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Wooseok sat in the chair beside Hyeyoon, mesmerized as she described her Macau fan meeting. Her hands moved in animated gestures, eyes sparkling as she recounted the banners, the fans' dedication, and how subeom (their supporters) had made her feel so loved. Each word she spoke was filled with excitement, and Wooseok, though listening, found himself getting lost in the simple joy of watching her.
"They even made a banner of Woomin and Yeseo! Can you believe it?" she laughed, her eyes sparkling. "And Dispatch Unnie suggested I eat egg tart, and oh my god, it was so delicious!"
Wooseok chuckled, but internally, he was basking in her glow. Her laughter, the joy she carried—it was infectious, radiating warmth. It was that very brightness that he had first noticed about her, a brightness that seemed to turn heads, lift spirits, and make everything feel a little lighter. It wasn't just her stories or her accomplishments that captivated him; it was the way she made everything around her seem vibrant.
He remembered when he first saw her, that fateful day during the 2017 Secret Crushes wrap party. Though they had worked on separate seasons, that dinner brought them together. When she walked into the restaurant, Wooseok could feel the room shift—the energy changed with her presence. She wasn't just beautiful, she was radiant, full of life, with a smile that drew everyone into her orbit. He didn't believe in love at first sight back then, but her presence made him second-guess that. It wasn't just her beauty—it was her warmth, her smile, the way she effortlessly made everyone feel at ease.
But it wasn't just her looks; it was the warmth she exuded, how she spoke to people, how she smiled at everyone like they truly mattered. He had never met anyone like her. That night, he was struck not just by her beauty, but by how she made him and everyone around her feel more alive.
From that moment on, Hyeyoon had unknowingly become someone Wooseok followed closely. Her dramas, her variety shows—he cheered her on from the shadows, like a fan who couldn't help but admire from afar. And somewhere along the line, he became her biggest supporter, watching her rise in the industry. The more he saw her onscreen, the more he wanted to be by her side—not just as an admirer, but as someone who shared the stage with her, equals. Maybe even something more.
Fate, as it turned out, had plans for him. When he found out she was cast as the lead in Lovely Runner, his heart nearly skipped a beat. It was the moment he had been waiting for. The chance he had dreamed of. He quickly learned there was still an opening for the male lead, Sunjae, and he couldn't let it slip through his fingers. He practically begged his Boss and Isanim to find more info about the drama and to let him audition. Urging them to dig for more information about the drama, to ensure that he could secure that role, determined to be the one who shared the screen with her.
It wasn't just about getting the role. It was about working with her, seeing her shine up close. The idea of acting alongside Hyeyoon felt like the culmination of all the admiration he'd held for her over the years. She had unknowingly become his muse, and the thought of sharing the screen with her made his heart race.
Now, sitting beside her as she told him stories about her fans and the egg tart she had in Macau, Wooseok couldn't help but feel like this was all a dream. It had taken time to get this close to her. Even though Hyeyoon was friendly, she had a thick wall around her heart—a defense mechanism from being in the spotlight for so long. But with his patience and gentle persistence, he had slowly earned her trust, peeling back the layers of that wall bit by bit.
Sitting there with her, sharing this moment, Wooseok realized that all the waiting, the hoping, and the persistence had led him to something beautiful. She was more than just the bright star he had seen from afar; she was his sun, and he was happy to be caught in her orbit.
"Oppa?" Hyeyoon's voice broke through his thoughts, and he blinked, refocusing on her.
She was looking at him with a curious smile, her head tilted slightly. "Were you even listening to me?"
He grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "Sorry, I was listening... but I got a little distracted."
She raised an eyebrow playfully. "Distracted? By what?"
Wooseok shrugged, leaning forward a little. "Just... you. I was thinking about how much I love seeing you this happy."
Hyeyoon's cheeks flushed slightly at his sudden compliment, but she quickly masked it with a teasing tone. "Oh really? And here I thought you were ignoring me."
He shook his head, his gaze softening as he reached out to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. "Never. I love hearing you talk about things that make you happy. It reminds me of why I fell for you in the first place."
Her smile softened, and she leaned into his touch, her heart warming at his words. "You're so cheesy, Oppa."
Wooseok laughed, pulling her closer as he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Maybe. But it's true."
They sat there for a moment, the memory of their shared past and the joy of their present mingling in the quiet between them. For Wooseok, it felt like everything had come full circle—the admiration he'd carried for her all those years had blossomed into something real, something far more precious than he could have ever imagined.
