Prologue: The Beginning of the Struggle

Note: The series "Fiction Are Real" draws significant inspiration from one of my favorite manhwas, "Movies are Real." While the initial chapters may seem similar, the story will take its own unique direction as it progresses.

I have waited a long time for that manhwa to continue, but since it hasn't, I wanted to honor its amazing plotline and fresh concept by creating my own version.

I appreciate your understanding and hope you'll enjoy this series and my other works. Your reviews and feedback are welcome.

prologue:

Seoul, the vibrant capital of South Korea, buzzed with life, its streets filled with people chasing their dreams or running from their pasts. The towering skyscrapers, glistening under the morning sun, stood as testaments to ambition and perseverance. Yet, within the shadows they cast, countless stories of struggle unfolded, unnoticed by the city's relentless pace.

Kim Suho's story was one of those lost in the crowd. An orphan since the age of fifteen, he had faced the harsh realities of life early on. His parents, victims of a tragic car accident, had left him nothing but their small house and an avalanche of grief. His maternal grandmother took him in, her kind eyes and warm embrace providing a semblance of family. But even she couldn't stay forever. She passed away when Suho was nineteen, leaving him truly alone.

With no siblings or relatives willing to support him, Suho was forced to fend for himself. His average grades from an average college with a degree in Arts and Theatre did little to set him apart in a city teeming with talent. He took on minor roles in dramas and movies, always the extra, never the star. To make ends meet, he did manual labor and worked part-time at a convenience store, barely scraping by.

Each day blended into the next, a haze of auditions, odd jobs, and a constant struggle to stay afloat. The debts he had accumulated to pay for his grandmother's medical bills and his student loans weighed heavily on him. Despite the relentless grind, Suho never gave up on his dream of making it big in the acting world. It was the only thing that kept him going, a flicker of hope in the otherwise bleak landscape of his life.

Yet, it seemed as though fate had more in store for him. One fateful day on set, the ordinary became extraordinary. As the director called for action, something inexplicable happened. The world around Suho shifted, the boundaries between fiction and reality dissolving. The scenes he acted out became real, the emotions and pain of his character his own. Each cut from the director transported him back to reality, but only if he delivered the perfect take.

Confusion and fear gripped Suho as he navigated this strange new ability. His first roles as victims—bullied, murdered, and tormented—took a psychological toll. The lines between his own identity and that of his characters blurred, leaving him questioning his sanity. But as his fame grew, so did the complexity of his roles. He solved real-life mysteries, experienced profound love and heartbreak, and delved into the depths of the human psyche.

Seeking to understand his condition, Suho turned to professional psychological help, meditation, and spiritual practices. Despite the turmoil, his unparalleled acting skills brought him acclaim, respect, and wealth. The boy who once played minor roles became a celebrated star, his journey a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

As he approached his early thirties, a haunting realization dawned upon him. What if his extraordinary ability was nothing more than a delusion? What if the skills he thought he had mastered were mere figments of his imagination? This unsettling question loomed over him, casting a shadow on his success.

In "Fictions are Real," Kim Suho's journey is one of discovery and transformation, a tale of a man who lost everything yet found a way to rise above. His story explores the delicate balance between reality and illusion, the pursuit of excellence, and the indomitable human spirit's capacity to overcome the greatest of odds.