The nurse stepped forward, her expression stern but caring.
"Alright girls, let the patient rest for a while," she said firmly, ushering the other trainees out of the room.
When the room quieted, the nurse turned to Ameya with a concerned look.
"Your blood sugar is low. Why didn't you eat your breakfast, Jenna?"
Ameya remained silent, her lips slightly parted, her gaze distant. She stared at the nurse as if her voice was an echo from another world. The shock of waking up in someone else's body still hadn't worn off. She couldn't respond—her mind was still spiraling.
The nurse gave a small sigh and left the room, gently closing the door behind her.
Alone again, Ameya looked down and felt something in the pocket of the hoodie she wore. Her fingers wrapped around a cold, rectangular object. A phone.
With a flick of her thumb, she tried to unlock it. No password worked. But then, by instinct, she held it up to her face.
Click.
The phone unlocked.
Ameya blinked in disbelief. This wasn't her phone—yet it opened, recognizing her face. She tapped into the photo gallery. Her eyes widened as she scrolled through dozens of selfies and group pictures—smiling girls in dance studios, birthday parties, and casual hangouts. In the midst of it all was the same face she now wore: Jenna.
One family photo caught her attention. A warm-looking couple with a son who looked about sixteen. Jenna's family. Her family now?
She searched the contacts. Many numbers were saved with pictures, which helped her recognize familiar faces. One name popped up—Linda. The girl she had first met at the dance studio.
Half an hour later, the door opened.
"Hey, shall we go to the dorm now?" Linda asked the nurse.
The nurse nodded. "She seems fine now, but take it easy, alright?"
Linda looked at Ameya. "You okay, Jenna?"
Ameya hesitated, then nodded slowly.
Together, they walked down the hall, exiting the building. As they reached the glass doors, a massive screen above the entrance flickered with light.
FJ4's comeback teaser exploded on the screen—bold letters, flashing visuals, and the handsome faces of the group members appeared. Rico Jackson stood front and center.
Ameya stopped in her tracks, her heart racing. It's him. Her favorite idol.
Linda tugged her arm gently, and they stepped out into the sunlight.
---
The Next Morning
"Jenna… hey Jenna, wake up!"
A soft voice nudged Ameya out of her sleep. Another girl was applying sunscreen while admiring herself in the mirror.
"She'll wake up. Let her rest," the girl said lazily.
Then the first girl—Sofie—bent close to Ameya's ear. "Do you know what day it is?"
Ameya blinked.
"Today the judges review our performances!" Sofie whispered. "If you don't get up, we'll be late!"
Linda entered just then. "Sofie's right, Jenna. You need to get up. This performance is super important. The judges can disqualify anyone who doesn't perform well."
Ameya sat up, startled. "What…?"
Ruby, the girl with the sunscreen, rolled her eyes. "Don't freak her out! We're already selected for the new girl group. Only one person left to audition. The rest of us are confirmed. Don't stress her."
Ameya blinked again. I'm already selected?
Linda sighed, clearly frustrated. "She forgot everything again. I'm going." She turned and walked out.
Sofie followed. "I'm not ready yet either! I have to go!"
---
In the Dance Studio
The six girls stood in perfect rows, waiting.
Three judges walked in, their presence commanding silence.
"Shall we begin?" one of them said.
Linda stepped forward first. Her movements were graceful and fluid, like snow on a frozen lake. Sofie whispered, "She used to be an ice skater since childhood. That's why her moves are so smooth."
Ameya nodded, impressed.
"What about you?" she asked.
Sofie laughed quietly. "I'm not a top dancer or anything… but I can memorize anything. Fast rap lyrics, scripts—you name it."
Ruby overheard and chimed in, "Don't underestimate Sofie. She's a genius. She might not spin, but she can spit bars like a machine gun."
Ameya looked down at herself. What about me? I don't have a background in any of this. How can I compete?
Soon, Ruby and Sofie completed their performances. Each girl had her own unique spark.
Now it was Jenna's turn.
A judge called her name.
"Jenna Park."
Ameya's heart pounded. Her legs trembled as she took a step forward… but they wouldn't move.
Suddenly, the door burst open.
A man in a black hoodie, sunglasses, and a hat walked in. All the girls gasped.
"It's him!" one of them whispered.
That man removed his hat and glasses.
The room exploded in cheers.
"Rico! Rico!"
The judges smiled and greeted him warmly.
Ameya froze. Rico Jackson… here? In this room? Watching?
Her anxiety surged like a crashing wave. Her breath caught. Her knees shook.
And yet, somewhere inside her, something sparked—something that had once dreamed of this very moment.
---