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Mari tried to run away from her 'friends' the whole evening, but especially Austin would always find her in the crowd and chat her up. He kept bugging her about how cute and beautiful she looked, it was hard to ignore. She rolled her eyes and turned to him. "Austin, you said it often enough. I acknowledge you as my fan, I really do. But please don't follow me around like that. Go and grab something to eat. My parents really outdid themselves with the side dishes."

Austin sighed, looked at Mari one last time and went to search Dorothy and Charlie. Mari breathed out and went to search Mrs. Lee to get her phone back when the woman she was looking for, came up to her. She had a sheepish smile on her lips and handed Mari her phone.

"Did you manage to speak with Mark?" She asked and Mrs. Lee nodded. "Thank you, Mari. I'm not always sure when to call him because he is always busy. But since you're in the same business it's nice to see, that you know of his schedule", there was a short intermission in her speech, "or is it because you and Mark grew... extremely close?" Mari looked at the woman and cocked her eyebrow. "I-I don't quite get what you're saying?" Mari asked and Mrs. Lee pointed at the phone.

"The lock screen speaks for itself." Mrs. Lee spoke and Mari lost control of her facial muscles. "Oh, my goodness..." She looked at her phone. "I have no words... Mrs. Lee I can explain..." She stuttered and the woman laughed. "Don't worry, my lips are sealed." She opened her arms. "I am really happy for both of you." She hugged Mari and gently stroked her cheek. "Since when are you two dating?" She asked and Mari bit her lips. "Three and a half months." She quickly answered and Mrs. Lee opened her mouth. "That's quite long!" She said and patted Mari's head.

"Please take care of my son. He's quite the lazy one." - "I know" Mari chuckled and hugged Mark's Mum one more time. "Also, send me this picture. It's way too cute." Mari blushed and nodded, while Mark's mum started walking through the house in search of her husband and older son.

Mari pressed her lips together and unlocked her phone. She quickly texted Mark before pushing the phone into the front pocket of her skirt. Just when she turned around she saw Dorothy, Charlie, and Austin coming out of the kitchen and walking into her direction.

"Mari!" Dorothy called and bounced over to her old friend. Mari sighed and put on a smile. "The food was delicious. Your parents really worked HARD!" She laughed and linked arms with her old classmate. Mari smiled. "I'm glad you ate well." She spoke and Charlie grinned. "Is there anything planned today or are we just gathering and stuff?" He asked and Mari shook her shoulders.

"It's more of a chill come-together than a real party, you know?" Mari explained when she felt Austin's eyes on her once again. "You know what I always wanted?" He asked and Mari looked at him. "What?" She asked. "I always wanted to know how your Korean Fans feel during Fansignings." He spoke and turned red. Dorothy and Charlie looked down as well.

"We actually thought we could... try and re-create a fan signing..." Dorothy mumbled and Mari opened her mouth. She realized that her old classmates really seemed like fans. They were not only interested in her because she was an Idol; no, they were interested because she was their favorite Idol.

"You want to a fan signing?" She chuckled slightly and the three nodded. "We even brought our albums with us." Charlie said and Dorothy added, "And we even wrote Post-It's." 

Mari started laughing and nodded. "Okay, if that's what you wish for." She led the three into the dining room. A few guests looked at them putting up their cameras and preparing their albums. Mari's dad came into the room and saw Mari sitting down on a chair — a sharpie in her hand.

"What are you guys up to?" Mr. Ahn asked and Mari smiled. "This is an exclusive Vancouver Fan Signing." She explained and chuckled. "Oh, wait! As an official Fanclub member I have benefits, right?" Her father said and left the dining room, only to come back with a notebook. "I'll join the fan signing."

It didn't take a long time until a lot of guests were lining up to experience a real Fan signing with Ahn Mari. Dorothy almost started crying when Mari held her left hand while answering her post-it. She locked eyes with the same-aged girl and smiled dearly at her. 

Austin seemed to feel ten feet tall when Mari patted his head. Dorothy and Charlie were fangirling in the back, filming the whole "fan signing".

― 💌 ―

Soon most of the guests had collected Mari's signature on notebooks, pieces of papers or on her albums (like Austin, Charlie and Dorothy). Mari was glad she could make her family friends happy with such a simple roleplay. And she had to admit that — even as weird as her old friends look like — they were still the same friendly Canadian kids they used to be.

When it was time to leave, they asked her for a picture, so Mari took a group picture with them and individual selfies with them. Austin even asked if it was okay if they posted them on Instagram. "Go for it." She smiled and hugged her old friends when they were putting on their coats.

"Thank you so much for inviting us, Mari!" Charlie called when he threw his bag pack on his back. "It was really nice seeing you again!" Dorothy called and send a finger heart in her direction. Austin looked at Mari and chuckled. "Funny how time changed us all, right?" He asked and scratched his nape. "I know... we all grow up." - "That's not what I meant." Austin smiled. "Back in the day when everyone made fun of me for having a crush on Nauen, you and also Mark were the only ones that were nice to me."

Mari didn't know what to say about that. She nodded. "That made me slightly crush on you, to be honest." He chuckled. Mari widened her eyes. "Don't worry. I'm over it now. Dorothy and I are actually a good match." He grinned. "The two of you are dating?" She asked and Austin nodded. "Didn't see that coming, right?" He asked and Mari shook her head.

"Thank you for inviting us. That was really refreshing seeing you again. And it made us feel REALLY special." He grinned and opened his arms for a hug. "Thank you for being our friend, Mary Ahn," He said and Mari tilted her head and smiled. 

"If I ever happen to have a tour in Canada, I want to see y'all in the first row. Got me?" She asked with a wink and accompanied Austin to the door. Dorothy was waiting at the sidewalk, smiling at the two of them. "I'll remember that." He smiled, waved Mari and ran towards Dorothy that was extending her hand, so he could grab it.

Mari watched her old classmates dissapear in the night. And with them dissapearing a slight, bittersweet feeling was left in her chest.