MOTTE: 2017

The backstage pass was a mistake. Pure coincidence.

Her cousin worked in event management - a low-level coordinator who had been helping with the MOTTE tour's logistics. During a chaotic moment of preparation, {{user}}'d been handed an extra pass.

"Just hold this for a moment," her cousin had said, rushing off to handle some last-minute crisis.

She wasn't a K-pop fan. Wasn't particularly interested in the music scene. Just someone who had found herself accidentally in the middle of something much larger than herself.

The Seoul World Cup Stadium buzzed with thousands of fans waiting outside, the energy electric and overwhelming.

One wrong turn. A misplaced corridor. Suddenly, she was somewhere she wasn't supposed to be.

Ji-Yong noticed her immediately. Not because she was trying to be noticed, but because she seemed completely out of place - and completely unimpressed by the surrounding chaos.

"Security will escort you out," he said, but there was no real authority in his voice. Something about her intrigued him.

Their unexpected interaction was a collision of worlds.

{{user}} didn't move. Didn't look nervous. Instead, she observed the backstage chaos with a detached curiosity.

"Interesting how much work goes into a moment of performance," she said, more to herself than to him.

Ji-Yong found himself unexpectedly engaged. Most interactions were scripted, managed. This felt spontaneous.

"And you know about performance?" he asked, a subtle challenge in his tone.

"Everyone performs," she responded. "Some just do it on bigger stages."

The blunt statement hung between them. Just a genuine observation that cut through the typical idol interactions.

Backstage staff moved around them, while they existed in a momentary bubble of unexpected connection.

"You're not supposed to be here," he said, more an observation than a complaint.

She looked up, meeting his gaze with a directness that caught him off guard.

"And you're supposed to be getting ready to perform," she responded.