"What should we do for New Year's eve? Rich is inviting us to spend it with his family in the hotel. But I told him I'm not sure, and many people will be there." Mara asked Josh as they watched the tv together.

"It's okay. We can join Rich. Don't worry about it. People are in Seoul for the countdown and are not in a secluded hotel." Josh replied.

"Are you sure?" Mara gazed at Josh's face as she asked again.

"Yes! Of course!" Josh nodded and kissed her on the forehead.

Mara immediately phoned Rich about their joining his family celebration for the new year. Finally, it will be easier for them to make their plan work.

Mara started enumerating her plans when she returns to Boston. "I can't believe that we only have three days left to be together here. When I return to Boston, I will take straight shifts for at least three weeks."

"Why?" Josh shook his head. "Are you planning to exhaust yourself?"

"That is what I usually do whenever Rich leaves Boston after the holidays. It takes my mind off the loneliness. It's like therapy, you know!" 

Josh held Mara's hands. "You don't have to do that. I will not let you bury yourself into work again."

Mara grinned and pecked Josh on the lips. "You will never know, anyway!"

"So you plan on hiding it from me?"

Mara took a deep breath. "Working is my life in Boston. Since I came there, I have made it like my dreamland. Everything that I want to forget I did by working. Everything that I want to be, I made it happen there. In Boston, nobody knows me to judge me."

Josh embraced Mara tight. He can only imagine how hard it was for her when she came to Boston. And now, he promised himself that nothing could hurt her anymore. He will ensure that she will only get all the love and care she deserves. Mara hugged Josh back as tighter than she can. She knows that even if they separate in three days when she returns to Boston, her life will never be the same. But, it will be a different motivation for her. She will work more, thinking that the more days she works will be fewer wait days when she will see Josh again.

***

New Year's Eve

"Rich said they will serve dinner after the countdown. So we should have some snacks before we go down, right?" Mara asked.

"Yes, you can order room service anytime," nodded Josh.

After having light snacks, they started dressing up. Mara kept teasing Josh about how handsome he was just by his eyes. Josh can't help himself from cuddling and kissing Mara as they wait for their time to go down. Finally, Jang called, telling them he or Rich would call if it was time for them to go to the ballroom.

An hour before midnight, Josh guided Mara as they walked to the hotel ballroom. When they entered, a giant screen on the ballroom stage welcomed them. It plays the countdown celebration in Seoul. Mara was wondering why there were still no other guests. She can only see Rich, Jang, and some people she believed are in charge of the technicals showing the countdown celebration on the big screen.

"Will they play your video greeting tonight?" Mara's face was in confusion.

Josh smiled and nodded. The slow dance music played in the ballroom. Rich asked Jang to dance on the dancefloor with him. Josh offered her hand to Mara and walked her toward the dancefloor. It thrilled Mara, as she never thought a time like this would still come for her. Who would have thought that she would have her happy new year back?

"Thank you so much!" Mara whispered to Josh as they swayed their bodies together.

"Thank you for what?" Josh asked.

"Putting back happy in my new year!"

While they were talking, the big screen in the ballroom showed Josh's holiday video greeting played simultaneously on the different tv networks doing the countdown. Then, the music in the ballroom stopped. And Josh's voice in the video played. Finally, Josh hugged Mara from behind and asked her to look at the screen.

여러분, 안녕하세요! 내 이름은 림 조쉬!

(Hello, Everyone! My name is Lim Josh!)

새해 복 많이 받아주신 팬 여러분, 특히 새해 복 많이 받으세요!

(I want to greet all of you, especially my fans who have been giving me Happy New Year all these years!)

매년, 나는 모두가 행복하기를 바랍니다.

(Every year, I wish all of you to be happy.)

제 팬 여러분, 제가 하는 모든 일에서 행복해지는 것을 목표로 하고 있습니다.

(I aim to make all of you, my fans, happy in everything I do.)

그리고 당신도 나에게 같은 소원을 빕니다.

(And I hope you wish the same for me.)

올해는 팬들에게 무엇을 받고 싶냐는 질문을 많이 받는다.

(This year, many are asking what I want to receive from my fans.)

나는 당신의 이해와 수용 외에는 아무것도 원하지 않습니다.

(I want nothing but your understanding and acceptance.)

두 달 전, 나는 특별한 사람을 만났다. 그녀를 만난 날부터 내 행복의 원천이었던 여자.

(Two months ago, I met someone special. A woman who has been a source of my happiness since the day I met her.)

내 서클의 일부 사람들은 지금 우리가 가진 것을 유지하는 것이 내 경력에 가장 적합하지 않을 것이라고 조언했습니다.

(Some people in my circle advised me that holding on to what we have right now will not be the best for my career.)

누구에게도 헌신하지 않는 조쉬로 나를 좋아해주셔서 팬들이 나를 대신해 받아주지 않는다는 것.

(That my fans will not accept that someone for me because you liked me as the Josh who is not committed to anyone.)

하지만 오늘 밤, 나는 위험을 무릅쓰고 당신의 사랑과 보살핌을 믿고 싶습니다.

(But tonight, I want to take the risk and trust your love and care for me.)

너희들이 충분히 이해할 만큼 성숙하고 나와 함께 기뻐할 거라는 걸 알아.

(I know you guys are mature enough to understand and that you will all be happy for me too.)

우리 모두 새해 복 많이 받으세요!

(May we all have a Happy New Year!)

When the video ended, Josh hugged Mara tighter. Mara can't believe what she just heard and saw on tv. She was speechless and in tears.

***

The host of the countdown on tv asked the crowd to give a loud applause for Josh. The camera went around the crowd, who were in tears, and they were all clapping.

Overnight, the video of Josh playing in the countdown had 2M views in Korea and worldwide. Everyone congratulated Josh and admired him for his bravery and honesty. The response was overwhelming.

***