Her Song, His Heart

A New Beginning

Morning sunlight poured through the wide windows, filling the dining room with a warm glow. Breakfast was lively, as usual, with Felix and I.N. playfully bickering over who got the last pancake. Mannon sat between Chan and Seungmin, quietly sipping her coffee. She kept her focus on the steam rising from her cup, though her mind was far from the table.

“Chan,” Felix said, leaning over with a mischievous grin, “do you think Mannon would kill me if I took her toast?”

“You can try,” Chan replied dryly, a smirk tugging at his lips.

“Go ahead,” Mannon muttered absently, not looking up.

Felix frowned, glancing at Chan. “What’s with her? She’s usually threatening to stab me with her butter knife by now.”

Before Chan could answer, Mannon’s phone buzzed on the table, breaking through the chatter. She glanced at the screen, her heart skipping a beat when she saw an unknown number. Hesitant but curious, she picked it up.

“Hello?” she said softly, stepping away from the table for some privacy.

The group paused mid-conversation, watching her with varying degrees of curiosity.

“Hi, is this Bang Mannon?” a warm voice greeted on the other end.

“This is she,” Mannon replied cautiously.

“This is Jihye Kim from Orion Records. I’m reaching out because we came across your demo recently, and I wanted to personally tell you that we were blown away by your voice.”

Mannon froze, her fingers tightening around her phone.

“We believe you have incredible potential,” Jihye continued. “If you’re interested, we’d like to work with you on your first single and discuss your future as an artist under our label.”

For a moment, Mannon couldn’t find her voice. The words hung in the air like a dream she was afraid to disturb.

“Are… are you serious?” she finally managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Very serious,” Jihye replied with a chuckle. “Your talent is undeniable, Mannon. We’d love to start working with you as soon as possible, perhaps even next week.”

Mannon swallowed hard, emotions swirling within her. Excitement. Fear. Disbelief.

“I—I’d love to,” she said, her voice steadier now.

“That’s wonderful to hear,” Jihye said warmly. “We’ll send over the details later today. Congratulations, Mannon. This is the beginning of something big.”

When the call ended, Mannon stood in stunned silence for a moment, her mind racing.

“Mannie?” Chan’s voice cut through her thoughts. She turned to see him watching her, his brow furrowed with concern. “Who was that?”

She hesitated, glancing at the table where the others were waiting expectantly. Slowly, she walked back and placed her phone on the table.

“That was Orion Records,” she said, her voice calm but laced with emotion.

The group froze, their attention fixed on her.

“They… they want to work with me,” she continued, her gaze flickering to Chan. “They heard my demo and want me to record my first single.”

The room erupted.

“No way!” Felix shouted, practically leaping out of his chair. “That’s insane!”

“Mannon, that’s amazing!” Seungmin said, a rare grin spreading across his face.

“How did they even find your demo?” I.N. asked, wide-eyed.

Chan watched her with quiet pride, his smile small but genuine. “I told you it was only a matter of time,” he said softly, his voice carrying just enough for her to hear.

Hyunjin, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes fixed on Mannon. “That’s a huge step,” he said, his tone thoughtful. “Are you ready for it?”

Mannon hesitated, his question cutting through the celebratory noise around her. Was she ready? Her chest tightened as she thought about the pressure, the expectations, the spotlight. But then she met Chan’s gaze, and the unwavering support in his eyes gave her strength.

“I think I am,” she said, her voice steady.

“Of course, you are!” Felix chimed in, his excitement infectious.

The rest of the breakfast passed in a whirlwind of congratulations and questions about her plans. Mannon answered as best as she could, though the reality of what had just happened was still sinking in.

---

Later that evening, Mannon sat alone on the balcony, the city lights twinkling like stars below. Her mind replayed the call over and over, the weight of her next steps pressing down on her.

“You alright?”

She turned to see Hyunjin stepping onto the balcony, his features softened by the night.

“I’m fine,” she said automatically, though her voice lacked conviction.

Hyunjin leaned against the railing, his gaze on the cityscape. “You don’t have to pretend, you know. This is huge, and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed.”

Mannon looked at him, surprised by the understanding in his tone. “It’s just… a lot,” she admitted.

He nodded, his eyes meeting hers. “But you’ve got this. And you’re not alone in it.”

His words settled something within her, the tension in her chest easing slightly.

“Thanks, Hyunjin,” she said softly.

He smiled, a warm, genuine curve of his lips. “Always.”

As they stood in silence, the night wrapping around them, Mannon felt a spark of hope. For the first time, she truly believed she could step into the spotlight—and that maybe, just maybe, she wouldn’t have to face it alone.