I step into the front of the line, right next to Mina, exactly where I belong on the trainee hierarchy.

“I believe this is my rightful spot,” I say.

The entire stage falls silent as Mina and I glare at each other, the friction between us practically ricocheting off the walls. It feels like everyone is holding their breath, waiting to see what will happen next. But as soon as the newbies come out and begin their bows, Mr. Noh following right behind them, Mina looks away.

Everybody exhales.

I straighten my back, determination coursing through my veins. I’m not going to let anybody step on me today.

Not when I’ve worked so hard to be here.

Not when I’ve earned this.

Not even the DB execs can take this away from me, I think, as a group of them stop right in front of me, broad but unforgiving smiles on their faces.

“Rachel,” Ms. Shim says.

I bow. “Ms. Shim,” I respond before turning to Mr. Noh.

“How are you?” Mr. Noh says, a slight note of hesitation in his voice. I can see my pale, tired face in the reflection of his glasses.

“Yes,” Mr. Lim chimes in, barely able to hide his disdain, “we weren’t, uh, sure we would see you here today.”

I look up at them, my jaw set. There’s an angry glint in Mr. Lim’s eyes, and Mr. Noh keeps fidgeting with his satin pocket square—and suddenly I realize they know I know everything and they’re trying to see how I’ll play my cards. Well. When it comes to playing games, I’ve learned from the best.

After all, I have been trained by DB.

“I wouldn’t miss this for the world. And I don’t plan on going anywhere anytime soon.” I beam, the picture of a perfect trainee, and lock my gaze on Mr. Noh. “Remember, we’re family. And family is forever.”

Mr. Lim’s face grows icy, but Mr. Noh throws a small, resigned smile in my direction. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.”

There’s a calculating look in his eyes that I’m not sure what to make of, but he’s already moving down the line, away from me. I don’t relax until we all file off the stage and into the auditorium seats for announcements. I take a seat in the back by myself and finally let my body sag. I close my eyes, leaning back against the velvet covering. At least the worst of it is over.

I feel the chair next to me sink as someone takes a seat. My eyes fly open.

It’s Jason.

For a moment we just stare at each other. I don’t know what to say, and from the way he’s jittering, his leg bouncing up and down against his seat, I can tell he doesn’t either. He looks tired and defeated in a way, like a shadow of his former self, the self that overflowed with confidence and knew without a doubt that the whole world was his best friend.

“Rachel…,” he starts, but his voice trails off. It looks like he’s about to reach over and grab my hand, but he stops himself midway and grabs the armrest instead. “Congratulations,” he finally says, smiling tightly at me. Then he pushes himself out of his seat and walks away, disappearing down the aisle.

I stare after him, dumbfounded. Congratulations?

Congratulations for what?

Mr. Noh takes the stage for announcements. I’m so busy trying to process what just happened with Jason that I almost miss what he’s saying.

It turns out, there’s still room for one more surprise.

“We are so thrilled,” he says, his voice booming over the auditorium, “to be debuting DB’s new girl group, Girls Forever! Please join me as I welcome the nine ladies who will be the new faces and voices of what I’m confident will be Korea’s biggest stars!”

The room is like a live wire, trainees and trainers frantically trying to guess who will be announced, craning their heads to see who is in the room. I sit up straighter in my chair, shock zipping through me like a lightning bolt.

I had no idea DB was announcing a new debut group today. And judging by the stunned look on everyone’s faces, no one else knew either.

“I’ll ask the girls to come up to the stage,” Mr. Noh says. “First we have Shin Eunji, who brings a firecracker energy to everything she does. Ryu Sumin, the picture of grace and elegance. Yoon Youngeun, a master harmonizer. Lee Jiyoon, a creative artist. Shim Ari, power vocals to challenge any ballad singer. Im Lizzie, dancer extraordinaire. Choi Sunhee, the most skilled rapper in our trainee class.”

He takes a significant pause, looking around the auditorium. The air is so thick with anticipation I can almost feel it pressing down on my chest. Mina is leaning forward in her seat, her nails digging into the armrests. He hasn’t called either of our names yet.

Is this the moment he’s going to drop us from DB? Will he announce it in front of everyone after naming all the new members of Girls Forever? What a cruel way to let us go, and yet how on brand for DB. I steel myself for whatever he’s about to say next.

“And lastly, I’d like to announce our final two members with particular pride.” He spreads his arms open wide, the picture of a proud father. “These two young ladies have already brought an incredible amount of success to DB. They epitomize everything that we are as a family, and I know they will continue to be model examples of what it means to be perfect DB stars going forward.” His smile turns almost sharklike, a subtle threat laced in his words. “I am pleased to announce Rachel Kim as lead vocalist and Choo Mina as lead dancer of Girls Forever!”

I am pleased to announce Rachel Kim as lead vocalist. The words play over and over in my head as my legs go totally numb. I don’t know how I do it, but I somehow manage to walk down the aisle and up to the stage, my knees wobbling like Jell-O, barely registering the cheers that echo across the auditorium.

This morning I thought my career was over.

Now I’m about to debut.

Mr. Noh shakes my hand with a toothy grin.

“Congratulations,” he says. And then, as if reading my thoughts, he adds, “Your dreams are becoming reality.”

I don’t realize I’m crying until I feel the wetness on my cheeks and quickly wipe the tears away with the back of my hand. This is happening. This is real. It’s finally happening.

Almost reflexively I scan the crowd for Yujin. She’s clapping and crying too. I want to run and hug her, but I know now is not the time. Instead, I spot Jason standing in the far corner of the auditorium. I realize with a jolt that Mr. Choo is standing next to him. He leans down and whispers something in Jason’s ear and Jason nods resolutely. As the announcements wrap up, Mr. Noh walks down from the stage to join them. Jason shakes both men’s hands, a grim but determined look on his face.

A nervous flutter erupts in the pit of my stomach. This must be what Jason was congratulating me on earlier. He knew I was going to debut today. That I wasn’t being kicked out of DB. How did he know?

And what did he do to get me here?

“Congratulations, Rachel.”

I turn to see Mina standing before me, Lizzie and Eunji on either side of her.

“Lead vocalist,” Lizzie says, her voice dripping with fake enthusiasm. “That’s an impressive title.”

“It’ll be so great being in a group all together,” Eunji adds. “Imagine how much fun we’ll have.”

“Girls, give me a minute alone with Rachel,” Mina says. “I want to give her a personal congratulations.”