prologue/ Chapter 1

11 years ago there was a Korean girl. She was definitely a daddy's girl, she never hesitated to go out with her father. One day he was taking her to visit Busan but a bus crashed into the side of their car. This day that father's story ended, but the pages continued to unfold for the girl. She barely survived, the only thing keeping her from dying was a box her dad gave her moments before the accident. She had lifted the box covering her head. When she returned from the hospital she opened the box and inside was a necklace, a dress, and a bedazzled microphone. She and her father loved going to sing karaoke and he had got her own performance set. But she would never get to sing with her father again.

A few months later the girl’s mom decided that they were moving to America. Being 5 years old and grieving she didn’t want to go anywhere. Unfortunately, her mother packed her bags and they left.

Little did y'all know that sweet little girl was me. Now I've been living in America for 11 years and I still hate it. The small town I live in is literally filled with nothing but two businesses Southwire and a college. My school - Jacksonville High school - gets on my last nerve. But I'm surviving. Let me backup a little, my name is Jeongsa but in Jacksonville I'm Miracle.

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Chapter 1

I woke up early knowing that I had a test that I hadn't studied for. My mom had slept in despite the fact she had a meeting. I slammed the door open shaking her awake. "Omma, you slept in again. Wake up we can't afford for you to lose another job!"

"Fine, but that school needs to teach you some manners, aigoo," she sighed getting up. I walked to the kitchen grabbing a breakfast bar. I throw on a sweatshirt and ripped skinny jeans plus a pair of worn-out Nike tennis shoes. Leaving I hop on my bike pedaling the half-mile to school. I stop in front of the bike rack and put my hood and headphones on. I walk silently until I get into the school. There I run into my principal, “Hood and headphones off, miss”

Not hearing him I walk off. “Jogeubhal piryo eobseo my pace bigyo ttawin hajima cheoncheonhi dallyeodo gwaenchanha naul gireul my lane geubhan mam naelyeonwa apman bogo dallyeoga you ready let’s go” plays loudly in my ears as Mr. Kimple grabs my arm. I turned giving him a questioning look. He simply pointed at my hood which I removed along with one earphone.

He grabbed the cord that attached my phone to my headphones, “This is no longer allowed in the building. You must remove it immediately or face consequences.” Unfazed I looked him in the eye.

“I’ve been doing this for years, why can’t I do it now,” I said.

“Because you are a perfect example of how distracting these devices can be,” A crowd began forming at the sound of a new rule. Especially one that would affect a lot of them.

“You can’t just make a rule just like that for one incident,” I frowned, showing how angering this is. Clearly he was even more triggered.

He yanked at my wire too many times, “Yes I can when you are disobeying your principle over some music.” At that moment the wire fell from my phone with a click. Korean music blasted in the echoing hallway. Kids all around laughed at my “weird” music choice. I looked around at all the faces and held back students. Some girls were arguing with some laughing students claiming I have good taste. Me? I couldn’t even look them in the eye. I just picked up my phone, which I was barely aware of the fact I dropped it, glared at Mr. Kimple then raced to the bathroom.

I stayed there through most of the first period staring at my reflection, then my phone, then my headphones. I was in complete shock, at one point I just sat down zoning out wondering if my life would be less… depressing if we had stayed in Korea. Bang, the bathroom door slammed shut as someone was entering. Quickly I jumped up pretending to wash my hands.

“Hey! Miracle, it’s been a long time since we spoke last. I see, well more of heard, that you still listen to those ching chang famous people. What’s their group name, Lost Child. Lol,” a voice giggled too nicely behind me. I turned and there she was. McKenzie, the most popular girl in the school but at the same time the most hated. There she stood in high waisted skinny jeans that perfectly complimented (or gave the illusion) of what curves she had. A crop top shirt that most definitely wasn’t keeping her warm. Oh and we cannot forget the boots that go beyond her knees. “Sorry Kenz but they don’t say ‘ching chang’ that’s the same thing as saying I’m Chinese and it’s Stray Kids,” I faced the girl who had once been the person I told everything to.

She scowled giving up the act, “Ya sure, I told you to never call me Kenz again. In fact, to you, I guess that would be McKenzie unnie.”

“No matter how old you are, you will never be my unnie, we aren’t even close,” I scowled back.

“We once were until you became an incompetent idiot”

“I was never incompetent, you were too hungry for what you will never truely have you let the best person in your life slip away!”I backed up my arms spread out then pointed at myself with a smirk. McKenzie said nothing more but left. She may have known all my secrets but I knew how to push her buttons just the right amount.

Looking back at the mirror I grab a brush and tidy up my mid-length wavy hair. Once I reach the back I run across a shorter clump. 2 years came rushing back.

“Look, since I’m in with them now I’ll be sure to protect you,” McKenzie had said between chews of gum.

I looked at her worried, “Kenzie, I don’t need protection, you're just abandoning me.” she looked as if I had punched her in the face.

“I’m not abandoning you, Jeongie you have to trust me, besides I see the way you are bullied,” she smiled a little too bright, “oh, and don’t call me Kenzie anymore it’s not cool.”

I watched her walk into the cafeteria and sit next to them over the top popular girls. I wanted to punch her or cry, but really punch her. Instead, I shouted out to her bobbing ponytail, “Well then don’t call me Jeongie, my English name is Miranda to you and everyone else here!” she stopped for a split second then carried on.

A few minutes later I sat down alone. The sound of giggles constantly tormented me from behind. When I looked back McKenzie looked back with a dangerous grin, quickly I looked away. Moments later I felt something hit the back of my head. I felt to see what it was, just to find McKenzie’s earlier gum stuck in my hair. I glared over at their table just for the horrifying sight of McKenzie smiling and laughing.

I ran my fingers through the length of my hair that I worked so hard for. It ran all the way down to my waist. I felt the slimy gum sliding down my hair.

Snapping back to real-time I glared in the mirror, “She did that to me and can’t even remember the name she didn’t want to be called. She wants to call me incompetent but I dealt with that on my own, I survived my last year of middle school and made it to my second year of high school alone. She hides behind those girls like a coward.” I gave my hair one last brush making the waves look the best out of my entire outfit and face. The bell rang and I headed off to the second period.

I made it through the rest of the day peacefully with only a few people looking at me. But now I had to get through the after-school crowd to get to my bike without music to tune out everyone. People giggled and chuckled looking back at me. Clearly the earlier incident had gotten around. Finally, on my bike, there was a note on the wheel. Picking it up it read, K-girl go back to your communist hell where you belong. I crumpled the paper throwing it towards a teacher, pedaling off. Looking back I saw the teacher pick it up. Ms. James knows everyone’s handwriting because she teaches starfish. The kid who wrote it would be in huge trouble.

Back at home, my mom was sitting on the couch eating a sandwich. “I made you one, it is on the table,” she said, not looking away from her own.

“Is something wrong,” I sat beside her.

“It’s just… are you sure you don’t want to celebrate your birthday this year? You haven’t in years and I have the money to rent a small building so your friends don’t have to come here. And I can buy a cake,” she said looking at me.

I smiled, “I’m fine.”  I stood up walking to the kitchen to grab my sandwich.

“Ok, but I do want to give you one gift so think of something by tomorrow”

“Why tomorrow?”

“Because that’s your birthday, Jeongsa”

“Oh my god, I didn’t even realize,” I ran to my room and opened my phone. I was turning 16 and there was something I always wanted to do just to make my father proud. My dad always had a fascination with JYP and he always took me to karaoke. I looked over to the box in the corner of my room. I walked over and opened the box pulling out the sparkly mic. Holding it in my hand I went to the JYPE website. “Auditions start 3 days from now,” I whispered to myself. I never really wanted to admit that being an idol would be amazing because I knew the costs. I had a babysitter who went into that system but she didn’t make it, she returned with an eating disorder, and anxiety. I may have only been 4 but she was 12 and did it just for fun. But I wasn't going to be in it for fun. It was for my father and to prove something to everyone.

I pulled up my favorite Stray Kids song ‘Maze of Memories’. I related to the lyrics way too much and loved rapping it. Although my mother often said I was once a beautiful singer I enjoyed rapping much more. Whenever I’m down or had a bad day it was easy to take comfort in music. I played the song calming my hidden nerves. At that moment I knew I wanted to do it.

The next morning I woke up a little late and my mother had already been standing in the kitchen. A small slice of Ingles cake. “It’s the least I could do,” she said smiling in her usual exhausted way. “Now go get dressed, and look good, it’s your birthday." I went to my room and picked out my best outfit.

Ripped jeans with emojis on them and a cute cropped t-shirt just long enough to pass the dress code. I walked out of my room and to the kitchen where my mom had a pancake for me. “I remembered that you don’t like syrup,” She laughed. It’s been a while since I heard her sweet laugh. I grabbed the pancake and walked out the door, “gomawo eomma,” I thanked her before leaving. I jumped on my bike riding one-handed while eating my favorite breakfast.

When I made it to school like clockwork Trent stood by the bike stand, he is popular but he prefers hanging with ‘weirdos’ like me. He can basically get along with anyone. I think one of the reasons me and McKenzie drifted was because of him. Turns out this guy had a crush on me while dating her. “Hi Trent, I didn’t see you yesterday.”

He flashed his somehow perfect, yet goofy smile, “Nice to know you missed me”

“Ya we have known each other for 6 years and you still think I would miss you,” I played along.

“Hey, who knows maybe one day you will come to your senses and go out with me,” he smiled bigger before it faded away, “I heard what happened yesterday… I’m so-”

“Nope, no apologizing I don’t want your pity. Besides you weren’t even there,” I said walking closer to him. He grinned, “I wasn’t going to say sorry. I was going to say I’m so going to whoop they a-” “No cursing,” I cut him off once more. He laughed at me, “whatever.” he bent down to peck my cheek but I simply put my hand in his way. I walked off completely ignoring his scoff followed by a laugh. 

When I got to my locker I looked back at Trent, “Why are you following me.” He just shrugged. I turned to open my locker to see a blue balloon and a piece of paper. “Surprise! Happy Birthday!,” Trent shouted, hugging me. The entire hallway started over at us and I panicked shoving him off.

“Well, I see how you treat people who get you the best gift ever, read the paper.” without responding to him I read the paper in shock. 

“You have been invited for an exclusive audition for JYP Entertainment’s Idol Trainee program. Your audition will be held on June 20th at the JYPE building. We understand your foreign situation and have purchased you a Delta air ticket for June 18th. Please email us for further information”, The paper read.

I stared dead at Trent, “How the heck did you do this.” He smiled at me clearly proud of himself. “I applied for you with That video of you rapping last year and I used your explanation of why you wanted to be an Idol that you gave to the music teacher 4 years ago. Apparently they liked it. I just hope you do too,” He said.

“Of course I like it! You know me too well,” I laughed, giving him a hug and headed to my first class.

After school, I said bye to Trent and got on my bike to head home. About halfway a car came swerving behind me. “Whoops, my bad. Haha,” the person in the car shouted out before speeding past. “McKenzie!”, I shouted in my head. 

Back at home I showed my mom the invitation to Korea. “No, you will not go back. What if something happens to you. And if you make it idols live a hard life. I don’t want you over there,” she said walking away.

I followed her, “nothing will happen to me and I’ve already looked into the hardships, please ma.”

“Jeongsa, no”

“Eomma-”

She whipped around suddenly with an angry expression. The tiredness from work gone from her eyes replaced with a fire, “I told you it’s not happening Miracle, now shut up!”

I flinched backing up, wiping a tear before it fell, “Forget you, I’ve worked so hard for you to be happy with me but no matter what It’s not enough! It wasn’t my fault. You get mad at me randomly then try to make up for it with birthday parties and snacks. You lose job after job not even trying in life when it’s been years get over it! Let me be selfish this once, I’m going and you can’t stop me. They’re mailing the tickets for a flight over”

She looked at me teary eyed and suddenly smiled, “you sound so much like him, wanting to be selfish for once.” I roll my eyes at that “Well, if you are going I want you to have somewhere to stay let me call up your sister.”

“My sister,” my eyes bulged, “What do you mean sister.” 

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