A Backstage Love I Han Jisung x Reader

A Sisterhood

"Seoyun."

The girl next to me stood, and I clutched the edge of my chair, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Y/N."

The breath I'd been holding escaped in a shaky rush. My legs felt like jelly as I stood, but the encouraging smiles from Jiwon and Yoojin gave me the strength to walk to the front.

"Jinsoo."

Another trainee, who had impressed everyone with his vocals earlier, joined us.

"And finally, Hyejin."

The ninth trainee stood, her face glowing with relief.

JYP looked at the nine of us, his gaze steady. "You have demonstrated not just talent, but the resilience and adaptability we look for. You have what it takes to move on to the next phase of training. Congratulations."

As applause began to fill the room, an audible scoff cut through the air. I turned my head just in time to see Yuna standing with her arms crossed, her face twisted in indignation.

"You have got to be kidding me," she snapped, her voice sharp enough to turn heads. "You're putting her in a group instead of me? What a joke."

The room went silent, the applause fading into an awkward hum. JYP raised a brow, his expression calm but firm. "Yuna, this is neither the time nor the place—"

"No, let's talk about it!" Yuna interrupted, stepping forward with an exaggerated flip of her hair. "I've been doing this longer than half the girls in this room. I've earned this. And you're choosing them? What exactly do they bring to the table that I don't?"

I felt my stomach twist, unsure whether to feel anger or pity for her. The other trainees shifted uncomfortably, avoiding her gaze.

JYP's voice was measured, cutting through the tension. "This is a group effort, Yuna. A team dynamic. And while your skills are strong, your attitude has made it clear you're not ready to work as part of one."

Yuna's face turned red, and she stammered, "I—what? That's not fair! I've worked so hard!"

"It's not about working hard," Jiwon said suddenly, stepping forward. Her voice was calm but unwavering. "It's about working together. And honestly, you've spent more time tearing people down than building them up."

Yuna's glare turned to Jiwon, but she had no rebuttal. The truth hung in the air, undeniable.

"You also lack originality," JYP added, his tone matter-of-fact but cutting. "Your routines, your concepts—they feel recycled. You haven't shown me something that feels yours."

Yuna froze, her mouth opening and closing before she spun on her heel, muttering something under her breath. She stormed out of the room, leaving a trail of tension in her wake.

As the door slammed shut behind her, the silence was deafening. JYP turned back to the nine of us, his expression softening. "Now that the distractions are gone, let's refocus."

I exhaled deeply, realizing I'd been holding my breath through the entire exchange. Jiwon reached over and squeezed my hand, a silent reassurance that the moment hadn't shaken us.

As applause started again, I didn't hesitate. I ran straight to Jiwon and Yoojin, wrapping my arms around them tightly. We clung to each other, laughing and crying all at once, a whirlwind of relief and happiness.

"Come on," I said, motioning to the rest of the girls who had been called. "We're in this together now."

They hesitated for a moment before stepping into the hug. It was awkward at first, but soon we were all embracing, a growing sense of sisterhood forming between us. We might not have known each other well yet, but the bond of shared determination was already strong.

From the corner of my eye, I caught Han grinning at me from the audience, giving me a double thumbs-up. His silent encouragement made my chest feel warm.

"Boyfriend energy indeed," I thought with a smile.

The nine of us were pulled aside for a brief orientation with JYP himself. He explained that our training would now be tailored to specific goals: refining our group concepts, building chemistry, and preparing for upcoming evaluation stages. His words carried weight, but his smile offered encouragement, reminding us of the incredible opportunity ahead.

Afterward, I turned to the other girls with a grin. "What do you say we celebrate? Dinner's on me. Well... as long as it's not too expensive."

Jiwon and Yoojin laughed, immediately agreeing. Slowly, the other girls warmed up to the idea, nodding and smiling. We made our way to a nearby restaurant, a cozy place known for its comfort food.

The table was alive with chatter as we shared stories of our journeys. Hyejin talked about how her parents had doubted her dream, and Harin shared her struggle balancing school and training. By the end of the meal, the initial awkwardness had melted away.

"To our sisterhood," Jiwon said, raising her glass of soda.

"To us," we echoed, clinking our glasses together.

That night, as I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, the reality of what had happened finally hit me. I had made it past the first major hurdle. Tomorrow wouldn't just be another practice day—it would be the beginning of something far bigger than I'd ever imagined.