EPISODE 11
1654 Words
News outlets had gotten in on the gossip, and now every channel and entertainment site was burning hot with the same story — the fan called JoJofax and the superstar Noah Reid.
Clips from the fan meeting replayed endlessly — the moment Noah hugged the mysterious fan, the shocked faces of the crowd, the confession, the spin, the cheers.
Everyone wanted to know who JoJofax was, what he looked like, and how he managed to capture the heart of one of the most sought-after stars in the industry.
Some fans were overjoyed, saying their idol deserved happiness. Others… not so much. The internet was split between blessings and backlash.
Back at his apartment, Adrian sat on the couch, his eyes glued to the television. Every channel seemed to show the same footage on loop.
His name wasn’t out yet, but it felt like it would be — soon. He sighed softly, dragging a hand through his hair.
How fast things can spiral… he thought.
The sound of his front door creaking open made him turn sharply.
Standing there, framed by the faint glow of the streetlight behind him, was Noah.
“Noah…” Adrian breathed, his heart thudding painfully in his chest.
Noah didn’t say a word at first — he just crossed the distance between them in a few long strides and pulled Adrian into his arms. His embrace was desperate, warm, and trembling with emotion.
“I’ve missed you so much, Adrian,” Noah whispered, his voice cracking. “I swear it was about to drive me insane.”
Adrian closed his eyes, sinking into the familiar scent and warmth. “I was already going insane, Noah,” he murmured, hugging him back just as tightly. “I’ve missed you too. So much.”
When they finally pulled apart, Noah sat beside him, their knees brushing. The television light flickered softly across their faces.
“The news is everywhere,” Adrian said quietly. “Soon everyone will know what happened today.”
Noah looked at him, searching his face. “Are you scared of them finding out?” he asked gently.
“I’m scared it’ll affect your career,” Adrian admitted, his voice low. “You worked so hard for everything, Noah. I don’t want you to lose it because of me.”
Noah’s lips curved into a faint, heartfelt smile. “Adrian,” he said softly, “you’re more important to me than the career you’re scared of ruining.”
He paused, his tone turning deeper, steadier. “Before fame, before all this noise… I had you—even if I didn’t know it yet. You were there as JoJofax, pushing me forward when I was ready to give up. You kept me standing when no one believed in me.”
Adrian turned to him, eyes widening slightly as Noah continued.
“Do you know,” Noah said with a small, wistful laugh, “Before I ever met you, I told myself that if I ever met JoJofax — and they were someone real, someone I could actually love — I’d give my heart to them. Then you came along. I didn’t mean to fall for you, Adrian. I really didn’t. But somehow… I fell for you and discovered that you were the same person who had believed in me from the start my JoJofax.”
Adrian’s throat tightened. “How… how did you know I was JoJofax?” he finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Noah’s gaze softened, memories flickering behind his eyes. “That night I stayed here,” he began slowly, “I woke the next day recognising where I am from your scent, I got up and looked around your room, and then… I saw them — the photos, the signed albums, the little notes. You’d kept everything, Adrian. Every message, every word. It was like walking into a shrine built with loyalty and quiet love.”
He exhaled shakily, eyes locked on Adrian’s. “It hit me right then. The way you looked at me, the things you said before — all the little hints I ignored. I didn’t need to confirm it. My heart just knew.”
He smiled faintly, a tender light in his gaze. “You’re my JoJofax. You always have been.”
Adrian’s lips parted, his chest tightening as warmth spread through him. “Oh… how could I not have thought of that?” he murmured, half to himself, a faint blush creeping up his neck.
Noah reached for his hand, squeezing it gently. “Thank you for this chance, Adrian. It really means everything to me.”
Adrian looked into his eyes — those same eyes that once seemed so far away on a TV screen — and whispered, “Just don’t make me regret giving you this chance.”
Noah smiled, pulling him close once more. “I swear, you never will. Not ever.”
They stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other’s arms, the soft hum of the television filling the silence. Outside, the world was buzzing with their story, but inside, it was just them — two hearts that had finally found their way home.
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The Next Morning – The World Knows
The sunlight slipped through the thin curtains, scattering soft gold over the living room floor. Adrian stirred awake to the faint hum of the city beyond his window. For a moment, everything was still — Noah’s warmth beside him, the quiet rhythm of his breathing, the peace he hadn’t felt in months.
Then the peace shattered.
His phone wouldn’t stop vibrating. Dozens of notifications lit up the screen — messages, calls, alerts from social media. Adrian blinked groggily, reached for the phone, and froze.
His name was everywhere.
“BREAKING: The mysterious fan JoJofax is actually Adrian Lee, Director of Design at Eden Global!”
“Romance confirmed — Noah Reid's secret lover revealed!”
#AdrianLee #JoJofax #NoahReidLoveStory were trending at the top of every feed.
Adrian’s pulse quickened. His chest tightened as he scrolled through the endless posts — fan edits, news reports, hate comments, and declarations of support. The internet had exploded overnight, and there was no going back.
“Noah,” he whispered, his voice trembling slightly. “Noah, wake up.”
Noah stirred, his hair tousled, eyes half-open and soft with sleep. “Hmm… what is it?”
Adrian turned the screen toward him, his lips pressed in a tight line. “It’s out. Everything.”
Noah sat up instantly. His sleepy gaze hardened into focus as he saw the headlines. “They already found out?”
“Yes.” Adrian swallowed hard. “Every outlet. Every fan page. Even the company.”
For a moment, silence. Noah stared at the phone, then slowly looked back at Adrian — and smiled.
“Then it’s fine,” he said simply.
Adrian blinked, shocked. “Fine? Noah, they’re already dragging my name through the mud! People are saying I used my position to get close to you. Some fans are threatening to boycott your shows! This isn’t—”
Noah cut him off, taking his hand firmly in his. “Adrian. Look at me.”
He did.
“I told you yesterday — you matter more to me than any career or spotlight,” Noah said, his tone steady but gentle. “I knew something like this would happen. And I also knew… that I’d face it head-on if it meant being with you.”
“But your sponsors, your fans—”
“They’ll adjust,” Noah interrupted, a small, confident smile tugging at his lips. “I’ve lived long enough in pretense. I’ve hidden my exhaustion, my loneliness, my heart — all for image. But for once… I want to live honestly.”
Adrian looked away, torn. His heart ached at Noah’s words — both from fear and overwhelming affection.
Noah reached up, brushing a thumb against Adrian’s jaw. “Hey. I’m not scared, so don’t be either. Let them talk. Let them guess. They don’t know what we’ve been through — they don’t know what you mean to me.”
Adrian exhaled shakily. “You’re unbelievable, you know that?”
“I’ve been told,” Noah teased softly, trying to coax a smile from him. “Besides… if the world already knows, why not make it official?”
Adrian frowned. “What do you mean ‘make it official’?”
Noah reached for his phone, unlocking it with practiced ease. Before Adrian could stop him, Noah was already recording a video, his voice calm but full of warmth.
“Hey everyone,” he began, looking straight into the camera. “I woke up to the news that the world finally knows who JoJofax is. And yes, it’s true — it’s Adrian. The man who believed in me before the world did.” He glanced at Adrian, smiling faintly. “I don’t owe anyone an explanation for loving him. But I owe him the truth — the truth that he’s been my biggest strength since the beginning.”
He ended the recording and uploaded it to his social accounts.
Adrian stared at him, wide-eyed. “You just—”
“Yep.” Noah leaned back, utterly calm. “Now there’s no turning back. And honestly? I’ve never felt freer.”
Adrian was quiet for a long time, processing it all — the chaos, the courage, the love that radiated from Noah so effortlessly. Finally, he sighed and leaned against Noah’s shoulder.
“You’re going to be the end of me,” he murmured softly.
Noah chuckled, wrapping an arm around him. “Then I’ll make sure it’s the sweetest ending you’ve ever had.”
Outside, the world was still spinning — cameras flashing, reporters calling, fans debating.
But inside that small apartment, there was only quiet laughter, intertwined hands, and the beginning of something real.
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- Writer
