Arc 1: A new world – Korea Calling
Chapter 5: New Beginning and HexaWave spark

This is a fictional story. Any resemblance to real people, places, companies, or events is entirely coincidental.

[Current Time]

[South Korea – Incheon International Airport — May 01, 2025 — 01:40:26 AM] 

The plane dipped beneath the clouds, revealing the glowing web of Seoul’s streets. Nina leaned against the window, her forehead on the cool glass. It didn’t feel like arrival — more like stepping into a paused dream she hadn’t dared to imagine. Her heart rate slowed down — as if she had been plunged into cold water, but this was caused more by various emotions of joy than fear.

In the taxi, everything rushed past her in neon flashes—convenience stores glowing like shrines, small groups of teenagers laughing under streetlights – Nina laughed with them too in the taxi cabin, giant screens showing music videos on loop. 

“Everything will be perfect this time.”

She repeated it to herself like a prayer during the entire two-hour ride to her apartment.

The skies of night Seoul were the same cloudy gray as Nina’s thoughts.

[South Korea – Seoul, Banpo-dong district, front of Nina’s Apartment — May 01, 2025 — 03:04:00 AM] 

She stood outside the towering KIC apartment complex, suitcase in one hand, apartment key in the other and both of them shaking. The air felt new, sharp. Her first big move, a dream she hadn’t yet learned how to shape.

Inside, the apartment was simple. Corporate. Quiet. Just like she needed. Even though she was alone and nothing dangerous was happening, her knees were almost weak, and she felt like she was about to fall.

She fell asleep in her clothes soon after arriving at the apartment.

[South Korea – Nina’s Apartment — May 01, 2025 — 09:21:55 AM] 

Ding.

Her phone buzzed. A message pop-up appeared on her screen — from an unknown number.

“I’m downstairs. I’m your assistant. I come with caffeine. Don’t be afraid.”

Minutes later, a girl with a choppy bob and a ridiculously oversized blazer burst into the room.

“You must be Nina-ssi. I’m Haejin. I get paid to annoy you professionally.”

Nina raised an eyebrow. She wasn't used to strangers barging into her house. And also, this girl... She seemed terribly noisy.

“Is that written in your contract?” - Nina tried to set boundaries with her assistant by asking a question in a stern tone. She thought that if she spoke more sternly, the noise would stop.

“Page 3, clause 6.” Haejin grinned and handed her coffee.

Haejin's quick response suddenly made Nina's sternness disappear. She even smiled deliciously as she sat on the bed.

"Would you like some help choosing clothes? We have to be at the company in an hour. They're already waiting for you."

"Thanks, I already have everything picked out. After a quick shower, we can go, I won't wait long," Nina said, and quickly headed for the bathroom.

Before she started the shower, already filled with warm emotions towards Haejin, she poked her head out of the bathroom door. 

"mm, and, thanks for the coffee, it's just the way I like it."

The office building was a 30-minute drive from Nina's apartment. On the first day at work, they took a taxi. But, on the way Haejin explained to Nina all the possible ways to get from home to the office.

[South Korea – Seoul, Gangnam District, KIC office — May 01, 2025 — 10:30:00 AM] 

Haejin hadn’t stopped talking, not even for a second before or after entering the building, although she was less annoying to Nina, because each phrase she uttered was filled with care and somehow awakened a feeling of happiness in Nina.

“Welcome to KIC. Don’t trust the vending machines. They’re rigged,” Haejin said, explaining every detail to the newcomer.

“You’re lucky. People wait years to even step into that building. You just parachuted in from heartbreak.”

Nina blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Your story,” Haejin said. “It’s basically a top thriller. Everyone here reads it. I cried with shock at Chapter three. Also, you’ve got a fanboy on the intern team. Just warning you.”

“I swear, boss, you’re gonna write something that breaks the entire system one day.”

Nina laughed it off. But something about the way Haejin said it stuck.

KIC was a maze of movement. Bright hallways. Studios buzzing with rehearsals. Stylists wheeling racks of glittering clothes. Nina kept her head low, notebook clutched tight.

After entering the workroom, Haejin introduced Nina to everyone – „This is our miracle author. Don't bother her too much, she flew in very late and hasn't slept much.“

Then she turned to Nina again - „If you need anything, I'll always have my phone in my hand and text me. I'll go get you a badge and office card before the boss comes. Feel free to organize yourself, this is your workspace.“

Soohyun, her team leader, was calm and observant. He didn’t speak much during the introductory meeting. Also, in the future he just watched her carefully and nodded at her answers.

Nina's heart raced at the first sight of him, as she was nervous about meeting her boss, just like everyone else. She even shook her hand with tremor.

"Nice to meet you. I'll do my best"

"I hope so."

In Nina's life, this was the quickest and shortest introduction of all of her past works.

_________

The first month blurred into routine.

Studio hours. Project briefs. Sketch after sketch. She worked mostly on a fresh adaptation pitch — her own concept — and KIC was actually considering it — something she hadn’t dared to expect.

Haejin proved useful and loyal, sneaking her out of boring strategy meetings and shielding her from pushy senior artists. 

They didn’t live together, but the girl appeared like a ghost whenever Nina looked too tired or too lost.

“I’m not stalking you,” Haejin explained one day, appearing behind her at lunch. “I’m just a very efficient assistant and just want to be helpful, boss... I am really looking up to you.”

[South Korea – KIC office — June 04, 2025 — 07:25:00 PM] 

One late night, Nina stayed at the office finishing character sheets.

At one point she realized she was tired and went to buy snacks and coffee. When she stepped out, the halls were mostly dark. She wandered toward the vending machine down the corridor, stretching her neck and yawning.

That’s when she heard the voices — low, easy, echoing from the rehearsal lounge nearby.

She stopped walking.

The door was half open. Inside were six young men, laughing in tired voices, one of them humming a melody under her breath. They looked relaxed, sweat damp, and completely unaware of the world.

The calm aura that came out of the room made her shiver. A strange jealousy gripped her, though it wasn't out of malice. She was astonished at how it was possible, after a tiring day at work, or ever, for someone to be so calm and unruffled.

Of course, she didn’t enter, didn’t look. Just listened from afar. One voice stood out — calm, smooth, and slightly rough around the edges.

“Tell the manager I want to rewrite that part. It’s too dramatic.”

"Hexawave, it must be them"

She recognized them now. KIC’s crown jewel.

Suddenly they exited the lounge. Nina, standing nearby, shivered. She tried to pretend she wasn't listening to them, and out of confusion, she didn't even look closely to make sure they were really Hexa or not.

One of them nodded at her politely. She nodded back shyly.

The boys soon disappeared into the dark corridor.

Nina continued on her way to the vending machine, and she was unconsciously giggling at the music she had heard a few minutes ago.

Her walk was more motivated and airier than usual. Maybe it was because of that music, or maybe there was something in the member’s voice, or just tiredness.

However, her thoughts were still as depressing as usual.

“In a city where everyone’s a star, I feel like a quiet comet—passing through, unnoticed, yet burning with new purpose. Maybe that’s all I need for now.”

[South Korea – Nina’s apartment — June 04, 2025 — 10:16:41 PM] 

Later that night, back in her apartment, Haejin messaged her:

“You met Hexawave already? I heard they had training session today”

“What kind of information bureau are you? No. Just walked by. I think they were the Hexa Boys.”

“Girl, they’re literally a storm with legs. How can you say “would”? You still don’t recognize them, yeah? They’re our biggest group. Like… kings. And when I say ‘our,’ I don’t mean KIC. I mean all of Korea. and the tall one? You definitely saw him.”

“I don't know, I didn’t look at them for long." - she didn't dare admit that she was so embarrassed by their silent spying that she didn't even look at them.

“You just committed a national crime”

Nina laughed under her breath, tossing her phone aside.

[South Korea —KIC office — June 05, 2025 — 04:42:01 PM] 

The next afternoon, Soohyun approached her desk, calm as always.

“We have something for you,” he said, placing a slim folder on her keyboard, “Don’t freak out.”

She raised an eyebrow. “That’s reassuring.”

But he’d already walked away.

Slowly, she opened it.

Inside: KIC’s golden logo. Beneath it, bold black text.

Drama Pitch – Supervisor Corp

Suddenly, fear, excitement, sadness, joy, happiness... all the feelings were burning at once.

Nina froze, legs locked, breath caught. 

"Drama? From my novel? From my paintings? So, they weren't joking?"

— To be continued.