My Sister Picked Up The Male Lead

Okay, you are not going to believe this. Remember how I was telling you about my sister, Sarah? The one who claims she only reads non-fiction, but I always catch her sneaking peeks at my romance novels? Yeah, her. Well, she basically just walked into a K-drama. I'm not kidding.

It all started last week. Sarah was, allegedly, at a conference for…sustainable architecture? I don't know, something boring. Anyway, she calls me, and her voice is all breathy and weird. I thought maybe she finally got stuck in an elevator. You know, classic Sarah move.

But nope. Turns out, she “ran into” (and I use that term loosely, because she later admitted she totally saw him first and strategically placed herself in his path) the Male Lead. Yes, THE Male Lead. From that super popular drama, “Crimson Hearts,” that we both binge-watched last year. Kim Min-joon. The guy with the tragic backstory and the smoldering gaze? Him!

I nearly choked on my coffee when she told me. Like, what are the chances? What did she even say to him? Did she faint? Did she try to speak Korean even though she only knows “annyeonghaseyo”? These were all the important questions I needed answers to.

Apparently, he was at the same conference. Who knew architects were so into K-dramas? (Maybe they're researching dramatic rooflines?) And Sarah, being the incredibly smooth operator that she is (sarcasm alert!), complimented his presentation. Said something about how it was "innovative and inspiring." I'm pretty sure she stole that from one of my book reviews. The nerve!

Anyway, one thing led to another (I'm still piecing together the exact details, she's being infuriatingly vague), and they ended up grabbing coffee. Coffee! With Kim Min-joon! I’ve been trying to get a decent latte from that new place downtown for weeks, and she's casually sipping cappuccinos with a Korean superstar. Unbelievable.

Here's the really insane part. They've been hanging out. Like, actually hanging out. She sent me a picture (a blurry one, taken from a distance, because she's trying to be all low-key), of them walking through a park. Walking! And talking! Probably about sustainable building materials. Or maybe she’s finally converting him to the joys of reality TV. One can only hope.

Is This Real Life?

I know, I know. You're probably thinking this is all some elaborate prank. I thought so too, at first. But she's completely serious. She's even started trying to learn Korean for real now. Duolingo is her new best friend. Goodbye, free time! Hello, potential intercontinental romance!

The other day, she asked me for advice on what to wear on a "casual outing." Casual outing! With KIM MIN-JOON! I nearly lost it. I raided my closet, naturally. She ended up borrowing my favorite scarf. I'm secretly hoping it will magically transfer some of my own fabulousness onto her. A girl can dream, right?

I’m trying to play it cool, but honestly, I'm living vicariously through her. My own love life consists of accidentally liking my ex's mom's Instagram post. Meanwhile, Sarah is out there living the K-drama dream. What is happening?

What Does This All Mean?

I honestly don't know. Maybe this is just a fun little fling. Maybe Kim Min-joon is actually a really down-to-earth guy who appreciates a good conversation about passive solar design. Or maybe, just maybe, this is the start of something completely epic.

I’m picturing it now: the paparazzi shots, the exclusive interviews, the wedding in Seoul with me as the Maid of Honor (obviously). Okay, I'm getting ahead of myself. But still! A girl can dream, right?

One thing's for sure: my sister has officially won at life. And I'm going to be right there, eating popcorn and documenting every single juicy detail. Stay tuned, because this is a story that's just getting started. I’ll keep you updated. After all, who knows, maybe I'll accidentally bump into his equally attractive brother next. wink