CHAPTER 3
Audition Day
January 10th, 2022
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The live auditions were being held at the Sejong Center for Performing Arts in Seoul. Girls from all over the world practiced out in the lobby or backstage while the judges got ready in the auditorium. Both CEO’s were there, Assistant Director Taejin, their music director who will be the one helping the girls produce music known as “Crystal J,” along with special mentors who will be there for the whole show.
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Rap Mentor: G-Dragon (BIG BANG)
Vocal Mentor: Taeyeon (Girls Generation)
Dance Mentor: Taemin (SHINee)
Special Counselor Mentor: IU (Soloist)
Visual Mentor: Irene (Red Velvet)
Female Youth Representative: Wonyoung (IVE)
Male Youth Representative: Huening Kai (TXT)
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One girl opens the door to the lobby and gasps, “wow! Look Eunbi!” Her Australian accent thick with her Korean, “so many people! I wonder what they are going to perform!”
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Her friend sighs, “Minyoung, you’re lucky I am doing this with you, also surprised they let you through even when you’re a year older than the age limit.”
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Minyoung huffs, “what have I told you about using my Korean name? Use my English name! It sounds cooler.” Eunbi laughs, “whatever Reese, we need to go and get our numbers.” They walk over to a table, pinning their numbers to their clothes. Reese looks over and laughs, “man your luck must suck because with 200 of us, your placement is number 15!”
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Eunbi pouts seeing Reese’s at number 139, “that’s so not fair!”
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“Actually...” one of the other contestants walks up with a frown. She had a bright smile with dark black hair, “it’s going backwards.” She goofily pretends to cry pointing at her depressing 190.
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“Well....DAMMIT!” Reese groans looking over at Eunbi who happily was taking photos of herself.
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The stranger brings out her hand, “I am Xun! Nice to meet you!”
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Reese furrows her brows, “huh...Wait repeat that again.”
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“Xun” giggles and says it again, “c’mon grandma it’s not that hard! X-U-N!”
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Reese makes an ‘O’ shape with her mouth before gasping, “are you Chinese? That is so freaking cool!” Xun makes a fake sexy grin before playfully putting her sunglasses on, “I know. I am pretty swag.”
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Eunbi ends up shaking hands with Xun as well, “Reese here is from Australia!”
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That made Xun raise an eyebrow, “an Aussie, eh? I saw one on the other side, but she didn’t seem as friendly.” The short girl shudders, “not gonna lie she kind of gave me the creeps.”
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Eunbi crosses her arms, “if that girl you speak of even tries to say anything, I will beat her ass.” Reese looks over patting Eunbi’s arm, “woah woah, I am sure she won’t! Let's all just mind our business and do our best!”
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Xun smirks, ‘hey! Eunbi, you can hold her, and I will beat her face! Sounds like a great plan! What do you think Reese?!”
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“You should talk to us more properly.” Eunbi raises her head, “in case you didn’t know, Reese got in being a 2002 liner.”
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“Bro...” Xun gasps, “so...you’re like what? 40?”
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“40?!” Reese stomps, “no! I will be turning 20 in December-”
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“So, 21 in Korea basically so she is old.” Eunbi nods.
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Reese flares her nostrils, “whatever! You’re only a year younger so chill!”
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Xun watched intensely at them. She moved to Korea at the age of 11. She was born in 2005 and would turn 18 (17) in November. She didn’t have friends in school, so she always covered her pain by being a class clown. It stuck with her after it calmed down, so she was always just a happy girl.
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Xun fiddled with the strings of her sweatpants, I wonder if I could be friends with them, she thought and then snapped her fingers loud, “hey! What are you guys going to do for your audition?” Reese gives Xun a fist bump, “I am going to be doing the raps to TWICE’s ‘The Feels!’”
Eunbi sighs, “Reese is a good rapper though sometimes she gets so into it, you’d think she is going to punch a wall or something!” Reese pushes her, “I do not!” She looks at Xun, “what about you? You going to do some type of standup comedy thing?”
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Ouch. Even though Reese didn’t mean anything by it, that made Xun wince, “actually...I am going to be doing a ballet dance routine.”
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“Oh wow.” Eunbi blinks a few times, “you’re a ballet dancer?”
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Xun nods with a big smile, “yep! I have been dancing since I was seven!” She looks over at Reese, “also...how did you even manage to get in while being a 2002 liner?”
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“Do you not even know who Reese is?” Eunbi makes jazz hands, “she’s the hidden ace of the upcoming 5th generation! She has been in the industry since she was 9 years old and trained for 10 years!”
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Reese blushes, “stop! It’s not that serious, there are a few who have also trained that long.”
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“Yeah!” Xun opens her mouth in shop, “only a few! You’re up there with the older idols like G-Dragon and Super Junior!” She looks over and sees the rude girl from earlier before leaning in and whispering, “guys look the other way, bully at 3:00.”
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Eunbi grabs Reese and pretends that they are looking at photos on their phone while Xun casually tries fixing her slick black ponytail.
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Don’t come over, don’t come over, don’t come over-
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“Look who we have here ladies.”
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SHIT! Xun tries to look at her shoes.
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Before Xun could walk away, Reese yanks her arm and whispers harshly, “you didn’t tell me it was her!” Xun pales, “wait...you know her?”
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“Yes!” Reese groans and pulls Eunbi over who was trying to flirt with one of the guys handing out placement stickers.
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“Hello Minyoung.”
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Reese sighs and looks at her, “hello Soyoung.”
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Soyoung trained with Reese at Starship where they both went head-to-head to get a spot in WJSN. She was cruel and came from a rich family. Noone knew that Soyoung was the reason Reese got kicked out by spreading rumors she was taking part in child pornography with the assistant director.
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Eunbi glares at Soyoung, clearly knowing everything that happened...and more.
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Soyoung gives an evil grin with her caked-on makeup almost making her face look plastic, “and you have your little bird.”
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Xun looked between the two not sure what to do before saying quietly, “I think I am gonna leave, find me in the fourth roo-”
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“Oh no you don’t.” Soyoung pops out a hip, “any friend of Reese’s is a friend of mine, right?” She roughly puts an arm around Eunbi’s shoulder making her pull away. Looking over at Xun, “what’s your name? I saw you earlier.” Soyoung was examining Xun’s outfit before taking her wrist and looking at the bracelet, “this is cute, where did you get it?”
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“U-Uh...w-well...oh...” Xun stutters.
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Soyoung pulls it off holding it batting her eyelashes, “think of this as my greeting gift! Here’s to being new friends!” She waves it in front of Xun’s face, “thanks love!”
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“Wait! My grandma gave that to me-” Xun tries to grab it, but Soyoung holds her in place with her long talon like nails on her shoulder leaning in, “c’mon...you wouldn’t wanna make a scene, right?”
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Reese and Eunbi were too scared to speak, feeling bad for the poor girl.
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Xun’s eyes filled with tears making Soyoung have a fake pitiful smile, “aw don’t get too sad! I am sure you can get another one from your dead grandma!” She pulls away leaving Xun in complete silence.
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Eunbi scrambles over, now seeing the once happy girl, sad and now finding an admiration for her shoes, “hey...are you okay?” Reese goes to place a hand on Xun’s shoulder but the girl jerks away, “I want some time alone please.” Her voice was barely audible, and she walked away.
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