She's the love of his life, the object of his affection. Too bad she doesn't know it yet.
Isla Montgomery is a normal fan. She supports her favorite K-pop group and swoons over them like every other fangirl. But one Saturday morning her life changes forever when Matoi Jaemin announces to the world that he's in love . . . and with her, a girl he's never even met. He isn't who anyone thought he was, isn't that same smiling man she's used to. Jaemin Matoi is a yandere: a delusional, obsessive, lovesick man whose only medicine is Isla.
She's the love of his life, the object of his affection. Too bad she doesn't know it yet.
Isla Montgomery is a normal fan. She supports her favorite K-pop group and swoons over them like every other fangirl. But one Saturday morning her life changes forever when Matoi Jaemin announces to the world that he's in love . . . and with her, a girl he's never even met. He isn't who anyone thought he was, isn't that same smiling man she's used to. Jaemin Matoi is a yandere: a delusional, obsessive, lovesick man whose only medicine is Isla.
Itās Saturday morning at eleven AM when Isla Montgomery finally rolls out of bed and shoves her cold feet into a pair of pink fluffy house shoes she bought from Goodwill. Yawning and rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, the nineteen-year-old girl lumbers across the crooked floors and into the shoddy kitchen, filling her dented kettle and waiting sleepily for the water to boil. She quickly grows impatient, grabbing an apple from the counter and rinsing it off, slicing the fruit into small chunks and rummaging through her disorganized pantry to find some peanut butter.
Isla settles onto the flat, floral couch in her tiny living room with her breakfast and a warm blanket thrown across her legs. She reclines and grabs her phone, smiling at the adorable photo of Jaemin she has as her lock screen before punching in her passcode and checking her notifications. With a small frown, Isla realizes that she slept through a LiVe. She clicks the link anyway, only to be told that the livestream is currently being re-uploaded. She shrugs, deciding to simply watch it later.
Isla has been a fan of OT2B for four years, ever since the K-pop band was first formed. It consists of five members - three singers - Kim Seojoon, Park Woojin, and Matoi Jaemin and two rappers - Han Leo and Bae Daehyun. She remembers those early days vividly, smiling to herself as she recalls the bizarre hairstyles and questionable outfit choices the boys donned. Their music was always phenomenal, even if it wasnāt popular, their lyrics filled with meaning and their melodies memorable. Their lyrics always seemed to resonate with her, encouraging her to do her best and uplifting her spirits whenever she felt down. The band has become such a large part of her life that Isla doesnāt know who she would be without them and without their work.
Beyond their musical prowess, the band members themselves bring light into Islaās life. Their energetic and bubbly personalities always make her laugh and smile, seeming to connect with them on a personal level. Through the years, theyāve become friends for Isla, people she reaches for, even if that just means watching videos or liking tweets.Ā
But in the last year or so, the foreign band has become increasingly popular abroad, their lovingly named fans - the Starlights - popping up everywhere. On one hand, Isla couldnāt be prouder of them. The bandās successes feel like her own, their triumph making her heart race with pride. But on the other hand, Isla feels a bit apprehensive, sitting through forced and awkward interviews as everyone tries to get their hands on the group, using their name for views and clicks.
She sighs, clicking off the LiVe app and looking at her phone, noticing the lack of notifications. Itās another one of those weekends where the young lady has no plans, no friends to hang out with, and no errands to run. Isla could stop by and visit her family, but it would be a waste of time to visit people who donāt care about her. Since graduating high school a year ago and forgoing the traditional college route, Isla has desperately been searching for her lifeās purpose, for what makes her tick. But sheās been entirely unsuccessful, stuck working a waitressing job to afford her tiny, run-down apartment only an hourās drive away from the hometown she hates. OT2B is the perfect distraction from reality.
The girl is completely free of commitments, whether she wants to be or not. With nothing better to do, Isla decides to spend her time binge-watching the new kdrama sheās heard so much about - something involving a chaebol falling in love with a waitress. She makes it half an hour through the first episode before a Twitter notification interrupts the funny scene the main character experiences.
Itās a message. That's quite odd as Islaās Twitter is purely for her to be able to keep up with the OT2B boys and to host her LiVe account. She only has six followers and has never spoken to any of them or anyone else for that matter. Curious, she clicks the notification, tsking in annoyance when it takes too long to load. When it finally does, she finds herself wishing sheād just continued with her show.
āA whore like you doesnāt deserve Jaemin. I hope you choke on your own spit.ā
Isla just stares at the message, not sure what to do. It doesnāt make any sense at all. She doesnāt deserve Jaemin? What do they mean?
After another moment of deliberation, she decides to ignore it, blocking the hateful person and continuing with her show. The message couldnāt have been meant for her, and if it was, it must have been a troll who sent it, just choosing a random account to try and start shit with.
But she doesnāt get another five seconds in before her phone seems to spazz out, a million notifications coming at once. Thousands of messages all pop up and her follower count skyrockets from six to sixty thousand.Ā
She shakes her phone, thinking it's glitching out. When the notifications keep flooding in, Isla goes to her Twitter, finding among all the new followers, comments, and DMs, a post notification from OT2Bās official account.
She nearly drops her phone when the tweet loads, her fingers shaking badly as she stares at the photo that was tweeted out.
Itās a photo of her, one her outgoing coworker took two weeks ago when the two of them spent a Saturday afternoon shopping at the strip mall near her home. Sheād dressed up that day and had felt pretty, smiling widely towards the camera and situated beside one of the trees growing inside of the building.Ā
The caption has her feeling sick to her stomach.
āThis is her, my beautiful girlfriend. Thank you @islaliving for always being there and supporting me. I love you! #Jaeminieā
They must have been hacked, right? Thereās no way this is happening, thereās been some terrible mistake. Convinced that sheās dreaming, Isla downs the last of her coffee in one gulp, turns off her TV and heads back to bed. When she wakes up, itāll all be over, or so she believes.Ā
But, itās not a dream. The messages keep coming, her phone keeps ringing until she wants to chuck the metal through the window. She doesnāt dare to even open her Twitter, fearful of more unsolicited hate comments. She goes so far as to disable her notifications. None of her other social media accounts are any better, her photo is posted everywhere on every account. Hell, even Billboard has an article up: āIdol Matoi Jaemin of OT2B announces his relationship with foreign girlfriend, Isla Montgomery, this morning on LiVeā.
Seeing the title, Isla immediately opens up the app, sighing in relief when the livestream has been re-uploaded. Her breaths are short as the video loads.
When it finally flickers on, Isla is blessed with the sight of a very happy looking Matoi Jaemin, the man grinning at the camera with his face cradled in his hands. He looks casual, dressed in a simple white t-shirt, face bare and hair messy. His dark locks fall right above his eyes, so the idol tilts his head to the side to get them out of his way. His nose is adorable, rounded and delicate, almost as cute as the twin dimples that imprint his cheeks when he smiles. Itās obvious why heās a fan favorite. Jaemin is everything a girl could dream of: filthy rich, super talented, sickly sweet, and unbelievably sexy when he wants to be. Heās in direct contrast to Islaās meeker, shyer personality. She wishes she could have some of the charisma he possesses.
Jaemin leans closer to the camera, giving the viewers a closer look at his neck and collarbones as he adjusts the lamp behind his phone, necklaces brushing together. As always, he waits a few minutes for the livestream to get more viewers, humming some tune she recognizes as one of her favorite songs.
An uncomfortable chill runs down her spine and she burrows deeper under the covers, subconsciously attempting to hide from it.
Another minute passes before he begins, sitting up straight and flashing an even wider smile. He looks absolutely ecstatic.
āHello, everyone,ā he begins, Isla being more thankful for subtitles than she ever has been in her entire life, āItās late, isnāt it? Ah, I hope I didnāt wake any of you. Usually, Iād be getting ready to go to bed too, but I had a thought I just had to share with my Starlights.ā
He pauses as if pondering his next words.
āI,ā he bites his full, pink lips, rubbing his hands together, āI have an announcement.ā
The comments must have surged because he laughs, scrolling on the screen.
āNo, donāt worry! Iām not leaving OT2B, no way. And Iām okay, better than okay. Itās something good, I promise.ā
Isla feels herself growing irritated. Usually, sheād love to see him ramble, but now is not the time. She canāt scroll forward either, as she could miss something important.
āYes, itās something very good indeed. Starlights have been there to support me these last years and I couldnāt have been more thankful. I wouldnāt have been here without you. For whatever reason, whatever time, each one of you found One Thousand Times Bright. It was fate for us to be together, for us to spend our youth together, to give and take love to and from each other. . .ā He trails off, doll-like eyes looking dazed.
āAnd now, now I ask you to support me in my next endeavor. Thereās this special path I hope each of you can walk down one day. Iāve stumbled across it, accidentally. I never meant for it to happen, but Iām so glad it did.ā
He takes another breath, heat rising to his cheeks in the form of a beautiful blush as thoughts race through his head, loud, all shouting the same thing.Ā
Isla is startled when the next words out of his mouth are in English, spoken clear as water.
āIām in love.ā
Isla pauses the video, overcome with some sort of emotion. She doesnāt know how to react. She stands up from her bed and leaves her phone frozen on Jaeminās glowing face, her hands shaking as she paces across her bedroom floor.Ā Ā
āThis is okay. This is fine. Thereās some sort of misunderstanding. Maybe heās going to say heās in love with a new hobby, career or something. Maybe heās fallen for Woojin. Yes, itās something like that, isnāt it? I'll go over there and press play and heāll say heās dating Woojinnie. Anyone but me. Maybe itās another idol? Or a childhood friend? He probably just used my Twitter handle by accident. It must have been close to someone elseās. Yeah, thatās it,ā she convinces herself.
Clutching her fists together, she retrieves her phone, resuming the video.Ā
āHer name isāā
Isla flings her phone across the room, wiping at her face.
āYou know, I think I need to have a social media break today. That sounds great. Iāll read that new book I ordered, yeah. Iāll do that.ā
She grabs the book and walks back into the living room, nearly tripping. Isla flops down onto the recliner and opens up the first page.
Fifteen minutes in, itās clear that this isnāt working at all. Sheās reread the first line at least a hundred times.
āFuck it!ā
Isla storms back upstairs and grabs her phone, sitting on her hands to prevent herself from tossing it again.Ā
āāIsla,ā Jaemin plays with his fingers, looking bashful, āShe's the most wonderful person I've ever met. I couldn't keep it inside of me anymore. I want to show her off to the world, hold her hand confidently, let everyone know that she's my baby.ā
He's grinning so widely now, it looks like his cheeks might burst.Ā
āI love her so much, I want to be with her forever . . . and I really hope my Starlights can grow to love her as much as I do. Please continue to send your love and support . . . I'm sorry if this seems selfish, but I can't help feeling the way I do. I can't help falling in love with her,ā he licks his lips.
Isla feels herself grow warm, some indescribable electricity running through her veins. She lifts a hand to her mouth, feeling embarrassed that someone could say those things about anyone, especially her, even if it is a lie.
āIsla,ā he says, and it feels like heās looking right through her and into some part of her she didn't know she had, āI hope I did okay. English is really hard,ā he laughs, ābut you know I'll do anything for you. Iāve been studying like crazy, so I hope I donāt sound too weird! I love you so much. See you soon.ā
He grins again and blows a kiss to the screen, hiding his face in his shirt as he turns the screen off.Ā
For a moment, Isla just sits where she is, mind blown. She replays the video once, then again, and once more. A part of her refuses to believe that it's her he's talking about, but there's no way he could mean anyone else. He used her name, her photograph, her username. Maybe one of these could be a mistake, but surely not all of them.Ā
She's stumped. How is one supposed to react when your idol who you've never met, never spoken to, suddenly outs the nonexistent relationship between the two of you?Ā
She can't exactly deny it, can she? It'll make her look like she broke his heart, wouldn't it? No one will believe that it's not real if Jaemin says it is.Ā
Why would he do this anyway? It makes no sense! Why jeopardize his career like that, especially for a relationship that isn't even real?Ā
And why her, of all people? He could have chosen a million other people to have this fake relationship with. She wasn't even informed about it. Surely, to have a plot like this, the other person has to be in on it.Ā
Maybe she should just delete her Twitter, lay low for a while. She should be safe, right?Ā
But how did he get that photo anyway? The only people who follow her on Instagram are people she knows, just a few acquaintances.
It hits her like a bolt of lightning.Ā
Her coworker.
Hurriedly, she pulls up her account, and lo and behold, her coworker (who doesn't believe in putting anything on private) has that photo posted. And worse, she's been tagged. Just as she realizes this, follower requests flood in like a hurricane.
Isla feels sick to her stomach.Ā
As if to make things worse, a text message comes in. A text from her crush who she had finally went on a date with only yesterday.
āDidn't know you were the cheating type. Don't talk to me againā
She wants to scream. None of this makes sense in the slightest. How would someone like her ever be able to date an idol? Especially if that idol is Matoi Jaemin, beloved by millions. Theyāre on two entirely different wavelengths, living in separate worlds. How can anyone take his announcement seriously? How had Isla's boring Saturday turned into the worst day of her life? How, how, how?
But a disaster cake isn't done without the icing on top.
She receives an email from Smash Entertainment, OT2Bās company.Ā
āFuck.ā
Mythomania reads like a wish-fulfillment fanfiction, except that itās actually better than one would normally expect.
I am a bit of a fangirl myself. And I have had moments in my life when music was the only thing that could blow through the thick fog threatening to clog my head. Music does heal and can really change a personās life, shift their moods and perspectives. It's like a friend who always seems to know just what to say and when to say it to ease the pain. I get that and it bonded me to Isla right away.
But then, thereās getting inspired by the music and being obsessed with the artists behind it. Both can change lives and ruin them. This novel proves just as much and more. Aside from having an inspired fan and an obsessed fan at the center of its story, it flips the card over and also tosses in an idol who found inspiration in a fanās words, falling into a dangerous obsession because of it.
Itās an intriguing read that kept me flipping through the pages, itching to uncover the truth behind the mystery and lies. Itās also an annoying read that more often than not reflected my own vulnerabilities (misplaced guilt and a twisted sense of responsibility can really make a person fall into unhealthy relationshipsāI get that, too). But at the end of it all, itās also quite an inspiring read, allowing its core characters to learn and grow from their mistakes, proving that our best life really does begin at the end of our dumbest decision.
One complaint I have about the novel, though, is that it failed to convince me that Jaemin had to be a Korean idol, that OT2B had to be a Korean group. A disclaimer at the beginning of the book did warn that certain liberties were taken to pull off certain plot points. If youāre just after the thrills and the romance, I think you can enjoy this book and easily overlook the flaws. I guess I was just looking for a little bit more cultural feel that goes beyond names, honorifics, and bright hair colors.