Kim Taehyung

Chapter 1 — The Stranger in the Rain

Seoul was unusually quiet that evening.

Rain poured steadily against the windows of the small café where Amrita worked part-time. The warm yellow lights inside made the place feel cozy, while outside, people hurried along the wet streets with umbrellas held over their heads.

It was almost closing time.

Amrita was wiping down the counter when the café door suddenly opened.

A young man stepped inside.

He was dressed completely in black—a hoodie pulled over his head, a mask covering most of his face, and a baseball cap hiding his hair. Water droplets clung to his clothes from the rain.

He glanced around the nearly empty café before quietly approaching the counter.

"One hot Americano, please."

His voice was low and calm.

He placed some money on the counter and looked around again, as if making sure nobody had recognized him.

Amrita prepared the coffee and placed it on the counter.

"Here you go."

The stranger picked up the cup.

"Thank you."

Instead of leaving, however, he walked toward the corner table near the window and sat down.

He removed his cap but kept his mask on.

For the first time that evening, he relaxed.

Outside, cameras and reporters had been following him for hours.

His name was Kim Taehyung.

One of the most famous idols in South Korea.

Millions knew his face. Millions knew his voice. And millions followed almost everything he did.

But tonight, all Taehyung wanted was somewhere nobody would recognize him.

He took a sip of his coffee and looked toward the counter.

The girl working there hadn't even looked twice at him.

No shocked expression.

No whispering.

No phone pointed in his direction.

Nothing.

For some reason, that made him smile beneath his mask.

A few minutes passed.

Then Taehyung noticed that the rain outside was getting heavier.