"Are you out of your mind, EunWoo?" I snapped at him, unable to believe he had just thrown such an insane proposal at me.
"Shall I call a doctor to check your brain?"
As though he had already expected this reaction, EunWoo only shrugged. "I'm serious, noona. Only you can help me."
"But I'm a girl." My glare could have burned holes through him.
What on earth was he thinking, asking me to impersonate him, sneak into Nova-X, and live under the same roof with four other men?
Sensing the tension rising, Manager Park, who had been sitting quietly across the bed, cleared his throat as though asking for permission to interrupt.
"I know this sounds absurd to you, Miss EunByul. But this comeback is critical for Nova-X. They have worked tirelessly to reach this point. A setback because of EunWoo's accident cannot be allowed to ruin everything."
At his last words, Manager Park's gaze flickered toward EunWoo with poorly hidden reproach. My brother, awkward and guilty, looked away and faked a cough to dodge the blame.
"Even you have gone mad, Manager?" My eyes widened in disbelief.
Had the K-pop industry finally driven everyone insane?
"Perhaps I have." He admitted with an awkward scratch of his head, utterly unashamed.
"But when you walked in earlier, I was genuinely startled. I thought I was seeing EunWoo's duplicate."
That was twice already. Twice he had hinted I looked like a man. My pride stung like an open wound.
Grinding down the heat boiling in my head, I let out a sharp laugh. "Are you mocking me, Manager Park?"
But he did not smile. Instead, his gaze bore into me with unnerving sincerity, forcing my own smirk to falter.
"I am dead serious, Miss EunByul." His voice was resolute as he abruptly rose to his feet, dropped to his knees, and bowed his head to the floor before me. "I sincerely beg of you—please help Nova-X."
What the hell?
"Wait, wait, what are you doing?!" Alarmed, I leapt up as well, sidestepping away from his lowered head. "Don't do that."
On the bed, EunWoo gave a weak chuckle. "If I could move, I'd kneel and beg too, noona."
As if things weren't messy enough, he just had to pour more oil onto the fire.
"Stand up first, Manager Park." I urged, uneasy.
Yet he stayed rooted, stubbornly bowing, his voice heavy with earnest desperation. "Please… help Nova-X. Those kids have worked too hard to reach this day."
His obstinate devotion was crystal clear. He would not budge unless I agreed.
Then EunWoo reached out, his trembling fingers curling around my hand.
"I know I'm forcing you, but I can't bear for all their efforts to be wasted because of me." His pleading eyes—like a forlorn puppy's—tilted up at me.
"Please, noona."
I pressed my lips together, anger simmering at how he cornered me like this. And yet, beneath my fury, sorrow welled up, tightening my throat.
We had left home together at fifteen, chasing different paths in Seoul. While I continued school like an ordinary teenager, EunWoo abandoned classrooms and textbooks, devoting himself to training under MR Entertainment with the dream of becoming a world-renowned idol.
Through it all, I had been there—watching him grind day after day, encouraging him when our parents disowned him for his choice.
At last, his perseverance bore fruit: he debuted as the main vocal of Nova-X.
Two years had passed since then, but the group had yet to secure a breakthrough. They were constantly sidelined on programs, overlooked by the audience, treated like second-rate nobodies.
Two months ago, EunWoo had confessed to me that if their next comeback didn't make waves, Nova-X might disband.
That would mean everything he had sacrificed would turn to ash. He would have no choice but to crawl back home, beg forgiveness from our parents, and obediently take up medical school as they had always wanted.
And me—I would become the scapegoat for encouraging him down this path.
My brother's hand squeezed mine, dragging me back from my spiraling thoughts.
"Noona… if I'm making things hard for you, I'm sorry…" His voice broke, eyelids lowered like a kicked puppy.
"Maybe I should just give up my dream."
"No, EunWoo!" Manager Park suddenly lifted his head from the floor, his voice burning with excessive conviction. "You've fought too hard to reach this far. Don't you dare abandon hope."
Wiping away imaginary tears, EunWoo added pitifully. "I know… but I don't see any other way, Manager."
My face darkened. What a ridiculous farce.
I knew they were manipulating me. My reason screamed not to let them corner me this way.
But damn it—he was my twin brother.
"If I'd known this day would come, I'd have strangled you in the womb." I spat through clenched teeth.
And at that, EunWoo's mask of sorrow vanished, replaced by a radiant grin. He knew full well what my cruel words meant: I had given in.
"You love me too much, noona. You could never abandon me."
I snorted in frustration, trying to yank my hand free. But he clung tighter, almost rubbing his cheek against my palm in joy.
Manager Park finally rose from the floor, dusting his clothes as if nothing had happened. "On behalf of Nova-X, allow me to express my heartfelt gratitude to you, Miss EunByul."
Excuse me? I hadn't agreed yet! Stop acting like the deal was sealed!
Clicking my tongue in frustration, I ignored his shameless smile and pointed at myself. Leather jacket, spiked accessories, panda-eyed eyeliner, piercings glittering across my face.
"Do you really think I can pass as an idol like this?"
Twin or not, EunWoo and I were night and day. While he practiced piano at home as a child, I was out roughhousing with boys. As he grew into ballads and sweet melodies, I fell head over heels for electric guitar and heavy metal.
And don't even get me started on idol performance skills. Singing and dancing, fan service—utterly foreign to me. If you asked me to headbang on stage, that I could do.
Manager Park studied me for a long moment, clearly aware of the vast gap between us. Yet the more he observed, the more his determination hardened.
"I'll arrange an intensive crash course to mold you into an idol. As for appearance, that can be altered."
I sneered, gesturing at my chest with both hands. "And what about these? How do you plan to alter them?"
His serious expression cracked into embarrassment, his face flushing as he coughed into his fist.
"T-there are modern chest binders… many styles."
EunWoo, on the other hand, had no such shame. His eyes flicked to my chest, lips curving in a wicked smirk.
"Noona, you're not that big."
Smack!
My fist landed on his head with a satisfying thud. A vein pulsed on my temple as I forced my voice steady.
"Let's assume I can disguise myself as EunWoo."
I retracted my fist, inhaled deeply, and spoke gravely.
"The entertainment industry is a meat grinder. Aren't you afraid the truth will come out and destroy Nova-X's career—and yours?"
EunWoo whimpered, rubbing his head, wisely keeping silent now.
Manager Park straightened, his hands neatly placed on his thighs like he was attending a formal meeting.
"We'll do everything in our power to protect this secret."
"We?" I arched a brow.
"We, MR Entertainment. We'll take full responsibility." His gaze held mine, unwavering.
Clearly, though he had doubts, he had already laid the groundwork for this absurd plan.
With a sharp exhale, I slumped back into the chair. This hospital room was nothing but a trap, a snare set by the two of them, waiting for me to stumble in.
"How long am I supposed to play EunWoo?" I asked in a tone of bitter defeat.
Manager Park stroked his chin thoughtfully. "According to the doctor, EunWoo will need at least two months to recover. Then some additional time to regain his skills."
"How long exactly?" My voice snapped like a whip.
His hands clapped together, his smile as radiant as a lottery announcer.
"Three months. Miss EunByul, you only need to be EunWoo for three months."
My eyes widened at the two triumphant faces staring at me.
Three whole months?
No way in hell!
I shot to my feet, ready to bolt. But EunWoo, reading me like an open book, lunged and wrapped his arms around my waist.
"Noona, please! Help me!"
"Over my dead body!" I shoved at the infuriatingly identical face beneath mine as if brushing away filth.
And Manager Park leapt forward to block the door, arms spread wide.
"Miss EunByul, I beg you for mercy!"
Goddammit. I did not want this!
***