EPISODE 10
1368 Words
On the other hand, Adrian had taken a one-day leave from Eden Global. It was rare for him to do so — he was the kind of man who buried himself in work, who found comfort in the predictable rhythm of deadlines and blueprints. But today, his thoughts were too loud to ignore.
He stood before his mirror, his reflection a stranger. The familiar disguise — a dark hoodie, face mask, and cap — stared back at him. It was the same getup he had worn countless times when attending Noah’s events in the past. It was funny, really. Everyone saw him as the cold, unreachable director, yet here he was, just another fan hiding in the crowd for a glimpse of the man who unknowingly held his heart.
“Just once more,” he murmured, adjusting his cap. “Just one more time.”
He drove there quietly, his heart pounding harder the closer he got. By the time he parked several blocks away, his palms were damp with sweat. He preferred it that way — the walk gave him time to calm his nerves, to remind himself this was just a fan event.
But deep down, he knew it wasn’t. Not this time.
When he arrived, the grand hall loomed before him, bathed in light and noise. He stood at the entrance, listening to the laughter and cheering that echoed inside. He could hear Noah’s voice — soft, charming, effortlessly magnetic. A voice that always found a way past his defenses.
Taking a slow breath, he whispered to himself, “It’s now or never,” and pushed open the doors.
The room exploded with color and life — hundreds of fans, flashing cameras, bright posters with Noah’s face. Adrian’s steps were slow, careful, almost hesitant as he tried to find a place to sit unnoticed. His eyes flicked toward the stage where Noah sat, radiant under the spotlights. He looked... happy. And for a fleeting moment, Adrian wondered if he should have come at all.
But then—
“JoJoFax!”
The name cut through the noise like lightning splitting the sky. Adrian froze mid-step, breath caught in his throat. The crowd quieted almost instantly, a ripple of confusion spreading through the sea of fans.
On stage, Noah stood still, his microphone trembling slightly in his hand. His chest rose and fell, eyes locked on the man at the back of the hall.
He had felt it — that inexplicable pull, the way his heartbeat suddenly lost its rhythm. It was something beyond logic, something deeper than recognition.
Even with the disguise, he knew.
He would always know.
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Adrian turned, meeting Noah’s gaze across the crowded room. And in that moment, the world fell away. The cheers, the whispers, the lights — everything blurred into nothingness. It was just them.
Noah’s lips parted in disbelief before curving into a small, trembling smile. He stepped off the stage, ignoring his manager’s calls. Fans instinctively made way for him, parting like waves before the tide.
He reached Adrian, standing before him — the man he thought he’d lost.
And without a word, he pulled him into his arms.
The crowd gasped. Cameras flashed. But Noah didn’t care. The world could see. The world should see. Because for the first time in his life, he was done hiding.
Adrian froze, his body stiff in shock, but as seconds passed, his heart betrayed him. His arms lifted, wrapping slowly around Noah’s back, returning the embrace. The familiar warmth, the steady heartbeat against his ear — it broke something in him.
Noah tightened his hold, voice shaking as he whispered, “You really came…”
And for a fleeting moment, Adrian smiled beneath his mask. “I always do.”
---
Noah pulled back slightly, eyes glistening. Without giving Adrian the chance to slip away, he took his hand — firm, sure — and led him toward the stage.
“Wait—Noah, what are you—” Adrian tried to resist, but Noah only smiled.
“Relax,” he said softly, “just trust me.”
When they reached the stage, Noah turned to the crowd, microphone back in hand. The entire hall was silent, hanging on his every word.
“I know you’re all wondering,” he began, his voice warm but unsteady, “why I called out that name. JoJoFax.” He looked down at Adrian, eyes softening. “Because he’s not just another fan to me. He’s the one who believed in me when no one else did.”
A murmur rippled through the hall. Noah smiled faintly, his thumb brushing the back of Adrian’s hand.
“He’s the reason I didn’t give up when everything fell apart. When my career was just a dream, when I doubted myself — it was his messages, his words that reminded me why I started.” His voice cracked, emotion bleeding through.
Noah turned to him fully, eyes warm and tender. “So today, in front of everyone, I want to say — thank you. For being my light when I had none. Thank you for being my strength, my hope, my friend and thank you… for being loyal, for believing in me. Words cannot express how grateful I am JoJofax. So today, in front of everyone, I give you the right to ask for anything. Anything within my reach, and I will do it for you.”
The hall went quiet, everyone holding their breath.
Adrian tilted his head slightly, voice low but clear enough for the mic to catch. “Anything I ask for?”
“Yes.” Noah nodded firmly. “Anything.”
Adrian hesitated, the corners of his lips curving slightly under the mask. “Then… what if I ask you to go out with me? Be my lover. Will you grant that request?”
The crowd collectively gasped — cameras flashing, people whispering in shock. Noah froze, then smiled — wide and unguarded.
“Yes,” he said without hesitation.
Adrian blinked. “But… you said in your interview that you already fancy someone. What will you do about that?”
Noah stepped closer, the space between them crackling with tension. His voice softened into something that made Adrian’s heart tremble.
“Do you really want me to answer that?”
Adrian swallowed. “Yes.”
Noah leaned in, so close that his breath brushed Adrian’s ear. “Because I know,” he whispered, “that JoJoFax and Adrian Lee… are the same person.”
Adrian’s breath hitched — the world spinning for a moment. He stepped back, eyes wide. “How did you—”
“That’s a secret,” Noah interrupted, smiling like a man who finally found what he’d been searching for. “But I’ll tell you… only if you agree to go out with me. Right here. Right now.”
The hall erupted with cheers, the audience chanting “Say yes! Say yes!”
Adrian stared at him — at Noah’s pleading eyes, the raw sincerity on his face. The walls he’d built began to crumble. Slowly, he nodded.
“Yes,” he whispered.
Noah’s breath caught, then he laughed — the sound full of relief, full of love. Without thinking, he lifted Adrian off his feet and spun him around as the crowd roared.
“You have no idea how long I’ve waited to hear that,” Noah said, voice trembling with joy. He set Adrian down gently, pulling him into another hug. “Thank you, Adrian… for this chance.”
Adrian’s heart clenched at the sound of his real name spoken so tenderly. He pulled back, lowering his mask just enough for a small, genuine smile. “Now finish your fan service,” he said softly, “we’ll talk at home.”
Noah chuckled, brushing a thumb against his cheek before stepping back. “You bet I will.”
As Adrian left the stage, Noah turned back to his fans — eyes bright, heart full, a smile he couldn’t hide.
For the rest of the event, he felt like he was floating — every second spent wishing for the moment he could finally go home…
to him.
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- Writer
