From the Beginning | EXO FanFic

Chapter 2 - Auditions

At this point, I just wanted to close my eyes and pretend I didn't exist. I'm not normally this nervous for auditions since I'm so used to it, but strangely I had this feeling inside of me... a feeling that I kind of wanted to get in, as much as my mum would despise the thought.

I tried to erase everything out of my head.

I stood on the stage, clutching onto my microphone. I glance sharply at their name plates: Lee Soo Man. The CEO and founder of SM Entertainment which some fans and my mum despise because of his so called "bad attitude" towards the artists. Tiffany, an artist from Girls' Generation, possible one of the legendary groups of K-pop. I'm mesmerised from her beauty even standing there, and my hands start to tremble when I realise I'm going to be singing in front of her. I smile at her, hopefully believing that she will like the song I'll be singing today. The last judge is Kim Myungdae, a professional vocal trainer for SM Entertainment that I have longed to work with. I take a deep breath before I begin to talk, trying to muster all the confidence I have left.

"A-annyeonghaseyo, I am Park Hyerin," I say politely, and then bow towards the front of the room, struggling to make eye contact.

"Hi Hyerin. Please don't be nervous," Tiffany assures.

I tilt my head slightly to the side before nodding shyly.

"So, why have you wanted to join SM Entertainment?"

My mind suddenly stopped. I hadn't really thought about my answer to that question. I glanced down at my feet in nervousness, trying to think of one on the spot.

"Umm, after watching others perform on stage, singing and dancing, it was really the only thing I wanted to do. My dream was always to become an idol, I g-guess, to sing for other people and maybe make them smile. When my m-mum and dad separated, I always tried to cheer my mum up by singing her a song that she really likes. She would always end up smiling. I hope I could do that to others, too," I say, smiling a bit at the thought. But it's not long until I quickly wipe that smile off.

Oh crap, I didn't sound too much like a soppy child with a troubled family, right? What if they think I'm sucking up to them? That was definitely too cheesy. Ugh, Park Hyerim, get yourself together.

Lee Soo Man-nim eyes me with glaring eyes and I awkwardly fidget with my fingers as I look away unreassuringly. This sure isn't going on how I planned.

"I see," Tiffany says, encouragingly. Silence erupts like a volcano in the room and I try to make myself calm but my legs tremble too hard that it takes over my whole body, making me unable to stop. All the judges are now writing down cautiously on their piles of paper, and I close my eyes with force to get rid of any bad thoughts. "Take it away, the stage is yours."

The instrumental of the song I've adored for nearly three years now is playing, and I can't help but sway to the beat of the song. The piano parts make me get goose bumps no matter how many times I hear it.

I look at Tiffany and she catches my full attention when she smiles at her with her heart-warming, famous eye smile. I glance at her back, showing off a smile and from the moment the music played, she knew that this was sung by one of her best friends.

With a barely audible and shaky voice, I start with a deep breath and close my eyes shut.

Manyageh naega gandamyeon

Naega dagagandamyeon

Neon eoddoegeh saenggakhalgga

Yonginaelsu eobtgo

I place my quivering hand over my chest, feeling the rapid pulse of my heart beating out of it. A rush of adrenaline forms inside of my body as this is a feeling I have never felt before. I continue to sing the words with a serious look on my face, hoping that I don't look too awkward at the moment.