Chapter 2: The 100 Trainees
The huge practice hall buzzed with noise.
100 trainees stood inside the room.
Some were stretching.
Some were practicing dance moves.
Others were whispering nervously.
Above the room, giant screens displayed the show logo:
GLOBAL IDOL PROJECT
Lena Park stood quietly near the wall, holding her bag tightly.
"This place is terrifying," she whispered.
Suddenly—
A girl slid next to her dramatically.
"HI."
Lena jumped.
"Ah!"
The girl grinned.
"I'm Yumi."
She pointed at Lena.
"You're the girl from the audition."
Lena blinked.
"You saw it?"
"Everyone saw it."
Yumi leaned closer.
"Your voice was insane."
Lena smiled nervously.
"Thanks."
Yumi crossed her arms proudly.
"Congratulations. You're my best friend now."
Lena blinked.
"...Again?"
Suddenly
The giant screen turned on.
The room became quiet.
A tall man walked onto the stage.
Producer Han.
The head judge.
"Welcome trainees," he said.
"You are the top 100 contestants of Global Idol Project."
Everyone clapped nervously.
Producer Han continued.
"But only 7 of you will debut."
The room exploded with whispers.
"Only seven?!"
"That's impossible!"
Lena felt her stomach drop.
Seven.
Out of one hundred.
Producer Han pointed to the stage.
"Now we begin the first ranking test."
A huge board behind him lit up.
100 empty seats appeared.
Seat numbers.
1 to 100.
Gasps filled the room.
"Each of you will choose the seat you believe you deserve."
The room went silent.
Confidence test.
Dangerous.
One Trainee Walked Forward
The tall boy from Lena's audition.
Kai Lee.
He walked calmly toward the seats.
No hesitation.
No fear.
The trainees whispered.
"That's Kai."
"He's famous."
"He trained for years."
Kai climbed the stairs slowly.
Then sat down in Seat Number 1.
The entire room exploded.
"No way!"
"He picked number one?!"
Kai leaned back casually.
Like he belonged there.
Lena's Turn
Yumi nudged her.
"Go pick a seat."
Lena panicked.
"I don't know where to sit!"
"Anywhere!"
One trainee sat in Seat 10.
Another picked Seat 25.
The seats started filling quickly.
Lena walked toward the board slowly.
Her heart pounded.
You don't belong here.
The thought echoed in her head.
But then she remembered something.
Her dream.
Her singing.
Her chance.
She walked up the stairs.
And sat in Seat 12.
Yumi screamed from below.
"THAT'S MY FRIEND!"
Lena immediately regretted everything.
Suddenly…
The doors slammed open.
Everyone turned.
A girl walked in confidently.
Elegant.
Calm.
Beautiful.
Aria Choi.
Whispers filled the room again.
"That's the legendary trainee."
"She trained for eight years."
Aria looked at the ranking board.
Then slowly smiled.
She walked up the stairs.
Past Seat 5.
Past Seat 3.
Then she sat down in Seat 2.
Right next to Kai.
Kai glanced at her.
Aria looked back.
Neither spoke.
But the tension was obvious.
Producer Han Smiled
"Very interesting."
He raised a remote.
"Now the real ranking begins."
The screen flashed.
EVALUATION START
Lena's heart nearly exploded.
The first trainee's name appeared.
"Lena Park."
The room gasped.
Yumi screamed again.
"ALREADY?!"
Lena stood slowly.
Her legs felt weak.
Producer Han spoke again.
"Show us why you deserve Seat 12."
The stage lights turned on.
All 99 trainees stared at her.
Lena swallowed.
"This is insane."
But she walked forward anyway.
Because once you step onto the stage—
There's no turning back.