Blessing in Disguise

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Yunjin

7/8/2019

Yunjin stood in the practice room, her heart still racing from the final run-throughs of her evaluation. She had felt in sync today—perfect, even. As she waited for feedback, there was a subtle buzz of confidence lifting her. The trainers had watched, their gazes intense but even-keeled. She'd met their expectations, maybe even exceeded them. And for the first time, the high-pressure critiques, the hours of grueling repetition, felt like they had all been worth it.

Then, the trainer cleared her throat, her expression softening as she glanced at Yunjin. There was something hesitant, almost reluctant, in the way she took a breath, choosing her words carefully.

"Yunjin," the trainer started, her tone gentler than usual, a flicker of sympathy crossing her face. "I want you to know... it's clear how hard you've worked. You've shown resilience and dedication. But..." She hesitated, her gaze flickering down for a moment before meeting Yunjin's eyes again. "But we feel... that this isn't the right path forward for you here at Source Music."

Yunjin blinked, her stomach dropping. She tried to keep her face composed, but her pulse quickened, her body tensing as the trainer continued.

"We've decided that, for now, your journey with us as a trainee will end here. You've shown great potential, but at this point, we need a different... direction for what we're building." The trainer paused, then added quietly, "I'm really sorry, Yunjin. I know how much this means to you, and if it's any comfort, I truly believe you'll go far, even if it's not with us."

The words left Yunjin cold. She nodded slowly, feeling a vague ache begin to settle deep in her chest. She'd imagined this scene hundreds of times, but she'd always pictured it ending with a different verdict—with words of praise, maybe even the beginning of a new chapter, one step closer to her dream. But instead, here she was, receiving a polite dismissal, a reluctant but decisive "no."

The trainer's gaze was almost apologetic, lingering on Yunjin as if to say more, but there was nothing else to be said. There would be no overturning this, no sudden change of mind.

"Thank you," Yunjin managed, her voice steady but barely audible. She wanted to hold her head high, to keep her composure, but the numbness washing over her felt all-consuming. She felt the weight of everything settle on her shoulders, heavier than it had ever been.

As she turned and left the room, the words replayed in her mind, growing more hollow each time. It's over. Just like that, with a few gentle words, her future in this world she'd dreamed of for so long had slipped away. She moved mechanically, her steps echoing faintly down the quiet hallways, her hands cold.

When she reached the dorm she shared with the other trainees, she sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her hands. The reality began to seep in, bit by bit. You're no longer a trainee. The dream she'd chased halfway around the world for, the dream she'd spent countless nights sacrificing for, the friendships she'd made, the moments of triumph and struggle—all of it had led her here, to this final, quiet disappointment.

Maybe the Korean music industry wasn't for her after all. She thought of the culture she had tried so hard to adapt to, the relentless expectations she'd never quite felt like she could reach. The excitement and fervor had turned into pressure and exhaustion over the months, and she began to wonder if it was worth it at all. Was it her? Was she simply not enough?

She felt a strange sense of numb acceptance as she contemplated returning to the States. I could finish high school, she thought, her mind turning to familiar comforts. Go to a good university, maybe. Do something practical. It was an idea she had never considered seriously, not until now. But it settled in her chest, filling the hollow ache with a surprising steadiness.

Yunjin sat alone on her bed, the weight of her failed evaluation settling heavily on her chest. Her hands trembled as she reached for her phone, her fingers brushing over the promise ring Y/N had given her before she left. She felt the cool metal, a reminder of the dreams they'd promised to chase together. Swallowing hard, she pressed his contact and waited, barely breathing until his familiar voice came through.

"Hey, Jen!" Y/N's cheerful tone brought an immediate lump to her throat, and before she could stop herself, a sob broke free, the hurt, the anger, and the sense of failure overwhelming her. She felt the tears flow, each one an admission of the defeat she'd worked so hard to avoid.

"Jen?" Y/N's voice softened, his tone instantly concerned. "Hey, hey... what happened?"

"I—I didn't make it, Y/N," she managed between shaky breaths. "They cut me. I'm... not a trainee anymore." Her voice cracked, and she began to cry harder, clutching the ring like a lifeline. "I let everyone down. My family, you... I thought I could do this, that I was enough, but I failed."

She heard him sigh, a comforting sound as he took in her words. "Jen, listen to me," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "You didn't let anyone down. Not your family, not me, and definitely not yourself. You gave this everything. There's no way that's failure."

"But I... I came all the way here," she choked out, the words coming in a rush. "I pushed so hard, did everything they wanted, and I couldn't... I couldn't make it work. What was it all for if I can't even... if I can't make it?"

"It was for you, Jen," Y/N replied, a steady reassurance in his voice. "You tried, you learned, and you grew. And I promise you, that's worth everything. You haven't let me down. You never could."

She clutched the ring tighter, his words beginning to soothe the ache in her heart. "But what about us? I wanted to make you proud, to show you I could do it..."

"Jen," he interrupted, his tone gentle yet serious, "you make me proud every day just by being you. You don't have to be anything other than who you are, here, now. You're enough, more than enough, exactly as you are."

Yunjin took a deep, uneven breath, letting Y/N's words settle over her like a soft, steadying blanket. The initial storm of emotions calmed, replaced by a faint sense of relief. She couldn't quite escape the pang of failure, but with him there, it didn't feel so final. Her fingers traced the edges of the promise ring, grounding her in the quiet promise they had made to each other. The idea of home, of familiarity, and of seeing Y/N again in person began to feel more real.

"Y/N..." she started, her voice soft and careful. "I think I'm going to come back to the States. I'll finish high school there, maybe even apply to colleges." The words tasted bittersweet, but a strange sense of calm filled her. It was a new direction, one she hadn't expected, but perhaps it was exactly what she needed.

For a moment, there was silence on the other end of the line. Then Y/N spoke, his voice tender and hopeful. "If that's what feels right, Jen, then I think it's the best choice you could make. And, honestly, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't kind of thrilled... imagining us actually being in the same place again."

A small smile broke through the sadness on Yunjin's face, and her heart gave a gentle flutter. "I thought about that too," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Maybe... maybe this is our chance. We could even go to the same school, actually get to experience college together. I know it's silly, but... it gives me something to look forward to."

Y/N's quiet chuckle on the other end felt like home. "Not silly at all," he assured her. "I'd love that more than anything, Jen. Being there, by your side. Just us... no pressure, no distance. Maybe this is a chance for something new."

She held the phone tightly, feeling her chest grow warmer with every word. "Yeah," she whispered, her voice more confident than before. "Maybe this is just a new beginning."

They talked for a while longer, letting the idea of their future become a comforting thread weaving through their shared hopes and dreams. For the first time since the crushing announcement, Yunjin felt a glimmer of excitement, of possibility. 

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A/N: What's up awesome people? Please go check out my new one-shot book, it currently only has one part, but there's definitely more to come!