Lisa Manoban stood backstage, one of four trainees poised to debut. It was her moment, the culmination of long-held dreams. She’d waited for this – to step onto a stage as a member of BlackPink, under YG Entertainment, in Seoul, South Korea. It had felt like a distant fantasy just months ago, but now, she and her group were ready to unleash their energy upon the world.
She bounced on the balls of her feet, her blonde hair a vibrant blur. She glanced at her phone for what felt like the hundredth time. Five minutes. Beads of sweat prickled her forehead, despite the layers of stage makeup. She looked up at the television screen in the waiting room, watching another K-pop group accept an award, their view count displayed in bold numbers.
A wave of doubt washed over her. She wasn’t ready. Could a girl from a small dance group in Thailand truly reach this level of fame? Her friends back home had become stars, but she hadn’t imagined she’d have a chance. She glanced at Kim Jisoo, Kim Jennie, and Park Rose. They hummed quietly to themselves, a silent attempt to quell their own racing hearts. Lisa turned toward the mirror. Three minutes left. The sweat felt relentless, tracing paths down her face.
She looked at her reflection. Her bangs threatened to fall into her eyes. Her cheeks puffed slightly as she smiled, light sparkling within them. She studied her outfit, tracing the intricate designs sewn onto her shirt. Then, she looked back into the mirror. Somehow, locking eyes with herself calmed her racing pulse. As the saying went, dream with your eyes closed, but *live* your dream with your eyes open. She was ready to open hers. All the hours of practice, the suppressed emotions, everything had led to this.
“You can do this, Lisa. No, you *have* to do this,” she whispered, nodding to herself. One last check of her makeup, ensuring no sweat had compromised her look. She turned and walked towards her members, who were still lost in their own worlds, fingers tracing patterns, humming softly. They looked up as she approached, her quiet footsteps breaking their trance. They huddled together, clasping hands, forming a circle of four.
“This is it, guys. We can do this,” Jisoo said, her gaze sweeping across each of their faces. Jisoo, the eldest, was known for her Korean beauty—delicate lips and bright eyes framed by a double lid. Years of training and vocal lessons had only amplified her radiance. They embraced, inhaling each other’s scent, a bizarrely grounding ritual. They held the hug until the door creaked open. They looked up to see their manager, her face a familiar beacon of calm.
“It’s time,” she said, her voice calm and steady. The fear on the four young women’s faces melted into smiles. The jitters were gone, replaced by a surge of adrenaline. Like a magical pill, those two words summoned their confidence. A jolt of electricity coursed through their veins, shaking loose the negativity. They released their grip, straightened their postures, and prepared to become South Korea’s next favorite girl group.
. . . . . . .
Lisa POV
As they walked out of the room, Lisa tried to calm herself, twirling her fingers nervously. She’d plastered a grin on her face inside, but now, a gnawing anxiety returned. What if her Blinks—that’s what they called their fans—didn’t like her? What if she messed up, ruining everything? The fans were starting to appear, their chants echoing the names of other groups. She had to do this. Calm down, Lisa. You’ve trained for this moment. This is what you wanted. Get your act together. No more sweating. Just be yourself—the weird, funny girl who could deliver a savage insult. She was starting to talk to herself.
Be the girl everyone will fawn over. She kept pushing positive thoughts into her head, and only then did she realize they had reached the stage. Her heart pounded faster, an impossible acceleration. Was that even possible? The other girls had stepped onto the stage, and Lisa could see the tension in their movements, almost stuttering through their thank yous. She inhaled deeply, forcing herself to breathe through her nose and exhale slowly.
One more step, Lisa. That’s all it took. One more step to become a K-pop star. One more step to debut under one of the best agencies. She looked straight ahead and placed her foot onto the stage. She wasn’s ready for this. Breathing in and out, steadying her breath, she forced her legs to walk across the stage. The dance floor, marked with scratches and worn smooth, felt solid beneath her boots. She was in the same position as the stars she’d watched for years.
“Everyone, welcome BlackPink!” She heard the announcement as she took her position with the other members. The crowd erupted, a wave of cheers that sent a surge of adrenaline through her veins. Thousands of faces, different races, different genders. It was overwhelming. Tears welled in her eyes. *No, Lisa!* She scolded herself, forcing her gaze up. She blinked back the tears and smiled. As the music began, she thanked her gods for ear pieces—otherwise, she’d be deafened within seconds.
“Hey boy!” Jisoo sang into the microphone. The cheers intensified, threatening to overwhelm her ears. She danced alongside her members, the sound system enhancing their vocals. They wanted to showcase their singing, but they also needed to deliver a worthwhile performance. It was exhausting to sing perfectly while dancing.
“Make ‘em whistle like a missile bomb bomb, every time I show up, blow up uh,” she sang into the microphone, amazed to hear her voice perfectly through the speakers. Jennie and Rose took their turns, their voices blending seamlessly with the music. When her turn came again, she gave it her all, earning screams from the crowd she could now call her fans…hopefully.
After finishing their dance, the backup dancers bowed and retreated, leaving BlackPink center stage. The fans continued to chant, chanting “BlackPink” over and over again. Lisa smiled brightly, tears threatening to spill over. She had almost cried. The host of the night stepped onto the stage, clapping and encouraging the crowd to join in. They introduced themselves and launched into a brief conversation, giving their fans a glimpse into their personalities. The debut had been amazing. She was so grateful she’d auditioned in Thailand. She wouldn’t have reached this far without it.
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