MY BELOVED OBSESSION

Lia's POV: I stood in front of my mirror for a long time that morning. Not because i was nervous about how i looked but because i was scared. Korea. A country i had never been to. A language I don't speak. People i didn't know. All i knew was American🇺🇸 I tied my long hair into a low ponytail and took a deep breath. My suitcase was already packed. My dance shoes were carefully placed inside. Mum stood by the door, smiling at me, even though her eyes looked a little watery. "You'll be fine," she said softly. "You were born for this." Dad hugged me tight. "Show them what our girl can do." I smelled. I really did. But inside, my heart was beating too fast💓 This was the first time i was leaving America alone. No parents. No Emma. No familiar streets. Just me... and a dream i didn't even know would change my life. The airport was loud. My dance group gathered together, laughing and talking excitedly. Everyone kept saying the same name. "BTS." "They're the biggest group in the world." "I can't believe we're dancing for them." I stayed quiet. I didn't know who BTS were. Music for me has always been Rihanna, Ariana Grande, Cardi B, Chris Brown, Billie Eilish and so on; slow beats, deep boss. K-pop wasn't my world. Our boss walked towards us and clapped his hands. "Listen carefully," he said. "Only one dancer from this group was chosen, which is Lia." Applause broke out. I swallowed hard and bowed slightly. My palms were sweaty. I wasn't sure if I should be proud or terrified. "Get ready," our boss continued. "Once you land in Korea, there's no turning back." They all waved to me as I was going to the plane. Something in my chest tightened. The plane shook slightly as we flew through the clouds. I pressed my forehead against the window and watched the world below disappear. America looked small from up here. Emma texted me. Emma: Don't forget me when you become famous😭 Me: I'm just going for an MV, i***t. I'll be back soon. Emma: Be careful. Korea might steal you. I laughed quietly. I didn't know how true those words would be. I closed my eyes, listening to music, tapping my fingers softly like I was already counting beats. Dance was the only thing that made sense. The moment the plane landed, my heart dropped. Korea. I stepped out of the airport with my luggage, my eyes moving everywhere. Everything looked clean, big and expensive. The air felt different, too busy, fast, alive. There were many dancers around me from different countries. Some were laughing loudly, some were filming vlogs, some were clearly nervous like me. Then I saw them. HYBE staff. They were standing with name tags and tablets in their hands. Each dancer was being called one by one. "Welcome to Korea," one of them said politely, " Please follow me." I swallowed and followed. The car waiting outside was black and shiny. The seats were soft, the smell inside was calm and clean. I sat quietly, holding my phone tight in my hands, staring out the window as Seoul passed by. Tall buildings. Bright signs. Busy roads. This place is huge... We arrived at the hotel, and i almost stopped breathing. It was... expensive. The lobby was wide, quiet, and beautiful. The lights were warm. The floor shinned. Staff bowed politely as we walked in. The HYBE executives welcomed us with smiles. "Thank you for coming all the way," one of them said. "Everything is covered. Your rooms, food, transport. Please rest well. Practice begins tomorrow." Everything covered. i blinked. These people are rich-rich... Each dancer was given a separate room. When i opened my door, i froze. Big bed. Soft white sheets. Large window showing the city lights. The bathroom is bigger than my bedroom back home. I dropped my bag and sat on the couch. "Wow..." i whispered. I freshened up, took a warm shower, changed into loose clothes, and tied my hair up. The hot water helped calm my nerves, but my heart was still racing. My phone buzzed. Emma. I smiled and picked up immediately. Phone Call — Emma & Lia Emma: "BITCHHHHH😭😭 you've landed"? I laughed. "Yes, calm down," Emma: "Have you seen those BTS boys yet??" "No," I said quickly, "Not yet. Maybe tomorrow." She groaned dramatically. "I would've fainted already because I have just been searching for them now, girl, they've even collaborated with Nicki Minaj and Mega these stallion🤭." I sighed. "Really?." Emma: "Yesss, what are you talking about, and they're all handsome, especially that one with Tatts, his hot OMG." Lia: "Whatever, I think they're huge." "Obviously," Emma said. "Girl they're, those BTS boys are really famous, their MV views are mad on YouTube." "As I saw their company," I continued. "It's massive. Their CEO looks so rich. Everything here is expensive." Then my voice dropped a little. "I'm scared." "Scared of what," Emma said. "What if I don't meet their expectations?" I whispered. "What if I mess up? What if I'm not good enough?" There was a short silence. Then Emma spoke softly. "Lia. You've been dancing since you were fourteen. You didn't come this far to doubt yourself now". She continued. "You didn't get picked by mistake," she continued. "Yore Lia for a reason. Go there and own it." I laughed quietly. "You sound like my mum." "I learned from the best," she joked. We talked for a few more minutes, laughing about silly things, gossiping, calming each other down. Eventually, we said goodbye, "Sleep well," she said. "Korea won't know what hit them." I smiled and said. "Good night bitch." Min Ho's POV: I pulled my hoodie over my head and walked into the studio, coffee in my hand. The familiar smell of equipment, cables and silence calmed me. This was my place. Joon Gi followed behind me, scrolling on his phone. "The dances arrive today," he said casually. I hummed. "From where?" "Different countries. American, Europe, New York, Canada and more," Joon Gi said. I didn't look up. "They'll rest today. Practice starts tomorrow," Joon Gi said. "Good," I replied shortly. Dancers were dancers They came. They worked. They left. "I hope they're professional," I said flatly. "I don't like drama." Joon Gi laughed. "You never do." I sat down, put on my headphones and closed my eyes. Music started playing🎶. Lia's POV: A knock came at the door. Room service. They brought in trays of food, beautifully arranged, warm, and smelling so good. I ate slowly, enjoying every bite. It tasted rich, comforting. After eating, i messaged my dance group. Lia: I've arrived safely. The country is amazing. Practice starts tomorrow. CEO: Make us proud. Group members: Show them who Lia is🔥 I placed my phone down and lay back on the bed. The city lights blinked outside my window. Tomorrow, I will meet them. I closed my eyes, letting sleep take me.