Recap

"---So without further due ...our first trainee who made it into the group line up is-----"

......

" ...our first spot goes to Sakura- group A ..., second Lia -group D, third Yeji -group D, fourth Garam- group B, fifth Woyoung-group C, sixth Kuzuha-group A, seventh Eunchae -group A, eight Jiwoo-group E---"

Ms Kang's voice carried above the excited clapping.

With apparent disbelief, you and Soomin leapt up and embraced your excited and teary-eyed friend.

Soomin grinned, "Omg! I can't believe it. You made it to the top---" You were hugging her tighter.

Jiwoo clutched her chest in utter shock, "This is ...so unbelievable," she whispered, her voice etched with astonishment.

You clapped your hands cheerily as Jiwoo waved with a broad smile and climbed the stairs amid the applause, taking her place next to the seventh girl, Eunchae.

Then, Ms Kang congratulated Jiwoo, the 8th trainee, for making it to the top 12 positions. You were elated when Soomin was called next from group E. as the 9th trainee. You looked at each other with pure shock. Hugging her tightly, you felt deeply proud that your friends made it. She stood next to a beaming Eunchae, who embraced her warmly. They even gave each other discreet high-fives. Their excitement on stage was palpable.

You were genuinely excited and happy for all the girls, especially your friends, who reached the top. A tad of disappointment crept into your heart, but you smiled bravely. There were only three spots left.

. As you stand with apprehension and look at all the hopeful girls, the competition is fiercer.

You smiled and waved at your best friends, deciding you'd be happy for them despite your feelings.

As tension mounted in the conference centre, the atmosphere was tinged with anticipation. The lucky and blessed top nine stood on the stage, hand-picked because of their hard work during the evaluation. Right now, they are the centre of envy and attention. They couldn't believe their good fortune. You could see the relief in their eyes for making it thus far. But you could also sense that some felt the heartache amid the happiness and cheer.

Who would take the final three spots?

Ms. Kang smiled at the successful girls' cheerful and relieved looks. Soomin was teary-eyed, still in disbelief at her ample debut opportunity.

You had already decided to stay positive. You still had one and a half years of hard training before your dad summoned you home, so you were studying just as hard at school as at training. Despite the negativity from your family, you were determined to push through if you wanted to see your dreams come true.

Your daydreaming was short-lived as you heard Ms. Kang continue, "Our tenth spot goes to Chaewon from group F, our eleventh spot goes to Yunjin from group F... and now, for the coveted last spot. I will give Ms. Oh the honour of naming our final spot."

You inhaled deeply, knowing it was now or never. But you also knew you had tried your best and would work even harder in the future. Your eyes scanned over your remaining competition: the excellent vocalist Ruyjin, the beautiful visual Dani, and Heyjin, who consistently scored higher than you in dancing.

Ms. Oh smiled brightly and, with a calm but firm voice, announced, "Certainly, Ms. Kang... and our twelfth and final spot belongs to... Yuqi from group E."

At first, you didn't register that it was your name. It sounded like it, but you couldn't be sure until a boy behind you nudged you.

"Wow!" the boy looked elated as he clapped and hollered for you, "Yuqi! Yuqi! They are calling you!" He gestured to you to go to the stage.

You were deeply embedded in your thoughts and didn't comprehend why he called you so frantic, nudging your shoulders, "W...what? "You looked at him with furrowed brows, still so lost in your thoughts.

"Is Yuqi here? Song Yuqi from Group E", The voice of Ms Oh became louder.

Then you heard Jiwoo whisper-yell, "Yuqi! Yuqi, it's you!"

Oh my gosh! It was you. Your name was called, and it felt so surreal.

You jumped up with glee, shot your arm up, and yelled, "It's me. I'm here!" You bowed to the evaluators, but in your rush, you almost tripped over the cords in front of the stage. With a red face, you ran up the stairs amid loud snickering and stood besides Yunjin, who was laughing. Ms. Kang just smiled, amused. Your charming demeanour and adorable antics had already endeared you to your peers.

Everyone on stage and in the audience snickered amid your embarrassment. Soomin and Jiwoo stood with broad smiles and happy faces, high-fiving you as you joined the lineup. You nodded and gave them a thumbs-up. The three of you had made it to the top twelve.

---

The girls who didn't cut struggled to mask their disappointment; their dreams seemingly shattered instantly. There were screams and shouts of happiness among the chosen ones, but you saw how Ryujin wiped her face. She must have been very disappointed because her two best friends, Yeji and Lia, had made it.

Some tried to offer encouragement to the chosen ones, their faces a mask of forced cheerfulness, while inside, their hearts ached with pride and sorrow.

The ones who thought they were sure to succeed but were cut from the final lineup stood on the sidelines, their faces a mix of resignation and sadness. They had poured their hearts and souls into their training, sacrificing countless hours and making endless compromises, only to fall short of their ultimate goal.

Some were already over 20 and considered too old to debut. If lucky, they would likely leave the company, return home, or train with another company.

Their coaches wore solemn expressions, their hearts heavy with the weight of their decisions, knowing the dreams they'd dashed and the tears they'd caused.

The atmosphere was thick with tension, nerves, and emotions as everyone grappled with the highs and lows of the selection process. Each girl's future hung in the balance; their dreams were either realised or shattered in this pivotal moment.

As the coaches surveyed the scene, their solemn expressions betraying the weight of their responsibility, they knew that for every success, countless heartaches were left in its wake.

......

The pre-debut chosen group was asked to remain behind. They were so delighted that they embraced each other tightly.

Mr. Park, Jyps CEO, walked in with a broad smile as he congratulated the girls on making it into the debut group and on the new, exciting journey ahead. There were excited cheers, and some cried of relief and happiness.

JYP was proud of his new group, which will make waves in the K-pop world. The chosen group was overwhelmed.

You, Soomin, and Jiwoo were jumping around in excitement. They were so emotional. The girl's happiness was felt all over the atmosphere.

"Omg, we solidified it, "Jiwoo burst out, her voice trembling.

"We are now a debut group," Soomin smiled widely.

"We did it! I can't believe it!" Yuqi exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with happiness.

Tears run unashamedly from Jiwoo's cheeks," It's a dream come true."
You all hugged her as the reality of your achievements sank in.

At that moment, your other roommates, Kuzuha, Sakura, and Yeji, walked up to you with wide smiles. Even if you weren't particularly close during these two years, you were happy for them. You all congratulated each other. The mutual disdain between Kuzuha and Soomin was fleetingly forgotten. You share a bond of achievement.

"Congratulations, Kuzuha," she said, burying her negative feelings. "Let's make this an amazing journey together."

Kuzuha nodded with warmth in her eyes. You could see her excitement shining through her usually icy and haughty expression. "Thank you guys. Come on, let's get this incredible journey rolling together. "

When the other team members saw you, they congratulated you for making the top 12. The room was electrified with excitement.

When you looked over the satisfied group, you knew that these girls would become friends or, more than that, trusted sisters- a family bound by shared dreams and aspirations.

There was still tension of competition lingering in the atmosphere, but it was overshadowed by your joint achievement.
Amid the camaraderie, a girl named Garam was filled with unfounded jealousy. You wondered what her issue was. She was known for her vocal confidence.

She looked you up and down and smirked. "You... Yuqi made it for your looks only," she sneered. You were the last one chosen, right? That means you're the least talented one."

Her apparent jab at your fresh beauty stung; it immediately casts a shadow over your confidence. You always know that you are more than a pretty face. You are an academic genius and great at singing and dancing. Your looks don't define you. Garam is just a jealous piece of nastiness.

Interestingly, your roommate Sakura, quietly watching the little altercation, stood up for you, shocking Garam momentarily. Upon hearing Garam's jab, Sakura immediately stepped in to defend you.

"That's enough, Garam," she said sharply. Yuqi is here because she deserves to be like all of us. And you know that is a blatant lie. Yuqi is very pretty and talented, so she deserves her spot like everyone else. Lastly, chosen or not, it's not how you start but how you end."

The other girls raised their eyebrows in sheer amusement.

You and your friends were taken by surprise by Sakura's unanticipated defence. Though you had never interacted, that moment changed your perspective on the girl. "Thanks, Sakura," you said with utmost sincerity. I am so happy for such improbable support. This one act of benevolence regarding Sakura was a game-changer for all of you.

You feel a little more confident just because she defended you just now.

She glared at Garam, who was smirking back at her." Do not put people down when you feel insecure about your looks and talents," she chastised Garam angrily.

Garam was instantly disliked by you and your friends, but they were grateful that Sakura's support came unexpectedly.

Kuzuha, now looking more approachable, added softly, "We should all try to be friends, even if a debut is a tough competition."

Her words seemed to calm the storm and the lingering tension quickly. But Garam rolled her eyes, arms smugly folded, and walked away with her friend. You felt a heavy lump, knowing you had just made an enemy. You couldn't understand why Garam decided to hate you all of a sudden. You had never interacted for two years and six months, and you had never really spoken to her and her best friend, Yunjin.

Ms. Kang, one of the leading evaluators, called you all to sit on the soft conference chairs. The palpable excitement and anticipation were lingering in the air. Then, all your different coaches congratulated you for making it into the debut team, their encouraging words boosting your spirits.

The CEO, Mr Park, then shared more details concerning the debut: "There will be a special party for the group on one of the top floors of the JYP building tonight," he announced. The In-house photographers will randomly capture this momentous occasion. On Monday, we will also discuss your positions within the group you will compete for, the new concept we aim for, and the name of your pre-debut group. You might have physical changes in store for you."

As he spoke clearly and sternly, you felt Garam's warm breath as she leaned in behind you and whispered in your ear, "Yuqi, you'll compete with Sakura, obviously me, Soomin, and Kuzuha for the Visual position. I'm sorry to say Yuqi, but your fake looks got you in."

You wanted to give her a sharp retort, but you kept your tongue. What an unpleasant and rude girl. You didn't want to react; ignore her.
So, you make sure you keep your composure. Nearby, Sakura and Soomin shot Garam some stinky looks.

Soomin inwardly thought that Garam didn't like you because of your pure friendship with the boy pre-debut group who might debut after them. They're called Straykids, and Yuqi, Felix, and Banchan love to rehearse and do dance breaks together.

Mr. Park continued, "A new dorm room floor is prepared for you on the top floor. It's bigger and state-of-the-art. There will be three massive bedrooms with four roommates each and a bedroom primarily for your house mother, an older staff member of JYP who will look after your needs in the dorm."

He explained the new schedule and the three-month evaluation period, during which six eliminations would occur, probably two per month. "Those who won't make it will again move back to the ground-floor bedrooms or can choose to leave the company altogether. But there will be another chance if some of you might be traded during a public showcase."

You wondered aloud, "What is traded?" Garam quickly enlightened your ignorance smugly: "It's a trainee exchange between companies in K-pop. If Jyp doesn't want a trainee, they trade you off with another trainee who fits the concepts. Not that you foreigners would know."

Jiwoo shook her head and sneered, "Garam, what a cheap racist and a bully you are. Be careful with whom you make enemies."

This is why you feel that evil wave of insecurity is washing over you again. What if some Korean girls who didn't make it might think you foreigners were here to stop them from debuting in their own country for positions?

Then, you resolved to prove you had every right to be here. It wasn't about nationality but talent. You vowed to work harder than ever to prove your worth as a vocalist and a dancer.

.......

Other trainees who made it into the top twelve.
Vote for your favourite - whom you think will make it into the final lineup-up

A/n: Yuqi made it into the 12.

Shout out to all readers, voters and commenters.

@ArmylovesPurple @Riversing57 @MarieKarlsson3

1. Who will be your final choice in the lineup?

2. What do you think of Garam?