Dream of a New Day

Once she settled the matters of debut with Bang PD, Iris decided to take the new few days as opportunity for getting to know Jiyeon and Ahreum better as well as to rest up and play around before working. After all, she had just come back from nonstop one and a half year promotions along with a half a year from being on a national, music survival show.

Although this wasn't much compared to the length of time that BTS and other senior artists have been in the industry, every one needed a good break in order to stay sane and motivated to work again.

Her teammates too, once she got back to the dorms, agreed with her plans. They had only just recently met one another, so they couldn't jump to work right away without building a solid base and understanding of one another personally as well as professionally.

"It's funny how you know this area better than me now, Cindy," Iris remarked brightly as the group strolled the streets of Seoul.

"Well who would have thought that Big Hit would yet again move to another building because they're expanding so fast?" laughed Cindy as she looped an arm around her cousin's.

"Right?!" Iris giggled. "It's like every time something big happens in my life, they just happen to move into another building, haha!"

"Yeah, that's pretty funny!" Ahreum tittered. "And I love how they occupy more floors of every new building too! Next time, Big Hit will have the entire building to themselves!"

Jiyeon burst out laughing. "Perhaps even an entire street in the next ten years at the rate they're going! Makes you wish they went public sooner—then I'd have invested in their stock and made a fortune!"

"Isn't that everyone?" Iris chortled and then said with a calm smile, "Yongsan Trade Center… from the previous building at Daechi-dong in Gangnam…" She sighed contentedly with a trace of nostalgia. "How time really flies. Never stopping for anyone."

The mood of the group instantly became pensively quiet. Indeed, none of them had ever expected that they'd be together at this time in this shared situation. Life always kept them on edge, full of surprises and turns.

Jiyeon was the first to break the contemplative silence. "It's funny, though, how everyone thinks Big Hit will be debuting a new girl group through a subsidiary label instead of the main one."

Iris grinned. "Yes, though I have a feeling that there are speculations now otherwise."

Catching the older girl's drift, Jiyeon similar broke into a wide grin. "Haha, true, now with what you've done for Big Hit, the public may not be surprised anymore."

Ahreum suddenly squealed out of the blue. "I can't believe it still! I'm so excited, I can hardly think straight or even feel nervous about it all!"

Cindy fondly patted the youngest girl's head. "Yes, we can only be excited and look forward to it all while working hard." She lifted her head and gaze to the slightly cloudy, blue skies.

"It all feels like a dream, especially with all of us just walking around casually out here, but it's really real. I can almost reach out and touch it." Along with her words, she stretched out her hand above her and closed one eye as the sun broke through the clouds. "I almost feel like it'll slip right through my hands, but at the same time, I feel confident about our future. Scary…but more exciting than anything."

Iris heartily slapped Cindy's back when she finished. "Yes, girl! That's the spirit! Well said!" She gave an enthusiastic thumbs up, and Cindy couldn't bear to retort back playfully with a protest at her cousin's back hit. The current mood was just perfect, and she didn't want to mess it up in the slightest.

Right now, Cindy felt happy. The happiest she had ever been. Any trace of regret or misgivings about leaving America for South Korea all dissipated. She had never felt more alive or more joyful, hopeful, and thrilled for the future.

This was a sentiment felt by all four girls. No longer was tomorrow just another day. Instead, it had become a meaningful step towards their ever brighter future. Perhaps this, was what they had been looking and waiting for all their lives. And now, they were ready to soak up the spotlight and shine.

"Min Hee Jin…" Ahreum brought up the name of former SM Entertainment's board of directors and creative director who had joined Big Hit. "We've met her a few times, she's pretty cool. I wonder if she's going to play any large role in our debut."

"I imagine she'll be approaching us soon with ideas since the time is coming close. Just about a year, right Iris?" Jiyeon addressed the blackhaired girl to her left.

"Hm!" Iris nodded. "Considering she had a hand with many other girl groups and famous girl and boy groups in general, I don't see why Big Hit won't utilize her. But then again, Big Hit is probably still planning to debut another girl group in a subsidiary label."

"Oh," murmured Cindy thoughtfully with a pause. "Did you speak to him about that?"

Iris shook her head, knowing Cindy was referring to Bang Shi Hyuk. "No, but it's not a topic that needs to be discussed between us. After all, it's a subsidiary label, and we don't need to interfere, only to root for our sub-label mates."

"Yeah!" Ahreum cheered softly. "That talks of debuting several groups at Big Hit is occurring, that's great news all around! How many is that now anyway? BELIFT LAB, a boy group to debut this year in 2020, then the 2019 global Big Hit auditions… Us, and the subsidiary girl group… wow, four groups!"

"What a busy 2020!" agreed Jiyeon jovially. "Big Hit is really going to secure their spot on the map of biggest and best entertainment companies out there!" This girl's love for Big Hit really held no bounds. For her, Big Hit would forever be her number one entertainment company both musically and in how it managed its artists.

"Do you think they'll have actors and actresses start in movies and dramas soon?" Cindy wondered out loud.

"One day, probably!" replied Iris.

"It would be pretty cool to be an actress…" mumbled Cindy absentmindedly.

"Hm?" Iris nudged her cousin in the side. Raising and wriggling her eyebrows suggestively, she teased, "Why? Are you thinking of becoming one?"

Cindy blushed lightly. "Just a passing thought! Even if I did, I wouldn't jump into it right away. Besides, I'm focused on music now, hmph!"

"Hahaha, okay cuz, you know I was just teasing you."

"Yeah, yeah." Cindy stuck out her tongue with her hands on her hips.

"You two really get along well," commented Ahreum with sparkling eyes.

"Well of course, we grew up together basically," said Cindy, sharing a smile with Iris.

Seeing the two cousin's playful interactions, Jiyeon stuck our her arms behind her in a satisfying stretch. "Ah, I have a really good feeling about this..." After her stretch, a shadow suddenly passed over her face as something she had pushed to the back of her mind came up again. "Hm, but I do have one worry."

"Oh? What's that?" Iris's curiosity was piqued. If the serious and passionate Jiyeon had a concern, then it was likely something important.

Jiyeon carefully picked her words and slowly replied, "As you know, GLAM was a four member group. They lost a member pretty soon after debut, so it's uncanny to our situation with possibly having five members too but now just four. Also, one of their group members was named Jiyeon…"

The three other girls all looked at one another, coming to a slow understanding about what Jiyeon was hinting at.

"So I'm just worried about rumors and silly stuff about us being tied back to the old group. Maybe it's a pointless worry, but I can't help wanting our debut to be perfect." Jiyeon sighed deeply with a resigned smile.

Iris frowned for a second before closing her eyes momentarily in thought. The other members had concerned expressions on their faces too. The South Korean media and public opinions could be relentless and harsh. Every slight connection to something scandalous would be brought up and abused for the sake of news. Thus, Jiyeon's concern was a valid one.

However, Iris had long been juggling many ideas and possible concepts for an imaginary girl group of Big Hit. They constantly swirled in her head with new notions and details forming and combining together into more sound and cohesive proposals with every day lived in the kpop world.

So in this moment, several swirled together and triggered an astounding proposition. Instead of shying away and trying to avoid the connection of being Big Hit's new girl group after the failed and scandalous GLAM, then why not embrace it?

"Girls… I just thought of an idea." The other member's hearts quickened in anticipation at Iris's glint of inspiration in her eyes and cunning tone.