Prologue
A frustrated shake of your head, repeated until the tension felt like a physical weight. The sound of the music, looping, mocking your attempts at perfection.
“No good, no good, no good…”
“Y/N!”
You looked up, meeting Eunji’s gaze. She leaned against the wall near the sound system, hand hovering over the laptop, poised to replay the same ten seconds of music for the 257th time.
She sighed, running a hand through her short, raven hair. “Are you done yet? You realize you’ve been looping the same section for over five hours, right? Three hundred times, give or take.”
You rolled your eyes, wiping sweat from your forehead with a towel. “Perfection is key, Eunji. I’ll do it a thousand times if I have to.”
Eunji exhaled dramatically. “But you *are* perfect! You’ve been nailing it the entire time!”
Another shake of your head, a stubborn refusal to accept praise. You tossed the towel aside, the motion sharp. “Not perfect enough. If I’m not completely satisfied, it’s not perfect.”
Eunji groaned, slumping against the wall. “You’re a perfectionist, Y/N. It’s exhausting just watching.”
She punched a few keys, and the music surged back to life. Your body responded instantly, moving with fluid grace, each step precise. You caught your reflection in the mirror, frowned at the subtle flaw, and stopped the music mid-step. Another sigh escaped you.
“Eunji, why don’t you take a break? I’ll practice without the music for a bit. I need to feel it without the external rhythm.”
She shrugged. “Don’t need a break. Keep going. You’re amazing.”
You smiled gratefully, her coal-black eyes twinkling with encouragement. Taking a sip of water, you returned to your position, determined.
“One last time, Eunji. I’ll nail it this time.”
------------------------
You stepped out of the building, legs aching from ten hours of relentless practice. Eunji walked beside you, happily chattering with the other students. You closed your eyes, letting the cool breeze wash over your face. A sigh of contentment escaped your lips. You were making your way to your favorite cafe, a ritual you shared with Eunji.
“Y/N! Wait up!”
You stopped, turning to find Eunji catching up, a slight frown creasing her features. She bumped your arm playfully.
“What were you rushing off for?”
You shrugged, smiling. “I don’t know. I’m in a good mood.”
She looked at you grumpily, then shrugged, her frown replaced by a cheerful grin. “Whatever. You’re paying for my food today then.”
She giggled, darted ahead into the cafe, weaving through the tables to your usual spot. You sighed, smiling, shaking your head at her playful energy. You took a step forward, following her when a cough broke your concentration. You turned, immediately bowing in apology for blocking the path. As you straightened, you met the gaze of a young man with a subtle, amused expression. He cleared his throat again.
“By any chance, are you Y/N?”
You nodded slowly, a flicker of alarm rising within you. He smiled kindly, pulling a card from his pocket and handing it to you. His attire was impeccable – a black, formal suit, polished shoes, and a sleek bow tie. You glanced at the card, your eyes widening. “Big Hit” was printed in elegant black ink. You looked back at the man, questioning. He smiled again.
“Y/N, I’d like to inform you that you’ve been cast for Big Hit. We’d like to welcome you as a trainee as soon as possible.”
Your eyes widened further, and your mouth fell open. Words failed you. You closed your mouth, embarrassed by your inability to respond. He bowed slightly.
“We expect to see you again soon. Thank you.”
With a final, polite nod, he turned and walked away, leaving you standing there, clutching the card as if your life depended on it, your mouth hanging open once more. The weight of the moment threatened to steal your breath.