Chasing Starlight

Chapter 1

The sound of harsh music filled the air in the practice room, a rhythm that everyone seemed to follow perfectly-everyone except So-young. As she struggled to keep up with the choreography, she could feel the eyes of her fellow trainees boring into her back. The mirrors that lined the walls only amplified her mistakes, reflecting the glaring looks of annoyance and disdain she received from the other girls.

It wasn't new to her. This was her everyday life as a trainee in her old entertainment company. The aggressive whispers, the snide comments, and the deliberately loud scoffs whenever she made a mistake were as constant as the beat of the music. The trainee world was cutthroat, and while So-young knew she had weaknesses, particularly in dancing, she never expected the bullying to be so brutal.

As the instructor clapped his hands to end the session, the other girls didn't waste a second to make their way towards So-young. They surrounded her, forming a tight circle that left her no room to escape. One of the girls, Yumi, stepped forward, her lips curling into a cruel smirk.

"You messed up again today, So-young," Yumi sneered, folding her arms. "How many times do we have to go over this? You're just dragging us down."

So-young bit her lip, keeping her eyes on the ground. She had heard it all before. The insults, the taunts-they felt like daggers piercing through her already fragile confidence.

"She's hopeless," another girl muttered. "Why are you even here? You're never going to debut. You should just quit."

So-young's chest tightened. She had given up everything to be here-her school, her family time, her friendships. She wanted to make this work, to prove she had something to offer, but it seemed like no one else believed in her.

"Maybe you should just kill yourself," Yumi said coldly, her eyes devoid of any emotion. "No one would miss you anyway. You're just a waste of space."

The words hit So-young like a slap to the face. Her breath caught in her throat, and she felt the tears well up in her eyes. She turned on her heel and ran out of the practice room, ignoring the laughter that followed her down the hallway.

She didn't stop running until she reached the stairwell, where she crumpled to the ground, sobbing into her hands. The pain in her chest was unbearable, like a weight pressing down on her, crushing her spirit. What had she done to deserve this? She tried so hard, practiced late into the night, and pushed herself beyond her limits, but it was never enough.

Her days continued like this for weeks. Every time she walked into that practice room, she felt like she was walking into a war zone, her heart heavy with fear and dread. The bullying didn't stop; it got worse. The girls began to spread rumors about her, accusing her of things she didn't do, making her feel even more isolated and broken.

Eventually, the mental strain became too much for her to bear. One night, after yet another grueling day of practice and relentless bullying, she made a decision. She packed her bags and left the company without a word to anyone. She couldn't take it anymore. Her dreams of becoming an idol were shattered, replaced with the sharp shards of her own self-doubt and pain.

The days that followed were a blur. She stayed in her room, refusing to eat or speak to anyone. The silence was her only companion, the emptiness of her small apartment mirroring the emptiness she felt inside. Her phone buzzed constantly with messages from her parents, her old school friends, and even a few trainees who had noticed her absence, but she ignored them all.

She couldn't face the world, not when she felt like a complete failure. The words of her bullies echoed in her head, haunting her every waking moment. You should just kill yourself. No one would miss you.