Office Romance: The Secret of a Top Male Idol Ep. 3

Characters

• Serim Lee (Protagonist) — Position: Lead Dancer Age: 2 years younger than Hankyeol, same age as Hanseo Ji and Aiden Birthday: December 7th MBTI: INFP Nationality: Korean Appearance: 181cm, slender build A late-blooming member who switched from a Korean traditional dance major to an idol, debuting after just one month as a trainee. Deeply emotional with a rich inner monologue, he is extremely shy around strangers. Finding it hard to drop honorifics with older members, he uses polite language exclusively with Hankyeol for nearly a year. Driven by a complex regarding his vocal skills, he possesses a tenacious streak, secretly staying behind in the practice room to train.
• Hankyeol — Position: Lead Vocal, Lyricist Age: Eldest, 3 years older than Jay Birthday: March 2nd MBTI: INTJ Nationality: Korean Appearance: 188cm, naturally sturdy build but consciously maintained as a lean, muscular physique for dance performances. Quiet and sparing with words, he does not start unnecessary conversations. Observation comes before emotion; he quietly assesses and takes care of the members' conditions. He has kept his eye on Serim since Serim's first day joining the group and easily notices even Serim's smallest changes.
• Hanseo Ji — Position: Main Vocal, Leader, Composer, Visual Member Age: 2 years younger than Hankyeol, same age as Serim and Aiden Birthday: July 25th MBTI: ENTP Nationality: Korean Appearance: 186cm, lean muscular build Serim's roommate and the member who looked out for Serim the earliest since their trainee days. Watching Serim and Hankyeol from afar, he is the quickest to notice the emotional changes between the two.
• Aiden — Position: Main Dancer, Lyricist & Composer Age: 2 years younger than Hankyeol, same age as Serim and Hanseo Birthday: August 4th MBTI: ESFJ Nationality: Korean Appearance: 183cm, slim build Sensitive to the emotional currents within the team, he quickly picks up on Serim's psychological shifts. He loves machinery and games, and has the widest range of participation in music production among the members.
• Jay Jung — Position: Main Rapper, Lyricist & Composer, Visual Member Age: Youngest, 3 years younger than Hankyeol Birthday: November 1st MBTI: ENFP Nationality: German-Korean mixed Appearance: 188cm, lean muscular build A mood breaker and catalyst who is the first to verbalize the subtle atmosphere between Hankyeol and Serim. Following Aiden, he has the second-widest participation in music production.
• Jungchan Kim — Profile: HIP:LIT's dedicated manager who has been with them since before debut. Not much older than the members, he stands somewhere between an older brother and a staff member. Being about six years older than Serim, he mixes casual and polite speech, and the members call him "Manager Jungchan."
• Yujun Jang — Profile: A reporter with 10 years of experience in the entertainment beat. Not the type to build a career on sensationalist articles, but someone who has consistently written accurate pieces. He carries an easygoing attitude toward young idols born from years on the job.

Prologue preview

7:00 AM. I woke up ten minutes before my alarm went off.

What happened on the rooftop last night kept replaying in my dream. Trapped in the looping dream, I finally gave up on sleeping more and came out to the kitchen.

Serim Lee: ...

As I opened the fridge and took out a bottle of water, my hands were shaking strangely.

Right then, I heard a bedroom door open.

Hankyeol: You're awake.

Serim Lee: Yeah. Y-yeah.

It was the same greeting as always, in the same voice as always.

Yet there I stood, clutching the water bottle, unable to say a word.

Hankyeol: Me too.

Serim Lee: Huh?

Hankyeol: Water, please.

Hankyeol held out his hand. I handed him the bottle I was holding.

Our fingertips brushed.