The Rhythm Of The Heart *Wonyoung x YN* *Danielle x YN*

How do i look?

My alarm woke me up, and I put on my workout clothes to go for a jog. The sun hadn't risen yet, but if I wanted my dream to come true, I had to push myself. I hadn't made it into any of the Big Three agencies, but I still had more auditions lined up, including CUBE and Big Hit. I put on my headphones and headed out as the sun began to rise. After finishing, I returned home, showered, and put on my uniform. That was my routine for the rest of the year as I continued auditioning.

When the CUBE audition arrived, it was the first time they received me with a different expression than the usual rejection. The night before, I weighed myself and was at 56 kilograms. I had lost almost ten kilograms from jogging and exercising. Another failure. I had to try harder. Every time exhaustion claimed my body, I remembered what SM told me in the audition and continued with renewed energy.

For the Big Hit audition, I was down to 47 kilograms and had a great figure. Some people didn't even recognize me. Being lighter and more agile gave me more mobility to dance, and I improved in that aspect. But again, I wasn't accepted. That was my last chance to enter a popular agency, and leaving the place, I stared at the countless messages telling me to try again next year.

Clearly, I wouldn't be auditioning for several agencies again. This time, I took the time to make a list and discard agencies that didn't seem serious. In 2020, I had to adjust my plans due to the pandemic starting in March, and we went into quarantine. Almost all auditions that year were virtual, especially at the beginning.

In the few in-person auditions I attended before quarantine, they were surprised to see me, as they remembered me when I was heavier. Still, everything kept going wrong. In lesser-known agencies, I passed the initial auditions but didn't make it further. The Big Three were even more demanding.

When I faced the same SM employee via video call who called me fat the previous year, I couldn't resist asking what he thought of me now. "You still lack something. Your vocal skills have barely improved, as has your charisma. While you've improved in rap and dance, your visual remains a problem. You may have lost weight, but your face still doesn't convince us."

"But your selection method should fulfill the 35 out of 50 criteria," I said. The man stared at me for seconds. "Your vocal skills remain 8/10, charisma 7/10, dance 7/10, rap 6/10, but your visual doesn't exceed 5/10. That gives us 33/10."

It's incredible how big companies can afford to crush someone's dreams. The following months, I tried everything to make my face look smaller, but it never seemed enough, and I got the same results as the previous year.

After striving so hard, I bought a drink at a minimarket and sipped it by the Han River, admiring the views and silence of the nearly empty streets. "How much do you want to be a K-pop idol?" A man stood meters away, speaking to me.

"Are you some kind of stalker?" I asked, separating my lips from the straw. "I'm opening an agency and remember you from last year's auditions," he said, handing me a card. "I can help make your dream come true."

The card looked real. "What's your agency's name?" If he told the truth, I should know the agency. "The Muze Entertainment." I tried to take another sip, but only the typical sound of an empty straw sounded.

"What's the catch?" I couldn't simply accept due to caution. "No catch, but you'll need to do something and cover it yourself." "That is..." "Plastic surgery." I played with the straw upon hearing that. I had considered it but wanted to try to achieve it on my own.

I had to do it. An opportunity like this might not come again. "How do I contact you later?" He handed me a professional-looking card. I stored it and walked away from the edge. "I'll contact you when it's all done."

Upon returning home, I went to my room and searched for the box with all my savings. I didn't know if it was enough, but I had to do something. With everything decided, I went to get the surgery. I wrote to my mom that I would finally undergo surgery. I had been telling her about this option, but I was never sure.

Already at the location, the surgeon asked me what I wanted, and I described everything I wanted to do: rhinoplasty, slimming my chin to a V-shape, and filling out my lips. He quickly explained how the surgery would be, and then a nurse took me to a room where I put on a gown and lay down waiting for the surgeon and his team.

When the anesthesia wore off, my entire head was wrapped in bandages, and I felt some pain. The surgeon explained what I had to do in the following days and everything they would inject me with, because if not, the operation would hurt a lot.

Those were difficult times, and I suffered a lot while recovering, but when they removed the bandages, I knew it had all been worth it. I looked like a real idol.

I called the CEO and told him I was ready. Stepping into the agency, I felt like I was taking a step forward. Even though it wasn't a well-known agency, stories of those who succeed from the bottom up are always more beautiful and inspiring.