𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙪𝙥 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧? || sim jake x reader

the start of something new

Y/N woke up earlier than usual, the sun barely peeking through the curtains of her small apartment. Today was the day—the first time she would be showcasing her talent in public, surrounded by strangers, some of whom might be scouters looking for raw potential. It was thrilling but also terrifying. And, most importantly, she would be doing it sober.

She dragged herself out of bed, determined to start her day on the right note. Her morning routine was simple but necessary. She brushed her teeth, washed her face, and followed her carefully curated skincare steps, making sure her skin looked and felt fresh. As she stared at her reflection in the mirror, she let out a deep breath. There was no turning back now.

Her stomach grumbled, but she knew better than to eat anything too heavy before dancing. Instead, she settled for something light yet energizing—just enough to keep her going without making her feel sluggish. As she took small bites of her breakfast, the nerves started creeping in. What if she messed up? What if she embarrassed herself?

Pushing those thoughts aside, she turned her attention to her closet. What do you even wear to something like this? She needed something comfortable enough to move freely in but still presentable. She shuffled through her options, throwing shirt after shirt onto her bed in frustration. Nothing seemed right. After what felt like forever, she finally settled on a simple oversized shirt, loose-fitting sweatpants, and a cap to keep a low profile. She wanted to feel like herself, not someone trying too hard.

Satisfied with her outfit, she grabbed her headphones and stuffed a few essentials into her bag. Just as she was about to step out the door, her phone buzzed.

Yujin: Come out. I'm driving.

Relief flooded her system. She had planned to take public transit, but having Yujin with her would make everything feel less intimidating.

The moment she slid into the passenger seat, Yujin shot her a playful smirk.

"Damn, Y/N, you actually look good. This is a rare sight."

Y/N scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Gee, thanks for the confidence boost."

Despite her teasing, Yujin could tell how nervous Y/N was. She had seen her dance a hundred times before, but this was different. This wasn't just for fun in the comfort of their apartments—this was in front of an actual audience.

"Okay, real talk," Yujin said, glancing at her. "How nervous are you right now?"

Y/N exhaled loudly, drumming her fingers against her knee. "On a scale of one to throwing up? Like, a strong eight."

Yujin chuckled, reaching over to squeeze her shoulder. "You got this. I promise. Just have fun, and everything else will fall into place."

Easier said than done.

The venue was buzzing with energy. Music blasted through the speakers, and people were already gathering. Some were stretching, others were casually warming up, and a few were hyping each other up, their excitement contagious.

Yujin's sharp eyes scanned the crowd, spotting a scouter right away. They were easy to recognize—clipboard in hand, their gaze focused as they observed potential dancers. But Yujin didn't tell Y/N. She didn't need to add any more pressure.

A voice rang through the mic. "Welcome, everyone, to the Random K-Pop Dance in Public event! We'll be starting soon, so please make space for the dancers!"

Yujin grinned at Y/N. "Good luck, superstar."

Y/N swallowed hard and made her way toward the open space, her heart hammering in her chest.

Then the music started.

At first, they played second-generation K-pop songs, some iconic classics that Y/N loved but hadn't fully learned the choreography for. She swayed to the beat, watching the dancers confidently take center stage. It wasn't until SHINee's Replay came on that she finally felt ready.

Without thinking, she stepped into the middle of the crowd.

And then she froze.

For a split second, fear paralyzed her. But as the familiar beat pulsed through the speakers, her body moved instinctively, flowing into the dance as if she had done this a thousand times.

The nerves melted away.

The crowd cheered, and suddenly, nothing else mattered.

As the song ended, she caught her breath, exhilarated. More rounds followed, transitioning into third and fourth-gen songs. BTS, EXO, BLACKPINK, TWICE—songs she knew by heart. The more she danced, the more confident she became. She wasn't just moving to the beat; she was performing.

Then Ping Pong by HyunA and Dawn started playing.

Y/N hesitated. It was a partner dance.

Before she could step back, a hand grabbed hers.

A masked guy pulled her forward, seamlessly leading her into the choreography. His movements were sharp and fluid, matching hers perfectly. Their chemistry was undeniable, and the crowd noticed. People started whispering, some even taking videos.

The song ended, and Y/N turned to the mystery dancer, panting.

"Hey! That was fun. What's your name?"

"I think you already know," he said with a smirk, pulling down his mask.

Her eyes widened.

"Yeonjun??"

Without thinking, she launched herself at him, hugging him tight.

He chuckled, wrapping his arms around her. "Missed me?"

"You idiot!" she laughed. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you. And... I wanted to apologize for last time."

She pulled back slightly, looking into his eyes. "Yeonjun, it's fine—"

"No, it's not," he interrupted. "I was being stupid. I was scared you'd lose interest while I was away, and I handled it in the worst way possible. I know we only just met, but I really care about you, and..."

"Hey," she said softly, squeezing his hand. "I forgive you. And I'm sorry for walking out on you. I was stressed."

He smiled in relief, nodding.

More songs played, and they danced together, the tension between them melting away. Then, as if the universe was listening, Y/N's favorite song started playing.

It was like something took over her body. She found herself at the very front, every movement sharp, fluid, and controlled. The rhythm coursed through her veins, guiding her every step. People around her stopped to watch, mesmerized by the passion in her movements.

Unbeknownst to her, she had caught the eyes of many. And among them were exactly the people she had been hoping to impress.

As the song ended, Yujin and Yeonjun pulled her aside, their faces glowing with excitement.

"Y/N, I swear all the scouters kept looking at you," Yujin blurted out.

Y/N, still catching her breath, stared at her. "They what??"

Before she could spiral into panic, a woman approached them, clipboard in hand.

"Hello," the woman said warmly. "I was wondering—how old are you?"

"Uh... nineteen," Y/N answered, her voice slightly shaky. Was that too old? Most idols started training way younger than her.

"Oh, perfect!" the woman beamed. "We're currently scouting for backup dancers for a certain K-pop group. If you'd be interested, here's the audition info."

Y/N took the card with trembling hands. "Thank you so much! I'll... I'll definitely consider it."

As the woman walked away, Y/N stared at the card in disbelief.

Then, as if everything finally hit her at once, she let out a high-pitched squeal, causing a few people to turn and stare. Yujin and Yeonjun burst into laughter at her reaction.

Her heart was on fire, both from the intensity of the dancing and from the realization that her dream might actually be coming true.

This was only the beginning.