What if you suddenly woke up in an unfamiliar place?


    A place where you know no one, and no one knows you.


    A place where you have nothing but yourself.


    In novels, when the protagonist transmigrates or reincarnates into another world, they are often shocked at first, then comes the realization, and finally, the acceptance. Using their knowledge from the modern world, they begin replicating and inventing things, earning admiration from those around them.


    Most of the time, their goal is to return to Earth—but only a few ever succeed. Yet, it''s almost guaranteed that these protagonists will achieve their happy endings.


    They make it look so easy.


    The idea of transmigrating into another world sounds exciting—but only for those who have lived a miserable life, desperate to escape their reality.


    For me, it’s the complete opposite.


    I was on the verge of success when everything was suddenly taken away. The things I painstakingly worked for, sacrificing everything to achieve, vanished in an instant.


    In my twenty-three years of life, there have been three major turning points.


    The first was when my mother died.


    The second was when I was seventeen and scouted for an idol audition.


    "An audition? Are you sure you’re not a scammer?" I asked, eyeing the business card the man had just handed me.


    ''Sebastian''


    I silently read the name while also memorizing some of the basic info''s included in the card.


    Every weekend, I worked at a shop two blocks away from my school. I was on my way there when this man suddenly approached me, asking for a moment of my time. We ended up sitting in a small café.


    At first, I was skeptical. He could be a thief or a pervert trying to lure me into a secluded place. But I dismissed the idea—unless he was stupid, he wouldn’t attempt something like that in broad daylight, right in the middle of the city. The police station was just around the corner, after all.


    He introduced himself as a scout from ___ Agency. He was well-dressed, wearing a suit and looking presentable, but I knew better than to trust appearances alone. He might not be a thief or a pervert, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t a scammer. I needed the money, but I also couldn’t afford to be deceived.


    "Better safe than sorry."


    I decided to hear him out.


    After expressing my concerns, he reassured me.


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    "I understand your doubts. You can visit our company directly to verify everything," he said.


    I had always been content with my quiet life, staying in the shadows. But this offer… It was a door to a world I had never imagined myself in—a realm of glitz and glamour, completely opposite to my simple routines.


    This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Should I at least give it a shot?


    "Well… I’ll try."


    He seemed satisfied with my answer.


    I glanced outside at the setting sun, its golden light reflecting off the calm river beneath the bridge.


    He followed my gaze and smiled.


    "Beautiful, isn’t it?" he mused.


    I stared at the flowing water. It looked surreal—almost too perfect—but an unsettling feeling crept up my spine. I couldn’t explain it.


    I quickly turned away.


    "It really is," I replied, taking a sip of my coffee.


    ***


    I never expected much, but surprisingly, I passed the audition and became the youngest member of the group.


    "Hello! I don’t know if you know me, but my name is Shia."


    Her dyed pink wavy hair fluttered as she moved. A small face, big round eyes—she looked just like she did in the dramas I used to watch as a kid.


    I pinched my cheek to check if I was dreaming, but the sharp sting of pain proved that I wasn’t. I even rubbed my eyes, making sure I wasn’t hallucinating.


    Seeing my reaction, she let out a soft laugh.


    "Of course I know you. How could I not? I’m a fan!" I clasped her hands tightly.


    Shia was a former child actress. Though her popularity had faded over the years, she was still active in the entertainment industry. To think that I’d be meeting her in person… and that we’d be working together!


    "I’m glad someone still remembers me," she said with a small smile. Her voice was mature, a stark contrast to her cutesy tone from when she was a child.


    "Of course I do! And honestly, you’re even prettier in person than on TV! I can’t believe I’m meeting you for real. Am I talking too much? Ah, sorry, I’m just so excited!"


    "That’s perfectly fine. I’m actually glad you’re comfortable with me."


    At first, everything went smoothly.


    There were six members in our group. Though I was closest to Shia, I got along well with the others. Over the months, our bond strengthened—we became like real sisters.


    Despite the hectic schedule—juggling school, part-time work, and practice—I endured it all because of them.


    Then, before our debut, everything changed.


    One day, our manager made an unexpected announcement.


    "You’ll be the group’s center."


    The news sparked backlash.


    The others insisted that Shia should be the center instead—she was better at dancing, had more experience, and already had a fanbase.


    I understood their reasoning, but it still hurt.


    Did they really think I wasn’t capable?


    I tried to talk to our manager, hoping to change his decision. But his response left me speechless.


    "What do you think a former child actress is doing in an idol group? She’s here because she didn’t succeed in acting. The prettiest member should be the center. So what if you can’t dance as well as the others? Just smile. That’s all you need to do."


    His words didn’t reassure me—they made me feel worthless.


    But since I had no say in the matter, I decided to prove myself instead.


    I devoted all my free time to practicing.


    Slowly, my grades started dropping. I stopped hanging out with my friends, isolating myself completely.


    I thought it was fine.


    After all, the whole point of studying was to get a good job—and if I was going to earn a lot of money as an idol, then what was the point of school?


    So, I dropped out to focus entirely on my part-time job and training.


    A year passed, and we finally debuted.


    Our agency was already well-known, so promoting us wasn’t difficult. We gained fans—but along with them came the haters.


    I sat alone in a dimly lit room, scrolling through harsh comments online.


    I was confident in my singing—that’s why they made me the center. But my dancing?


    "She’s the weakest dancer."


    "She doesn’t deserve to be the center."


    "She’s ruining the group’s image."


    I pushed myself harder, practicing until my body ached.


    "You’re still here? Practice ended an hour ago." Azalea walked in, looking concerned.


    I wiped my sweat and shrugged. "Just practicing a little more."


    I caught my reflection in the mirror. Dark circles under my eyes. I looked exhausted.


    Azalea sighed. "You don’t have to be good at everything, you know."


    "What do you mean? No—wait, more importantly, why are you here?" I asked.


    "I left my phone," she said as she walked toward me. "And I mean what I said. You may not be that good at dancing, but your singing is top-notch. Why don''t you focus on your strengths instead?"


    "I guess you have a point."


    "Then let''s hang out this weekend. There''s a new café in front of the company building."


    "I have work on weekends, though."


    "Eh? It''s my treat, then."


    "Oh… I guess I have some time after work in the afternoon."


    ***


    I followed her advice and focused on what I could do best—singing and smiling at the fans, acting all cute and friendly.


    It didn’t take long for our popularity to skyrocket.


    Or rather, mine.


    It was supposed to be an idol group, but it seemed our agency had other plans. As my popularity grew, they began showing blatant favoritism. A year after our debut, I was given a solo album. It didn’t stop there—I was offered interviews, acting gigs, and modeling jobs. Anyone could tell the company was pulling strings to push me forward.


    Since I was already earning a lot, I quit all my part-time jobs. My schedule became overwhelming, and I stopped hanging out with Shia and the others. I didn’t even know what was going on with them anymore.


    That’s when everything started to go downhill.