How It All Began

Before his days were packed with events, shoots, and fan meetings, Sky was just an ordinary university student living with his parents and two younger sisters in a medium-sized house. Life was simple. He went to classes, worked in the mechanical engineering workshop, did his assignments, and came home before dinner. No flashing cameras, no stylists, no scripts—just normal, quiet routine.

But life has a way of turning upside down when you least expect it.

It all started on a random weekday afternoon. He was helping a classmate with a group project in the workshop, both of them covered in sawdust and oil smudges, when a well-dressed man approached him out of nowhere. The man handed him a sleek white name card with the shimmering logo of Dream Entertainment stamped in gold.

“If you’re interested in some side work—modeling, commercials, maybe more—call this number,” the man said with a practiced smile.

Sky blinked at the card, then at the man, then back at the card.

“…Uh, thanks?”

Of course, his first thought was: This has to be a scam. He shoved the card into his backpack and forgot about it.

That night, however, something changed.

When he got home, he walked into a tense scene. His usually affectionate parents were arguing—loudly. His mother was crying on the sofa, and his father’s face was red and tired, a bottle of beer clutched tightly in his hand. The smell of alcohol hung in the air like a heavy fog.

Sky stood frozen, not knowing whether to go upstairs or ask what happened.

Later that evening, after things calmed down, his father sat the whole family down. For the first time, Sky learned the truth.

Their family was in debt.

His father's business—once steady and thriving—had crumbled during the COVID pandemic. The financial damage was far worse than any of them had realized. His father apologized, holding back tears, admitting he had been trying to shield them from the reality of the situation.

That night, Sky couldn’t sleep.

He lay awake staring at the ceiling, feeling a weight settle on his chest. As the oldest child, he couldn’t just stand by anymore. He had to do something.

Over the next week, Sky applied to every part-time job he could find—cafes, convenience stores, delivery gigs. But most places either required full-time workers or only needed morning shifts, which clashed with his class schedule.

Then he remembered the name card.

Go big or go home, he thought as he dialed the number.

To his surprise, the staff on the other end was polite and professional. They scheduled him for a casting at the Dream Entertainment building the very next day.

He had never been inside such a fancy office before. The casting wasn’t as intense as he imagined. They had him take a few profile shots, wear different outfits, and even put on light makeup. They called it a “fitting test” to find a fashion style that matched his personality.

He left the building unsure of what to expect.

Weeks passed. Then a month. He assumed he didn’t make the cut.

He was back to scrolling through café job listings when his phone rang.

“Hello, is this Sky?”

“Yes?”

“This is Dream Entertainment. Congratulations—you passed the audition. We’d like to offer you a role in an upcoming BL project.”

“A... what project?”

“A Boys’ Love series. We understand this genre isn’t for everyone, so if you’re uncomfortable, you’re free to decline. But we think you have potential.”

Sky had no clue what “BL” meant. But in that moment, he didn’t hesitate.

“Yes, I’m in,” he said.

—

That night, he sat his sisters down in their shared room.

“You what?!” Mel, the older of his two younger sisters, nearly screamed.

“You passed the Dream Entertainment audition?! Why didn’t you tell us sooner?! Our brother’s gonna be famous!!” she squealed, jumping up and down on her bed.

“Shhh! Not so loud! Mom and Dad might hear,” Sky hissed, shutting the door behind him.

“But Dream only produces BL and GL content,” Rae, the youngest and more composed sister, said while adjusting her glasses.

“Yeah, they mentioned a BL project. What is that, exactly?” Sky asked innocently.

Both sisters froze.

“You said yes without knowing?!” Rae’s eyes widened, looking ready to fall out of her head.

Mel clapped both hands to her cheeks in dramatic horror. “Ugh, big brother… BL stands for Boys' Love! It’s about guys falling in love with guys! Like, romantic series! With feelings! And sometimes—kisses!”

Sky’s face drained of color.

“I thought it was a movie genre or something!” he said, panicking. “What should I do?”

Rae sighed, rubbing her forehead. “Honestly, it’s not that bad. You don’t have to like boys to act. Lots of actors take on BL roles and do just fine. Plus, Dream Entertainment is super popular now. Their shows stream internationally.”

“She’s right,” Mel said, her excitement returning. “It’s a great opportunity. And who knows? Maybe you’ll end up with a super hot co-star! Will you be the top or the bottom?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Sky asked suspiciously.

Rae looked at him like he had asked if the sky was blue. “It’s… your role in the relationship. Top is the dominant one. Bottom is the one who… receives.”

Sky nearly choked on his own breath. “What the hell?! What should I tell Mom and Dad?! I mean, I don’t have a problem with LGBT stuff, but they’re from a different generation… we’ve never even talked about this kind of thing.”

Mel shrugged. “Honestly? With Dad’s debt, I don’t think he’ll complain if you’re earning money. Just… don’t mention it yet.”

“Yeah,” Rae agreed. “Better wait until we know more—your role, how big the part is, whether it’ll even air. No point getting their hopes up or making them worry.”

Sky nodded slowly, feeling the knot in his chest loosen a little.

“Okay. Then I’m doing it. I’ll go for it.”

“Yaaaay!” Mel jumped on the bed again. “I can’t believe my big brother’s going to be in a BL! Wait… are you gonna be the top or bottom?!”

“Mel!!” Sky and Rae shouted at the same time.

—

On the day of the meeting, Sky arrived at the building with a heart that wouldn't stop pounding. The air inside the room was cool, but his palms were damp. As he stepped in, his eyes quickly scanned the space — there were four other guys already seated, all of them striking in their own way. One had sharp model-like features, another exuded cool confidence with a lazy smirk, while another laughed easily with the other guy like they had know each other before.

They were tall, composed, and seemed to glow with the ease of experience.

Sky’s heart sank a little.

Am I really supposed to be here?

Compared to them, he felt... small. Like a freshman who accidentally walked into a senior seminar. He tugged at the sleeves of his neat long sleeve shirt — casual, maybe too casual — and sat down as quietly as he could in an empty seat near the end of the table. He hoped no one could hear how loud his thoughts were.

They look like they know what they're doing. I don’t even know what I’m doing here.

The insecurity crept in like a whisper behind his ear, but he clenched his fists in his lap to keep his nerves at bay.

You came this far, Sky. Just breathe. You’re here for a reason.

Finally, the last person arrived.

The room, which had been filled with soft chatter and quiet shuffling, momentarily hushed as he stepped in. Tall, with sharp features and the quiet confidence of someone who belonged under a spotlight — the guy didn’t need to speak to command attention. His presence alone said everything.

Sky couldn’t help but stare.

He’s unreal…

The guy walked with grace, like the world moved slightly to make way for him. He took the empty seat directly across from Sky. And just before he sat down, Sky caught his face in full — smooth skin, sculpted jawline, intense yet unreadable eyes.

How can someone look like that?

Sky quickly looked away, cheeks flushing with a mix of awe and shame. He tugged on his sleeves again. His shirt suddenly felt too plain. His hair too flat. Even his smile — which people always said was warm — now felt dull in comparison.

Am I the ugliest one here?

The thought stabbed deeper than he expected. He shouldn’t care. But he did.

As the meeting went on, producers talking about ships and projects, contracts and cameras, Sky tried his best to stay focused. But it was hard. Not just because of the nerves, but because… he could feel something.

A gaze.

He wasn’t sure from who, but it was persistent. It pressed against his skin like warm light. He shook the feeling off, convincing himself it was his imagination. After all, who would be looking at him — the guy with no experience, the one who nearly turned down the offer because he didn’t even know what BL stood for?

Still, the sensation lingered. A quiet tension humming beneath the surface.

Sky stole a quick glance across the table.

The composed guy — the one with the star aura — was looking at the producer. But something about the slight curve at the corner of his lips… made Sky’s stomach flip.