Introduction
Ryan Thomas never expected to be swiping right on a dating app that a best friend had secretly signed him up for. At thirty-one, life had taught him caution, patience, and the quiet satisfaction of keeping his heart guarded. He had survived the military, mastered his body as a top-tier bodyguard, and had a carefully structured life where surprises were unwelcome. Until Arin Kim appeared.
Half a world away, in the bustling city of Seoul, Arin Kim was chasing a dream that demanded everything she had—long hours of idol training, exhausting rehearsals, and an unwavering smile that belied the pressure behind it. At twenty, she was beautiful, bubbly, and full of life, yet still careful with her heart. Between vocal drills, choreography, and endless practice, her assistant kept her grounded, and her four groupmates reminded her that she wasn't alone in the chaos of chasing perfection.
And yet, in the midst of routines, deadlines, and exhaustion, their paths collided in the most unexpected way: an international dating app. Messages that began as casual curiosity soon spiraled into late-night confessions, laughter, and moments that left their hearts racing.
For Ryan and Arin, it was more than a simple attraction—it was a connection that defied distance, cultures, and schedules. But both of them had walls, fears, and the undeniable caution of two hearts unwilling to break too quickly.
This is the story of a year of stolen glances through screens, dramatic moments, late-night video calls, and the hilarious chaos that comes with first love across continents. It is the story of an American man, a Korean idol-in-training, and the slow, unpredictable, magical way their hearts find each other.
In a world of rehearsals, protection detail, and uncertainty, Ryan and Arin will discover that some connections are worth breaking the rules for—and that love, no matter the distance, can arrive when you least expect it.