External Love

The song, a poignant ballad, spoke of eternal love, loss, and longing. As she sang, Min-ju felt Tae-hyun's presence around her, his spirit guiding her through the emotional performance.

Mr. Lee, the producer, was visibly moved by the recording. He had worked with Min-ju for years, but never had he seen her pour her heart and soul into a song like this. The pain and grief in her voice were palpable, and he knew that this song would touch the hearts of everyone who heard it.

With a faint smile, he approached her the moment it ended~ his eyes misty with emotion. "Min-ju, that was beautiful," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Tae-hyun would be proud of you."

Min-ju's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure. "Thank you, Mr. Lee," she said, her voice steady. "I want to release this song as a tribute to Tae-hyun. Can we make that happen?"

Mr. Lee nodded, his expression determined. "We'll make it happen, Min-ju. We'll make sure that Tae-hyun's memory lives on through this song."

As they left the recording studio, Min-ju felt a sense of purpose that she had not felt in months. She knew that she still had a long way to go, but she was ready to face the challenges ahead. She was ready to keep dancing, to keep singing, and to keep Tae-hyun's memory alive.

.

.

.

Hye Ji was about stepping out when she noticed Min Ju alight from a cab. " Thanks..." Min Ju's smile quickly faded back as the cab rolled off.

" Hey..." Hye Ji approached from the door. " where have you been?...I've been looking everywhere for you"

" Hey, Hye Ji... you're here" She sounded a little tired.

" Yh, I am...why that face?~ did something happen?"

Min Ju hesitated for a moment but then, decided to speak up. " If you are free, can we talk somewhere a little more quite?"

Hey Ju quickly nodded. The two settled in a cab Hye Ju had waved to a stop and soon, they had hit the road. Within a few minutes drive, they alighted at their favorite coffee shop.

They have been visiting this shop ever since they moved in as Trainees. It was like a second home to them.

Min-ju and Hye-ji sat down at the cozy corner of the quaint coffee shop. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. Min-ju took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before sharing her discovery with Hye-ji.

"I found Tae-hyun's journal," Min-ju said, her voice barely above a whisper. "And I think I know what happened to him."

Hye-ji's eyes widened in surprise. "What do you mean?" she asked, leaning in closer.

Min-ju pulled out the journal from her bag and handed it to Hye-ji. "Read it," she said. "It's all there. His fears, his dreams... everything."

As Hye-ji flipped through the pages, her expression changed from curiosity to shock. "Min-ju, this is... this is huge," she said, her voice trembling.

Min-ju nodded. "I know. And I think we can use this to uncover the truth behind his death."

Hye-ji looked up, determination in her eyes. "I'm with you, Min-ju. What's the plan?"

Min-ju took a deep breath, outlining her plan. Hye-ji listened intently, her expression growing more determined by the minute.

"I want to release the song Tae-hyun wrote," she said. "The one he left behind. I think it's the key to unlocking everything."

Hye-ji's eyes sparkled with excitement. "That's a great idea! But we need to be careful. If someone is behind Tae-hyun's death, they won't hesitate to silence us too."

Min-ju nodded, her mind racing with the possibilities. "I know. But I have a plan. We'll work with Mr. Lee, the producer. He's trustworthy, and he can help us get the song out there."

Hye-ji's grinned "Let's do this."

As they clinked their coffee cups together, Min-ju felt a sense of hope she hadn't felt in months. With Hye-ji by her side, she knew they could uncover the truth and bring justice to Tae-hyun's memory.

But little did they know, they were being watched. A figure lurked in the shadows, listening in on their conversation. And this figure would stop at nothing to keep the truth hidden.

The evening soon came knocking, sweeping away the sun down the horizon. Min Ju gazed out of the window, staring at the stars.

Àfter some time, she retired to bed. As she lay in bed staring at the ceiling, she dozed off. A faint whisper called to her. At first, she thought it was her imagination, but the voice grew louder.

"Min-ju…"

She sat up, her heart pounding. "Who's there?"

The room was dark, but she could see a faint glow near the window. As she squinted, the glow took shape, and she gasped.

"Tae-hyun?"

He stood there, looking just as he had before the accident, his eyes filled with love and sadness. "Min-ju, it's me."

Tears streamed down her face as she reached out to touch him, but her hand passed through his form. "How is this possible?"

"I don't know," he replied, his voice soft. "But I'm here to help you. You can't give up on your dreams, Min-ju. You have to keep going."

"But how can I?" she sobbed. "You're gone. Everything we planned… it's all gone."

Tae-hyun moved closer, his presence comforting. "I'm still with you, Min-ju. I'll always be with you. You have to be strong, for both of us."

Min-ju wiped her tears, feeling a glimmer of hope. "What do I do?"

"Keep dancing," he said. "Dance for me, for us. I'll be right here, guiding you."

" But why didn't you tell me..." She sobbed. " Why was I the last to find out that you were in some kind of danger~why?."

" I'm sorry, Min " He started but then suddenly disappeared. Min Ju called in devastation as she briskly searched around for him. That's when she shot out of sleep.

She instinctively scanned around but found no one. It was all just a nightmare. Min Ju broke down in tears. It was almost morning.

With Tae-hyun's ghostly presence by her side, Min-ju found the strength to return to the practice room. She felt his guidance in every step, every move, and slowly, she began to heal. The other trainees noticed her renewed determination, and even CEO Kang saw the change in her.

As the days turned into weeks, Min-ju's skills improved, and she felt a sense of purpose again. She knew that Tae-hyun's spirit was with her, helping her every step of the way.

One evening, as she practiced alone in the studio, she felt a familiar warmth. She turned to see Tae-hyun smiling at her.

"You're doing great, Min-ju," he said. "I'm so proud of you."

She smiled through her tears. "Thank you, Tae-hyun. I couldn't have done it without you."

As she continued to dance, she felt a sense of peace.

***********

The days turned into weeks, and the weeks turned into months. Together, they worked tirelessly to create a beautiful ballad that captured the essence of Tae-hyun's words. It became a tribute to Tae-hyun's memory and a testament to the love they shared.

The music video shoot took place on a crisp autumn day, amidst the golden hues of Seoul's Namsan Park. Her voice soared as she sang, pouring her heart and soul into every note.

The leaves rustled beneath her feet as she walked along the winding paths of Namsan Park, the golden hues of autumn casting a warm glow on her face. The music video shoot was a tribute to Tae-hyun's memory, and she felt his presence with her every step of the way.

As she performed, the camera captured the raw emotion on her face, the pain and grief still palpable in her eyes. But there was also a sense of hope, of resilience, that shone through in her voice.

After the shoot, Min-ju felt a sense of accomplishment, knowing that she had created something beautiful in Tae-hyun's honor. But as she walked off the set, she couldn't shake off the feeling that someone was watching her.

She turned to Hye-ji, who was busy checking her phone. "Hey, do you feel like we're being watched?" Min-ju asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Hye-ji looked up, her eyes scanning the area. "I don't see anyone," she said, but her expression was concerned.

Min-ju nodded, trying to brush off the feeling. But it only intensified as the days went by. She started to notice strange messages on her social media accounts, cryptic warnings that seemed to come from nowhere.

Finally, her song came out~ it was released to critical acclaim. Her "External Love" became a hit, topping the charts and touching the hearts of fans everywhere.

The music video, featured footage of Min-ju and Tae-hyun's time together. It brought tears to the eyes of all who watched.

Her performance on music shows was met with standing ovations, and her name was on everyone's lips. She had finally found her place in the spotlight, and she was determined to stay there.

Her journey was far from over, but she knew Tae-hyun would always be with her, in every note, every step, and every dream.

But as she stood on stage, accepting award after award, Min-ju couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. She felt like she was being watched, like someone was waiting for her in the shadows.

And then, one night, she received a mysterious message. "Meet me at the old warehouse at midnight. Come alone."

Min-ju's heart raced as she read the message. Who could be behind this? And what did they want from her?

Despite her reservations, Min-ju knew that she had to go. She had to uncover the truth behind Tae-hyun's death, and she had to find out who was behind the mysterious message.

As she made her way to the old warehouse, the darkness seemed to swallow her whole. She felt a sense of trepidation, she was walking into the unknown but she was determined to face whatever lay ahead.