Ep~1: The First Brushstroke

The fluorescent lights above the backstage area hummed softly, mixing with the faint echo of screaming fans outside the arena. Posters of the K-pop group Eclipse lined the hallway, their dazzling smiles immortalized on glossy paper. Staff members scurried like ants, adjusting microphones, rushing costumes into garment racks, and double-checking stage lighting cues.

For Ji-eun, this chaos was her sanctuary. Her world didn’t revolve around stages or spotlight it revolved around faces. More precisely, the artistry of transforming those faces. As one of the youngest rising makeup artists in Seoul, she had clawed her way up through endless sleepless nights and countless unpaid gigs.

She pulled her tool kit closer, taking a steadying breath. Her fingers, stained faintly with foundation pigments, tapped against the table. She scanned the schedule again, her eyes freezing on the name written in bold letters:

Seo Min-jae.

Her throat tightened. The Seo Min-jae. Lead vocalist of Eclipse, Korea’s top boy group. Known not just for his velvet voice but also for his impossible visuals. Millions adored him. And today, Ji-eun was assigned to do his stage makeup.

Her heart raced. Calm down, Ji-eun. He’s just another client. Another face. You’ve got this.

The door opened, and with it, came an aura that shifted the entire atmosphere. Min-jae walked in, dressed casually in sweats and a plain white tee. No makeup, no stage persona—just a man who carried the kind of natural charisma that made even the air around him feel warmer.

“Min-jae-ssi, this is your artist for today,” the coordinator said, gesturing toward Ji-eun.

Ji-eun bowed deeply, forcing her nerves into submission. “Annyeonghaseyo. Kim Ji-eun imnida. I’ll be doing your makeup.”

Min-jae’s gaze fell on her. His eyes soft, brown, piercing—seemed to study her face for a second longer than necessary. Then a small smile tugged at his lips.

“Nice to meet you, Ji-eun-ssi,” he said, his voice deep and unhurried. “Please take care of me.”

Ji-eun motioned for him to sit. Her hands felt foreign as she reached for her brushes. She focused on the palette, anything but his eyes. “Of course. This won’t take long.”

Min-jae sat silently at first, but his presence was anything but silent. Ji-eun adjusted the light and leaned in close, her brush sweeping over his flawless skin. Her breath caught slightly when their eyes met in the mirror. He caught it too - his lips curved into a teasing grin.

“You seem nervous,” he murmured, breaking the silence.

Ji-eun blinked, her brush halting mid-stroke. “Me? N-no, not at all. Why would I be nervous?”

He chuckled, a soft sound that vibrated through the air. “Because you’ve been holding your breath for the last thirty seconds.”

Heat rushed to her cheeks. Oh god, he noticed. She forced a laugh. “I just…concentrate when I work.”

“Mm,” he said, his gaze still locked with hers in the mirror. “I’ll take that as a compliment, then. You’re the first person who looks like they’re trying to solve an exam question while touching my face.”

Ji-eun rolled her eyes, trying to mask the sudden flutter in her chest. “Maybe your face is the exam question.”

The banter slipped out before she could stop herself. Min-jae tilted his head slightly, surprised and then he laughed, a genuine laugh that lit up his entire face.

It was disarming. Beautiful. Dangerous.

Ji-eun’s brush wavered in her hand, dangerously close to slipping. Focus, Ji-eun. For heaven’s sake, he’s a client. He’s a star. You’re just -

“Are you always this witty with your clients?” he asked, voice playful.

“Only with the ones who fidget too much,” she shot back.

His lips curved again. “I’ll take that as permission to keep fidgeting then.”

Ji-eun suppressed a groan. This man is trouble.

The rest of the session blurred into charged silence and teasing remarks. Min-jae wasn’t just another idol. He was warm, approachable in a way she hadn’t expected. He watched her hands as if fascinated, asking small questions: why she chose certain tones, why the brush moved at certain angles. He listened, not out of boredom, but with real interest.

For Ji-eun, who was used to stars treating her like furniture, it was unsettling.

Finally, she set down her brush. “Done.”

Min-jae leaned closer to the mirror, examining his reflection. He turned his head slightly left and right, then smirked. “Perfect. No - better than perfect.”

Ji-eun crossed her arms. “Of course. That’s why I’m here.”

He looked at her then, really looked. “You should smile when you say things like that. It makes people believe you even more.”

Her chest tightened. She wanted to smile, but professionalism won. “Go do your stage. Don’t mess up the makeup I worked hard on.”

He stood, tall and radiant even in casual clothes, and gave her a small nod. “Then stay and watch. See if your work survives the stage lights.”

Ji-eun’s lips parted, caught off guard. Stay? Watch?

But before she could answer, Min-jae was gone, swept away by his manager and stylists, swallowed by the chaos of pre-show preparations.

Ji-eun sat frozen, her brushes still scattered, her heartbeat hammering in her ears.

This can’t be happening. He’s a star. He’s untouchable. And you—you’re just the girl behind the brush.

But deep inside, something dangerous had already begun to bloom.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***