Chapter 8: The Fan Sign Encounter
Ye Joon looked out at the sea of excited faces at the fan sign event, his heart warming at the sight of so many loyal fans. It was moments like these that made all the hard work and long hours worth it. He scanned the crowd, smiling and waving, when his eyes landed on someone who made his heart skip a beat.
Hyun-Ae.
She stood out, not just because of her radiant smile, but because she had been to almost every fan event The Prism had held. Her dedication was unwavering, and over time, Ye Joon had started to recognize her. Today, she looked especially beautiful, her eyes shining with excitement as she clutched her albums close to her chest.
Ye Joon nudged Jong-Su, who was sitting next to him.
"Hey, look. It's Hyun-Ae again."
Jong-Su glanced in the direction Ye Joon was pointing.
"Oh yeah, she’s been to a lot of our events. Pretty dedicated fan."
Ye Joon nodded, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer before turning back to the fans in front of him. He knew he had to focus on the fans who were currently getting their albums signed, but he couldn't help but look forward to seeing Hyun-Ae.
As the line slowly progressed, Hyun-Ae found herself inching closer to the table where the members of The Prism sat. Her heart pounded with anticipation. She had been a fan for years, and her feelings for Ye Joon had only grown deeper over time. Today, she hoped for a moment, a memory she could hold onto forever.
Finally, it was her turn. She stepped up to the table, her hands trembling slightly as she handed her album to Ye Joon. He looked up and met her eyes, a warm smile spreading across his face.
"Hi, Hyun-Ae," Ye Joon said, his voice soft and friendly.
"It's great to see you again."
Hyun-Ae's breath caught in her throat.
"Hi, Ye Joon oppa. Thank you for recognizing me."
"Of course," he replied, taking her album and opening it to the first page.
"You’ve been such a loyal fan. We really appreciate your support."
As Ye Joon began to sign her album, he paused, his pen hovering over the page. He glanced up at her, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Hyun-Ae, do you mind if I write something a little extra for you?" he asked.
Her eyes widened in surprise.
"N-no, I don't mind at all!"
Ye Joon smiled and began to write, his pen moving quickly across the page. He took his time, carefully crafting a personalized message just for her. When he was finished, he looked up and handed the album back to her.
"There you go," he said. "I hope you like it."
Hyun-Ae took the album, her hands trembling as she opened it to read his message. Her eyes filled with tears as she read the heartfelt words:
"Dear Hyun-Ae,
_Thank you for your unwavering support and for always being there for us. Your dedication means the world to me. Keep shining bright and always follow your dreams.
With love, Ye Joon."
She looked up at him, her eyes glistening with emotion.
"Thank you so much, Ye Joon oppa. This means everything to me."
Ye Joon reached across the table and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
"It’s the least I could do for such a wonderful fan. Thank you for being here."
As Hyun-Ae moved down the line to get the rest of her albums signed by the other members, she couldn’t stop smiling. Each of them greeted her warmly, recognizing her from previous events. When she reached Ji-Yeong, he gave her a nod of acknowledgment.
"Hey, Hyun-Ae," Ji-Yeong said, his tone friendly.
"You’re always supporting us. Thank you."
"It’s my pleasure," Hyun-Ae replied, still on cloud nine from her interaction with Ye Joon.
When she finally reached the end of the line, she turned back to look at Ye Joon one last time. He caught her eye and waved, a warm smile on his face. Hyun-Ae waved back, feeling a sense of fulfillment and joy.
As the fan sign event continued, Ye Joon couldn’t help but steal glances at Hyun-Ae whenever he could. He was touched by her dedication and genuinely enjoyed seeing her at their events. There was something special about her that drew him in, something he couldn’t quite put into words.
After the event ended, the members of The Prism gathered backstage to relax and talk about the day.
"That was a great turnout," Jong-Su said, stretching his arms. "Our fans are the best."
"Yeah, it was amazing," Min agreed, sipping on a bottle of water. "Did you guys notice Hyun-Ae again? She’s always here."
Ye Joon nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I did. She’s really dedicated. I wrote her a special message in her album today."
"That’s sweet," Ye Joon replied. "She’s always been one of our most loyal fans."
Ji-Yeong leaned back in his chair, his eyes closed. "We’re lucky to have fans like her. They make everything we do worth it."
Ye Joon’s mind drifted back to the moment he had shared with Hyun-Ae. He hoped his message had brought her as much happiness as it had brought him. There was something about her that felt different, something that made him want to know more about her.
The next few days passed in a blur of rehearsals and promotions. But Hyun-Ae was never far from Ye Joon’s thoughts. He found himself looking forward to the next fan event, hoping for another chance to see her.
When the day of the next fan sign event arrived, Ye Joon’s heart beat a little faster. As the members took their seats and the fans started to line up, he scanned the crowd, searching for a familiar face. It didn’t take long for him to spot Hyun-Ae, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Ye Joon couldn’t help but smile. As she approached the table, he felt a rush of anticipation. When it was her turn, she handed him her album with a shy smile.
"Hi again, Hyun-Ae," Ye Joon said, his voice warm. "It’s great to see you."
"Hi, Ye Joon oppa," she replied, her cheeks flushing with happiness. "It’s great to see you too."
Ye Joon opened her album and began to sign it, glancing up at her as he wrote. "How have you been?"
"I’ve been good," Hyun-Ae said, her eyes shining. "Thank you so much for your message last time. It really meant a lot to me."
Ye Joon smiled, his heart warming at her words. "I’m glad you liked it. You deserve it for being such a great fan."
He finished signing her album and handed it back to her, their fingers brushing lightly. Hyun-Ae’s breath caught at the contact, and she looked up at him, her eyes full of gratitude.
"Thank you, Ye Joon oppa," she said softly. "You’re always so kind."
Ye Joon’s smile widened. "It’s my pleasure, Hyun-Ae. Thank you for always supporting us."
As Hyun-Ae moved down the line, Ye Joon couldn’t help but feel a sense of longing. He wanted to know more about her, to understand what made her such a dedicated fan. There was something about her that drew him in, something that made him feel connected to her in a way he couldn’t explain.
After the event, Ye Joon found himself thinking about Hyun-Ae even more. He wanted to do something special for her, to show her how much he appreciated her unwavering support. An idea began to form in his mind, and he couldn’t wait to put it into action.
The next fan sign event arrived, and Ye Joon was more excited than ever. As he took his seat, he scanned the crowd, hoping to see Hyun-Ae. When he finally spotted her, his heart skipped a beat. She looked as radiant as ever, her eyes filled with excitement.
When it was her turn, she handed him her album with a smile. "Hi, Ye Joon oppa."
"Hi, Hyun-Ae," Ye Joon replied, his voice warm. "I have a surprise for you today."
Hyun-Ae’s eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"
Ye Joon nodded, a playful smile on his lips. He took her album and opened it, writing a special message. When he finished, he handed it back to her, his eyes twinkling with excitement.
Hyun-Ae opened the album, her breath catching as she read the message:
_"Dear Hyun-Ae,_
_Thank you for your unwavering support and for always being there for us. Your dedication means the world to me. As a token of my appreciation, I would like to invite you to our next rehearsal. I hope you can make it._
_With love, Ye Joon."_
Hyun-Ae looked up at him, her eyes filling with tears of happiness. "Thank you so much, Ye Joon oppa. This means everything to me."
Ye Joon reached across the table and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "You’re welcome, Hyun-Ae. I look forward to seeing you there."
As Hyun-Ae moved down the line, Ye Joon felt a sense of fulfillment. He couldn’t wait to see her at the rehearsal and get to know her better.