The Starforge dormitory was a glittering fortress of glass and steel, rising like a monument to ambition in the heart of Seoul. Jiayi stood at the entrance, her duffel bag slung over one shoulder, her heart pounding in her chest. The building loomed over her, its reflective surface mirroring the city's skyline and the storm clouds gathering above. She felt small, insignificant, like a speck of dust caught in the wind.
Mei had dropped her off with a curt "Good luck" and a reminder to "stick to the script." Jiayi hadn't responded. She didn't trust herself to speak. The weight of what she was about to do—competing in Starforge, South Korea's most brutal music competition—felt like a boulder pressing down on her chest.
She took a deep breath and stepped inside.
The lobby was a cacophony of noise and movement. Contestants milled about, their laughter and chatter echoing off the marble floors. Some were practicing dance moves, their bodies moving with fluid precision. Others were singing scales, their voices blending into a discordant symphony. Jiayi felt out of place in her simple hoodie and jeans, her curls pulled back into a messy bun. Everyone else looked like they'd stepped out of a fashion magazine—polished, poised, and painfully confident.
She clutched her duffel bag tighter and made her way to the check-in desk. The staff member handed her a keycard and a folder with her name on it. "Welcome to Starforge," they said with a smile that didn't reach their eyes. "Your room is on the 12th floor. Good luck."
Jiayi nodded, her throat tight, and headed for the elevators. As she waited, she overheard snippets of conversation.
"Did you see the rankings? I'm already #15. Not bad for day one."
"Ugh, I hate group assignments. I hope I don't get stuck with someone useless."
"Who's that girl? The one with the… hair?"
Jiayi kept her eyes fixed on the elevator doors, her cheeks burning. She could feel their stares, their whispers, their judgment. She didn't belong here. She never had.
The elevator dinged, and she stepped inside, pressing the button for the 12th floor. As the doors closed, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirrored walls. She looked tired, her dark circles stark against her pale skin. But there was something else in her reflection—a flicker of determination, a spark of defiance. She straightened her shoulders and took another deep breath.
She could do this. She had to.
The 12th floor was a maze of hallways lined with identical doors. Jiayi found her room and swiped her keycard, stepping inside. It was small but functional, with two twin beds, a desk, and a window that offered a view of the city. Her roommate was already there, sitting cross-legged on one of the beds with a notebook in her lap.
She looked up as Jiayi entered, her sharp features softening into a smile. "Hey," she said, her voice warm and melodic. "You must be Jiayi. I'm Raj."
Jiayi nodded, setting her bag down. Raj was striking, with dark skin, a shaved head, and a glittering bindi on her forehead. She wore a cropped jacket and cargo pants, her style effortlessly cool. Jiayi felt even more out of place in comparison.
"I saw your audition tape," Raj said, closing her notebook and setting it aside. "That Creole hymn? It was beautiful. Raw. Real."
Jiayi blinked, surprised. "You… you liked it?"
"Liked it? I cried," Raj said with a laugh. "Most of these girls are so polished they're boring. You're different. And that's a good thing."
Jiayi didn't know what to say. She wasn't used to compliments, especially not from someone as confident as Raj. "Thanks," she mumbled, her cheeks flushing.
Raj grinned. "Don't mention it. We're in this together, yeah? Roomies stick together."
Before Jiayi could respond, the door burst open, and a girl strode in, her heels clicking against the floor. She was tall and slender, with flawless skin and icy blue highlights in her hair. She looked like she'd stepped off a K-pop stage, her outfit perfectly coordinated and her makeup immaculate.
"Ugh, this room is so small," she said, her voice dripping with disdain. She glanced at Jiayi and Raj, her nose wrinkling slightly. "And I have to share it with you two?"
Raj raised an eyebrow. "Charming. And you are?"
"Yoona," the girl said, as if the name should mean something. When neither Jiayi nor Raj reacted, she rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Just stay out of my way, okay? I'm here to win, not make friends."
She dropped her designer suitcase on the other bed and began unpacking, her movements sharp and deliberate. Jiayi exchanged a look with Raj, who shrugged and mouthed, Drama queen.
The first task was announced that evening. All 100 contestants were gathered in the main hall, a cavernous space with a stage at one end and rows of chairs facing it. The air was thick with tension and excitement, the contestants buzzing with anticipation.
A man in a tailored suit stepped onto the stage, his presence commanding immediate silence. He was one of the judges, a legendary producer known for his brutal honesty and sharp tongue. "Welcome to Starforge," he said, his voice echoing through the room. "Your first task is simple: perform a K-pop hit. You'll be judged on vocals, dance, and stage presence. The bottom 20 will be eliminated."
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Jiayi's stomach churned. She didn't know any K-pop songs. She hadn't prepared for this.
The contestants were given an hour to rehearse. Jiayi found a quiet corner and pulled out her phone, frantically searching for a song to learn. But the more she listened, the more overwhelmed she felt. The lyrics were in Korean, a language she barely understood, and the choreography was fast and intricate. She didn't know how she was supposed to do this.
When it was her turn to perform, she stepped onto the stage, her legs trembling. The judges watched her with cold, calculating eyes. The music started, and Jiayi froze. She couldn't remember the words, couldn't follow the beat. The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating.
And then, in a moment of desperation, she began to hum. It was a Jamaican folk tune, one her father had taught her when she was a child. The melody was simple but haunting, the notes rising and falling like waves. She closed her eyes and let the music carry her, her voice growing stronger with each note.
When she finished, there was a long silence. The judges exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable. Finally, one of them spoke.
"Interesting choice," he said, his tone neutral. "But this is Starforge, not a street performance. You'll need to do better if you want to survive."
Jiayi nodded, her cheeks burning, and stepped off the stage. As she walked back to her seat, she caught Yoona's eye. The other girl smirked, her expression dripping with disdain.
"Nice try," Yoona whispered as Jiayi passed. "But you don't belong here."
Jiayi didn't respond. She just sat down, her hands clenched in her lap, and waited for the results.