They say 99.9% of people in the world love Korea.
And you might be wondering—who's the 0.1%?
That was me.I hated K-pop.
I hated everything about them.i was different from the world. In every way.
The day my father passed away, the radio was playing K-pop.Bright and cheerful melodies.But to me… it sounded like pain.
"It's okay. It's just music."
I told myself that a hundred times.
But K-pop became something I had to erase from my life.My friends still loved idols.
They laughed over concerts and got excited over fandom news.I just listened quietly from the other side of the wall.That world wasn't mine anymore.
Time passed like that.
And now—something unbelievable has happened.
"You've been hired as the manager of the idol group 'ECLIPSE.'"
That's what the contract said.I couldn't believe my eyes.I didn't want this. Not ever.
But… I needed money.
Mom's hospital bills, rent, food...
Reality doesn't care about your feelings.
Now I have to step back into that world.
Blinding lights.Deafening cheers.The heart of K-pop.
And there—
I met him.
***
Let's go back in time—to where it all began.
The afternoon sun filtered gently through the classroom windows. It was quiet. A girl lay sleeping on her desk, her face resting softly on folded arms. Her name was Minju.
Just then, the classroom door creaked open, and two girls stepped inside. It was Ara and Yuna. Both had soft brown hair that touched their shoulders, striking features, and full lips. Their beauty had an effortless charm—like something out of a teen magazine.
"Ara..." Ara whispered as she walked closer to the sleeping girl. "Minju," she called softly.
Minju slowly opened her eyes—and for a moment, the whole classroom seemed to shift. Her eyes were a deep, unique blue that shimmered in the sunlight. Her eyelashes were long and graceful, her lips soft pink, and her long, straight hair glowed under the sunlight. She was breathtaking—more stunning than Ara or Yuna. There was something ethereal about her beauty, something that drew people in without trying.
She sat up properly, blinking once to adjust to the light.
"Are you coming to night class today?" Yuna asked.
"No," Minju replied, picking up her designer bag from the chair beside her. "I have plans with my dad tonight. He's leaving the country tomorrow."
"Oh, okay! Just don't miss school tomorrow—it's Wednesday, and we have the sports rehearsal," Ara reminded her.
"I won't," Minju said with a small smile before walking out of the room. Ara and Yuna stayed behind, watching her go.
When I arrived home, I pressed the familiar code into the smart door panel. A soft beep sounded, and the door unlocked with a click. The scent of kimchi stew greeted me instantly, comforting and warm.
Dad sat at the dining table, using his left hand to pick up some side dishes. A piece of grilled meat was already in his mouth as he looked up.
"Hello, I'm back from school," I said, slipping off my shoes and walking in.
"Welcome home," Mom and Dad responded at the same time. Dad pointed his chopsticks toward the hallway.
"Go wash up and come eat."
"Okay." I smiled and headed upstairs to my room.
After a quick shower, I changed into my favorite purple pajamas and a plain white top, tying my long hair up in a loose bun. As I descended the stairs again, I only had five steps left when their voices stopped me cold.
"Do you really have to go? You promised you'd be there for her birthday and sports day," Mom said. Her voice cracked, trembling with tears.
"I'll be back in a month or two."
"That's what you said last time. And you came back after two years!"
Silence.
Dad tried to reach for her hand, but Mom quickly pulled away.
"Please… just this once, don't leave," she begged, her brown eyes full of pain.
But Dad's blue eyes… they had no answer.
Then—
CRASH.
A glass fell from Mom's hand and shattered across the floor.
The shards cut her foot, streaks of red bleeding out.
I gasped, covering my mouth as my eyes welled up.
I couldn't take it—I ran back to my room.
I tried turning off the K-pop music that had been playing—"Butter" by BTS—but my hands were shaking too much.
The next song started automatically.
"Life Goes On."
Tears spilled down my cheeks as I curled into my bed.
Mom and Dad always fought like this.
And Dad… he always left.
Then his voice came from outside my door.
"Minju, are you asleep?"
I wiped my tears quickly and forced my voice to stay steady.
"Yes… I'm sleepy, Dad."
"Alright… I just wanted to see you before I leave tomorrow."
His footsteps faded away.
I clutched my pillow tightly and cried until sleep took me.
And still…
"Life Goes On" kept playing.
The next morning, I woke up and followed my usual routine. After brushing my teeth and washing my face, I put on my school uniform. My long hair flowed down naturally over my shoulders. With my backpack slung over one shoulder, I walked into the kitchen, where Mom was cooking.
"You're going to school now?" she asked, forcing a smile.
"Yeah. Where's Dad?" I asked, avoiding her eyes.
"He left last night..."
"Oh," I muttered, trying not to let my disappointment show.
"Eat something," she said, gesturing to the table.
"No, Mom. I don't want to be late and get detention," I lied, quickly slipping on my shoes and stepping outside.
At the subway stop, a boy I'd never seen before was standing alone, waiting for the bus. His face was unfamiliar, but he wore the same uniform as mine. Maybe I didn't recognize him because I never really talked to boys—or noticed them. We stared at each other for a second before I quickly looked away and sat on a bench.
I was supposed to meet Ara here, like we always did, while Yuna usually came late since her house was farther away.
Lost in thought, I didn't notice the bus arriving until I heard a voice.
"Hey."
I blinked and looked up. It was the boy again—he was already stepping into the bus.
"Oh—" I hurried after him.
"Hello, mister," I said politely to the driver, who just smiled.
The bus was full. There wasn't a single seat left except the one next to him.
I hesitated. I'd never sat next to a boy before. But then the driver motioned to the seat. I quietly sat down beside him.
I didn't say a word. What could I even say? I could feel his curious gaze on me. Was he wondering why I was so awkward? Why I looked so nervous?
I quickly plugged in my earphones and turned my face toward the window, trying to ignore everything.
At some point, I must've fallen asleep.
A sudden touch pulled me out of my dreams.
What the—?
I opened my eyes to see him... the same boy. I had fallen asleep—on his shoulder!
"We're at school now," he said gently.
Mortified, I sat up and glanced around.
We were the only ones left on the bus.
I nodded quickly and ran out, my face burning. I bumped into Ara and Yuna just outside.
"What's wrong? Why are you walking so fast?" Hana asked.
"Is your ear turning red?" Ara added.
I didn't answer. I kept walking until we reached the classroom.
And there he was—sitting near my seat.
If I could scream at the top of my lungs right now, I would.
"Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!"