silence fell.
Then ian spoke, his voice deadly calm:
"Meet me at the base."
Minutes later...
He stood inside the secret headquarters beneath his house.
A place known only to three people.
Weapons lined the walls.
Screens glowed everywhere.
Cameras watched every corner.
And there stood ian.
But not the Ian Tyla knew.
This was someone else.
His eyes burned as he stared at the images on the screens.
His voice came out low... terrifying:
"These idiots think they've won... posting photos for likes."
He stepped closer, pointing at one specific image.
"But they don't realize... they just drew a map to kill me."
He paused.
"This photo... the reflection of that shop sign at the end of Tyla's street."
A cold smirk appeared.
"They say: we found ian."
His eyes darkened.
"But my enemy says: I found my target."
"Sir..." SEO Joon said nervously,
"The media and fans have gone crazy... and your enemy's men are already in Korea.
What do we do?"
...
Ian looked at a picture of Tyla smiling.
That image...
It stabbed something inside him.
"I'll protect her... from the world."
He paused.
His breathing grew heavier.
"...And from myself."
SEO Joon hesitated before asking:
"Sir... may I ask you something?"
"Speak."
"Does Tyla... know who you really
are?"
...
Everything went silent.
Even the air.
Ian closed his eyes.
And it felt like his chest was being crushed.
The truth?
The truth was... he lied.
Every smile. Every promise. Every "I'm with you"...
hid a dark world behind it.
A world that-if Tyla ever saw it-
she might look at him with fear.
The same fear his enemies had.
His hand clenched tightly.
He didn't fear death.
He didn't fear war.
But one thought alone terrified him:
Her being afraid of him.
Her hating him.
Her leaving.
He slowly opened his eyes.
The coldness returned.
"She won't know."
He said it like a sentence... against himself.
Then added, his voice darker:
"And if the whole world has to see my real face..."
He lifted his gaze to the screens, eyes burning:
"I'm ready to become the monster... just to protect her."
Then...
his expression changed completely.
Cold.
Merciless.
As if the man who smiled for Tyla no longer existed.
"SEO Joon."
"Yes, sir."
"Place cameras everywhere around her house and mine." His voice turned darker. "And if anyone tries to enter either house..."
He paused.
His eyes became terrifyingly empty.
"Don't let them leave alive."
SEO Joon lowered his head immediately.
"Yes, sir."
...
Ian left the headquarters without another word.
He drove straight to Tyla's house.
The moment he entered, he saw Mrs. Kim sitting quietly in the living room, worry filling her face.
"Hello, Mrs. Kim. Where's Tyla?"
She sighed softly, exhaustion clear in her eyes.
"She's sleeping..."
Ian nodded slowly before walking upstairs toward her room.
He opened the door carefully.
The room was dim, lit only by the soft moonlight coming through the curtains.
Tyla was lying on her side on the bed, facing away from him.
He could only see her back.
She wore tiny white pajama shorts and a matching white tube top.
Her body looked small.
Fragile.
Too fragile for this cruel world.
Ian stepped closer quietly and sat beside her on the bed.
A small smile appeared on his lips.
"Tyla..." he whispered softly.
His hand moved gently through her hair before sliding carefully to her waist.
But then-
he felt her trembling.
His eyebrows tightened instantly.
Without hesitation, he carefully turned her toward him.
And his heart stopped.
Tears covered her cheeks.
She was crying silently .
Ian's expression immediately softened.
Both his hands held her face gently.
"Tyla... what's wrong?" he whispered. "Why are you crying?"
His thumb wiped her tears slowly.
"I told you not to be scared... I'm here."
The moment she heard his voice she .
Her eyes immediately filled with fresh tears.
She sat up suddenly and threw herself into his arms.
Her crying became worse.
İan wrapped his arms around her tightly.
"What is it, princess?" he murmured softly. "Who upset you?"
His voice darkened slightly.
"Just tell me... and I'll destroy them."
Tyla pulled back slightly, her eyes red and swollen, her nose pink from crying.
"Ian..." her voice shook. "I'm scared... maybe they'll find where I live... maybe they'll hurt me..."
She stopped for a second, trying to breathe.
Then whispered painfully:
"And worse..."
More tears escaped her eyes.
"I'm so sad they posted our private moments... our lovely moments together..."
Her crying broke him.
Completely.
Ian pulled her against his chest again and stroked her hair gently.
"Tyla... don't be scared. I'll protect you."
His lips pressed softly against the top of her head.
"I'm with you."
He took a slow breath before continuing quietly:
"And about them posting our moments together..." He lifted her chin carefully. " there is no problem is the world got to see them. Not us it's just pictures."
Her crying slowly weakened.
She leaned closer and kissed his neck softly.
A tiny kiss.
Full of love.
"İan..." she whispered against his skin. "I love you... I love you so much."
His chest tightened painfully.
"So much that I can't live without you."
And those words...
destroyed something inside him.
Because all he could think was:
If she knew the truth...
she would hate him.
She would run.
She would fear him.
Still-
he forced a small smile and kissed her forehead.
"I love you too, Tyla."
His voice became lower.
"And I'll destroy anyone who hurts you. Even a little."
Tyla's crying almost stopped, only soft hiccups remaining.
Ian gently wiped her tears away.
Then smiled softly.
"Come with me."
She blinked.
"Where?"
"Let's go out for a little while."
Tyla nodded slowly before hugging him again.
He chuckled quietly.
"Come here. I'll help you."
He helped her wash her face, brushing her hair gently afterward.
Then he chose a simple short blue dress for her.
Beautiful.
Soft.
Perfect on her.
He even knelt down and put her shoes on himself.
Tyla stared at him shyly.
İan leaned closer and kissed her lips lightly.
"Don't worry, my babygirl,
" he whispered. "We'll just take a walk."
He picked up a cap and placed it carefully on her head.
"But wear this... and I'll wear one too. So the fans and reporters won't recognize us."
Tyla smiled softly and nodded.
Then suddenly-
"Tyla, wait a second. I need to make a call."
She nodded sweetly.
İan walked toward the balcony.
The second he stepped outside-
his entire expression changed again.
Cold.
Sharp.
Cruel.
He pulled out his phone.
"SEO Joon."
"Yes, sir."
"We're going out. I don't want mistakes."
His voice lowered dangerously.
"I want guards nearby and an emergency vehicle ready."
He glanced back toward Tyla's room.
"But don't let Tyla notice."
"Yes, sir."
The call ended.
Ian inhaled once before forcing the warmth back onto his face.
Then he walked back inside.
He held Tyla's hand and smiled softly.
"Come on."
...
The weather outside was beautiful.
Cool night air.
Quiet streets.
Moonlight spreading softly across the road while the dim streetlights glowed around them.
They walked hand in hand peacefully.
And for a moment...
everything felt normal again.
Tyla looked at him lovingly.
"You're the best thing in my life."
Ian swallowed slowly.
"I still can't believe someone as perfect as you exists."
Those words stabbed him.
Perfect?
If only she knew the truth.
If only she knew how much he lied to her.
Still-
he smiled.
And kept walking beside her.
Soon they reached the nearby market beside the neighborhood.
Tyla bought a black juice can while Ian grabbed an iced coffee.
They walked slowly together, drinking quietly while talking about random things.
Tyla laughed again.
And ian found himself staring at her.
Like she was the only peaceful thing left in his world.
Then-
they reached the main street.
"İAN !!!"
A scream shattered the calm.
Flash.
Another flash.
Then dozens exploded around them.
"It's the girl from the news!"
"LOOK HERE!"
"ARE YOU TWO DATING?!"
"IS THIS A SECRET RELATIONSHIP?!"
"TYLA HOW DO YOU FEEL?!"
"İAN ARE YOU GOING TO MARRY HER?!"
People started surrounding them rapidly.
Fans.
Reporters.
Phones everywhere.
Cameras flashing nonstop.
Bodies pushing closer and closer.
Questions attacking them from every direction.
Tyla froze instantly.
Her breathing became shaky.
Too many people.
Too loud.
Too close.
Someone suddenly grabbed her wrist trying to pull her closer for a photo.
İan noticed immediately.
His eyes darkened dangerously.
He shoved the person away hard before instantly pulling Tyla behind him protectively.
Tyla's eyes filled with tears from fear.
But ian wasn't focused on the reporters anymore.
His instincts screamed something else.
What if one of his enemy's men was inside this crowd?
What if this entire thing was planned?
Slowly-
his hand moved behind his back.
Toward the hidden gun beneath his jacket.
Ready.
Prepared.
Tyla didn't notice at first.
But then-
from the corner of her eye-
she saw it.
A gun.
Hidden behind him.
A small gasp escaped her lips.
Before she could process it-
several large men in black suits suddenly appeared.
His guards.
They pushed the crowd and reporters away professionally while surrounding ian and Tyla completely.
İan's eyes scanned every direction carefully.
Calculating.
Searching.
Looking for danger.
Not like an famous YouTuber.
Like a trained killer.
Within seconds, they were escorted toward a large black luxury vehicle.
Bulletproof.
Dark windows.
Massive.
They entered quickly.
Inside were more guards in black suits.
Weapons hidden beneath their jackets.
Tyla stared in confusion.
Shock slowly growing inside her.
One of the men looked toward Ian seriously.
"Sir boss, what should we do now?"
Tyla froze.
...Sir boss?
Ian's eyes snapped toward the guard with a terrifying glare.
SEO Joon immediately hit the man lightly on the shoulder and whispered harshly:
"I told you not to expose our work in front of Tyla."
The guard lowered his head instantly.
Ian exhaled slowly before speaking coldly:
"Let's go home. Fast."
The vehicle moved immediately.
Tyla looked at ian carefully, still confused.
"İan... what is all this?"
For one second-
he almost told her the truth.
But instead-
he lied.
"They're just security guards," he said calmly. "To protect us from sasaengs."
A lie.
A complete lie.
Tyla slowly turned toward Ian, still uncertain.
SEO Joon smiled nervously before bowing his head respectfully toward her.
Tyla blinked.
Then awkwardly bowed her head back with a small smile.
She believed it.
Of course she did.
And somehow...
that hurt ian even more.
A few minutes later-
the car stopped in front of the house.
And they stepped out into the quiet night once again.