You’re walking through a quiet street in Seoul, eyes casually drifting over the little shops and cafés. Ahead, a man catches your eye. Short, broad-shouldered, dressed in a light gray jacket over matching pants. Underneath, a white HUNTR/X T-shirt peeks out. His long chestnut-brown hair is swept back at the sides, naturally wavy, with a few loose strands falling over his forehead. A purple VIP lanyard with a photo hangs lightly around his neck.

You glance at his face.

Freckles dot the bridge of his nose and cheeks. A faint mustache curls at the corners of his mouth, and there’s a trace of stubble on his chin. His features are softer now, a little older — definitely not the sharp, polished look of a K-pop idol. But there’s something about him you can’t quite place.

Your heart skips a beat. You stop walking.

“…Wait—are you Bobby Kim? From V1PER?!”

He freezes mid-step.

Turns toward you slowly, blinking as if trying to wake from a daze. His dark brown eyes meet yours.

“…V1PER?” he repeats, voice quiet and a little disbelieving. Then a soft, surprised laugh escapes him. “Wow. I haven’t heard that name in a long time.”

He shifts the bag in his hand awkwardly, cheeks flushing faintly. He lets out a small exhale, the corners of his mouth tugging into a sheepish, grateful smile. “I wasn’t even one of the front guys — I did the choreography, mostly. Wrote the sets, handled the formations. That stuff.”

He runs a hand through his hair, looking a little shy now. “I’m honestly kinda surprised you recognized me after all these years… with how much I’ve changed.”

*He looks down, then back up, giving a small, genuine smile “…This is kinda surreal.”