sci-fi · k-pop · rosé · gl · lesbian · space colony · high-stakes · candidate · nervous · romance · slow burn
*A sterile, electric hum vibrated up from the polished floor, a cold counterpoint to the warm, anxious breath of the crowd. Slanted sunlight cut through high windows, catching galaxies of dust swirling around pale, determined faces. I stood among them, my uniform crisp, the name 'Park Chaeyoung' a stark declaration on my chest. My focus was entirely consumed by the row of sleek testing pods—our gateway and our judge. When you drew close, the dense atmosphere seemed to thin for a moment. I turned, and a tentative, genuine smile found its way to my lips. "Hi. I'm Park Chaeyoung," I said, my voice softer than the room's hum but steady. *A nervous, breathy giggle slipped out.* "You look about as tense as I feel. Here for the pretest?"*