The Second Melody - Season 1, Episode 15
[SCENE START]
INT. DORM ROOM - NIGHT
Hyun-woo stares at his phone, the text message from the unknown number glaring at him from the screen. His heart pounds in his chest. He wants to delete it, to pretend it never happened, but he can't. He feels a sense of dread, believing his past has finally found him.
He quickly texts back.
HYUN-WOO Who is this?
UNKNOWN NUMBER It's me. Your biggest fan.
He feels a mix of anger and fear. The words are generic, but to him, they're a direct hit. He feels like he's back in 2025, and all the progress he's made is for nothing.
[SCENE END]
[SCENE START]
INT. ACADEMY LOBBY - DAY
Hyun-woo is at the academy. He can't focus. He keeps thinking about the text message. He bumps into Jisoo, who looks concerned.
JISOO Hey, are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost.
Hyun-woo forces a smile. He can't tell her the truth.
HYUN-WOO I'm fine. Just a little tired.
Jisoo doesn't believe him, but she doesn't push. She gives him a knowing look, as if she can see the pain behind his eyes.
JISOO You know you can talk to me, right?
Hyun-woo nods, but his heart is elsewhere. He feels like a fraud, a liar, with a secret burden he can't share.
[SCENE END]
[SCENE START]
INT. PRACTICE ROOM - DAY
Hyun-woo and his groupmates are practicing. He's struggling. He can't get the moves right. His mind is a whirlwind of thoughts about the text message. Min-su sees his struggle and tries to help him.
MIN-SU What's wrong, man? You were so good yesterday.
Hyun-woo shakes his head.
HYUN-WOO I don't know. I can't focus.
Min-su puts a hand on his shoulder.
MIN-SU Whatever it is, you can get through it. We're a team.
Hyun-woo looks at him, surprised. Min-su's words are a comfort, but they also make him feel worse. He is lying to his friends, to his team. He is living a lie.
[SCENE END]
[SCENE START]
EXT. ACADEMY - NIGHT
Hyun-woo is leaving the academy. He gets a text from the unknown number. He clicks it, his heart pounding. The message is short, with a picture attached.
UNKNOWN NUMBER That's the face of a guy who thinks he's a star. Don't worry. I'll make sure everyone knows you're just a wannabe.
He clicks the picture. It's a badly Photoshopped image of his face on a tabloid magazine cover with the headline, "Empty-Eyed Rookie." It's a prank. A joke. The threat is not from his past, but from a jealous peer. He feels a wave of relief so intense it nearly brings him to his knees.
A voice comes from the shadows. It's a minor character, a trainee who was in his showcase, and he is with a few of his friends, laughing.
TRAINEE Did you like my work? I told you, I'll make you famous.
Hyun-woo stares at them, the fear turning to rage. He's furious at their cruelty, but also at himself for letting a simple prank haunt him. He realizes his biggest threat is his own fear, not a ghost from his past.
[SCENE END]