untitled ; 2024

a moment in the spotlight

[14th September 2002, 9:00 PM]

The auditorium was packed, the air buzzing with anticipation. Hyun-jeong sat in the green room, staring at her reflection in the mirror. The makeup artist was putting the final touches on her look, but all she could think about was the award ceremony she was about to attend. This wasn't just any award show—it was one of the biggest of the year, and she was nominated for Best Young Actress.

This could be it, she thought, her heart pounding in her chest. This could be the moment I've been waiting for.

"Are you nervous?" her manager asked, noticing the way she was fidgeting with her dress.

"A little," she admitted, though it was more than just nerves. It was a mix of excitement, fear, and disbelief. She had been working so hard, balancing her acting career and her training at SM Entertainment, that it all felt like a blur. But tonight, everything was about to slow down—if only for a few minutes.

The door to the green room opened, and a staff member signalled that it was time to go. Hyun-jeong took a deep breath, smoothing out her dress before standing up. Her manager gave her a reassuring smile as they walked out together, heading toward the stage.

As they reached the backstage area, the sound of applause filled the air. She peeked out from behind the curtain, seeing the dazzling lights and the crowd of celebrities, producers, and industry professionals. It was overwhelming, but also exhilarating.

"And now, the award for Best Young Actress," the host announced, his voice echoing through the auditorium. The screen above the stage lit up with the faces of the nominees, including hers. Hyun-jeong's heart skipped a beat as she saw her name in bold letters.

This is really happening.

"And the winner is... Kim Hyun-jeong!"

The words hit her like a wave, and for a moment, she was frozen in place. Then, her manager nudged her forward, and she found herself walking onto the stage, the applause growing louder with each step. She could feel the heat of the lights on her skin, the weight of all those eyes watching her.

When she reached the podium, the host handed her the trophy, and it was heavier than she expected. She looked out at the audience, a sea of faces she barely recognized, and took a deep breath.

"Thank you so much," she began, her voice steady despite the chaos of emotions inside her. "I'm so grateful for this award. It means the world to me."

She spoke about her love for acting, about the support of her family and friends, and about the hard work that had brought her to this moment. But what she didn't say, what she couldn't say, was how this award was also a validation of the choices she had made—the choice to continue acting, even as she trained to become a K-pop idol.

As she finished her speech and walked off the stage, the reality of it all began to sink in. She had won. She was holding the proof in her hands. But instead of feeling pure joy, there was a part of her that felt a strange sense of pressure.

What happens now? she wondered. Can I live up to this?

[15th September 2002, 10:00 AM]

The next morning, Hyun-jeong sat in the SM Entertainment office, the trophy sitting in her lap. She had brought it with her, almost as if she needed to prove that last night had really happened.

The door opened, and one of the managers walked in, smiling as he saw the trophy. "Congratulations, Hyun-jeong. You've made us all proud."

"Thank you," she replied, though there was a hint of uncertainty in her voice. "I just... I didn't expect to win."

"You deserved it," he said, sitting down across from her. "But you know what this means, right? More eyes are on you now. You'll have to work even harder."

Harder? she thought, the word echoing in her mind. She was already giving everything she had—how could she give more?

"We'll need to talk about your schedule," the manager continued. "There are going to be more opportunities coming your way, and we'll have to balance that with your training."

She nodded, feeling the weight of the trophy in her lap. It was no longer just a symbol of her success; it was a reminder of the expectations that came with it.

[20th August 2002, 8:00 PM]

Training that night was gruelling. The instructors were pushing the trainees harder than ever, and Hyun-jeong could feel the exhaustion creeping into her bones. But she pushed through it, determined not to let anyone see her struggle.

As they took a break, she overheard some of the boys talking about her win. "Did you see her on TV? She looked so cool up there."

"Yeah, but I bet it's going to be tough for her now. Everyone's going to expect her to be perfect."

She turned away, not wanting them to know she had heard. They're right, she thought. Everyone's going to expect more from me now.

After practice, Dong-hae approached her as they were packing up. "I saw your speech," he said, his voice quiet but sincere. "You were amazing."

"Thanks," she replied, forcing a smile. But the truth was, she didn't feel amazing. She felt tired, and more than a little scared.

"You don't have to be perfect, you know," Dong-hae added as if reading her mind. "You just have to be you."

His words struck a chord, and for the first time since the award show, she felt a little lighter. But even as they left the building together, she couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get a lot harder.

[26th September 2002, 11:30 PM]

That night, as Hyun-jeong lay in bed, she stared at the ceiling, the events of the past few days replaying in her mind. The trophy sat on her nightstand, gleaming in the dim light.

This is what I've always wanted, she told herself, staring at the trophy one last time before bed. This is why I've worked so hard.

But as she lay there, the excitement began to fade, replaced by the weight of the responsibilities ahead. Balancing two worlds was no small feat, and the path forward seemed daunting. Yet, even in the quiet darkness, she knew giving up was never an option.

I've made it this far, she reassured herself, as the exhaustion finally took over. I'll keep going, no matter what.