Only then did Elena remember that she forgot to put on contact lenses, and admitted casually, "Actually, I was born with it…"
"Ah, natural green eyes... now, everything makes sense," Tae-hee nodded, making an aloof expression and misunderstanding that her former boss might be doing a favor to give a chance to Elena, as she knew Hye-rin preferred looks very much, and she had done such things as giving more chances to handsome/beautiful trainees in the past.
After all, it doesn't make sense that a candidate who failed in auditions can't skip the next two rounds and enter the final auditions directly.
After such a thought appeared in her mind, Tae-hee spoke nonchalantly as she put the badge in Elena's palm, "Congratulations on making it to the finals. I hope you work hard and prove your worth."
Without hearing Elena's reply, she turned around and walked out of the apartment, leaving Elena in a daze as she stared at the badge.
"Hahaha…" A loud laugh escaped from Elena all of a sudden, startling her mother for a second while losing control over her body as the old Elena's instincts kicked in.
Looking at her mother, she showed it to her, not controlling her happiness, "Mom, did you see that? This is real, right? I thought I failed the audition, but instead, I was sent to the final auditions."
"Yah! Stop jumping around, Behave like a girl…"
"C'mon, Mom… this is good… I never expected this…"
*Creak*
"Ugh, Noona! What are you making ruckus early in the morning…" *Yawn* Dajun stepped out of the room in his cute Charmander pajamas, his eyes still closed.
But, soon, his sleepiness was replaced by a scream as his cheeks were caught by Elena, who was excited about the happy news in the morning, "I passed the audition, Dajun-ah… I passed it on my first try…"
As she pinched his cheeks and stretched them in happiness, not minding his struggle to get free, he tried shoving her a couple of times before calling for help with a scream, "Eow… when did you get this strong… wmma (Mom)…"
"Jun-ah, stop bullying him…" A stern voice from her mom quickly brought Elena control over her senses, and quickly, she released her hand to see his pale cheeks turned red. "Well…" Elena fell silent in embarrassment.
This boy is supposed to be a stranger. Doing such a thing was quite weird, but Elena felt it was natural. Maybe big sisters are that way… She didn't know. In her past life, she didn't have any brothers. So, it kinda felt a bit happy.
Rubbing his reddened cheeks, Dajun grumbled, "What are you eating? Ever since you got out of that coma, your grip has become even stronger."
Elena, who was feeling the familial connection and happy, was seen grinning, staring at him.
As she turned around and scurried into her bedroom, Elena went back to the memories and let out a comment with a smile, "cute… Looks like she hasn't changed a bit."
Sa-Eun let out a sigh and spoke, "Go and wash your faces. I'll prepare breakfast."
As Elena nodded and walked towards her room, once again, she was called by her mother.
"Jun-ah…"
"Mom?" Elena turned around and saw a smile on her mother's face, "Chukahae" (Congratulations)
Elena grinned in response, "gomaweoyo" (thanks).
***
Three weeks later, 10. p.m.
A couple was walking together, linking arms. As they were about to pass through a music store, the lady spoke, "Oppa, did you hear that? It's strange, isn't it?"
Listening to the song that stops and replaying the same part again, the man shrugged her shoulders, "Well, the owner must be practicing after closing the store. Let's just leave. Or people will think we are suspicious."
The couple went on their way.
Meanwhile, inside the store, Elena rewinds the part again and continues to dance.
*Ding. Your dance skill improved by 0.1
*Ding. Your dance skill reached the recommended level of an idol. You receive 50 credits as a reward.
"Phew." Wiping off her sweat, Elena lies on the floor to take a rest while taking heavy breaths. "Finally, my dance reached a certain standard set by the system.
To improve these 0.7 points, if I need to spend nearly 90 hours of practice, I wonder how long it will take me to maximize them. Once I get into an agency, should I invest the free talent point into dance?
Anyway, there are only a few days left. Let's see if I can buy anything else… Aria, open the store."
Two options appeared on the holographic screen. Elena clicked on Audio music, and a list of songs appeared.
"Hmm, with the reward, now I have a total of 290 credits. Once I finish tomorrow's daily mission, I'll have 300 credits. Should I choose 3 songs or should I go for a big one? Hmm…"
Thinking for a while, she searched for the song she was previously interested in, three weeks ago.
*Ding. 100 credits have been deducted.
*Ding. You bought the "What Do You Do" audio song. Please check the inventory.
October 19th, 2017;
At the past HQ of Genesis, currently serving as a training facility, sixty female candidates gathered on Day 3 of the final auditions.
In the midst of them, Elena sat alone in the corner of the entrance hall, as Jaemin was hospitalized because his long-standing herniated disc was acting up again.
Despite hearing music to calm her nerves, Elena wasn't able to clear her nervousness, worrying whether her chosen song would impress the judges.
Unlike before, there will be three main producers of the Big 4 Entertainment agencies, who will judge her, taking everything into consideration before letting her into the program.
One hour before lunchtime, one of the staff members arrived with a sheet of paper and announced the list of girls: Choi Han-seol, Kim seo, Chi Gyeong-Sun, Jang Elena, and Kang Da-in. Please, come with me."
As soon as her name was announced, Elena stood up from her seat along with the remaining four of them.
Five of them got into the elevator, following the employee, who took them to the second floor, where the audition was taking place.
Reaching the changing room, the employee spoke, "You can freshen up and change your clothes here, and wait. After the previous batch's performance is over, you will be led to the audition room."
Elena looked around to see it's just a plain room with a couple of benches to sit, and a few mirrors on the walls.
There's another door at the end, which possibly leads to a bathroom or a toilet.
As soon as she went away, the atmosphere became tense, and no one spoke until a brown-haired young woman broke the silence. "Hello, I'm Kang Da-in. I came from Busan, and I'm 17, by the way."
Upon hearing her, a short girl who looks like an elementary or middle schooler spoke, "I'm Kim Yeonseo, 13 years old, and I'm from Incheon."
Looking at her round glasses, Elena thought, 'She looks cute with those round glasses, just like Harry Potter.'
After the others also introduced themselves, at last, Elena removed her mask and replied, "I'm Jang Elena, and I'm from Seoul." After hearing their ages, Elena purposely left out her age, and before they asked, she spoke, "Can I go first?"
Everyone nodded in response as they missed the timing; meanwhile, Elena, who doesn't have trust in the remaining contestants, took out her bag with her, needlessly worrying whether she might get sabotaged by them to decrease the competition.
On the other hand, seeing her actions made the others think she might be shy to get changed in front of them. Even if they were all girls, as they were still strangers, no one dared to comment on it and silently waited.
Five minutes later;
"Eh?" 19-year-old Han-seol was taken aback in surprise when Elena was looking at the mirror, wearing contact lenses. "Hazel eyes?"
*Sigh* Letting out a sigh, Elena shook her head, "No, they are green. That's why these are necessary…"
Han-seol nodded in response, as she remembered how she was bullied during childhood because of her different looks, "I know."
And the atmosphere between them became silent again. Not willing to talk further, Elena proceeded to wear the second contact lens and saw herself in the mirror.
'Ok, now, as long as they don't get close enough, the judges will believe my eyes are brown like everyone else… I already have a huge disadvantage because of my age. I shouldn't give them any more reasons to reject me.' Taking a long breath, Elena took a seat on the bench and started listening to music while waiting.