EPISODE ONE: Part 2
864 Words
IN LOVE WITH MY IDOL
Episode 1: The Fan Who Never Stopped Believing (Part 2)
Scene 5
Aurora Entertainment Headquarters – Interview Room
Dan-o stood outside the conference room, smoothing the wrinkles from her blouse for what felt like the hundredth time.
“Coffee stain… mostly gone.”
She glanced at her reflection in the glass door.
“You can do this, Choi Dan-o.”
She smiled at herself.
“And if you embarrass yourself…”
She paused.
“…move to another country.”
The receptionist opened the door.
“Ms. Choi? They’re ready for you.”
Dan-o nodded and walked inside.
Three interviewers sat across the table.
A woman in her forties with a calm expression.
A younger man typing on a laptop.
And a serious-looking gentleman with silver-rimmed glasses.
“Please, have a seat.”
“Thank you.”
The questions began.
“Tell us about yourself.”
Dan-o answered honestly.
“I don’t think I’m the smartest person in the room.”
The interviewers exchanged curious glances.
“But I work hard.”
“If I don’t know something, I’ll learn it.”
“If I make a mistake, I’ll admit it.”
“And if someone is having a bad day…”
She smiled softly.
“…I’ll try to make it a little better.”
The woman interviewer smiled.
“Interesting answer.”
⸻
Scene 6
Practice Studio
Music thundered through the massive dance room.
The members of AETHER practiced relentlessly in front of the mirrors.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Min-jae collapsed dramatically onto the wooden floor.
“I’m dead.”
“No,” Si-woo replied, taking a sip of water. “You’re just dramatic.”
“I saw my ancestors during that last chorus.”
Eun-jae laughed so hard he nearly dropped his towel.
Across the room, Ha-ru remained silent.
He replayed the choreography alone.
Perfect.
Again.
Perfect.
Again.
Manager Seo sighed.
“Ha-ru.”
“You’ve been practicing for four hours.”
“You need a break.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’ve said that every day this week.”
Ha-ru finally stopped dancing.
“I’m fine,” he repeated.
But he wasn’t.
His smile disappeared the moment the cameras turned off.
He was exhausted.
Lonely.
And carrying a weight he never showed anyone.
⸻
Scene 7
Company Cafeteria
The interview had ended.
Dan-o wandered into the nearly empty cafeteria while waiting for the results.
She bought a sandwich and quietly sat by the window.
Across the room…
Kim Ha-ru entered wearing a black cap and mask.
Most employees barely looked up.
Idols came and went here every day.
Dan-o was too busy staring out the window to notice him.
Min-jae nudged Ha-ru.
“Isn’t that the girl?”
Ha-ru followed his gaze.
“…Coffee Girl.”
“What?”
“The one from this morning.”
Min-jae grinned.
“Should I go tease her?”
“No.”
“You smiled.”
“I didn’t.”
“You definitely smiled.”
“I absolutely did not.”
Si-woo joined them.
“Who smiled?”
“Ha-ru.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“You did.”
“I didn’t.”
Manager Seo rubbed his temples.
“Please don’t start arguing over whether someone smiled.”
The members burst into laughter.
For the first time that day…
Ha-ru laughed too.
It was small.
Almost invisible.
But it was there.
⸻
Scene 8
Human Resources Office
“Ms. Choi?”
Dan-o immediately stood.
“Yes?”
The HR manager smiled.
“We’ve made our decision.”
Her heart pounded.
“I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”
Dan-o held her breath.
“We’d like to offer you the position.”
She blinked.
“…What?”
“Congratulations.”
“You’ve been hired.”
For a moment, the room became completely silent.
Then tears filled her eyes.
“I…”
She covered her mouth.
“I really got it?”
The manager nodded warmly.
“Welcome to Aurora Entertainment.”
Outside the office, Dan-o couldn’t stop smiling.
She called Soo-bin immediately.
“They hired me!”
“You got the job?”
“I GOT THE JOB!”
Her excited scream echoed through the hallway.
Several employees laughed.
Down the corridor, the private elevator doors opened.
Ha-ru stepped out.
He heard the joyful voice.
He looked up.
There she was again.
The cheerful woman with the bright smile.
Dan-o spun around while celebrating—
—and accidentally collided with him.
For the second time that day.
The folder slipped from her hands.
Papers scattered across the polished floor.
She froze.
“…Not again.”
Ha-ru looked at the papers, then at her horrified expression.
This time…
He couldn’t stop himself.
A quiet chuckle escaped his lips.
Dan-o stared.
“…You smiled.”
Ha-ru looked just as surprised as she was.
For reasons he couldn’t explain…
He hadn’t smiled like that in a very long time.
End of Part 2 of Episode 1
Cliffhanger: Dan-o has no idea that the mysterious man she’s bumped into twice is the very idol she’s loved for nearly ten years—and tomorrow, she’ll discover she’s been assigned as Kim Ha-ru’s personal assistant.
- Writer
