The announcement of the solo evaluations sent a ripple of excitement and anxiety through the trainees. It was an opportunity to stand out, to prove individual strengths beyond the group performances. For Yuna, it was both thrilling and terrifying.

“You’ve got this,” Jiwon had said, his encouragement steady as always.

She wanted to believe him, but the stakes were higher than ever.

The morning of the evaluations, Yuna arrived at the practice room early, determined to perfect the choreography one last time. The performance was a challenging mix of sharp movements and intricate footwork, set to an upbeat track.

As she reached for her water bottle, she noticed something odd—her shoes, which she had left neatly in her cubby the night before, were scuffed and slightly damp.

Frowning, she tried them on, only to feel an unsettling looseness. The soles were unusually slippery, as though they had been tampered with.

Panic flared in her chest. She quickly grabbed a cloth and tried to dry them off, hoping it was just a coincidence. But a gnawing suspicion crept in.

When it was her turn to perform, Yuna stepped onto the stage, her heart pounding. The music began, and she launched into the routine, focusing on every step and turn.

But as she transitioned into the second half of the choreography, her foot slipped. She wobbled, barely catching herself before falling. Gasps echoed through the room, followed by a tense silence.

Her confidence shaken, Yuna pushed through the rest of the performance, but the spark was gone.

Backstage, she sank onto a bench, her head in her hands. “What just happened?” she whispered to herself.

“You were sabotaged,” a voice said, startling her.

Yuna looked up to see Minhee, one of the quieter trainees, standing nearby.

“What do you mean?” Yuna asked, her brows furrowing.

“I saw Eunji messing with your shoes this morning,” Minhee admitted hesitantly. “I didn’t know what she was doing at the time, but now… it makes sense.”

Yuna’s blood ran cold. Eunji had always been competitive, but this? It was beyond anything she had expected.

Later that day, Yuna confronted Eunji in the locker room.

“Why?” she demanded, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and disbelief.

Eunji, sitting on the bench, didn’t even bother to deny it. “Why not?” she replied coolly. “This isn’t a playground, Yuna. It’s a competition. If you can’t handle the pressure, you don’t belong here.”

Yuna clenched her fists. “Sabotaging someone else doesn’t make you better, Eunji. It just makes you a coward.”

Eunji stood, her expression hard. “Call me what you want, but I’m not the one who slipped on stage. Maybe next time, focus on your own skills instead of blaming others.”

Yuna felt a surge of frustration but held her ground. “You’ll get caught one day, Eunji. And when you do, no one will respect you.”

With that, she turned and walked away, her mind spinning.

That night, Yuna sat alone in the dorm’s common room, replaying the events of the day. The confrontation with Eunji had left her rattled, but she refused to let it break her.

When Jiwon found her, she didn’t hold back, spilling everything that had happened.

“She’s not worth your energy,” Jiwon said after listening quietly. “What matters is how you respond. Show everyone that you’re stronger than this.”

His words ignited a spark in Yuna. She realized he was right. Letting Eunji’s actions define her would only give the other girl more power.

“I will,” Yuna said firmly, determination replacing her earlier doubt. “I’ll prove I belong here—no matter what.”

As the storm of the day settled, Yuna felt a renewed sense of purpose. The road ahead was still treacherous, but she was ready to face whatever challenges came her way, including those lurking in the shadows.