Present

Piercing, vengeful but familiar eyes fixate on Eunji.

The chilling echoes of resentful feminine laughter reverberate through the dim, labyrinthine hallways of the abandoned hospital.

Eunji squints in a futile attempt to discern her surroundings, the flickering lights casting erratic, blinding flashes that only deepen the obscurity and create hallucinations.

In the darkness, Eunji drags herself along the cold floor, her trembling hands tracing the cruel contours of her surroundings. The frigid tiles gnaw at her fingertips, stealing her warmth, and the acrid scent of disinfectant hangs heavy in the air.

She attempts once again to stand up and run but her trembling legs refuse to bear her weight. A guttural scream claws its way up her constricted throat, only to be choked into a muffled sob.

The ominous presence draws nearer, like a relentless predator closing in on its prey.

An invisible force seems to bind Eunji’s body to the floor, constricting her every movement, as though her skin has fused with the cold linoleum. Her frantic gasps fill the air as panic swirls in her chest, each heartbeat echoing mercilessly in her ears.

In the oppressive silence, a familiar feminine figure materializes from the shadows, moving deliberately closer with a sinister grace.

Eunji recognizes those limp and lifeless strands of brown hair; those dried, brittle straws bring to Eunji’s chest a feeling of despair and hopelessness. Of guilt and shame. Of hours and hours spent in a pitch-black closet. Of endless slaps of a paddle at the bottom of her feet.

The woman, her long, frizzed dead brown hair now looms above, looking down at Eunji with hazel eyes filled with hate and a silent promise of pain. In her hand, the woman grips a bat with malice and sways it, targeting Eunji’s already shattered knee.

No. Not again. Not her knee!

Panic courses through Eunji’s veins, and a heart-wrenching scream wells up once more, but a cruel, icy hand clamps over her mouth, stifling her voice as the malevolent woman raises the bat high, ready to unleash the devastating impact.

The world is shaking.

No. She is shaking. 

No, someone is shaking her…?

“Eunji-unnie, wake up!”

Lilly?

Is that Lilly’s sweet voice?

Eunji is shaken again as the haze of the dream dissipates and she gradually comes to herself.

Eunji’s eyes flutter open to find her fellow group member and younger colleague, Lilly, peering down at her.

Lilly’s face is etched with concern, her dark, perfectly styled bangs frame her radiant features and her rosy cheeks form a tight, worried smile. “Sorry, did I shake you too hard?” Lilly asks in Korean.

“Lilly, hey, what is it?” Eunji mumbles as she props herself up from the fluffy hotel bed. She yawns and rubs the sleep from her eyes.

“Morning.” Lilly reaches out and gently rubs Eunji’s soft blonde hair from her tense shoulders, and explains, “It’s past 8, and you didn’t come to breakfast, so I came to check on you. We’re heading into the studio in a couple of hours for rehearsal, I didn’t want you to be late.”

Eunji nods and yawns again, shielding her eyes from the bright light reflecting through the blinds of the penthouse suite. “I must have overslept, I’m sorry. Are the girls all waiting for me?”

Lilly shakes her head, “No, we still have some time before rehearsal, but I came to wake you up for us to handle the whole last-minute costume situation with Emma…”

“Oh, yeah, the costume thing,” Eunji sighs, remembering. She nods. “I’ll be right down.”

“Wait, Unnie…” ” Delicate lines appear on Lilly’s forehead as she bites her lips, worry staining her dark brown eyes. “You um… you were screaming and having a bad dream again, just like last time. Are you okay?”

“I’m okay,” Eunji says quickly. “I just--” She shakes her head. “Don’t worry about me. Come on, let’s go.” Eunji hops off the bed. “What’s for breakfast?”

An hour later, after a long and calming shower, Eunji heads to the hotel’s private elevator and descends to the private dining area, where she’s sure to find the girls. She may be late for breakfast, but she knows her fellow members will be there, sharing laughs and waiting for her.

Eunji’s heart races in anticipation. She’s thrilled to be in the US this week, especially after the hectic few weeks she spent promoting Blossom6’s new album with the girls.

The six of them have been performing on several music shows, making various appearances on variety shows, radio, and other online interviews. 

In just two days, they’re scheduled to perform on The James Beat Show, the most successful American talk show at the moment, and a first for them. 

During the show, they will officially announce that they will embark on their first-ever world tour in five months. The BLOOM tour.

Eunji is a member of Blossom6, the most successful Korean pop girl group in the world.

Since their debut a little over three years ago, life has never been the same for all six of them, but especially for Eunji. At just 23 years old, she’s amassed over 135 million followers across her social media accounts combined, making her the most followed K-pop star in the world.

Before she started her K-pop journey and started training at FTG Entertainment four years ago, Eunji was a ballet dancer, and her passion for ballet-style dancing shines through in Blossom6 performances, becoming a Blossom6 staple, making them one of the most unique groups in the industry.

Blossom6 fans, who call themselves Bloomies, adore Eunji for her impressive dancing skills and her ability to elevate the group’s performances. They also admire her for her striking looks, her beautiful long blonde hair, and her tall stature.

Then there is Lilly, the youngest of Blossom6 at 19. Bloomies admire Lilly for her sweet and innocent appearance, her signature bangs, along with her angelic voice. Originally from Japan, Lilly speaks perfect Japanese and Korean, and although she is not fluent in English, she can understand it and mostly doesn’t require a translator.

Wo-young, at 21, is the only member who had nearly competed in the Olympics due to her swimming skills, and she also did gymnastics when she was younger. If it weren’t for her training at FTG Entertainment and her debut with Blossom6, she would likely be a celebrated swimmer on the Olympic stage. Bloomies admire Wo-young for her impressive athleticism and frequent acrobatics-styled dance moves on stage.

Yoonah, aged 22, is the only Blossom6 member born in the U.S.; she is not yet fluent in Korean, but after almost four years immersed in the culture, she doesn’t need a translator anymore and manages to speak and understand it perfectly, albeit with a distinctive accent. Yoonah grew up in Texas before moving to South Korea four years ago, to train at FTG. She’s always had a passion for music and instruments, particularly the piano, and can even read music. Bloomies love her for her unique looks and her fearlessness in experimenting with new hair colors, makeup, and avant-garde fashion. She often makes the best-dressed lists after attending events and is already being hailed as a fashion icon by fans and other industry enthusiasts. She is the first K-pop star to grace her own cover in Mode and got to collaborate with the iconic Penelope Sinclair, editor-in-chief of the magazine, to edit her own fashion spread, a rare honor.

Hana, aged 24, is known for her powerful vocals and is often the lead in high-note parts of their songs. Born and raised in South Korea, Hana has always had a passion for singing. She started singing at a young age and was known in her hometown for her beautiful voice, competing in local singing competitions every chance she got. Before joining Blossom6, Hana was a contestant on a popular Korean singing competition show, where she was recognized for her vocal talent. Despite not winning the competition, her performance caught the attention of scouts from FTG Entertainment, who offered her the opportunity to train with them.

Hana loves cooking and loves to experiment in the kitchen, and the girls all love it because she often prepares experimental meals for them, which all happen to be criminally delicious. Her love for cooking started at a young age when she used to help her grandmother in the kitchen. She’s a big fan of traditional Korean cuisine and enjoys sharing this passion with the Bloomies online through the Blossom6 vlogs. Bloomies love her for her motherly nature, caring personality, warm heart, the comfort she brings to the other members, and of course, her incredible vocal range. 

Lastly, Suji, the oldest at 25, is the group’s leader. She speaks perfect English due to her time at a theater school in London and her years living there with her family. Suji fell in love with music, performing, and acting at a young age, and dedicated her heart to these passions during her training at FTG. Bloomies love her for her signature raspy voice, which gives the group a unique sound. They also love her charisma, chaotic sense of humor, cuteness, and the unique chemistry she shares with all the girls.

Wearing a classic white t-shirt and blue jeans, with her signature platinum blonde hair in a ponytail, Eunji enters their private dining area, seeing that the breakfast table is still full. She waves good morning to Lilly, Hana, and Wo-young who are standing next to each other, studying and critiquing parts of a two-week-old performance on the room’s big screen.

Before she can reach the breakfast table, Yoonah meets Eunji halfway and hands her a butter croissant and a cup of Insamcha.

The butter croissant, adorned with a glistening sheen, beckons Eunji. The enchanting crescent-shaped creation exudes an irresistible aroma that makes Eunji’s mouth water, and her stomach grumble.

The girls all know about Eunji’s deep affinity for pastries so her wide smile upon receiving the small plate and cup from Yoonah isn’t a surprise.

“Hm, my favorite. I’m starving,” Eunji says and without waiting for a response, she closes her eyes and takes an indulgent bite of the glorious, crisp, warm pastry. A soft moan escapes her as the buttery layers crumble upon her lips, melting on her tongue.

Yoonah giggles. “Good morning to you too.”

Eunji nods, her mouth full as she replies apologetically, “Morning! And thank you, this is so freaking delicious!”

To wash down her mouthful of croissant, Eunji lifts the cup to her lips, the fragrant steam rises, caressing her senses in a warm, welcoming embrace, and all the remnants of her bad dreams go away as she sips. Its flavors, as comforting as an old friend’s smile, bring harmony to her morning, blending seamlessly with the buttery treat’s decadent flakiness. The gentle essence of ginseng unfurls, offering a hint of slightly sweet, slightly earthy notes that dance upon her taste buds.

“Ugh, this is like a bad dream…” Eunji hears Suji say on the other side of the room.

Eunji makes her way to Suji, who’s engrossed in a conversation with Emma, and looking down at something Emma is showing on her phone screen.

Emma has been Blossom6’s Head Stylist for over two years now, and she shares an intimate relationship with the girls. They trust her implicitly, a bond that has strengthened over time.

Yesterday, Emma dropped a bombshell on the girls. The news that their meticulously planned matching performance costumes need to be switched. The original outfits were designed to perfection, complementing each other and the new choreography they had rehearsed for weeks for their new single “Over Flowers.”

Tensions between Blossom6 and their rival K-pop group, ATLAS, have been simmering for months. Both groups have coincidentally selected strikingly similar costume designs for their upcoming performances on the same American talk show. The competition is always fierce, with both groups eager to impress the international audience and secure their place as the dominant K-pop sensation.

The initial shock came when a leaked rehearsal video showed the seven girls of ATLAS wearing costumes that bore an uncanny resemblance to Blossom6’s original outfits. The timing couldn’t have been worse; the talk show is just two days away, and the online K-pop community is buzzing with speculation and anticipation.

The management teams of both groups immediately recognized the potential disaster. If they both appear in nearly identical outfits, on the same talk show, it will not only create a visual clash but also lead to confusion among fans and viewers. The last thing they need is the audience wondering if they are watching a repeat performance, especially during an event of such significance.

Fans from both sides have already started engaging in heated debates online, debating which group wore the costume first and who has the right to keep it. It has escalated into a full-blown fan war that even FTG Entertainment’s CEO has heard about, overshadowing everything else.

They have to act fast.

Come up with a new design that not only avoids the clash with ATLAS but also preserves Blossom6’s unique style and identity as well as matches the aesthetic they’ve already established for “Over Flowers.”

With only two days left, it’s a race against time to create, fit, and rehearse the new costumes.

Eunji joins Suji and Emma and stares down at the phone, looking at the pre-recorded promo for the talk show they’ve already shot wearing the original costume.

“Is it really not possible to re-shoot these promos?” Eunji asks.

Emma sighs and shakes her head. “I tried. I’m afraid these promotions will have to air with the original outfits, but your performance will be different. Which I know is not the coherence we hope for, but this is what all I could manage at the last minute.”

Suji nods and addresses the room. “We’ll be okay. Right, girls? We won’t let this stress us out. We’re gonna rehearse with the new costumes and hopefully, nothing else changes last minute again.”

“Ha, fingers crossed,” Eunji says, and the girls all chuckle and nod in agreement.

Eunji snatches another croissant and runs to join Emma and the girls as they all head out.