Dying Fame: The Reality of Trends I Story By Jesica

 Leo Gratz was the number-one idol of the year. Not just for one year, for a total of three years he was the number one, the most handsome, the most talented. No one could compete with him. He went to many places just for interviews.

Another idol, who was neglected by the internet and the public, hated Leo to his guts. His name was Stephen Aurelius. One time, a rumor was spread about Leo that he neglected a fan and hit them on the head. The fan had made a magnificent drawing. It spread to every corner of the world.

“Leo’s Unexpected Ending!” thought Stephen happily.

It was Leo’s downfall now. Leo’s company, GLORIUS, fired Leo for disrespecting the fan. He was now a waiter at Ben’s Hotel, a famous hotel. Well, only famous in a small city called McVille. As Leo was serving food, he remembered the other side of his life, the interviews, the old memories where he sang his greatest-of-all-time songs on his iconic stage. And here he was now, a waiter at Ben’s Hotel. He was in disgrace.

While thinking and remembering all those things, a famous director, CEO of XV, and author entered the restaurant. Her name was Aiko Suzuki. She had heard about Leo’s downfall and saw a Leo serving food. Everyone wanted to click pictures with Aiko, but the security stopped them.

During that chaos, Aiko was staring at Leo, not expecting to see him serving food at a hotel. Aiko knew it all. She knew the rumour was fake. She thought of a great idea to bring back the iconic Leo Gratz, but it would take a lot of time.

She ate and left the restaurant. It took days and weeks. She made another new movie called ‘Dying Fame’, a movie where they show how bad fame can be when it comes to trends.

“He comes in and…” Aiko murmured in her office until an employee entered the room.

“What?” said Aiko, frustrated.

“Celebrity Felix is here to ask for a movie plot,” said the employee.

“Tell him I’m working on another movie,” said Aiko, grumpy and frustrated as always.

“Indeed,” said the employee.

“Gosh, no one will let me finish this movie!” groaned Aiko.

A few days passed, and the movie was finally done! She then sent a letter to Leo. When Leo got the letter, he was confused. “Why did she send me a letter?” He opened the letter and started to read it:

Date: Aug 8, 2024

Address: XXX

From: Aiko Suzuki

To: Leo Gratz

Dear Leo,

I have invited you gracefully to act as the main character in my new movie “Dying Fame”. It is mandatory for you to come. The auditions will commence from August 11, 2024, and the main act will start from August 12, 2024. I request you to accept this invite. We, the people of XV, will pay for the inconvenience that occurs during the travelling procedure.

Thank you,

Your dearest,

Aiko.

Leo stared at the letter, shocked, but he quickly regained his composure and started checking his bank account and the distance between her office and his place. It was 20 kilometers away. And his bank account had enough to travel.

AUGUST 10

It is now August 10. He made the arrangements and left early. He is always either on time or before. He reached her office, but security didn’t let him in because he was 1 day early. He forgot it’s still August 10, not August 11. So he stayed at a hotel. The hotel was luxurious. It was very convenient and pretty. It reminded him of when he also had a bedroom like this. He takes a deep breath, puts down the suitcase, and sits on the bed.

August 11: The Auditions

It is now August 11. The auditions are at 8:00 AM. Leo steps out and takes the elevator. He pushes the “0” button—beep! The elevator goes down while Leo checks his phone. He reaches the ground floor and his taxi driver waits for him. He sits down in the backseat. He finally reaches his destination. He steps out of the taxi and stands there for a while, taking a deep breath. Leo enters Aiko’s office and sees some more people for the auditions.

“Oh, there you are, silly man. We’ve been waiting for you,” exclaimed Aiko.

“But the timing was 8:00 AM, wasn’t it? It is exactly 8:00 AM,” said Leo.

“No! You silly, it was 7:30 AM! Oh well, you’re only 15 minutes late. It’s okay, have a seat!” Aiko said cheerfully.

Leo sat down on one of the chairs. First came the interrogation of who they were, how old they were, etc. After the interrogation, the real game began. Aiko knew well that Leo would be the one to lock up the main character role. She was right.

August 12: The Final Day

It’s the Main Act and Leo is very nervous. The time for the act is 9:00 AM. And he is right this time. He is so disciplined that he put an alarm so he would be on time. He puts on his favorite black suit with a red tie and black pants. The phone buzzes, and he is on time. He puts on his fancy shoes, fixes his hair, and puts his phone and a sufficient mirror in his pocket. He opens the door, locks his apartment, and marches forward. He calls his usual taxi driver and rides away! He reaches his destination, now cool as a cucumber. He enters the studio and looks around, remembering his old times when he used to act in a big studio too. Aiko appears out of thin air and pats Leo’s shoulder, and he flinches:

“Huh? Aiko, you h-here?”

“Why, can’t I be here? They said I could,” Aiko said as she pointed at the producers.

“N-no, like you can be here, but I’ve never seen an author of a movie come see the main act!” said Leo.

“Well, I’ve always wanted to see you act live, so why not strike while the iron is hot?” exclaimed Aiko.

Leo was about to say something, but then one of the producers called out:

“Is eveybody here on the studio stage npw!!??”

“Y-You forgot about me!!” Leo said as he ran to the stage.

Aiko giggled at his clumsiness. The Main Act started. When Leo was not shown in the movie for a short period of time, he saw a person staring from the door, kind of like stalking, but he thought:

“Never mind, it’s just a fan, I guess.”

A few days passed; the acting for the movie was over. Leo came back from all the acting and lies down like a sloth on his comfy bed. He lived like normal in his hotel. He didn’t expect that he would like this hotel so much that he started living there. Some more days passed, and a miracle happened! The movie was famous all over the internet and people talked about Leo, not negative comments, actually positive comments—Wait, positive comments? You may be thinking. It occurred because of something that was shown in the movie. The fan Leo neglected and hit on the head with his leg wasn’t a fan; he was Stephen!—Wait, how? You may be thinking, how did Aiko know that the fan was Stephen? Well, Aiko knew very well about the strong enmity between Leo and Stephen. The same concert where the rumor started was recorded. Aiko looked closely; the fan matched Stephen’s facial features. She knew it was Stephen all along. She did all this before entering Ben’s Hotel.

Everyone forgave Leo. Leo knew the fan was Stephen, but didn’t know what the reason was. So he had a talk with Stephen. Stephen was feeling exposed for what he did. Leo asked Stephen softly:

“Stephen, why did you try to end my career?”

“I— No wait, should I say it?”

“Yes, I won’t do anything.”

“What actually happened was I’m the oldest sibling and my younger siblings get all the attention, so I wanted my parents to look at me, so I became a singer and tried to be on the 1st rank, but you were in my way and… I tried to end your career.”

Leo smiled and put his hand on his shoulder:

“Stephen, it’s not always important that you should make your parents proud and then you will think you’re the best. No one is perfect. But you should always try to be perfect, not for someone else, but only for you. Think how you made your fans happy with your song.”

From now on, Stephen understood he should only make himself and his fans happy. And Leo came back to the leaderboard. But there was something wrong. Aiko was forgotten now.

She tried and tried, but no one remembered her. At last, she gave up as a screenwriter and became a novelist. She wrote many novels and even a travelogue when she travelled from Canada to Singapore! She became famous again and is now happily living her life. Even kids reading her novels said, “I want to be like her!”

Leo’s Assassination DAy

Leo was about to be assassinated. The day before he was assassinated, he had an interview with Stephen. Leo’s last recorded message was:

“All I want isn’t money or fame; all I want is my fans’ happiness and their support. They have led me through a wonderful journey.”

The assassin was arrested, and it turned out to be the fan who was staring at him!

— 「 ✦ 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐡𝐚 ✦ 」

(DISCLAIMER: This story isn’t supposed to emphasize any company or KPOP Idols or any other Idol. The Written Company And The Characters are fully fictional) 

FAQs – Dying Fame: The Reality of Trends | Story by Jesica

What is Dying Fame: The Reality of Trends about?

The story follows Leo Gratz, a famous idol whose career is ruined by a false rumour. It explores how truth, perseverance, and kindness help him rebuild his life and reputation.

What is the main message of the story?

The story highlights the dangers of rumours, online trends, and public judgment while showing that honesty, resilience, and self-belief are more valuable than fame.

Who is the author of this story?

The story is written by Jesica, a young writer who imagines the highs and lows of celebrity life through a fictional narrative.

Why did Stephen try to ruin Leo’s career?

Stephen acted out of jealousy and a desire for recognition. Later, he realizes his mistake and learns that success should come from personal growth, not competition.

How does Leo regain his fame?

Aiko Suzuki uncovers the truth behind the false rumour and casts Leo in her film, Dying Fame, which helps restore his reputation.

What role does Aiko Suzuki play in the story?

Aiko is a filmmaker and writer who believes in Leo’s innocence. She becomes the driving force behind revealing the truth and giving him a second chance.

Is Dying Fame: The Reality of Trends based on real people?

No. The story is entirely fictional. As mentioned in the disclaimer, the characters, companies, and events are created by the author and are not based on real idols or entertainment companies.

What can readers learn from this story?

Readers learn to think critically before believing rumours, value truth over popularity, forgive others, and remember that lasting success comes from integrity rather than temporary fame.

Where can you buy books?

You can buy books at Bookosmia.com and Amazon.

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