Chapter 1: The Unexpected Encounter:
The afternoon sun illuminated the entrance of the venue, where hundreds of fans waited with excitement for the members of the group—us: Eclipse.
I, Kang Min-jae, was already used to these kinds of encounters: the screams, the flashing lights of the cameras, and the exalted whispers surrounding me. But that day, something was different. When she approached, timid yet determined, with an album in her hand and a genuine smile, time seemed to stand still. Her eyes were a universe I found myself trapped in immediately.
She held out a pen, her fingers trembling slightly.
—"Could I get your autograph?" —she asked in a soft but clear voice—. "I thought I wouldn't make it in time to see you."
I froze for a second, my eyes locked onto hers. My palms were sweaty, and for the first time in a long while, I felt genuine nerves. It wasn't because I was at a public event; it was because something about her completely disarmed me.
—"Sure... of course," —I managed to say, my voice sounding deeper than usual. I took the album, feeling the momentary brush of her fingers against mine. It felt like an electric shock—. "Who should I make it out to?"
—"Seo Ji-ah," —she replied, and the sound of her name seemed to fit perfectly with the slow rhythm of that moment—. "I hope you're not too tired, Min-jae-ssi. The tour has been intense, hasn't it?"
That show of genuine concern—treating me not just as an idol, but as a person—made me smile for real, away from the cameras.
—"A little, I won't lie," —I confessed as I began to write her name on the album—. "But seeing a smile like yours makes the effort worth it, Ji-ah."
She blushed immediately, looking down at my hands.
—"Your lyrics... the last song you wrote... it helped me a lot during a difficult time," —she added in a whisper, almost to herself—. "I just wanted to thank you for that."
I finished signing, but I didn't hand the album back right away. I wanted to hold onto that second just a bit longer.
—"Knowing that someone like you listens to my songs that way is what keeps me writing," —I told her, looking her straight in the eyes—. "Thank you, Ji-ah. Don't forget that."
She nodded, visibly moved, and took the album. Her fingers brushed mine for an instant that felt like an eternity.
—"Good luck with the rest of the event," —she said with a final bow and a smile that left me breathless—. "I'll be cheering for you, as always."
Before I could say anything else, before I could ask if I would see her again, she turned around and quickly disappeared into the crowd that continued to push forward.
The emptiness in my chest was immediate. How could someone who appeared out of nowhere make me feel like I was running out of air just by leaving? I looked at my hand, still feeling the warmth of her touch, and I knew that brief encounter had changed my destiny forever.