A portrait of the unseen [COMPLETE]

Chapter 14 My #1 fan

The morning sun peeked through the curtains as I prepared for the day. Today was special-I had a ticket to Lexa's fan meet, and I was determined to see her. I left my apartment with a mix of excitement and nerves, eager to catch a glimpse of my girlfriend in her element.

As I approached the venue, my heart sank. The paparazzo from the convenience store was there, scanning the crowd. Despite my facial blindness, his posture and the tattoo on his arm were unmistakable. I couldn't risk being seen. Without anything to cover my face, I needed to find a way to hide.

The event had already started, and I desperately searched for a nearby store that might have caps or masks. But nothing was open yet. I waited impatiently for the mall to open, feeling each second tick by like an eternity. Finally, when the doors opened, I rushed inside, bought a cap and a mask, and hurried back to the venue.

To my dismay, the sky opened up, and rain poured down. I had no umbrella, and my money was just enough to get me home. Checking the time, I realized I had only 30 minutes left before the venue closed. Lexa's schedule was tight, and I couldn't miss this chance. With no other option, I ran through the rain, arriving at the venue soaked to the skin.

The staff accommodated me, thankfully, and I was the last person in line. As I approached Lexa, my heart pounded with anxiety. She looked up and immediately noticed my condition.

"Are you okay? Why are you soaking wet?" she asked, concern lacing her voice.

She turned to her staff and asked them to get me something to change into. When she handed me the clothes, I knew I couldn't keep my identity hidden any longer. I removed my mask, revealing myself to her.

"I'm not wrong as a fan to stan you," I said, my voice shaky. "You're kind and sweet."

Lexa's eyes widened in surprise, and then she smiled. "And you're not wrong for saying yes to be my girlfriend," she whispered.

Because I was there as a fan, I had to leave quickly after our brief exchange. When I got home, shivering and wet, my phone buzzed with a message from Lexa.

**Lexa**: "Make sure to take a bath, and next time, bring an umbrella."

I smiled at her concern and replied.

**Ryu**: "Yes, I will. And I'll definitely come to your fan meet again."

Lexa responded almost immediately.

**Lexa**: "You don't need to. I'll come see you whenever I can. One minute isn't enough for us."

Her message warmed my heart, reminding me of the deep bond we shared despite the challenges. I lay back, finally feeling at ease, and drifted off to sleep with a smile on my face, knowing our love could weather any storm.

Three days before Lexa's birthday, I was in a state of confusion and anxiety, trying to figure out how to surprise her. I didn't know her schedule, and I couldn't just show up at her condo unannounced. Despite her active presence on Instagram, she barely had time for a proper conversation.

I had been planning everything for months, but I still didn't know if my efforts would pay off. I wanted to make her day special, but the uncertainty gnawed at me.

One afternoon, while resting at home, I opened my phone and saw an interview with Lexa. The host asked her if she had any plans for her birthday, and Lexa replied, "I'll just spend time with my loved ones and friends."

Hearing that made me happy. It gave me hope that I might be part of her plans. But as the birthday date approached, I hadn't heard a word from Lexa.

The day of her birthday arrived. I had everything ready at my place: decorations, gifts, and even a birthday cake I had spent months learning to bake. I waited, checking my phone every few minutes, hoping for a message or a call from Lexa.

Hours passed, and the silence from her was deafening. As the night wore on, my heart grew heavier. Eventually, exhaustion took over, and I fell asleep with a heavy heart, the birthday cake sitting untouched on the table.

---

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of my phone buzzing. Groggily, I reached for it and saw a series of messages from Lexa.

**Lexa**: "Hey, Ryu. I'm so sorry for not contacting you yesterday. My schedule got messed up, and I couldn't find a moment to call you. I miss you so much."

**Lexa**: "I feel terrible for not being there. Can we meet today? I really want to see you."

I felt a mix of relief and lingering sadness. I quickly replied.

**Ryu**: "It's okay. I missed you too. I had everything ready for you here. Can you come over?"

Within an hour, Lexa was at my door. She took one look at the decorations and the cake and hugged me tightly.

"I'm so sorry, Ryu," she whispered. "This means so much to me."

I hugged her back, feeling the weight of the previous day lift off my shoulders. "I'm just glad you're here now," I said, holding her close.

We spent the day together, making up for lost time. Lexa's smile as she saw the cake and the effort I had put into everything was worth all the uncertainty and the wait. It was her birthday, but having her with me felt like the best gift I could have received.

While cuddling on the couch at my place, Lexa was joking about the cake. She took a bite and said, "This cake is like you, Ryu-soft and yummy."

I laughed, feeling my face flush, but then I noticed something was off. Lexa's expression shifted from playful to concerned. She placed her hand on my forehead.

"Ryu, you're burning up," she said, sitting up quickly. "I think you have a fever."

I felt too tired to argue, so I just nodded. Lexa hurried to get some medicine and brought it to me with a glass of water. "Here, take this. It'll help bring your fever down."

As the night went on, I felt guilty for being sick at such an inconvenient time. "I'm sorry, Lexa," I said weakly. "It's the wrong timing for me to get a fever."

Lexa stroked my hair gently. "Don't worry about it. We'll have plenty of time to do more once you feel better."

I looked up at her. "Please be better for days," she said, her voice soft and reassuring.

"How long can you stay?" I asked, afraid of the answer.

"You're not the only one with a surprise," Lexa replied with a smile. "I have a month off. My schedule is completely free."

My eyes widened in disbelief. "Really?"

"Yes, really," she said, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "I've already contacted Cole and Steve. They've helped me reserve a private resort for us. Once you're feeling better, we can go and spend some quality time together, just the two of us."

I felt a wave of relief and happiness wash over me. Despite my fever, I couldn't help but smile. "Thank you, Lexa. I can't wait."

"Me neither," she said, leaning down to kiss my forehead. "Now rest. We have an amazing month ahead of us."

I closed my eyes, feeling her warmth and care surround me. Even though I was sick, having Lexa by my side made everything better. I knew that, with her, I could get through anything.