|| Just Like We Used To Be || J.JK ||

1- Line Up

  ˗ˏˋ꒰ 🍒 ꒱ ⎯⎯ ୨ 𝔏𝔦𝔫𝔢 𝔘𝔭 ୧ ⎯⎯  ꒰ 🍒 ꒱˗ˏˋ

I sat on the hard floor of the practice room, my legs crossed, my heart pounding so loud I was sure everyone could hear it. The air was thick with tension. Hina, Rumi, Yemi unnie, and the others sat around me, each lost in their thoughts, but I could feel the same unease gnawing at all of us. PD-nim stood in front of us, expression unreadable as always. His clipboard seemed like the most dangerous weapon in the room, one that could either lift our dreams or crush them in seconds.

We had all worked so hard. Two years and three months for me, but it felt like a lifetime. Every hour spent in this room, rehearsing until our muscles ached, all came down to this moment. PENTARA-the group name felt foreign but powerful. And only five of us would debut.

I stole a glance at the others. Doji sat to my left, her usual calm demeanor betrayed only by the slight tapping of her fingers on the floor. Hina, the youngest, was chewing nervously on her lower lip. They had been my family, my sisters through this journey. And now... everything was about to change.

"Alright, I'll get straight to the point," PD-nim began, breaking the silence like a sharp blade. His eyes scanned over us, but I couldn't bring myself to meet them. My heart dropped to my stomach.

"PENTARA will be a five-member group."

The words hit like a slap, though we had expected it. Only five. I took a shaky breath, my mind racing. Was I enough? Had I worked hard enough? I pushed myself, didn't I? But... what if it wasn't enough?

"The first member who will be debuting in PENTARA is... Choi Doji."

The room erupted into soft applause. Doji looked as if she was frozen, her eyes wide before she broke into a smile. I hugged her tightly, whispering a soft "congrats" in her ear, though my throat felt tight. One down.

"The second member is... Sasaki Hina."

Hina let out a breath she must've been holding for hours, her lips stretching into a relieved grin. She looked like she might cry, but she held it together, bowing slightly. I forced a smile for her, my fingers clenching into fists in my lap.

"The third member, Seo Ahreum."

Rumi exhaled, giving me a quick squeeze on the knee. I patted her leg, barely able to think. Three members down. Two left.

"The fourth member is... Kim Yeeul."

Yemi unnie's name felt like a nail in my coffin. She smiled softly, but my chest tightened. It was only the three of us left now-me, Shin Doin, and Hannah. My heart raced even faster, each second stretching into an eternity.

I had given everything I had. Sleepless nights, blisters on my feet, sore muscles, and more hours than I could count. If I didn't debut now, I didn't know what I would do. I stared at the floor, not daring to look up, as the world seemed to shrink around me.

"And now, we're left with three members. Shin Doin, Hannah Willson, and Han Sori. Two Korean and one American member."

My breath hitched. I felt Rumi and Doji's hands clutch mine tightly. I could hear my own heartbeat echo in my ears. My head lowered, every muscle in my body tensed, bracing for impact.

"So the last member, a Korean member, is..."

PD-nim paused. Hannah covered her face, likely thinking the worst. I was too scared to even breathe.

"...Han Sori."

I blinked, looking up, my vision blurry with unshed tears. Did I just hear my name? Was this real?

"I did it..." I whispered, more to myself than anyone else. My breath came out in shuddering gasps as tears spilled down my cheeks. Doji squeezed my hand as Hina wrapped her arms around me. "Eonnie, don't cry," she murmured softly, though her own voice wavered.

I had done it. I was going to debut.

Shin Doin and Hannah offered their congratulations, but I could see the disappointment lingering in their eyes. PD-nim quickly added that they would join another project, softening the blow, but I knew it wasn't the same. My heart ached for them, but this moment was too overwhelming for me to process anything else.

Visual, main vocals, and lead dancer-those were my positions. I couldn't believe it. June, that would be my stage name, though I wasn't quite sure why I had picked it. It felt right. Maybe one day, I'd figure out why.

But for now, I was overwhelmed. Happiness, fear, and excitement all mixed into one giant knot in my stomach. I wiped the last of my tears, taking a deep breath. This was it. This was the start of something huge.

I wasn't just Han Sori anymore. I was June, the newest member of PENTARA.

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