The days passed, and Suyee found herself growing more accustomed to her new life, even if she still felt like an outsider. The friends she'd met were kind, and they continued to include her in their plans, but there was always a lingering sense of unfamiliarity. She was Jin-ah to them, but she was still Suyee at her core, a girl from Myanmar who had no idea how or why she had ended up here in Seoul.
The concert night arrived, and Suyee felt a flutter of nervous excitement as she joined her friends outside the venue. The crowd was buzzing, their voices blending into the electric hum of anticipation. K-pop fans from all over the city had gathered, their energy palpable, the excitement in the air almost tangible. Suyee had never experienced anything like it before.
"Are you ready?" The blonde girl, whose name was Hara, asked, her eyes wide with enthusiasm. "This is going to be so much fun!"
Suyee nodded, her heart racing. "Yeah, I think I'm ready." She wasn't sure if she was ready for the chaos of the concert, but she had to be. She had to embrace this new life, even if she didn't fully understand it.
They found their seats in the crowded arena, and the lights dimmed as the show began. The music thudded in her chest, the flashing lights blinding her for a moment before she adjusted. It was a sensory overload—colors, sounds, and lights swirling together in a vibrant kaleidoscope. The crowd cheered, waving lightsticks and singing along to the songs as if they were one collective heartbeat.
But Suyee's mind wasn't fully on the performance. She kept thinking about Jae-hyun. The name echoed in her mind like a drumbeat, as if it were calling her, pulling her in. She didn't know why she felt such a connection to him, but it was undeniable.
The concert continued, and Suyee tried to immerse herself in the music, the energy of the crowd. Her friends were excited, singing along and chatting animatedly about the different songs. But for Suyee, it was as if she was watching a world unfold around her, her senses attuned to the familiar, yet distant feeling of this new life.
Then, just as the concert reached its peak, the crowd's energy shifted. There was a sudden surge of movement, and the audience erupted in screams and cheers. Suyee's heart skipped a beat. She followed the collective gaze of the crowd, and there he was—Jae-hyun.
He was standing on the stage, his presence commanding the attention of everyone in the arena. His dark hair fell in soft waves, and his sharp features were illuminated by the spotlight. He sang with such intensity, his voice weaving through the melody, and for a moment, it felt like time stood still. Suyee couldn't tear her eyes away. There was something magnetic about him, something that drew her in like a gravitational pull.
Hara noticed Suyee's rapt attention and grinned. "You've got it bad, don't you?" she teased, nudging her playfully.
Suyee blinked, snapping out of her trance. "What?" she said, her voice a little breathless.
"Jae-hyun," Hara said, her tone full of amusement. "You're totally into him, aren't you? I've never seen you so focused before."
Suyee flushed, unsure how to respond. It wasn't that she was "into" Jae-hyun. It was just… something about him felt familiar, like she was supposed to know him. She couldn't explain it, but the way her heart raced, the way her thoughts seemed to center around him—it was something she couldn't ignore.
"Maybe," Suyee said softly, trying to mask her uncertainty. "I don't know. It's just… weird. I feel like I know him, but I don't."
Hara raised an eyebrow but didn't press the matter further. "Well, whatever it is, you're not the only one. Jae-hyun is basically Seoul's heartthrob right now."
The concert carried on, and Suyee found herself lost in the experience, but her mind kept returning to Jae-hyun. She couldn't shake the feeling that their paths were meant to cross. But how? Why?
As the night came to an end and the crowd slowly filed out of the arena, Suyee and her friends walked towards the exit. The air outside was cool, and the city lights twinkled in the distance, casting a glow over the bustling streets. They made their way to the subway, laughing and chatting, but Suyee couldn't focus. Her thoughts were still consumed by the strange connection she felt with Jae-hyun.
They reached the platform, and Suyee felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. She wasn't sure how long she could keep pretending to be Jin-ah. The exhaustion wasn't just physical; it was mental, emotional. This wasn't her life, but somehow, it was the life she had to live now.
Just as she was about to step onto the train, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned, startled, and found herself face to face with a familiar face.
"Jin-ah?" The voice was deep, familiar, and impossibly close. "It's you, right?"
Suyee froze. Her heart pounded in her chest as she stared into the face of none other than Jae-hyun himself.