The university was buzzing.Colorful banners hung across the campus entrance:
"X University Charity Concert — Featuring Park Jinu (Special Guest)"
Jisoo's name, however, appeared somewhere else.Tiny letters on the bottom of the event poster read:
"Opening performance: Student Representative — Park Jisoo"
Her jaw dropped the moment she saw it."WHAT IS THIS?! I DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THIS!"
Minji clutched her stomach laughing. "Apparently you volunteered during orientation, remember? You thought it was for free snacks!"
"Oh my god," Jisoo groaned, collapsing against the nearest bench. "I'm going to die before even standing on that stage."
Hours before the concert, the backstage area was chaos.Performers running around, makeup artists shouting, cables everywhere.And in the middle of it — Jisoo, trembling like a leaf.
"I can't do this," she muttered. "I'm not a performer. I'm just the girl who accidentally trended for carrying my brother like a potato sack!"
Jinu appeared behind her, holding a mic and a smug grin."Well, potato sack or not, you're going on stage."
"Oppa! I can't! I'll embarrass you!"
He shrugged. "You've already done that a hundred times. One more won't hurt."
"THAT'S NOT HELPING!"
Jinu softened, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Listen, Jisoo. You don't have to be perfect. Just… be you. That's what everyone loves."
She looked up at him — her annoying, famous, teasing brother — and saw sincerity for once."Do you really think people will like me?"
"I don't think," Jinu said, smiling. "I know."
When her turn came, the lights felt too bright.Her hands were sweaty, her heart racing like a drum.
But as the curtains opened and the crowd cheered — something shifted.
There, in the front row, was Minji waving a banner that said "Chubby Guardian 4Ever!"Beside her, Kang Haneul was holding a bouquet of sunflowers — her favorite.
And right next to them, trying to look inconspicuous in a hoodie, was Jinu, giving her a thumbs-up.
Jisoo took a deep breath.And smiled.
Her performance wasn't perfect.She forgot a line, tripped over her mic cord, and laughed halfway through her speech.
But somehow, the audience loved it.They clapped, cheered, even shouted her name.
It wasn't mockery.It was… genuine.
For the first time, Jisoo felt seen — not as "Jinu's sister," not as "the fat girl," not as "the rumor magnet" —but as herself.
Park Jisoo.
After the show, Haneul found her backstage.
"You were amazing," he said, handing her the flowers.
"I almost fell twice."
"Yeah. But you smiled both times."
She laughed. "You really are dangerous with your words, you know that?"
"Maybe." He grinned. "But I mean it."
They stood there quietly for a moment.The world felt still — the noise of the crowd fading behind them.
"Hey, Jisoo?" Haneul said softly. "Can I take you out again? Somewhere quiet this time?"
She blinked, then smiled shyly. "Only if there's no paparazzi hiding in bushes."
"Deal."
Later that night, Jisoo sat by her window, writing her final diary entry.
Dear Diary,I thought I was just an average girl — invisible, forgettable, fat, awkward, clumsy.But maybe being average doesn't mean being nothing. It means being real.I still mess up. I still panic. I still eat too much when I'm nervous.But I also laugh louder. Love harder. And live honestly.
And maybe, just maybe, that's enough.
She smiled, closing the diary.
Downstairs, Jinu's voice echoed:"Yah, Jisoo! You left your sunflowers on the table!"
"Keep them!" she shouted back. "Maybe they'll teach you how to shine naturally instead of with filters!"
"YAH! YOU—!"
She laughed until her sides hurt.
Outside, the night breeze carried the faint hum of applause from the concert.Jisoo leaned against her window, watching the stars glimmer above.
Between two skies — hers and her brother's — she finally found her own light.