CHAPTER ONE: THE FIRST TIME I MET HANA
Han Tae Kyun 's POV
"You have to know what you want to do in life, you must be like your brother, he is a doctor but you want to be a K-pop star manager? Pathetic, I suggest changing your university course to medicine or engineering," my grandfather yelled at the top of his voice towards me on the phone.
"Grandpa, you must trust me, I'm this close to getting the role, if I get it, it would be awesome. I would be a manager to a k-pop idol," i responded.
I was twenty one years of age dreaming of becoming a k-pop idol manager but my granddad wouldn't accept that.
"Honestly, I don't know why you are dreaming of becoming that. Your parents entrusted me to take care of you and your brother before they died. You will be an engineer and that is final, come home,"
"Sorry grandpa, but you don't get to decide my date. I'll prove you wrong and acquire the role. You'll see," i responded hanging up on the old man.
I then walked into the Nebula K building, a place where idols and idol managers are built expecting to get the role.
I walked close to the receptionist sighting a beautiful young lady who always wore short and tight skirts, this wasn't my first time coming so I knew.
"Good morning, my name is Han Tae Kyun, I applied for the K-pop manager role, I'm here for the interview,"
"Oh yeah, welcome Mr. Tae Kyun, make your way to the fifth floor, the third door by your left, that's the place, goodluck," she replied with a cute smile
"Thank you very much," I said walking to the elevator.
My mind has been full lately, first i had to acquire a position as an intern for university reasons, secondly my grandfather wouldn't stop calling me pressuring me to be an engineer all the time.
"I wish mum and dad were still alive, if they were alive, grandfather wouldn't be disturbing me about being an engineer. I don't care if my brother is a doctor, we are different individuals. I want to be what I want to be. I have a lot on my mind already, the last thing I need I to be disturbed by an old man who thinks engineering is the best path for me," i muttered to myself in the elevator until i walked into the room unknowingly meeting three men in suit.
"Welcome, please tell us your name and why you are here," a man dressed in shiny black suit uttered gesturing for me to sit.
"Um...m-my name is Han Tae Kyun and I am here to be a K-pop idol manager, I applied online two weeks ago,"
"Oh Tae Kyun, alright. It says here on your resume that you have an experience of managing a school play in highschool. Romeo and Juliet, was it?" asked another man dressed the same way
"Yes…sir,"
"But you have no experience in managing a star or something other than a school play. It says here that you also know how to write lyrics, is that true?" the first man asked
"Yes sir, I have one but.....it's not finished yet," i replied, voice audibly shaking of nervousness
"Mr. Tae Kyun?" the third man called out.
"Yes sir?"
"Why do you think you would be a good idol manager?"
At that moment, it was like my soul instantly left my body, my heart paused for a moment at the mention of that question.
But I mastered the courage to speak out still stammering though.
"Well…..I think…I'll be a good manager because I'm…effective and hardworking,"
"You think? I'm sorry Mr. Tae Kyun but we don't want people who think they are effective and hardworking, we want hardworking and effective people who are sure they are what they are,"
They then talked amongst each other for what seemed to look like an eternity before one of them spoke.
"We are highly sorry Mr. Tae Kyun but...we think you need to upgrade your resume first, then you can come back after applying for another interview. We are truly sorry,"
My entire world collapsed that moment, I wonder what my grandfather would say when he heard that I wasn't accepted.
He'd probably say something like: "I told you, you don't need to be a K-pop idol star, you were meant to be an engineer, you just wasted minutes of your life on a dream that's just not meant to be"
I walked out of there hopeless and dejected, I didn't even respond to the receptionist who asked me whether I got the job.
I just walked the streets with my head down, hope, shattered, joy, destroyed.
NEBULA K CONCERT HALL
(a mile away)
"Hana! Hana! Hana!" We're all the fans were yelling.
A concert had just finished and it looked like it was just about to begin with fans refusing to leave yelling at the top of their voice the name Hana.
A global K-pop idol whom the fans love alot.
Fans yelling were always a habit for the people of Seoul, this gave Hana an advantage to sneak backstage away into her luxurious limousine.
Not long, after driving away from the concert hall, her car bumped into me. That was when destiny started it's work.
"What's wrong?" asked Hana
"S-s-sorry madam, we seemed to have....bumped into someone on the road," he replied nervously.
"What? You should have been careful," she said getting off the limo.
"I'm sorry madam, he's fainted but still alive. What do you think we should do mam?" he asked still nervous but now composed.
"Bring him into the car, we don't want any unnecessary attention,"
Together, they brought me into the car, I, after some minutes of day dreaming, woke up right beside her. My role model Han Yu Ra who called herself Hana.
"Oh my gosh," I said jerking up from my laying state.
"H-h-h-h-hana? How did I?" I was totally confused
"Calm down, you are in my limo," she reassured me
You were accidentally hit by my driver. I'm very sorry on his behalf, what can I do for you in exchange for your forgiveness?"
"Oh my gosh, she's so cute, it's like meeting an angel. Should I ask for me to be her manager, no, she must already have one. What of a sure place as a manager for another star. No that's too much, there really is no hope for me," i soliloquized a little
"Hello? Are you okay? I hope you didn't get hurt,"
"Oh huh, no I'm okay and you don't need to do anything for me, an apology is enough for me," I replied trying to be nice.
"Oh thank goodness you are alright. Where are you heading, I might be able to help you,"
"I'm just heading to my hotel, Star Light hotel,"
"No way, that's the same—," she counter replied before being interrupted by a phone call.
"Hello, Kang Tae Sung, how many times have I told you not to call me? Stop calling me, we ended our relationship long ago, I'm not getting back with you and that's final," she yelled hanging up before the other person on the phone could speak.
"Sorry, that's my ex, he keeps bothering me about not having a boyfriend despite the fact I'm a celebrity. It's tiring, fans expecting me to have a boyfriend, I'm so sick of it,"
"No problem at all, why don't you just remove him from your life once and for all or, like you said, you are a celebrity, why don't you use your fans to stop him from harassing you. I believe it would work," I voluntarily spoke.
She looked at me for a while with her gorgeous eyes and then to the city behind us.
"I'm….sorry for meddling,"
"No no, it's…..okay. That's a brilliant ideas,"
"Then, why not do it?" I asked again not minding my own business.
"Because I don't want any problem with anyone. What were you thinking of before we hit you? You looked disturbed, even after fainting,"
"Well...I…applied for the role of being of manager for a k-pop idol but...I was rejected, they said my resume needed to be upgraded before I could apply again,"
"That must have been difficult for you huhn?" she asked eyes now filed with concern.
"Yeah, especially when my grandad kept calling me insisting on me being an engineer after university studies,"
"Oh you are an university student?" She asked visibly surprised—for some reason.
"I've got an idea, get this, I give you a chance to be my manager so as to increase your resume on one condition,"
"What condition?" I hesitatingly asked as I was at the edge of my seat.
"You act as my boyfriend for a specific time,"
Again my soul left my body, never in my life had I thought something crazy like that would ever happen. It was like a dream never coming true.
"I'm sorry but I can't do that,"
"Why? Do you already have a girlfriend?" she asked a little bit concerned not from not being able to get the deal but from the fact that she thought I was dating someone.
"N-n-no, I'm not, I just don't want to make you uncomfortable. I am a normal person and you're a celebrity. Things might get weird,"
"You are rejecting it because of me?" she asked voice audibly disturbed.
"Thanks, it's been long since someone showed me a genuine and kind act. But ont worry, we'll get along just fine, I can see that already. Do you agree?"
"Yeah but, why….why are you helping me?"
"What do you mean?" She asked holding a confused look on her face.
"I meant, most celebrities won't even want to come near losers like myself let alone help them,"
"It's because I was once a student like you before I left highschool for my dreams. And I was also taught by my father not to let life, fame and money change me no matter who I became in life,"
"He sure is a wise man. Alright, but for how long will this pretend love last for?"
"I'll think of that later but in the meantime, welcome to the world of fame," she uttered stretching a hand towards me.
"World of fame?"
"Yeah, you get to go on dates with me, concert passes as a VIP, you get to go on tours around the world and also, people would love you because you are dating me. What do you think of that? Are you comfortable with that?"
"Uh…. y-y-yeah, I am. Thank you very much for the opportunity, I won't let you down," I replied accepting the handshake.
"Good, you'll get the contract papers tomorrow morning,"
"Contract…..papers?" I asked again still confused
"Yes, the contract will state that the relationship between us both is only a contract based relationship and not a real one. It will also contain the management approval contract stating that I accept for you to be my main manager—for now,"
"What of you current manager?"
"She's currently on leave and she's a part-time begging for a break, she'll definitely agree with this decision and she'll teach you what you need to know,"
"Oh, okay. Thanks...again Ms. Hana,"
"Oh please, call me Yu Ra, what's your name?"
"It's…..Han Tae Kyun," I shyly responded
"Wow, it's a good name. We have the same surname, I have a good feeling we will work well together,"
"Yeah," I replied as the driver drove us away.