Staged: A BTS Fanfic

4. Jazmin

It's been two weeks since auditions and my run-in with V. Like some sort of ninja master, whenever I see V or feel his presence, I slip away unnoticed, letting Annabelle and Yuna deal with V every time they run into each other. I don't know what they talk about as I always run to the nearest staircase after sneaking off but Annabelle always says it's just small talk. A senior talking and giving advice to their juniors. 

I won't lie, a part of me is jealous. Receiving any kind of tip from someone in the industry is always precious. Having someone who's lived the idol life for years and receiving their tips and tricks is the best kind of advice a trainee can receive. But the other part of me is glad that I don't have to hear those kinds of tips and tricks from the likes of V. I would rather live and learn through experiences than take any advice from him. 

Annabelle texts me saying that she and Yuna are on the same floor where the auditions were held and tells me to hurry my butt as the staff members were going to announce who passed the auditions soon. Typing in a quick response, I rush my butt off to the elevators, pressing the third-floor button before tying my hair into a low ponytail. Before the doors close, another body rushes into the lift, pressing the eight-floor button. I don't pay attention to the other person, instead retying my shoes and tightening my ponytail before beginning a mental prep routine. I don't pay attention until the other person speaks, making me lose all of my focus. 

"Well well well, what have we got here," the familiar voice of V says, "Little Jazz Jazz on her way to practice?"

I give him a glare, before turning my body away from him and start trying to do my mental prep routine.

"Jazz Jazz," V starts, "It's not nice to ignore your elders like that. Show some basic respect will ya?"

I let out a huff, reluctantly turning my body towards the menace that's determined to ruin my life. "Hello, how do you do Mr. V," I reply, faking my politeness and smile, "I hope you are doing great today. This is my floor, I must be going now. Have a not-so-good day Mr. V."

It wasn't my floor, I got off a floor early, but anything to get out of that tiny space with V. Feeling my phone vibrate, alerting me of another text, probably from Annabelle, I run towards the staircase and began sprinting up the steps two by two. By the time I reach where the audition space is, I'm out of breath and panting like crazy. The girls already in the area waiting give me a brief glance before they start talking with their little groups of friends. Most of the conversations I hear sound serious, talking about who passed the auditions and who didn't. Lots of discrete pointing and slight tilts of the head. 

By the time I reach Annabelle and Yuna, their heads are together in deep conversation, no doubt talking about who they think passed or not and whether or not they themselves passed. "Hey," I say to them, joining in and completing our group of three. They nod their greetings before pulling me into their conversation. 

"I think she's going to pass," Yuna says, motioning with her head toward a girl who sits alone near the window, "I hear that she's from a wealthy family and that she's a natural at anything."

Annabelle scans her and nods in agreement. "And she's pretty too. Super gorgeous. If she doesn't have a main position, she'll definitely hold a visual or FOTG position for sure."

I scan the girl more before the realization hits me. She was the same girl who was staring at me when I sprained my ankle and could only practice my singing. The same one who I thought was looking at me with disdain. An audible gasp escapes my lips as both Annabelle and Yuna stare at me.

"What's wrong," Annabelle asks, bringing her hand to my forehead to check if I have a fever. 

Before I could respond though, a group of staff members make their way toward us. The same staff members who judged us during auditions. "Hello, my name is Jang Nari and I am the head of this debut project. My assistant here will call out names and all the girls called will follow us into the auditorium."

Jang Nari's assistant begins calling out names, Annabelle and Yuna making the first group. Once the assistant is done, the girls follow the staff members into the auditorium, leaving about three-quarters of us girls and the assistant outside of the auditorium. Five minutes pass before the assistant gets a beep from their phone and begins calling names again. This time the girl whom both Yuna and Annabelle thought would pass the auditions go into the room, the girl giving me a quick glare before going in. 

I don't know what her problem is, I've never met her before, but I let it go. There's no point in fanning the flames when I have no obvious involvement and I don't even know the girl. The third time the assistant calls names, my name is called. Once we're all gathered, the assistant leads the group inside, goosebumps rise despite the heater being on. Inside, about 15 girls are on stage, the rest of the girls who aren't on stage sitting in the audience seats behind the staff members. I see some of the girls in the chairs crying, trying hard to keep quiet, and failing.

As soon as the assistant leaves and closes the auditorium doors, Jang Nari speaks. "Welcome girls. I will call some names and the names I call will take a step up towards me. Lee Jinah."

I take a step up, hearing my Korean name. My name was called. Does this mean I made it? Or will I be the girls who sit in the audience chairs crying? My mind is racing as Jang Nari continues reading off names, naming nine others after me. "All of the girls who haven't stepped up may leave the stage and sit in one of the chairs. The rest of you girls make take a step back and stand with the rest of the girls."

Relief fills my body as I scan the girls who were already upstage. More relief fills me as I see both Yuna and Annabelle, almost running towards them with happiness and pride. I control myself, walking briskly and sending them a huge smile their way. They reciprocate, giving me a smile as wide as mine. 

"We did it," I whisper to them, "We passed the first part of the auditions." I take both of their hands, squeezing them as tears fill my eyes. 

"We're one step closer," Yuna excitedly whisper yells. 

We bask in happiness for the next eight minutes, four other girls joining us upstage. Jang Nari first addresses the girls in the chairs, thanking them for their time and reminding them that just because they didn't pass the first time, there are still other opportunities waiting for them. As soon as the last girl who was sitting in the chairs leave, Jang Nari turns to us her face serious. 

"You girls may have passed the first part of the auditions but there are still two more stages left before debuting. The first stage consisted of singing and dancing separately but for this round, we want to see a live performance. You all will be given the same song to sing and dance to that will be performed in three weeks' time."

Jang Nari stares at each and every one of us girls, making sure to make eye contact with us before continuing. "After this round of judging is over, only 18 of you girls will make it to the final round of auditioning before we choose seven of you to debut. Make sure to do your best." Jang Nari gives a look to her assistant, the assistant taking out a remote and turning on the projector with it. Us girls turn around, seeing that Iz*One's Fiesta is being projected on the screen. 

"The song you girls will perform will be Iz*One's Fiesta," Jang Nari says, "After the three weeks are up, you all will perform one by one here on this stage. Good luck."

With that, the groups of staff members begin to leave as panic seizes me. Iz*One being a girl group makes the song already hard enough. To sing all of the members' lines successfully without losing breath is hard on its own. To add the choreo as well? I could practically see myself passing out after practicing this song. 

"Hey," Annabelle says, purposefully speaking in English so only I can focus on her, "You got this. You've trained for this moment for five years. This is your chance to prove that you're talented and deserve to debut."

I take a deep breath, nodding at Annabelle as I calm myself down. I take in Annabelle's words, chanting to myself silently that I deserve to debut as much as the next girl. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Hello hello! I hope you like this surprise super long chapter! I wasn't planning for this to be this long yet here I am. I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Song is Fiesta - Iz*One

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