"And the Artist of the Year goes to... FAIRIES!"
The colossal screen flashed, and the arena erupted in a deafening cheer as the winner was announced. It was Fairies, a six-member girl group, now gliding toward the stage to receive their glistening trophy.
"You know, it's been said the company actually paid for that award," one trainee whispered, her voice sharp as she watched the live broadcast on the television in the practice room.
"Really? I thought their album was a huge hit!" another countered, sounding genuinely surprised.
"Nah. Didn't you see their performances? They were completely out of sync, and half of them can't even sing stably," the first girl scoffed. "The only reason their album went huge was the catchy songs and that famous actor's review saying he liked one of their tracks."
"Don't they feel any shame, even after all that?" a third girl asked, staring at the screen where the Fairies' leader was now giving her tearful speech.
"Ha! If they really felt shame, they wouldn't even show their faces!"
Byul Lee sat quietly in the corner, still absorbing the sting of the girls' conversation. She knew they were right—the group's performances were often bad and unsynchronized—but she had to admit, the songs themselves were undeniably good.
She glanced around the empty practice studio. She was waiting for their session to begin, but it seemed the mentor had yet to return from their meeting.
Byul Lee cleared her throat and leaned forward toward one of the gossiping girls. "Hey, do you know when the mentor is coming?"
The girl visibly registered the question but simply chose to ignore her.
Byul Lee noticed the slight, but she suppressed her frustrated response. It was always like this. She was talented, but she wasn't privileged enough. The other trainees looked down on her because she came from a middle-class family and had worked grueling hours to earn her spot, unlike some who had connections.
Taking a breath, Byul Lee tried again, placing a gentle hand on the girl's shoulder. "Hey, do you know when the mentor is coming? It's getting late."
The girl suddenly whipped around, an expression of outright annoyance twisting her face.
"I'm sorry, I just wanted to know when the mentor would arrive," Byul Lee apologized instantly, stepping back.
The girl immediately turned back to her friends, dismissing Byul Lee entirely. "Hey, is the mentor coming soon? Isn't it already late?" she asked her companions, completely repeating Byul Lee's query as if it were her own.
Only then did the group seem to register the time, or perhaps the content of Byul Lee's repeated question. After a tense silence, one of the girls finally pushed herself off the couch to go search for the mentor.
Byul Lee remained quietly seated, clutching her fingers tightly in her lap. The practice room was growing bitterly cold and utterly still.
"Ugh, it's already December, and this place is freezing!" one of the trainees complained, rubbing her arms.
Byul Lee offered a slight, silent nod in agreement. She hadn't made any real friends in the dorms and was accustomed to the isolating quiet. She looked around, mentally running through the possible practice routines for the day. Her eyes stopped on a girl standing silently near the studio speaker.
The girl seemed to notice Byul Lee and kept looking directly back at her. She was strikingly thin, with long black hair that contrasted sharply with her pale, white skin tone. Who is she? I've never seen her around here, Byul Lee wondered. The girl maintained her steady gaze—not one of horror or curiosity, just a blank, unnerving stare. Should I go and talk to her?
Before Byul Lee could decide, the door flew open.
"Everyone, sit down according to your number line. We have an announcement."
The mentor entered the room, trailed by several staff members. The girls quickly scrambled to their assigned places, and Byul Lee settled into her spot. She immediately searched for the girl who had been standing near the speaker.
She was gone.
A sudden, unexpected cold shiver traced down Byul Lee's spine. Where did she go?
A moment later, the CEO himself arrived. The room fell silent with a palpable sense of dread and excitement. As soon as he sat in the center chair, he wasted no time on pleasantries.
"Well, we have good news. This session, right now, will be your final audition. I am going to select those who are capable and best suited to debut."
A collective gasp swept through the room. Some of the girls were thrilled, while others were instantly paralyzed by regret, wishing they had practiced harder. A few looked ready to give up entirely. But Byul Lee was instantly electric with excitement. She had been waiting for this moment the entire time. She breathed deeply, a wave of relief and happiness washing over her, grateful that she had pushed herself hard enough.
"So, let's begin. Group A shall give their performance."