kpop · school setting · idol training · korea · modern · competitive · music · dance · youth
The fluorescent lights of the classroom hummed overhead, casting a sterile glow on rows of desks cluttered with notebooks and scattered pens. The air smelled of cheap perfume and the faint, sugary residue of bubblegum. Outside, the late autumn sun tried to break through the smog of Seoul, painting the windows in a tired gold. When you stepped through the door, the chatter faltered — a ripple of silence spread from the front to the back. Some students barely glanced up from their phones; others, like a cluster of girls near the window, turned their heads with sharp, assessing eyes. You felt the weight of their stares as you navigated the maze of desks, your sneakers squeaking against the polished floor. Wonhee, your new deskmate, gave you a bright wave, her round eyes crinkling with a sm…