**Chapter 1: The Unexpected Opportunity**

As I sat in my small bedroom in Los Angeles, surrounded by posters of my favorite K-pop groups, I couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement as I stared at my phone. My best friend Manon and I had been chatting about our social media posts for weeks, and we had both been discovered by a talent scout from Dream Academy, the prestigious K-pop training academy that had produced some of the biggest names in the industry. We had been posting dance and singing covers online, but to be honest, our talents lay more in our visuals than our performances. I had a passion for fashion and loved taking selfies, while Manon was a skilled makeup artist who could transform her look with just a few brushstrokes. I had just finished getting ready for the day, trying out a new makeup look that Manon had taught me. I took a selfie and posted it on Instagram, adding a few hashtags that the scout had suggested. My caption read, "New day, new look! Ready to take on the world with my bestie @Manon!" I giggled as I thought about how we had both been scouted for our looks, rather than our singing or dancing abilities. We had both been hesitant at first, but the scout had assured us that we had the potential to make it big as visuals. The next thing I knew, my phone was blowing up with notifications. I had gotten a message from the scout, and she wanted to meet up with us to discuss further. Manon and I exchanged excited texts, and we decided to meet up at a coffee shop in LA. As we sipped on our lattes, the scout explained that we had been selected to join the new class of trainees at Dream Academy, along with 18 other girls from all over the world. We were going to be competing with some of the most talented girls in the industry, and I couldn't help but feel a little intimidated. The scout introduced us to the other girls, and I couldn't help but feel a little awestruck. There was Chanty, the sweet and bubbly girl from the Philippines who had a voice like an angel. Sophia, the confident and charismatic leader from Brazil, had a commanding presence that drew everyone's attention. I also met Yuna, the quiet and reserved girl from Japan who had incredible dance skills, and Leah, the sassy and outgoing girl from New York who had a flair for rap. As we all introduced ourselves, I noticed that some of the girls seemed to be eyeing us suspiciously. I whispered to Manon, "I think some of the girls are giving us the side-eye. Do you think it's because we're not as skilled as they are?" Manon rolled her eyes and whispered back, "Don't worry, we're here for our looks, not our talents. We'll prove them wrong." I smiled, feeling a sense of solidarity with my best friend. We were in this together, and we were determined to make it work. The scout smiled and said, "Don't worry, girls. You'll all have your strengths and weaknesses. What matters is that you're all here to learn and grow together." She explained that we would be going through a rigorous training program, with missions and challenges that would test our skills and push us to our limits. We would be working together as a team, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and nervousness. As we left the coffee shop, I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment. Manon and I had come a long way from our small social media following, and now we were about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Little did I know, this was just the beginning of our journey to stardom. And as I walked out of the coffee shop with Manon by my side, I couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead for us.