SCENE START]
INT. PRODUCER'S STUDIO - DAY
The studio is sleek and minimalist, all chrome and glass. Expensive equipment lines the walls. A famous, but aging, PRODUCER sits at a mixing board, a scowl on his face. Hyun-woo walks in, his heart a drum against his ribs. The producer gestures to a chair.
PRODUCER (Without looking at him) Sit.
Hyun-woo sits. The silence is deafening. The producer finally turns, his gaze sharp and dissecting.
PRODUCER You're not a rookie. Don't lie to me. That song... It's too perfect. The structure, the emotional arc... it's the work of someone with years of experience. Someone who has been through hell and came out the other side.
HYUN-WOO (He meets his gaze, holding his breath) I guess... I just have a good imagination.
The producer laughs, a cynical, dry sound.
PRODUCER You're a good liar. I'll give you that. But you're not a rookie. So, tell me the truth. Where did you get this song?
Hyun-woo knows this is the moment. The truth is a lie he must sell. He thinks of his grandparents, of the music he's supposed to create, the future he needs to build.
HYUN-WOO The song came from a dream. I dreamt about a future where a boy like me had it all. And then he lost it. He lost his voice, his family, everything. And this song... it's all he had left. A memory of a life he never got to live.
The producer's expression softens slightly. He looks at Hyun-woo, then back at his mixing board.
PRODUCER (Muttering to himself) A ghost... interesting. I believe you, boy. The song has soul. I'll buy it. But I want a new one. And I want to see you write it, from scratch, in front of me.
Hyun-woo feels a mix of triumph and fear. He's passed the first test, but now he's in deeper than ever.
[SCENE END]
[SCENE START]
INT. ACADEMY PRACTICE ROOM - DAY
The group is rehearsing. The energy is low. Min-su is slumped on the couch, scrolling on his phone.
MIN-SU (Sighs) I told you we're not ready. We should just give up.
HYUN-WOO (He takes out his phone and opens a text message) Don't give up. Not yet. I have an idea.
The group members look up.
HYUN-WOO I sold my first song. To a famous producer. He said it was 'too good for a rookie'. Now I'm writing another one. For us.
Min-su's jaw drops. The other members are speechless.
MIN-SU (Sputtering) You... you sold a song? To who?
HYUN-WOO Doesn't matter. What matters is that we have an opportunity. An opportunity to show them what we're made of. And that 'heart' I was talking about? It's our secret weapon. Now let's practice. I'll be back soon with a new song.
[SCENE END]
[SCENE START]
EXT. DORM - NIGHT
Hyun-woo is walking back to his room. The campus is quiet, the air cool. His phone buzzes. It's the producer.
PRODUCER I've transferred the money. One more thing. That dream you told me about... tell me more about it. You see, I had a friend who had a similar dream. He lost his way a long time ago. He went by a different name back then. You look just like him.
Hyun-woo stops dead in his tracks. A shiver runs down his spine. The past he tried to outrun is still there. He's not just playing with fire; he's dancing with a ghost of his own. The crypto wallet on his phone now shows a significant amount, a small victory, but the chilling text message reminds him that his past life is not just a dream, but a debt waiting to be collected.
[SCENE END]