A Backstage Love I Han Jisung x Reader

The Audition PT1

"Hey, Y/N," he greeted softly, his warm smile immediately grounding me. "I asked if it would be alright to come and get you myself. Would you mind if I escorted you?"

I stood quickly, my relief obvious as a genuine smile broke through my nerves. "Thank you so much, Jungho."

He led me down the hallway, his presence a steadying force. Outside the audition room, he placed a hand on my shoulder and helped me take deep breaths.

"You've got this," he said confidently. "Just be yourself. I knew the day I scouted you, that you would be one of the greatest assets our company would have for a long time. Keep your head high okay?"

I nodded, my eyes tickling with tears. My heart began pounding as I stepped inside the audition room.

The room was both familiar and intimidating. My vision blurred momentarily, overwhelmed by the scene in front of me. Sitting at the judge tables were some JYP staff, ITZY, and Stray Kids.

Han caught my eye immediately, mimicking the motion of taking a deep breath, exhaling exaggeratedly to remind me to calm down. The rest of the Stray Kids members smiled warmly at me, like big brothers silently cheering me on.

I couldn't help but chuckle softly, my nerves ebbing slightly at their encouragement.

"Welcome, Y/N," JYP said, his tone formal yet kind. "We've been looking forward to seeing your progress."

I bowed politely, my hands still trembling slightly. "Thank you for having me."

"Let's start with a warm-up," he continued. "You'll perform your prepared choreography and vocal piece first. Take your time to get ready."

I nodded, stepping into position. My focus sharpened as I locked eyes with Jiwon and Yoojin, who sat off to the side now, smiling reassuringly. Even Han gave me a thumbs-up from his seat.

This was it—the culmination of everything I'd worked for.

I took a deep breath, centered myself, and let the music carry me.

The music began softly, building in layers that mirrored the rhythm of my heartbeat. I took one last deep breath before I started to move, my body falling naturally into the choreography I had practiced countless times.

Each step, turn, and movement felt purposeful. My arms sliced through the air with precision, my feet landing firmly yet gracefully with every beat. The song, "Bon Voyage" by Dreamcatcher, had always been a test of speed and sharp transitions. I poured everything into embodying the fast, energetic vibe of the track.

I glanced at the judges' table briefly, catching the way JYP leaned forward, his chin resting on his hand as he observed closely. ITZY's Lia smiled softly, nodding slightly in time with the music, while Han was practically beaming with pride.

The bridge of the song arrived—the point where I always pushed myself hardest. My moves became sharper, the transitions seamless. When the final beat of the song hit, I ended in a low stance, my hands extended outward as if reaching for the stars.

For a moment, the room was silent.

Then, a polite round of applause filled the space. I glanced over at Han once again, just to see him throwing his fists in the air quietly, as to not gain too much attention from the staff in front of him.

"Well done," JYP said, his expression neutral but his words carrying weight. "You've shown improvement in your execution and timing."

"Thank you," I said, my voice steadier than I expected.

"Let's move on to vocals," one of the staff members said, gesturing toward the microphone set up at the front of the room.

I nodded, wiping my hands discreetly on my jeans before stepping forward. The microphone loomed in front of me, and for a second, my mind went blank.

Han caught my eye again, exaggerating a breathing motion just like before. I couldn't help but crack a tiny smile. Boyfriend energy indeed.

I positioned myself in front of the mic and gave a small nod to signal I was ready. The instrumental began—a stripped-down version of "The Girls" by Kep1er. The song's soaring notes and emotional intensity were a risk, but I wanted to show my range and connect with the judges.

The first note escaped my lips, soft and gentle like the start of a sunrise. I could feel every word of the lyrics as I sang, pouring my heart into each phrase. My voice swelled during the chorus, hitting the high notes with as much power as I could muster.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed ITZY's Ryujin exchanging a glance with Yeji, both of them nodding in approval. Even some of the Stray Kids members—Changbin and Seungmin especially—seemed impressed.

When the final note lingered in the air, I exhaled slowly and stepped back from the mic.

JYP leaned forward again, scribbling something on the notepad in front of him. "Your tone is unique," he said thoughtfully. "You've clearly worked on controlling your softer dynamics, which sets you apart."

My chest swelled with pride at the feedback. "Thank you," I said, bowing deeply.

Before I could fully relax, JYP's tone turned more serious.

"Now, let's test your adaptability," he said, glancing at the staff. "We've prepared a challenge for all trainees today. You'll pair with another trainee and create a short, impromptu routine to a randomly selected track."

My nerves spiked again. Impromptu? This wasn't something I had prepared for, and the idea of being thrown into the unknown felt overwhelming.