As the #WestlifeBeMyDate contest deadline loomed, Wilbros made an official announcement, bringing the submission phase to a close. Hopeful fans had eagerly sent in their entries, dreaming of the chance to spend a special moment with their favorite band, Westlife.

Amidst the excitement, the Westlife management took charge of the next steps in the process. Deliberations were underway, and the team was carefully considering the best approach for selecting the lucky winners. It was no easy task, as the contest had garnered an overwhelming response from passionate fans all around.

The anticipation was evident as the fans eagerly awaited news of when the five members of Westlife would take on the delightful duty of picking the fortunate winners. It was a decision that required thoughtful consideration, as the chosen ones would not only have the chance to meet their idols but also create memories that would last a lifetime.

In the meantime, fans kept their fingers crossed, hoping that fate would shine upon them. The excitement in the air was contagious, and social media buzzed with discussions about the contest, as fans shared their heartfelt entries and expressions of admiration for the beloved band.

As the Westlife management continued their deliberations, the anticipation only grew stronger. Everyone knew that the five lads would carefully select the winners, making this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity even more special for the fortunate fans who would soon find themselves in the company of their idols.

While the wait continued, the love and passion from the fans for Westlife remained unwavering. The contest had brought people together, creating a sense of unity and camaraderie among fans who all shared a common dream - to be chosen as Westlife's date and create cherished memories with the iconic band.

•••

Valentia Islands
Ireland

"Babe?" Cailean called out, trying to catch Mark's attention.

"Yes, babe?" Mark replied, meeting Cailean's gaze.

Cailean sighed softly, concern etched on his face. "You seem a bit down lately. Is something bothering you?"

Mark smirked, trying to reassure him. "I guess I'm just tired from the consecutive rehearsals." He gently squeezed Cailean's hand. "But I'm okay, really."

Cailean managed a forced smile before turning his eyes towards the serene blue sea ahead of them.

Minutes passed in silence when suddenly, Mark's phone rang.

🎵 'Cause when I look at my life,
How the pieces fall into place, it just wouldn't rhyme without you.
When I see how my path seems to end up before your face,
The state of my heart,
The place where we are was written in the stars. 🎶

Mark's expression changed instantly, his face lighting up with a spark in his eyes.

Cailean glanced at his partner, seeking an explanation through his eyes.

"It's just the alarm," Mark replied simply.

Cailean nodded, understanding, and shifted his gaze back to the sea once more.

•••

Egan's Mansion
Dublin, Ireland

Kian stirred from his slumber, enticed by a delightful aroma that filled the air, embracing his senses. Curiously, he followed the alluring scent, and it led him to the heart of the house - the kitchen, where his mother, Patricia, was busy preparing breakfast.

"Good morning, Mom!"

"Good morning," Patricia warmly greeted her son, flashing a loving smile. "Come and grab your breakfast, son."

With a nod, Kian settled into a chair at the dining area, eagerly awaiting the scrumptious meal his mother was about to serve.

As he indulged in the delicious breakfast, his mind wandered to his girlfriend's latest Instagram post. Unconsciously, his lips curved into a smile as he admired Jodi Albert's picture.

"She's the one I want to be with forever," Kian mused, his heart filled with affection as he gently touched the ring nestled in his pocket.

Savoring the last morsel of his meal, he decided to dress up in smart attire for the day's plans. Excitement and anticipation grew within him as he prepared to see Jodi.

He took out his phone and sent her a message, "Let's meet at Mulberry Garden, baby. I'm on my way. Love you."

Minutes passed, yet no response came from Jodi. However, Kian remained undeterred, confident that his beloved would be there as planned. For in his heart, he knew that their love was steadfast, and the bond they shared could withstand any momentary silence. With that unwavering trust, he set forth to meet the love of his life, eager to create more cherished memories together.

•••

Kian eagerly awaited Jodi's arrival at their meeting place. When she finally showed up, he greeted her with a quick kiss.

Over their meal, they caught up as if they hadn't seen each other in ages.

After eating, Kian fell silent, taking a deep breath that puzzled Jodi.

Before she could inquire, Kian knelt before her, a smile on his face, presenting a small box with a sparkling ring inside.

"I've been planning this for a long time," Kian confessed, his eyes brimming with love. "To my travel buddy, princess..."

Jodi glanced around, a bit concerned about their surroundings. "Please stand up, baby."

Ignoring her plea, Kian remained kneeling, pouring his heart out, "...my advisor, teacher, friend, most amazing girlfriend in the entire world, and one of the most amazing people I know. Will you marry me?"

Silence hung in the air as their eyes locked, uncertainty and hesitation evident.

With a touch of sadness in her eyes, Jodi slightly bowed to shield Kian's face. "Baby, I'm sorry, but it's a no for now."

•••

At The Subway, SM North in Quezon City, Kathryn was visibly concerned as she glanced at her cellphone screen and then at her friends.

"Hey, guys, I can't find Kian's IG," she confessed. "Do you think he blocked me?"

Jem chimed in, "He probably just deactivated it. We can't find his account either."

Feeling relieved, Kathryn let out a deep sigh. "I thought he blocked me. Thankfully, he didn't." She looked at her friends, seeking their input. "But I wonder why he deactivated it?"

Mae offered to reach out to Kian, pretending to take her phone out of her bag, but Analisa intervened and shared her thoughts.

"Don't worry too much, dear. He might have taken a break from social media. You know, sometimes people need a hiatus. It can be draining to be constantly online."

Kathryn found some comfort in her friends' explanation and decided to set her worries aside for the time being.

•••

The Palace Bar in Dublin, Ireland was the setting once again for the lads' gathering. They sat in a private room, sharing a few bottles of beer, all aware of what had happened to Kian. They were there to show their support during his tough time.

Their plan to choose the lucky Filipina fans had to be put on hold due to the recent events.

Tears welled up in Kian's eyes, and he felt a heavy burden weighing on his chest.

The memory of what occurred earlier haunted him.

"I'm not ready to take on married life yet. Baby, I love you. I really do. But I still want to live life to the fullest. As they say, I should enjoy my singlehood first. I don't want to rush into marriage without being physically, mentally, and emotionally prepared. When you ask me again in the future, I want to be able to wholeheartedly say 'yes' without any doubt. I want to be able to give you my heart completely. But for now, baby, not yet. We can still remain boyfriend and girlfriend. That's all I can handle for now, baby," Jodi explained, pouring her heart out.

Kian remained on his knees, head bowed, and he stayed in that position for a while before finally nodding, though tears still glistened in his eyes.

"I-I understand, baby," Kian's shoulders trembled, revealing the emotional turmoil within.

"Baby..." Jodi gently held Kian's hands and gave them a reassuring squeeze.

Kian shook his head. "Don't worry about me, baby." He turned away, trying to shield his tear-filled eyes from Jodi.

Jodi could only watch her boyfriend, feeling as though her words were insufficient to console him.

A profound silence lingered between them.

"By the way, Shane messaged me, baby. We have plans today. I'll go ahead."

Without waiting for Jodi's response, Kian got up and started walking towards the exit of the restaurant.

Though Jodi wanted to stop her boyfriend, uncertainty held her back. Instead, she sank back into her seat, feeling the weight of the momentous conversation they had just shared.

•••

"Mate, let's postpone selecting the winner," Brian suggested, standing by his friend Kian's side.

Determined, Kian shook his head. "No, let's continue, mate. I won't allow my personal issues to impact our career. What about the fans who are eagerly waiting, right? And what about all of you?" He glanced at his friends. "But if you're okay with it, can we just push it to tomorrow? My head is pounding a bit from drinking too much."

Agreeing with Kian, the four friends nodded in unison. They decided to reschedule for the next day. Before parting ways, they shared one more case of beer, cherishing their camaraderie before heading home to their respective houses.

•••

As the clock struck eight in the morning, the Westlife lads gathered in the studio with excitement and anticipation, ready to pick the winner of the #WestlifeBeMyDate contest.

A pile of over a hundred videos, each lasting one minute and thirty seconds, awaited them. They knew they had a fun task ahead, so they also decided to record their reactions for uploading on their official YouTube account.

The room filled with laughter and playful teasing as they watched the entries one by one. They were nearing the end of the selection process.

"Next up is Jenelyn Roxas. She'll be singing My Love," Shane, who was in charge of the computer, announced.

They watched the video and were impressed by the contestant's impressive guitar skills and heartfelt rendition.

Following that was the entry of someone named Veniece, who sang What Makes a Man. They couldn't help but tease Kian because the contestant went the extra mile by having more than ten standees of him specially made for the entry.

Kian's face lit up with surprise and gratitude, not expecting to have such dedicated and creative fans.

Then, they watched the entry of a fan named Mae. This time, Shane was the target of their friendly teasing because Mae wore a t-shirt with Shane's name on it. She even brought a few friends, each holding a balloon that spelled out, "Shane, can I be your date?"

Next in line was the entry of a girl named Analisa, shot by the beautiful beach. They couldn't resist teasing Nicky as the contestant wrote "I love you Nicky Byrne" in huge letters on the sand.

Afterward, they watched the entry of a girl who recorded her video in Tagaytay, near Taal Lake.

*insert intro of Written in the Stars*

Stay with me, don't fall asleep too soon,
The angels can wait for a moment.

As the introspective melody of Written in the Stars played, the lads settled in for the final moments of the selection process, ready to make a memorable decision.

Mark's emotions surged as he watched the video. Unconsciously, he had crushed the aluminum can of coke he was drinking from.

His colleagues all looked at him at the same time.

Come real close, forget the world outside,
Tonight we're alone, it's finally you and I.

Mark's eyes remained fixated on the screen. He recognized that girl.

It wasn't meant to feel like this, not without you.

His cheeks turned warm, and he did his best to hide it from his friends.

Although Shane, Kian, Brian, and Nicky wanted to tease Mark, they decided to stay quiet and simply observe his reactions. It was the first time they had seen Mark so captivated by a girl.

Cause when I look at my life,
How the pieces fall into place, it just wouldn't rhyme without you.
When I see how my path seems to end up before your face,
The state of my heart,
The place where we are was written in the stars.

At this point, Nicky, Shane, Kian, and Brian couldn't contain their excitement. They approached Mark and playfully teased him.

In the video, the girl was hugging a pillow with Mark's face on it. After that scene, the girl flipped through an album filled with pictures of Mark.

"She really likes me so much," Mark thought to himself.

Blushing deeply, Mark felt embarrassed after watching the video. He truly appreciated the fan's effort.

The way I feel about her is truly fascinating. It's just beyond my control. Mark uttered to himself.

"I think I know who Mark will choose," Kian said.

"We're probably all thinking the same thing," Shane added as the four of them exchanged glances with Mark.

Mark shook his head, laughing. "Enough of that. Let's watch the next one." Although he wanted to avoid switching to the next video, he eventually did. He knew his bandmates wouldn't let him hear the end of it if he didn't.