Surprise
Keeping his head down, he moved toward the check-in counter for his first-class ticket back to Los Angeles. The last thing he wanted was to draw attention to himself. Just as he handed his ticket to the attendant, a chorus of screams erupted from across the terminal.
Ethan froze. His first thought was that someone had spotted him, and he instinctively adjusted his hoodie again. Bracing himself, he glanced in the direction of the commotion, preparing to be swarmed. But to his surprise, the fans—a mix of men and women—rushed right past him, barely sparing him a glance.
"What the…?" Ethan muttered, turning to watch the crowd surge toward another corner of the terminal. He squinted, trying to see what had drawn their attention. The fans screamed declarations of love and admiration, their voices blending into a chaotic melody.
"We love you! You're amazing!"
Curiosity got the better of him. Ethan stepped to the side, keeping his distance but angling for a better view. Through the throng of people, he caught a glimpse of someone—a woman—with long, jet-black hair cascading down her back. He couldn't make out her face, but something about her presence was magnetic. His gaze lingered on the elegant curve of her neck, and he felt his breath catch.
In his momentary distraction, Ethan nearly walked straight into a luggage cart. He stumbled back, muttering a quick apology to the bewildered traveler before refocusing on his path. Shaking his head, he continued toward his gate, brushing off the odd encounter. Whoever she was, she clearly had fans as passionate as his own.
After boarding his flight and settling into his first-class seat, Ethan pulled out his phone. As the plane ascended, he connected to the onboard Wi-Fi and opened Twitter. The trending page was dominated by one word: Photograph.
Ethan's heart swelled as he scrolled through the posts. Fans were pouring out their emotions about his new video, praising the heartfelt tribute to Precious. Some shared their favorite moments, while others dissected the song's lyrics. Mixed in with the love were a few detractors, who criticized the spotlight on his sister.
He clicked on a tweet from @BellaTLove, a username he recognized from previous interactions.
@BellaT: "This song hit me right in the feels. The way Ethan showcased his sister's life was so beautiful. #Photograph 💕"
Ethan smiled, liking the tweet before moving to the next one.
@MusicFanatic22: "The video for Photograph is a masterpiece. It's so raw and real. Ethan, you've outdone yourself!"
@PreciousAdmirer: "Precious is so inspiring! Seeing her journey brought tears to my eyes. Thank you, Ethan, for sharing this with us. 🙌"
The warmth of the praise filled Ethan with gratitude, but as he scrolled further, the inevitable negativity began to surface.
@HaterzCorner: "Why is his sister getting all this attention? She's not even the one who wrote the song. SMH."
Ethan frowned, his thumb hovering over the reply button, but he chose to move on. There was no point in feeding the trolls.
@SkepticalStar: "I don't get the hype. The video was nice, but isn't this just nepotism?"
Shaking his head, he scrolled back to the positive comments to lift his spirits.
@TrueEthanFan: "Ignore the haters, Ethan. You've created something timeless, and we're all here for it. 🖤"
@SiblingGoals27: "The sibling bond in this video is unmatched. It's refreshing to see a celebrity put family first. #BrotherGoals"
Ethan grinned, clicking to like and retweet some of the supportive messages. He appreciated his fans—especially the ones who understood the deeper meaning behind the video.
Satisfied, he tucked his phone away and opened his streaming app. Squid Game was next on his list, and he was eager to finally catch up on the buzzworthy series.
With the suspenseful twists and turns of the show keeping him engaged, time passed quickly. Before he knew it, the flight attendants were announcing their descent into Los Angeles.
After landing, Ethan's phone buzzed with a call from Bill.
"Hey, what's up? You know I'm jetlagged," Ethan said, rubbing his eyes as he leaned against a pillar in the arrivals area.
"I get it, but you need to come to the label," Bill replied, his tone urgent. "There's someone here you have to see. Trust me, you'll regret it if you don't."
Ethan sighed. "Bill, I just got off a six-hour flight. Can't this wait?"
"Nope. The driver's already on his way to pick you up. Please, Ethan. You won't regret it."
Reluctantly, Ethan agreed. By the time he stepped out of the terminal, the sleek black SUV was waiting for him. The driver opened the door, and Ethan slid inside, leaning his head back against the seat as exhaustion began to creep in.
When they arrived at the label, Ethan climbed out and headed inside. The receptionist at the front desk greeted him with a smile.
"Welcome back, Mr. Jones. They're in the booth," she said, nodding toward the hallway.
Ethan furrowed his brow but followed her direction. As he approached the studio, he heard music playing over the speakers. The deep, rhythmic beat of a rap track filled the air, the lyrics sharp and commanding:
He's coming home with his neck.
Pushing open the door, Ethan stepped inside and was immediately struck by the sight before him. The room was packed with people, their attention focused on the recording booth. Inside the booth stood someone who made Ethan stop in his tracks, his jaw dropping in shock.