Chapter 12: The Concert Proposal
Ye Joon stood backstage, his heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nerves. Tonight was the night he had been planning for weeks. As he adjusted his in-ear monitors and checked his appearance in the mirror, his thoughts were entirely on Hyun-Ae. He had a special surprise for her, something that would not only solidify their bond but also give her a moment she would never forget.
The concert was in full swing, with The Prism delivering a stellar performance that had their fans screaming and singing along. Ji-Yeong, Jong-Su, and Chin-Sun (still pretending to be Min) were all in high spirits, feeding off the energy of the crowd. But Ye Joon's mind was on the final act, the moment when he would call Hyun-Ae onto the stage.
---
As the final set approached, Ye Joon signaled to the band to wind down the music. He stepped forward, his gaze scanning the crowd until he found Hyun-Ae, standing near the front with a group of friends. She looked radiant, her eyes shining with excitement and love. 
"Good evening, everyone!" Ye Joon's voice echoed through the arena, causing the fans to quiet down slightly.
"I want to thank all of you for being here tonight. Your support means the world to us. But before we end this concert, I have something special I want to share with you all."
The crowd buzzed with curiosity, and Hyun-Ae looked around, puzzled but intrigued. Ye Joon took a deep breath and continued, his heart racing.
"There's someone very special in the audience tonight. She's been a huge supporter of The Prism and has always been there for me. Hyun-Ae, could you please come up on stage?"
Hyun-Ae's eyes widened in shock as the spotlight turned to her. Her friends nudged her, urging her to go. Blushing, she made her way through the crowd and climbed onto the stage, her heart pounding.
---
Ye Joon met her halfway, taking her hand and leading her to the center of the stage. The crowd cheered, and Hyun-Ae could hardly believe what was happening. 
"Hyun-Ae," Ye Joon said, his voice filled with emotion.
"You've always supported me, both as a fan and as a friend. Tonight, I want to do something special for you."
He gestured to the band, and the music started softly, the opening chords of a song he had written just for her. Ye Joon took a deep breath and began to sing, his voice filled with sincerity and love.
*(Song Lyrics)*
*"In a sea of faces, I found you,
A shining star, a dream come true.
Your smile lights up the darkest night,
With you, everything feels right."*
Hyun-Ae stood there, her eyes brimming with tears as Ye Joon sang to her. The crowd watched in awe, many of them also moved by the heartfelt performance. As he reached the chorus, Ye Joon took Hyun-Ae's hands in his, gazing into her eyes.
*(Song Lyrics)*
*"Hyun-Ae, you are my light,
In this crazy, hectic life.
With you, I feel complete,
Our hearts together, a perfect beat."*
Ye Joon's voice grew stronger, more passionate, and Hyun-Ae felt her heart swell with love. The world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in that magical moment.
*(Song Lyrics)*
*"So tonight, in front of all these eyes,
I want to share my love, no disguise.
Hyun-Ae, will you be mine?
Together, our stars will always shine."*
As the song ended, the crowd erupted in applause and cheers. Ye Joon pulled Hyun-Ae into a warm embrace, his heart pounding with joy and relief. He had done it; he had shared his feelings in the most public way possible, and it felt incredible.
Hyun-Ae pulled back slightly, looking up at him with tears in her eyes.
"Ye Joon, that was... amazing. I can't believe you did this for me."
Ye Joon smiled, wiping a tear from her cheek.
"I meant every word, Hyun-Ae. You are so special to me."
---
The rest of The Prism joined them on stage, clapping and cheering. Ji-Yeong gave Ye Joon a pat on the back, grinning.
"Nice job, Ye Joon. That was beautiful."
Jong-Su nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you really outdid yourself this time."
Even Chin-Sun, still in her Min disguise, smiled warmly. "That was really sweet, Ye Joon."
The crowd continued to cheer, and Ye Joon felt a sense of happiness he had never experienced before. He took Hyun-Ae's hand and turned to the audience. "Thank you all for being part of this special moment. We have one more song for you tonight, and we hope you enjoy it!"
With that, The Prism launched into their final song, a high-energy hit that had everyone dancing and singing along. Hyun-Ae stayed on stage with Ye Joon, sharing the joy of the moment with him. As the song ended, they all took their final bows, and the crowd roared with approval.
---
Backstage, after the concert, Ye Joon and Hyun-Ae found a quiet corner to talk. Ye Joon looked at her, his heart still racing. "I hope that wasn't too much," he said, a little nervous now that the adrenaline was wearing off.
Hyun-Ae shook her head, smiling brightly. "It was perfect, Ye Joon. I've never felt so special in my life. Thank you."
Ye Joon pulled her into another embrace, feeling a sense of peace and contentment. "I'm glad you liked it. I just wanted you to know how much you mean to me."
Hyun-Ae looked up at him, her eyes shining with love. "You mean a lot to me too, Ye Joon. More than I can ever put into words."
They stayed like that for a while, holding each other and enjoying the moment. For Ye Joon, it was the perfect ending to an unforgettable night. He had found love and had shared it with the world, and there was no greater feeling.
---
As the night drew to a close, Ye Joon and Hyun-Ae walked out of the venue hand in hand, the stars shining brightly above them. They knew that there would be challenges ahead, but they also knew that together, they could face anything.
For Ye Joon, the concert proposal was just the beginning of a beautiful journey with Hyun-Ae, a journey filled with love, music, and countless shared moments. And as they walked into the night, their hearts full of hope and happiness, they looked forward to every step of that journey together.
The Prism members were gathered in their shared living room, discussing their latest training schedules and upcoming performances. Chin-Sun sat quietly, absorbing the information and trying to keep up with the intense pace. Despite the challenges, she felt more integrated with the group, thanks in no small part to Jong-Su's constant support and Ji-Yeong's growing, albeit begrudging, respect.
As the meeting wrapped up, Ji-Yeong leaned back, his sharp eyes scanning the room. "Alright, that's it for today. Make sure you're all on time tomorrow."
Chin-Sun nodded, feeling the usual flutter of nerves whenever Ji-Yeong addressed her directly. Just as she was about to stand up, Jong-Su suddenly clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention.
"Wait a minute, everyone," Jong-Su said with a grin.
"I have a little surprise for Chin-Sun."
Chin-Sun looked at him, puzzled.
"A surprise for me?"
Jong-Su nodded enthusiastically and pulled out a beautifully wrapped box from behind his back.
"Yep! You've been working so hard, so I thought you deserved a little something special."
Chin-Sun's eyes widened in surprise.
"You didn't have to do that, Jong-Su."
"But I wanted to," he insisted, handing her the gift.
"Go on, open it!"
Curious, Chin-Sun carefully unwrapped the box. Inside, she found a delicate silver necklace with a small, intricate charm shaped like a star. Her breath caught at the sight of it.
"Jong-Su, this is beautiful," she said, touched by the thoughtful gesture.
"Thank you so much."
Jong-Su beamed.
"I'm glad you like it."
Ji-Yeong, who had been watching the exchange with narrowed eyes, suddenly stood up. "Hold on a second."
Everyone turned to look at him, including Chin-Sun, who was still admiring her new necklace. Ji-Yeong walked over to her, his expression determined.
"If we're giving gifts, then I can't be left out," Ji-Yeong declared. He reached into his bag and pulled out a sleek, designer handbag. "Here, Chin-Sun. This is for you."
Chin-Sun's jaw dropped. "Ji-Yeong, this is too much..."
"Not at all," Ji-Yeong said, his tone firm. "You've earned it."
Jong-Su frowned, crossing his arms. "Really, Ji-Yeong? You just happened to have a designer handbag on hand?"
Ji-Yeong smirked. "Unlike some people, I'm always prepared."
Chin-Sun felt a bit overwhelmed by the sudden attention and extravagant gifts. "Thank you, Ji-Yeong. This is very kind of you."
Ji-Yeong gave a curt nod. "You're welcome."
Not wanting to be outdone, Jong-Su snapped his fingers. "Well, I have another surprise!"
Chin-Sun blinked, feeling a mix of amusement and concern as Jong-Su hurried out of the room. A moment later, he returned with a large, colorful bouquet of flowers. He presented them to Chin-Sun with a flourish.
"These are for you, Chin-Sun," Jong-Su said grandly. "I thought they might brighten your day."
Chin-Sun accepted the flowers, her smile growing. "They're lovely, Jong-Su. Thank you."
Ji-Yeong scoffed. "Flowers? Really? That's the best you could do?"
Jong-Su bristled. "Hey, it's the thought that counts!"
Ji-Yeong rolled his eyes and turned to Chin-Sun. "If we're talking about thoughtfulness, then I think this will trump everything." He pulled out a small box from his pocket and opened it to reveal a pair of diamond earrings.
Chin-Sun gasped. "Ji-Yeong, this is too much! I can't accept these."
Ji-Yeong waved off her protest. "Nonsense. You deserve the best."
Jong-Su clenched his fists. "Oh, it's on, Ji-Yeong."
Chin-Sun, caught in the middle of their unintentional bidding war, looked back and forth between them, unsure of what to do. "Guys, this is really sweet, but you don't have to keep giving me gifts."
Jong-Su and Ji-Yeong ignored her, their competitive spirits fully ignited. Over the next few days, the gifts kept coming, each one more extravagant than the last. Jong-Su bought Chin-Sun a beautiful dress, while Ji-Yeong responded with a pair of designer shoes. Jong-Su then gifted her with a luxury spa day, only for Ji-Yeong to counter with a private cooking class with a famous chef.
The rest of the Prism members watched the escalating competition with a mix of amusement and disbelief.
"Are they seriously doing this?" Min asked Ye Joon, shaking his head.
Ye Joon chuckled. "Seems like it. Poor Chin-Sun."
Chin-Sun tried to keep up with the constant shower of gifts, feeling increasingly embarrassed by the whole situation. One evening, she found herself alone with Jong-Su, who was busy browsing his phone for yet another gift idea.
"Jong-Su," she said, placing a hand on his arm to get his attention.
He looked up, smiling. "Hey, Chin-Sun. What's up?"
"I really appreciate all the gifts, but this has to stop," she said gently. "It's getting out of hand."
Jong-Su's smile faded. "I'm sorry, Chin-Sun. I just wanted to make you happy."
"You do make me happy," she assured him. "But I don't need all these expensive things. Just having you as a friend is enough."
Jong-Su's expression softened. "Alright, I'll stop. But only if Ji-Yeong stops too."
Chin-Sun nodded. "I'll talk to him."
Later that evening, she found Ji-Yeong in the practice room, going over some choreography. She approached him cautiously, not wanting to interrupt.
"Ji-Yeong?" she called softly.
He turned to face her, his expression softening slightly. "Chin-Sun. What is it?"
"I wanted to talk to you about the gifts," she began. "It's really kind of you, but it's too much. I don't need all these things."
Ji-Yeong frowned. "Are you saying you don't like them?"
"No, that's not it," she said quickly. "I love them, but I don't want you and Jong-Su to feel like you have to keep outdoing each other. It's getting a bit... intense."
Ji-Yeong sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I see your point. I just wanted to show you how much we appreciate your hard work."
"And I appreciate that," she said with a smile. "But you don't need to buy me things to show it. Just being here and supporting me is enough."
Ji-Yeong looked thoughtful for a moment before nodding. "Alright, I'll stop. But only if Jong-Su does too."
Chin-Sun chuckled. "I already talked to him. He agreed to stop if you did."
"Good," Ji-Yeong said with a small smile. "Then it's settled."
The next day, Chin-Sun was relieved to find that the constant stream of gifts had finally stopped. Instead, Jong-Su and Ji-Yeong focused on supporting her through their training sessions, offering words of encouragement and helpful tips. The atmosphere became more relaxed, and Chin-Sun felt more at ease.
One evening, as they all sat together in the living room, Jong-Su looked over at Ji-Yeong and smirked. "You know, Ji-Yeong, I think I won that little competition."
Ji-Yeong raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? How do you figure that?"
Jong-Su grinned. "Because Chin-Sun liked my flowers the best."
Chin-Sun laughed, shaking her head. "I loved all the gifts, you guys. But seriously, the best gift has been your friendship."
Ji-Yeong and Jong-Su exchanged a glance before both smiling at her.
"Well, you definitely have that," Ji-Yeong said.
"Always," Jong-Su added.
As they continued to talk and laugh, Chin-Sun felt a warm sense of gratitude. She knew the road ahead would still be challenging, but with friends like Jong-Su and Ji-Yeong by her side, she felt ready to face whatever came their way. The competitive gift-giving might have been a bit over the top, but it had shown her just how much they cared, and that was something she would always cherish.