Chasing Starlight

Chapter 2

So-young sat comfortably on the couch in her small apartment, her favorite snacks scattered around her as she lazily scrolled through her phone. The soft purr of her cat, Luna, filled the room as she petted the cat's back, gently running her fingers through the soft fur. Luna, a fluffy gray tabby, seemed to be the only companion So-young had during her months of self-imposed isolation. Her small world had been quiet and calm, a stark contrast to the chaos of her past as a trainee.

The house was peaceful, the quiet buzz of her phone in her hands being the only interruption. She was so used to it now-scrolling mindlessly through social media, watching random videos, or listening to music to fill the silence. She'd been spending most of her days this way, avoiding the outside world as much as possible. Stray Kids' music had become her refuge, the one thing that always seemed to pull her out of the dark thoughts that sometimes crept in. Bang Chan's words echoed in her mind: "We're in this together." It gave her strength.

She grabbed a handful of chips and popped them into her mouth, her eyes still glued to the screen. Luna hopped up beside her, curling up next to her, content with the quiet companionship. So-young smiled faintly, scratching behind the cat's ears. It was a small comfort.

Suddenly, the sharp ring of her phone broke through the tranquility, startling her. It was an unknown number. Frowning, So-young hesitated for a moment before answering, unsure of who could be calling her at this hour.

"Hello?"

"Is this Kim So-young?" a woman's voice on the other end asked, calm and professional.

"Yes, this is she," So-young replied, now curious. Was this a telemarketer? Or maybe someone from her old company? She wasn't expecting any calls.

"This is Ji-yeon, an assistant from JYP Entertainment," the voice continued. "I'm calling to inform you that you have been selected as a member of our upcoming girl group. Congratulations, So-young!"

For a moment, So-young couldn't believe what she had just heard. Her heart skipped a beat, and the phone nearly slipped from her hand. She could feel her breath quicken as a sense of disbelief washed over her.

"Wait... what?" she asked, almost breathless.

"You have passed the audition for JYP's new girl group," Ji-yeon repeated with a smile in her voice. "We were impressed with your potential, and we'd like to officially welcome you to the team. You'll be working with a team of four other talented girls. You're going to be a part of something amazing."

So-young couldn't contain the shock and excitement that bubbled inside her. After everything she had been through, after the years of self-doubt, the bullying, the depression, it all felt like a dream. This couldn't be real. She was going to be a part of a real K-pop group? Her dream was finally coming true.

"Thank you. Thank you so much!" So-young exclaimed, her voice shaky with emotion. She couldn't stop smiling. "I'm... I'm so happy!"

"Glad to hear that! Please make sure to pack everything you need. We'll see you tomorrow for your first meeting with your group members. Don't be late!" Ji-yeon said, sounding excited for her.

"Yes, I'll be there! Thank you again!" So-young quickly replied before ending the call. She just sat there for a moment, staring at the phone in her hand, the words "You've been selected" replaying in her head.

She couldn't stop grinning. This was it. The second chance she had been waiting for. Her dream was no longer just a distant hope; it was a reality, one that was just about to unfold before her. Her hands were shaking as she set the phone down, quickly grabbing her bag and packing it with a few essentials. She was finally going to meet her new group members.