"Mrs Eira, may I have a moment of your time?" a scriptwriter implored as she spotted Eira about to enter the bustling mall.
"Lovely to see you this afternoon, Miss Ari. How may I assist you today?" Eira responded, her full attention captured by the eager young woman.
"I'd like to begin our interview today since the Abyss concert has been pushed back to next week," Ari informed her, delivering the news with a hint of urgency. Eira's expression shifted from surprise to delight.
"I know it's inappropriate to disturb you today, especially since we have no prior engagement planned, but we need your story to start the movie based on your journey," Ari apologized sincerely.
They strolled leisurely, the vibrant atmosphere of the mall buzzing around them, until they arrived at a nearby café. After ordering their coffees, they resumed their conversation, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air.
"Miss Yuna, the blogger you spoke to the other day, will be arriving shortly," Ari mentioned, glancing at her watch.
"You mean the author? Alright, I guess that works. It's not like I have anything else planned for the afternoon, so I'm free until evening," Eira replied. Miss Ari was a scriptwriter tasked with documenting Eira's extraordinary life story, while Miss Yuna was an author and blogger known for her eccentric personality, albeit with a tendency to be a bit clumsy.
"Forgive my lateness!" a voice exclaimed as a woman slid into the café. She stumbled slightly, fumbling for her glasses as she did. Her cameraman, Jay, rushed to her side, picking up both her glasses and her composure before leading her to the table where Eira and Ari awaited.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Eira and Miss Ari. I sincerely apologize for my tardiness," she said, bowing her head in an exaggerated fashion.
Eira, with a warm smile, ordered a cup of coffee for Yuna while Ari, Yuna, and Jay busied themselves with their equipment, preparing for the interview.
"Let's begin!" Jay announced, his camera rolling as he captured the moment.
"So, Mrs. Eira, what inspired you to come to Korea?" Ari asked, leaning forward with genuine interest.
********
I am an orphan. My parents died in a car accident when we were returning from my 6th birthday celebration. Whe had gone out to eat and on our way home I slept. Waking up all I heard were sirens and noises. I saw blue and red and blood. At first I didn't get what happened but when I realized that they weren't coming back I was broken, broken to the point that I couldn't shed tears. All my relatives abandoned me saying they didn't want to share the same fate as my parents, as they had presumed I am a cursed child. It was times like that when they spoke awfully about me and my parents that I began to cry when I was alone. Then I thought I learnt life the hard way , but I was wrong. An uncle of mine just needed to get rid of me and abandoned me in an orphange. The orphanage has always felt like a hellish prison. The only thing we could consider good was the meager dollar we earned for participating in major activities. Life was incredibly hard, and being of mixed heritage only complicated things. I am Canadian-Nigerian and at the time, just fifteen years old. The directors of the orphanage granted us a semblance of freedom, but only as long as we met certain expectations. After school, I often worked part-time jobs or entered school competitions that offered cash prizes. I saved as much as I could, dreaming of a comfortable life once I turned 18.
One fateful day, I was punished for missing school. I refused to admit that it was due to my part-time job, so I was assigned the daunting task of cleaning the entire orphanage as punishment. After I completed my sentence, I fled as fast as I could, tears streaming down my face, when I suddenly heard a melody floating through the air. Honestly, I had never been much of a music fan, but the soothing lyrics were oddly comforting. I paused and saw a massive screen displaying the faces of eleven guys singing with such grace and passion. Some of the lyrics were in English, urging, 'Don't give up, hold on tight. Don't lose hope; watch the stars.' The Korean parts flowed on, creating an enchanting atmosphere.
My tears gradually ceased, replaced by a profound admiration. When they finished their performance and thanked the audience in Korean, I distinctly heard the word 'Abyss.' Intrigued, I looked it up and discovered they were a K-pop boy band that had just started to rise in 2023. I wanted to know more, so I delved deeper into their world. It felt like, in that deep, dark hole I had been trapped in, light was finally breaking through. At the time, it didn't make sense, but I felt a surge of courage in my life.
They had debuted in 2017, but their popularity exploded toward the end of 2022. I wanted to be among the crowd that waved light sticks and cheered for them. I longed to be part of the millions who got to hear their voices and see them up close. But I was broke; attending their concerts was out of the question, and my 18th birthday was rapidly approaching. From afar, in Canada, I kept myself updated, absorbing all the necessary and unnecessary details about them.
They had delayed their debut because they needed to fulfill their military service first. I learned that Riku could spin for five minutes without getting dizzy. That 'Abyss' was not just a name; it carried a deeper meaning: 'Always be yourself, seeking singularity.' That quote alone could awaken the dead—just a little joke! Their fandom, NOVA, stood for 'No one ventures alone.' Becoming a NOVA made me feel alive.
However, I craved more happiness. So, I finally made the bold decision to move to Korea once I was let out of the orphanage.
And Then 2027 Came Knocking...