Yoon Ji-eun, known to the world as Irene, had perfected the art of hiding behind a mask. Not a literal one, but a mask of confidence, beauty, and strength. No one knew the real her. No one knew the quiet girl who sat at the back of the classroom, hiding behind her books and long, dark hair.
It wasn't that Ji-eun didn't want friends—she did—but she was terrified of being judged for who she really was. She'd learned early on that it was easier to be Irene, the girl everyone adored, than to be Ji-eun, the girl who feared rejection. And so, she put on her mask every morning before school and wore it until the day was done.
Her classmates admired Irene for her perfect looks, her fashionable clothes, and the air of mystery that surrounded her. But at night, when she was alone, Ji-eun would let her guard down. She would curl up in bed with her phone, earbuds in place, listening to the latest BTS songs on repeat.
BTS was her escape. Their music, their lyrics, their passion—it all resonated with Ji-eun in a way nothing else did. She didn't just admire them; she felt connected to them. Every song told a story she could relate to: the feeling of loneliness, of wanting to be understood, of struggling to fit in. And every time she listened, she felt like they were singing directly to her.
One afternoon, as Ji-eun sat in the school courtyard, earbuds in place, she heard the familiar sound of her friends laughing in the distance. She looked up, watching them from across the courtyard. They were the ones who envied her, the ones who called her "perfect" without ever really knowing who she was beneath the surface.
A sudden voice broke her from her thoughts.
"Ji-eun, hey!"
She turned to see Lee Ji-hoon, her classmate and one of the smartest guys in school. He was always surrounded by friends, his bright smile lighting up the room whenever he entered. Ji-hoon was everything Ji-eun wasn't—outgoing, popular, effortlessly cool.
"Hi, Ji-hoon," she said softly, removing one earbud.
"Are you listening to BTS again?" he asked with a teasing grin, recognizing the familiar tune.
Ji-eun smiled, a little embarrassed. "Yeah... they help me concentrate."
"Well, they're a good choice. But you know, you don't have to hide behind your music all the time, right?" he said, his voice kind and sincere.
Ji-eun blinked, not quite sure what he meant. "What do you mean?"
"I mean... you don't have to be Irene all the time," Ji-hoon continued, sitting down beside her. "You're Ji-eun, and that's enough."
The words felt like a punch to the gut. Ji-eun hadn't realized how much she needed to hear that until that moment. She looked at Ji-hoon, his expression gentle and understanding, and for the first time, she wondered if maybe—just maybe—she could let go of Irene and let Ji-eun step into the light.
As Ji-hoon stood up to leave, he gave her a playful wink. "Don't be afraid to show the world the real you, Ji-eun."
Ji-eun watched him walk away, her heart pounding in her chest. His words lingered in her mind, and for the first time in a long while, she felt a flicker of hope.
Maybe it was time to stop hiding.