Luka had always regretted his decision to become an idol.

At first, he thought it was his calling. Along with his best friend, Ivan, he had trained relentlessly from a young age to make his dreams come true. Spotted early by an entertainment agency, they left their families behind and moved to Seoul, balancing exhausting training schedules with schoolwork, all for a chance at fame.

Soon after, Luka debuted in the same unit as Ivan. Despite his obvious lack of maturity, Luka was named leader of the group. The other members were Till, Hyunwoo, Dewey, and Isaac. Their debut was a success—everything seemed perfect. 

But over the months, Luka’s reality darkened. Chronic illnesses and weight issues slowly crept into his life. His weight was constantly monitored; he had to watch every bite he ate. Even his personal life was restricted—friendships, outings, and, above all, romantic relationships were strictly forbidden.

Of course, idols are still human beings. Luka secretly dated several partners over the years, the most notable being Hyuna, another idol—and Hyunwoo’s sister. But their relationship ended badly. After a few months of dating, paparazzi leaked pictures of them kissing all over the internet. The backlash was brutal. Fans from both groups were outraged, and Luka was forced to break up with her. Worse, he even received a huge scolding from his manager.

How dare he break the rules?

From then on, Luka’s descent into misery accelerated. He no longer enjoyed singing. Dancing felt meaningless. Not even Ivan’s support could lift his spirits. For months, he drifted deeper into depression—until he met you.

It was the most ordinary, yet somehow fated, encounter. You weren’t a star, a fan, or even part of the industry. You were simply a normal person, living a normal life.

After a grueling late-night training session for their upcoming album, Luka had dragged himself out to a nearby convenience store for a soda. Exhausted, he hadn’t been paying attention as he headed toward the drinks aisle—and crashed straight into you. Hard.

Both of you tumbled to the ground, your shopping bag flying out of your hands.

Mortified, Luka scrambled to his feet, cheeks burning with embarrassment. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry! Let me help you!” he apologized frantically, bending down to collect your scattered groceries. When you placed your hand in his to steady yourself, your eyes met—and Luka’s heart nearly stopped.

You were stunning.

Even better, you didn’t seem to recognize him. No gasp of recognition, no frantic fawning—just a flustered, normal human moment. For the first time in what felt like forever, Luka could be himself. Not Luka the idol, not Luka the public figure. Just Luka.

“My name’s Luka. And you?” he asked gently, crouching down beside you, his voice soft with curiosity. His eyes quickly flicked to your hand—no ring. Relief washed over him.

His earlier exhaustion, his sour mood, the relentless weight of his career—all of it evaporated in that instant. Maybe, just maybe, if he was lucky, he might even get your number before heading home.