Jiwon blinked at his phone screen, his breath catching in his throat.
[SYSTEM ACTIVATED: IDOL MODE ENGAGED]
"What the—?" He sat up in his bed, rubbing his eyes. He figured he was hallucinating from lack of sleep or maybe some cruel prank app was installed on his phone.
But the screen flickered again, and another message appeared:
[Welcome, Jiwon. Your dream of becoming an idol has been recognized.]
[Do you wish to accept the first task? Y/N]
Jiwon's thumb hovered over the screen, his pulse quickening. This had to be a joke, right? But something about the glow of the text, the strange pull he felt in his chest—it all felt too real.
He hesitated, glancing around his dark room as if someone might be watching him. The weight of the day's insults still hung heavy on his shoulders, and the gnawing ache in his heart reminded him of how close he had been to giving up just moments ago.
What if this was real? What if it was some kind of twisted second chance?
With a shaky hand, Jiwon pressed "Y."
[First Task: Physical Transformation – Objective: Lose 20kg]
[Task Duration: 90 Days]
[Auto Mode: Engaged]
Before Jiwon could even react, his body seized up, as though invisible strings had suddenly taken hold of him. Panic surged through him. He tried to scream, but no sound came out. His muscles moved on their own, dragging him out of bed and forcing him to his feet.
"What the hell is happening?!" Jiwon shouted, his voice finally escaping as his legs began to march toward his bedroom door.
He tried to stop himself, but it was no use. His body ignored every command from his brain. Instead, he found himself stepping into his sneakers and heading out the door, down the stairs of his apartment building, and into the cool night air. The streets were deserted, save for a few distant cars, and Jiwon's breath misted in the cool autumn air.
[Auto Mode: Running Sequence Initiated]
Jiwon's legs began to move faster, his feet pounding the pavement in a steady rhythm. Sweat immediately beaded on his forehead, and his lungs started to burn as the pace increased. He had never run this fast in his life—hell, he barely ran at all. His overweight frame jiggled with each step, but there was no slowing down. His heart thudded violently in his chest, and the muscles in his calves screamed for mercy.
"Stop! Please stop!" Jiwon cried, gasping for breath. His vision blurred as the world around him turned into a whirl of motion. His legs wouldn't obey him. His body wasn't his anymore.
[Running sequence 50% complete. Do not stop.]
Tears stung Jiwon's eyes as his muscles screamed in protest, the lactic acid building with each painful step. He felt like he was running straight into the darkness, with no end in sight.
By the time his legs finally stopped, he collapsed onto the sidewalk, wheezing and shaking. His clothes were soaked with sweat, his skin prickling with exhaustion. His vision flickered as he looked at the ground beneath him, and for a moment, everything went black.
When he woke, he was still lying on the pavement, his entire body sore and throbbing.
"What... what was that?" he croaked.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and with trembling hands, he pulled it out to see another message.
[Running sequence complete. 4km run successful.]
4 kilometers? Jiwon couldn't believe it. He hadn't run more than a block since middle school gym class, and now... now he had somehow run 4 kilometers?
The realization hit him like a freight train. The system wasn't a prank. It was real. It was really happening.
Another notification appeared on the screen.
[Next Task: Bodyweight Exercises – 100 Push-ups, 100 Sit-ups, 100 Squats]
[Auto Mode will engage in 3... 2... 1...]
"No!" Jiwon screamed, but his arms had already started moving. His chest hit the cold pavement as he began doing push-ups, his arms burning with each descent. He was too heavy, too out of shape for this kind of torture, but the system didn't care. His body moved against his will, forcing him to push beyond his limits.
By the time he hit the fiftieth push-up, his arms were shaking uncontrollably. Sweat dripped from his face, pooling on the ground beneath him. His vision swam, but the system wouldn't stop.
"Please... stop..." he gasped. He felt lightheaded, his muscles screaming in agony.
He passed out again.
When he woke up, he was lying in his bed. His body ached like he had been hit by a truck. His mind spun in confusion. How had he gotten back home? Was it a dream?
But his phone screen lit up with another notification, proving otherwise:
[Day 1 Complete: 500 Calories Burned]
Jiwon stared at the message, his heart pounding in his chest. This system—whatever it was—was real. And it was going to push him until he either became an idol... or broke trying.
His hands trembled as he set the phone down on his nightstand. What had he gotten himself into?
Jiwon lay there, staring at the ceiling. Every muscle in his body screamed in pain, but beneath the exhaustion, something else stirred. A strange sensation he hadn't felt in a long time—hope. For the first time in years, he had done something he thought was impossible.
As terrifying as the system was, it had forced him to achieve more in one night than he ever had before. Maybe... maybe it could actually help him change.
His phone buzzed one more time before he drifted off to sleep.
[Get ready for Day 2: Repeat Sequence]