In the dim pre-dawn light, a small group of dedicated fans had already gathered at NAIA Terminal 3. Among them were Kathryn, Analisa, Jem, and Mae, eagerly awaiting the arrival of their favorite band, Westlife. Excitement filled the air as they chatted, laughed, and shared stories about their beloved music group.

Kathryn couldn't contain her enthusiasm as she turned to her friends with a sparkle in her eyes. "Do you know how excited I am? It's like... I'm waiting for my long-distance boyfriend!"

Jem raised an eyebrow playfully, teasing her friend. "How did you even know that's how it feels when you haven't had a boyfriend yet?"

Kathryn rolled her eyes, pretending to be dramatic. "Fine. I'm the one without a boyfriend since birth." She let out a good-natured sigh.

Her fellow fans chuckled, understanding her playful humor, and the atmosphere became even livelier as they shared in the camaraderie of fandom.

As they waited for the magical moment of Westlife's arrival, the group couldn't resist capturing the excitement with some selfies. Nearby, other fans were enjoying their breakfast, fueling themselves for the exhilarating day ahead.

Mandy, one of the group admins, checked the time and spoke up, "Attention, everyone! If anyone needs to use the restroom, it's best to do it now. The Westlife will be arriving anytime soon, and you wouldn't want to miss their arrival if you go to the restroom later."

Analisa rallied the girls, urging them to make a quick pit stop. "Ladies, let's make our way to the restroom now."

With a considerate smile, Jem spoke up, "I'll head to the restroom a bit later. Right now, I'll stay here and keep an eye on our spot. You can go ahead without me."

Kathryn, feeling a sense of loyalty to her friend, chimed in, "I'll also go to the restroom when you come back. For now, I'll just accompany Jem here."

With a nod of agreement, Mae expressed, "Alright. I'll bring Analisa instead." Flashing a playful grin at Analisa, she said, "Let's go, girl!"

•••

"We're almost here!" Nicky exclaimed as he looked at the scenery below. He could see the rooftops of houses partially covered by clouds.

"Almost here?" Shane turned his gaze to Brian. "Isn't that your song, mate?"

Brian sat up straight in his seat and nodded. "You know?"

"Almost Here" was one of Brian's popular songs from his solo album, released during the time he was no longer with Westlife.

Shane responded by singing, and he was joined by Kian, Mark, and Nicky.

But when I need you
You're almost here
And I know that's not enough

But when I'm with you
I'm close to tears
'Cause you're only almost here

Brian smiled as his bandmates sang along. He exchanged fist bumps with them.

The airplane continued its flight.

Mark, looking out of the window, seemed lost in thought. He couldn't understand why his heartbeat had quickened. He had been trying to suppress it, but his heart continued to race-a feeling he had never experienced with Cailean or any past relationships.

"Is she at the airport?" he wondered to himself.

•••

"We're back! Your turn now," announced Analisa with a satisfied grin.

"Okay, let's go, Jem." Kathryn linked her arm with her friend's, and they hurriedly made their way towards a restroom that was a bit farther from their location.

Three minutes later, excitement filled the air as Chinkee, the president of the Westlife PH Fan group, burst out with exhilaration, "Guys! They're here!"

In a frenzy, the fans whipped out their carefully prepared banners, ready to welcome their beloved boyband with open arms.

Analisa and Mae exchanged knowing glances, sharing the same puzzled thoughts.

"Wait, didn't they mention arriving at seven? Why are they here so early?" questioned Analisa.

"I'm not sure either." Mae raised her hand to her forehead and shrugged, puzzled by the early arrival. "Hold on, I'll go and find Kathryn and Jem." She turned towards the restroom with the intention of fetching them.

However, Analisa quickly intervened, grasping Mae's arm firmly. "Don't bother! You might not catch up to the lads if you go now. Let's just video call our friends instead."

"Right! That's a brilliant idea. We can video call them and share the excitement together," Mae agreed, relieved that they could still enjoy the moment with their friends despite the unexpected early arrival of Westlife.

•••

"Hurry up, girl! The Westlife might pass by any moment now. It would be such a shame if they don't see my glittery banner," Kathryn exclaimed excitedly as she stepped out of one of the cubicles.

"Wait, let me retouch my makeup. I want to look my best when I see Mark," Jem said, reaching for her makeup from her handbag.

Kathryn quickly stopped her friend. "Oh no, not now! You already look stunning. We might miss them if we don't hurry."

Jem shrugged her shoulders, finally conceding. She turned to Kathryn and replied, "Alright, fine."

Just as they were about to leave the restroom, an unexpected figure entered.

"I knew it, you're here too." The newcomer's voice dripped with mockery as she focused on Kathryn. "What do you think? Do you honestly believe I'd let you outshine me in front of Kian? Hell no!"

"Come on, Veniece. I don't have time for this rivalry. Step aside," Kathryn said, her tone laced with irritation. She tried to gently push Veniece away from the door.

However, Veniece's minions blocked their path, preventing Kathryn from reaching the door. Kathryn shot them an intense glare.

"Do you think you can leave now?" Kathryn and Jem turned their attention to Veniece. With a smug smirk and arms crossed, she arrogantly stood her ground.

As Veniece approached the door, she shook her head with a sneer. "No, you won't." After her snarky remark, she and her minions left, locking the restroom door from the outside.

Kathryn and Jem desperately attempted to open the door, twisting the doorknob in every possible way, but it stubbornly remained locked. They cried out for help, both worried that they might miss the chance to see the Westlife if they couldn't get out immediately.

Frustration surged through Jem. She paused her attempts, taking a few deep breaths to calm herself. "Of all times, why did that girl have to ruin things now?"

She joined Kathryn in calling for help once more, determined to find a way out and not let anything spoil their long-awaited moment with the Westlife.

•••

The surroundings erupted with cheers as the Westlife lads finally descended from the jet plane. As they passed by the eagerly waiting fans, they graciously granted a group picture. Some fans wanted to take selfies with them, but they were blocked by the bouncers.

Analisa and Mae's happiness knew no bounds as they shook hands with their idols. They were too caught up in the excitement of the lads' arrival that they didn't even get a chance to video call their two friends.

"Shane's hand is so soft! It's like the hand of a woman." Mae squealed with delight as she kissed her right hand. "I don't want to wash it anymore."

Analisa, too, was overjoyed as she held Nicky Byrne's soft hand. She felt like she was about to faint when he winked at her, the one she admired.

•••

Amidst the excitement of meeting their Filipino fans, Brian couldn't help but smile at the sight of the enthusiastic crowd.

Kian's face lit up with appreciation. "Filipino fans have always been amazing. They never fail to support us wholeheartedly."

"Definitely," Nicky chimed in. "Let's make sure we give our best in our performances tomorrow and in the days to come, as a way of showing our gratitude for their unwavering support."

The group nodded in unison, all feeling the same sense of gratitude towards their dedicated fans. However, Mark seemed a bit preoccupied. He kept glancing around, as if searching for someone or something.

"She's not here," Mark finally said, his voice tinged with a mix of disappointment and longing.

•••

As the friends persisted in knocking on the restroom door, exhaustion crept into their expressions. Disappointment hung in the air, and they couldn't help but sigh, their hands instinctively seeking their foreheads.

"Veniece is so immature!" Jem's frustration bubbled up, and she tightly clenched her fists, attempting to restrain her irritation.

"I'm afraid the lads might have already passed by," Kathryn chimed in, her voice tinged with regret. She referred to the missed opportunity to see their favorite boyband.

"I think so too."

*incoming Messenger call.. Mae*

The arrival of a Messenger call brought bright smiles to their faces. It was their friends, eager and joyful, trying to find out their location. "Where are you, girls? The lads just left our spot. Hurry up, you might still catch them!"

Before Jem could reply, they heard someone attempting to open the restroom door. Their anxiety eased as they realized it was an airport staff member, concerned about reports from passengers that the restroom was closed.

Without wasting a single moment, the friends sprinted back to their previous spot, fueled by excitement and determination.

"I hope I can still catch Mark," Jem thought, her heart pounding with anticipation as she ran.

•••

"Louis, can I use the restroom? I forgot to go on the jet plane earlier," Kian requested, turning to their manager.

"I'll go with you, Kian," Mark offered, showing his support by wrapping an arm around Kian's shoulders.

"Sure," Louis replied. "Just don't forget to put on your hoody jacket and shades."

Both Kian and Mark grinned, confirming their readiness.

They headed towards the restroom, blissfully unaware that they were about to encounter two running women.

And those two women were none other than Kathryn and Jem.

Jem nearly tripped, but Mark's quick embrace kept her from falling.

Jem took the slight collision and near stumble in stride. She politely asked the stranger to let her go since she was in a hurry.

Although she wanted to apologize profusely for bumping into the person, all she managed to say was a rushed "Sorry." Without glancing back at the stranger's face, she continued walking straight ahead.

"It would have been nice to linger in that embrace if only I wasn't in such a hurry," Jem mused, her heart fluttering at the thought.

"It is not the right time to flirt," her conscience nudged her, reminding her of their important mission. "You need to catch up with Mark and the others."

Determined, she refocused her thoughts and quickened her pace, determined not to let anything distract her from going back to their spot earlier.

•••

Kathryn bumped into someone while running too. The impact of the collision was jarring, making her feel momentarily disoriented as if the world had spun around her. With a swift recovery, she promptly got back on her feet.

"I'm sorry, sir. I really need to go. I need to see Westlife," she quickly apologized,

Kathryn's eagerness is evident as she dashed away. Her conscience couldn't resist chiming in with a playful tone, "You're quite the klutz, Kathryn. Maybe if you had stayed just a bit longer, you could have enjoyed that handsome sight a little more!"

It was true; she couldn't deny her clumsiness. In her haste, she had barely managed to exchange a few words with the intriguing stranger. The encounter had left her flustered, yet her conscience seemed to find amusement in her antics. Regret gnawed at her, but her conscience wasn't going to let her off the hook that easily.

"Oh, Kathryn, Kathryn," her conscience continued teasingly, "You missed a golden opportunity to bask in his company. But don't fret too much; life has a way of surprising us. Who knows, fate might give you another chance to encounter this handsome stranger."

Despite feeling slightly scolded, Kathryn couldn't help but appreciate the humor in her conscience's words. Perhaps, amidst her clumsiness, there was room for a little hope and serendipity. She decided to take it as a friendly reminder to slow down and embrace life's unpredictable moments.

With her heart pounding, Kathryn dashed through the airport hallway, leaving the intriguing stranger behind. Her sole focus now was catching up with her friend Jem, who was hurrying back to their spot. They were both on a mission - to meet their beloved boyband idol, and nothing could stop them now. Excitement filled the air as they raced towards the moment they had been eagerly anticipating.