A Girl From A Small Town

Ever since elementary school, Haena had a secret. While other kids wanted to be doctors or teachers, she spent hours in front of her bedroom mirror, blasting music and dancing until her feet ached. To everyone else, it was just a silly phase. To Haena, it was a dream she refused to let go of.

​"Haena-ya! Hurry up, you're going to be late!" her mom’s voice echoed from the kitchen.

​"Yes, Mom! I'm ready, I just need to put my shoes on!" Haena hopped on one leg, frantically jamming her foot into her sneaker.

​She bolted out the door, yelling a quick, "Bye, Mom!" before sprinting down the street to catch up with her best friend.

​"Ya, Yuna-ya!" Haena gasped, completely breathless but bursting with energy. "I think I got so much better at dancing. Want to see?"

​Yuna didn't even look up, completely unfazed by her best friend's morning hype. "Ah, it's too early in the morning. Don't bother me."

​"Mmmh, okay," Haena mumbled, her shoulders dropping a little. But her disappointment didn't last long.

​As they approached the school gates, Haena noticed a man standing by the sidewalk, handing out sleek, glossy cards to the passing students. Her eyes locked onto the logo. A new K-pop entertainment agency.

​Wait, is that...?

​Before Yuna could stop her, Haena dashed forward and planted herself right in front of the man. "Ahjussi! What are you doing?"

​The man startled, jumping back a bit. "Oh... I'm looking for future idols."

​"Idols? You’re looking for idols?!" Haena’s eyes went wide.

​"Mmh," the man nodded carefully.

​"If you're looking for idols, I know exactly who wants to be one," Haena said, a confident smirk spreading across her face.

​The man looked around, curious. "Great. Who?"

​Haena pointed a thumb at herself. "Me!"

​The casting agent blinked, looking her up and down. "You? You... don't really seem like idol material."

​"Ahh, ahjussi, please! Just give me one chance!" Haena pleaded, immediately dropping into a dramatic pout and locking eyes with him.

​The man sighed, completely defeated by her intense gaze. He bit his lip, pulled out a final audition card, and handed it over. "Fine. Here is the audition venue. Just... don't be late."

​"Oh my god," Haena whispered, staring at the card like it was made of pure gold. She whirled around to her best friend, waving it in the air. "Yuna-ya! I just got a chance!"

​Right there in front of the school gates, Haena started busting out her happiest victory dance, completely unbothered by the students staring at her.

​Watching her friend act like a total goofball, a small smile finally broke across Yuna's face. She walked up, shaking her head, and pulled Haena toward the entrance.

​"You're so weird," Yuna laughed.

Haena practically floated down the school hallway, the audition card gripped tightly in her hand like a winning lottery ticket. She couldn't stop the massive, goofy grin spreading across her face as she walked side-by-side with Yuna toward their classroom.

​"Ya, Yuna-ya," Haena whispered loudly, nudging her friend with an elbow. "Just you wait. I'm going to be famous. Like, Girls' Generation famous."

Yuna let out a soft laugh, shaking her eye-roll. "Oh, alright, alright. Famous my ass. Just focus on making it through math class first."

​Haena didn't care about the teasing one bit. The rest of the school day was a complete blur anyway. While the teacher wrote formulas on the board, Haena was busy tapping her feet under her desk, counting down the minutes until the final bell.

​The moment school finally let out, Haena didn't waste a single second. She grabbed Yuna by the wrist and dragged her straight to the local green garden, a quiet neighborhood park filled with lush trees and open spaces.

​"Yuna-ya, watch this!" Haena declared, tossing her school bag onto a park bench. She pulled out her phone, turned the volume up to the max, and queued up ITZY's Wannabe

​As the iconic intro music started, Haena immediately threw herself into the choreography, attempting the famous shoulder dance with absolute chaotic energy.

​Yuna sat on the bench, pulling out a bag of snacks, and just laughed. "Wah, so great," she said, her voice dripping with playful sarcasm as she watched Haena almost trip over a tree root.

​"Hey! Watch me!" Haena shouted back, completely unfazed. Instead of backing down, she doubled down on the drama, hitting a hilarious, over-the-top idol pose right in front of Yuna.

​That was the breaking point. Yuna couldn't just sit there anymore. Tossing her snacks aside, she jumped up from the bench with a grin. "Fine, move over! You're doing it all wrong!"

​Right there in the middle of the quiet green garden, the two of them completely goofed off, dancing like total maniacs to the beat. They threw their arms in the air, messed up the steps on purpose, and laughed so hard their stomachs ached, completely unbothered by anyone passing by.

As the iconic intro music started, Haena immediately threw herself into the choreography, attempting the famous shoulder dance with absolute chaotic energy.

​Yuna sat on the bench, pulling out a bag of snacks, and just laughed. "Wah, so great," she said, her voice dripping with playful sarcasm as she watched Haena almost trip over a tree root.

​"Hey! Watch me!" Haena shouted back, completely unfazed. Instead of backing down, she doubled down on the drama, hitting a hilarious, over-the-top idol pose right in front of Yuna.

​That was the breaking point. Yuna couldn't just sit there anymore. Tossing her snacks aside, she jumped up from the bench with a grin. "Fine, move over! You're doing it all wrong!"

​Right there in the middle of the quiet green garden, the two of them completely goofed off, dancing like total maniacs to the beat. They threw their arms in the air, messed up the steps on purpose, and laughed so hard their stomachs ached, completely unbothered by anyone passing by.

Right in the middle of their dance, Yuna’s phone suddenly rang, cutting the music short. Panting and laughing, Yuna pulled it out and answered. "Oh, Omma? Why?"

​Her mother’s voice came through sharp and cold. "Come home right now. That Haena is being a bad influence on you."

​"But—" Yuna started, her smile vanishing.

​"I said come home right now!" her mom screamed, slamming the phone down before Yuna could even finish her sentence.

​Yuna stared at the blank screen, a heavy awkwardness settling over her. She looked up at Haena. "Ya, Haena... my mom is asking me to go home. Let's go."

​Haena quickly grabbed her bag and walked alongside her, sensing the sudden shift in mood. "Is she mad?" she asked quietly, looking over at her friend.

​"No," Yuna lied, keeping her eyes fixed on the path ahead.

​They walked in silence until they finally arrived in front of Yuna’s house.

​"Haena, you should go first," Yuna said nervously. But before Haena could even turn around, the front door swung open.

​"Oh, hi, Mrs. Moon—" Haena started, politely bowing.

​But Mrs. Moon didn't even acknowledge her. With a fierce glare, she grabbed Yuna by the arm, dragged her inside, and slammed the door right in Haena's face. BANG.

​Haena stood frozen on the porch, completely confused and stung by the sudden rejection. She lowered her head, clutching her backpack straps tightly, and walked back toward her own house—a place much smaller and humbler than any of her neighbors' homes.

​Yuna's POV

​The moment the front door slammed shut, the heavy silence in the living room felt suffocating.

​"Yuna-ya, I told you before," her mother snapped, turning around with her arms crossed. "Don't hang out with Haena. I don't like her, and I don't want you around her."

​"Mom—" Yuna tried to protest, her voice shaking with frustration.

​"Go to your room," her mom cut her off, pointing a strict finger toward the stairs, leaving absolutely no room for argument.

​Grounded and furious, Yuna stormed up the stairs and slammed her bedroom door. She threw her bag onto the floor and collapsed onto her bed, looking around her room. It was filled with typical girly things soft pastel colors, neat shelves, and organized books, the exact kind of perfect life her mother forced her to live. But right now, all she could think about was Haena standing outside in the dark.

​Yuna threw herself onto her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling for a moment before pulling out her phone. Her fingers flew across the screen, her chest tight with guilt.

​[Yuna]: Ya, Haena. Sorry about earlier. My mom is just...

​She stared at the three glowing dots, waiting anxiously.

​A second later, the reply popped up.

​[Haena]: Oh, it's okay!

​Yuna let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. She quickly typed back.

​[Yuna]: You're a really good friend.

​[Haena]: Will you come with me to the audition?

​Yuna didn't even hesitate. Her mom’s strict warning from downstairs completely faded from her mind.

​[Yuna]: Of course!

​[Haena]: Love you!! 🫶

​Yuna smiled, locking her phone and tossing it onto her pillow. No matter what her mother said, she wasn't going to let Haena do this alone.

​Haena's POV

​On the other side of the neighborhood, Haena was sitting on the edge of her small bed, staring at the screen with a soft smile. Hearing Yuna's reassurance made the lingering sting from Mrs. Moon’s harsh door-slam completely vanish.

​Her bedroom was tiny, with barely enough space for her bed and a modest desk, but the walls were covered in old posters of K-pop groups she admired. Looking up at them, and then down at the glossy audition card sitting on her desk, the reality of what she was about to do finally sank in.

​She wasn't just dancing alone in her bedroom mirror anymore. With her best friend by her side, this dream was finally becoming real.

The days flew by in a blur of secret dance practices until, finally, the morning of the big audition arrived.

​Haena met up with Yuna before school just like any other day, but the nervous flutter in her stomach was at an all-time high. She could barely concentrate in class, her heart hammering against her ribs.

​The moment the final bell rang, Haena grabbed her bag, her eyes sparkling. "Alright, this is it! Let's go!"

​But as they walked out of the school gates, Yuna suddenly stopped walking. She looked down at her shoes, looking incredibly guilty.

​"Ya, Haena..." Yuna started, her voice small. "I'm so sorry. I don't think I can go with you. My mom is still so mad about the other day, she ordered me to walk straight home right after the final bell. If I'm even five minutes late, I'm grounded for life."

​Haena’s face fell, a sudden wave of loneliness washing over her. "Aww, come on," she pleaded softly. "Can't you just say we were studying?"

​"I'm really sorry, she's tracking my time," Yuna replied regretfully. Since their houses were so close to the school, she didn't have any excuse to delay. Giving a bittersweet smile, Yuna turned around and began walking home, waving a quiet goodbye.

​Left with no other choice, Haena took a deep breath, clutched the audition card tightly in her hand, and set off alone. She was going to have to face her dream entirely by herself.

The walk to the entertainment agency felt like the longest walk of Haena’s life. Without Yuna by her side to crack jokes, the heavy weight of reality began to settle on her chest.

​When she finally arrived, she stood frozen on the sidewalk. The agency building was massive, sleek, and intimidating, covered in polished glass that reflected the afternoon sun. Other hopeful auditionees were flowing through the doors, looking impossibly cool in trendy streetwear and perfect makeup.

​Haena looked down at herself. Because she had to come straight from the school gates, she was still wearing her plain school uniform. She adjusted her backpack straps, feeling incredibly out of place among the stylish crowd. But she gripped her audition card tightly, took a deep, shaky breath, and walked inside.

​The interior was a blur of bright lights, bustling staff members with clipboards, and the muffled sound of music echoing from distant practice rooms. After signing in, she was given a number sticker to pin right over her school emblem and was ushered into a tense holding room.

​"Number 147, Choi Haena. Please step inside," a staff member finally called out.

​Haena’s stomach did a backflip. She stood up on trembling legs and walked through the heavy soundproof doors into the main audition room.

​Sitting behind a long table were three strict-looking judges, their eyes fixed on tablets and clipboards. The room was blindingly white and freezing cold. Haena walked to the center of the room, stood on the designated tape marker, and bowed deeply.

​"Hello! I am seventeen-year-old Choi Haena, auditioning for the dance category. Please look kindly upon me!" she announced, her voice shaking slightly but clear.

​The middle judge glanced up, his eyes lingering on her school uniform before looking down at his clipboard. "Welcome, Haena-ssi. What song will you be performing for us today?"

​Haena swallowed hard, clearing her throat. "I will be dancing to Wannabe by ITZY!"

​The judge nodded to the staff member operating the audio, then looked back at her. "Whenever you're ready, Number 147."

​The iconic intro music blasted through the studio speakers. The heavy, familiar beat echoed through the room, and the moment it hit her ears, Haena's nervous tension melted away. This was the song she and Yuna had goofed off to in the garden, but right now, she wasn't goofing off.

​She threw herself into the famous shoulder dance. Wearing a stiff school uniform made it harder to move, but she pushed through the restriction, hitting each step with raw energy and a bright, confident smile. She locked eyes with the judges, pouring every ounce of her lifelong dream into the performance.

​When the final note faded, Haena stood panting, her heart hammering against her ribs as she bowed again. "Thank you!"

​The room went completely silent. The judges leaned together, whispering quietly while looking at her profile. The wait felt like an eternity.

​Finally, the middle judge tapped his pen against the table and looked straight at her.

​"Your energy is good, Choi Haena-ssi, and you definitely have a natural rhythm," he started, his face unreadable. "But your technique is incredibly raw. Your lines are messy, and your skills are going to need a massive amount of strict, professional training if you ever want to stand on a real stage."

​Haena’s heart sank into her stomach. Her eyes dimmed, and she prepared herself for the rejection. "Ah... yes, I understand..."

​"However," the judge continued, a small, rare smirk appearing on his face. "We see potential in your drive. Welcome to Hanwool ENTERTAINMENT, Haena-ssi. You passed."

​Haena froze, her eyes going wide. “...What?” she whispered.

​"You're accepted," the judge repeated, shuffling his papers. "Our staff will contact you with your trainee contract details. Don't be late for your first day of lessons."

​"Oh my god... Thank you so much! Thank you, judges! I will work incredibly hard!" Haena bowed repeatedly, so low her forehead almost touched her knees.

​She practically stumbled out of the audition room, her vision blurring with tears of pure joy. She had done it. Against all odds, and wearing nothing but her school uniform, she was officially a K-pop trainee.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***