Myrtle Condominium, Tower 1, 10th floor, Unit 101
Cubao, QC

In the quiet stillness of the night, the clock had struck two, but sleep remained elusive for Kathryn. Her mind buzzed with a whirlwind of thoughts, each one vying for attention.

The prospect of the Westlife World Tour ignited excitement within her, especially with Brian's return to the group. The opportunity for a meet & greet with the band made her heart race with anticipation, but it was the chance for a Westlife Romantic dinner with a lucky fan that consumed her thoughts entirely.

"I need to secure that slot," she whispered determinedly, her eyes fixed on the idea of sharing a special moment with her favorite band. "I'll do whatever it takes for you to choose me," Kathryn mused, her focus solely on Kian Egan—the one she adored the most among the talented members of Westlife.

With a heart brimming with hope and determination, she embarked on a quest to win that coveted chance, ready to make her dream a reality no matter the obstacles that lay ahead.

With a wistful sigh, she couldn't help but pour her heart out. "When will you notice me, Kian? Even the slightest recognition would make me so happy," she confided, her words carrying the longing of an unspoken affection.

She rose to make coffee. Absentmindedly, she checked her social media accounts, starting with the Westlife members' Instagram profiles. But her heart skipped a beat as she scrolled to Kian's profile, her ultimate bias. There, she found a new post—a photo of Kian adorning Jodi with a necklace.

The Instagram caption said it all, straight from the heart: No more lengthy words. I love you now and forever. Happy anniversary, baby!

Kathryn, though filled with bittersweet emotions, admired the couple's perfect harmony. She acknowledged her place as a distant fan, unknown to Kian. "I'm genuinely happy for you, Kian. Your happiness is my happiness too," she typed with a smile, leaving a warm comment on her idol's post. "Both of you are truly a perfect match. Wishing you all the best."

Feeling content with her comment, she was about to set her phone aside when it chimed with a notification. She was startled when she saw that it came from Jodi Albert.

She slightly increased her phone's brightness to confirm what she had just read. She refreshed her IG notification.

Jodi Albert likes your comment few seconds ago.

Her heart almost leaped out of her chest at this revelation. She brought her phone closer to her chest. "Kian's future wife liked my comment!"

Her almost-scream was interrupted when her phone chimed again. Almost breathless, she read the next notification.

Kian Egan likes your comment few seconds ago.

Her excitement was almost too much to handle. She was shaking with joy, unable to contain her emotions. Flopping onto her bed, she rolled around, burying her face in her pillow and letting out a loud squeal of delight. She checked her phone again, and the notification was still there.

"Wow! It's true!"

Once she regained composure, she took a screenshot and posted it on Facebook.

Pinch me, I must be dreaming! 😍💫 When your idol notices you for the first time and your heart feels like it's floating on cloud nine! 🥰🎉 It's a moment I'll cherish forever! Thank you, Kian Egan, for making this fangirl's day extra special! ❤️🙏
#Grateful #NoticeMe #FanGirlHappiness #DreamsDoComeTrue

Time seemed to blur as she lost herself in the moment. She eventually fell asleep while still looking at her post, wearing a wide smile as she drifted off into a deep slumber.

•••

Philippine Bank of Commerce Inc.
Cubao, QC
08:00 AM

"Good morning, Kathryn!"

Kathryn smiled at her colleague, Liam, who greeted her. "Good morning too."

"It seems like you didn't get much sleep last night, huh. Let's have coffee?"

"I'm good, Liam. Thank you for the invite," Kathryn replied with a smile.

Liam seems to lose weigh on his shoulders because of what he heard.

"I truly enjoy our conversations, Liam, but I must attend to some pending work right now. I apologize for cutting it short. I'll head back to my tasks for now," Kathryn explained with a hint of regret in her voice.

With a slight smile, Liam gracefully accepted Kathryn's response. "No problem. See you around."

From the start, Liam had been trying to capture Kathryn's attention. Yet, despite his genuine interest since her first day at work, she had gently turned him down multiple times. Her heart had been steadfastly reserved for one person only – Kian Egan or someone Irish, fair-skinned, with blonde hair, and blue eyes. Liam, in contrast, was the opposite – a pure Filipino, with tanned skin, brown eyes, and black hair. Despite their differences, there was no denying Liam's charm. Nevertheless, Kathryn only regarded him as a friend.

•••

"Hey, Mrs. Egan!"

As someone shouted at the door, Kathryn looked up in surprise, only to find her friends Analisa, Jem, and Mae standing there.

"Hey, stop calling me that. Let's be formal for now," Kathryn jokingly reminded her friends as they approached her.

"Sorry, ma'am." Analisa emphasized the last word. "How about we call you Ms. Rodriguez instead?" They all burst into laughter.

Kathryn ignored the last remark. "What are you doing here?"

"What do you think we're doing at the bank?" Jem replied as she got a slip.

Kathryn teased. "To buy fish?"

With a hint of amusement, Mae chimed in, "Oh, don't be silly. We're just being prepared by withdrawing funds in advance for when the ticket selling is announced. You know, having cash-on-hand and all." Turning her attention to Kathryn, she playfully added, "So, Ms. Rodriguez, it's a good idea to withdraw some money too, just in case, okay?"

"Of course, no worries. There's plenty of money in the vault; I can just get the cash from there anytime," Kathryn quipped, and the room filled with laughter. "I'll be glad to assist you with the withdrawals. Afterward, let's take a coffee break. My treat," she offered with a warm smile, making her friends feel at ease and appreciated.

"Wow. What's gotten into you? You seem so happy!" Analisa exclaimed. Kathryn doesn't often do this.

With a playful wink, Kathryn teased, "Are we truly friends, Analisa? Don't you check my FB posts?" She turned around to assist her friends with their fund withdrawals, exuding a contagious enthusiasm that brightened the room.

In a flash, Analisa grabbed her phone, and moments later, a muffled squeal escaped her lips. Jem and Mae acted swiftly, covering her mouth to contain the excitement. The anticipation in the air grew as they all prepared for what was about to unfold.

•••

Starbucks Cubao

"OMG!" At last, Analisa couldn't hold it in any longer, letting out an exuberant shout as they reached the rooftop.

"You're so lucky, girl! I wish Mark would notice me too," Jem added, her eyes filled with admiration.

Their moment was interrupted when a coffee cup accidentally fell from the neighboring table.

"Sorry," the customer apologized.

"It's okay," Kathryn reassured with a warm smile, her heart still buzzing with excitement from the rooftop revelation.

"To make sure I'm hearing things right," Analisa continued, directing her gaze at Kathryn. "You commented on Kian's IG post, and he liked it?"

Kathryn nodded. Unable to contain herself, she playfully smacked Analisa and Mae's arms. They jokingly complained about the light pain, yet laughter filled the air as they continued their lively conversation.

"Girls, can you believe it? After yearning for his attention for over a decade, he finally gave it to me! I'm beyond ecstatic!" Kathryn's voice danced with elation as she shared her incredible news.

"I'm happy for you, girl. I hope Nicky babe does the same for me," Analisa said with a hopeful smile.

"Don't worry. If Kian and I end up together, I'll introduce you to Nicky, okay?" Kathryn reassured her friend.

Jem chimed in, a hint of skepticism in her voice, "Wait, just because he liked your comment, you think you'll end up together?" Her question brought a dose of reality to the lighthearted banter, making them pause and ponder the uncertain future.

Kathryn shrugged. "You'll never know, right?"

She took a sip of her iced choco. She checked her wristwatch. "I should head back inside. Let me know when there's an update on the ticket selling, okay?"

Her friends nodded in response. Shortly after, Kathryn went back to the bank.

•••

Dublin, Ireland

"Let's take a short break!" said Westlife's manager, Louis Walsh. The five members were currently rehearsing for their upcoming world tour.

Brian felt a bit shy and awkward around Shane, Mark, Kian, and Nicky, so he decided to make himself busy with his phone. He checked his Twitter, which he hadn't updated for a while. He noticed that his followers had increased, probably due to his return to Westlife.

As Brian scrolled through his Twitter feed, he stumbled upon a tweet from @KathrynRodriguez08. The tweet featured a photo of him with a girl from his past solo concert in Manila, accompanied by a heartfelt caption: "Brian, I am your crazy girl. I miss you. Please come back to the Philippines." The message evoked memories and emotions that tugged at Brian's heartstrings, leaving him reflective about the impact he had on fans, especially those who held a special place in his heart.

"How can I ever forget this girl? She was seated at the front, and her voice echoed, 'I love you, Brian!' 'Please notice me!' It's the same girl who screamed 'I love you!' and received my reply, 'I love you too!' The one who fervently begged for a serenade, and in return, I playfully called her 'Hi crazy!'. How could I not remember her? She's cute," Brian reminisced with a smile. "I used to find fans' overwhelming admiration annoying, but strangely, I never felt any annoyance towards that girl. I don't know why." His heart warmed at the memory of the special connection he shared with a devoted fan whose adoration was different from the rest.

He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't notice his fellow group members approaching.

Shane put his arm around Brian. "Mate, you seem distant from us. What's that?" he inquired, looking at the phone in Brian's hand.

"Nothing, mate. I was just checking my Twitter account."

"Let me see." Kian snatched Brian's cellphone and saw a picture of him with a female fan. He stared at the fan's face for a second, but Brian quickly retrieved his phone.

"I was just checking the tweets where fans tagged me," Brian replied, pocketing his phone.

"Okay." Kian shrugged. "Let's play a game then? Let's shoot some pool!" He acted out, pretending to shoot a billiard ball.

Brian agreed immediately. In no time, the five of them were together, playing billiards.