Lee Soo-yeon

The pulsating energy of the award ceremony filled the air as the spotlight shone on the stage, illuminating the members of Dainty Divas as they stood poised to accept their accolade. Aria, also known as Lee Soo-yeon, radiated confidence as she stepped forward, the leader of the group and the embodiment of their success. Yet, beneath her composed facade, a storm raged within her.

As the cheers of the audience enveloped her, Aria couldn't shake the nagging voice in her mind - the voice of Nadia, the manager whose critiques cut deeper than any knife. "Aria, please take care of yourself," Nadia's words echoed, a thinly veiled admonition disguised as concern. But Aria knew better. She understood the true meaning behind Nadia's constant scrutiny: perfection at any cost, even if it meant sacrificing her health on the altar of fame.

The weight of expectations pressed down on Aria's shoulders like a burden too heavy to bear. She glanced over at her fellow members, their smiles masking the exhaustion etched into their features. They, too, bore the scars of relentless rehearsals, strict diets, and endless scrutiny. But it was Aria who bore the brunt of it all. As the leader and the face of Dainty Divas, she carried the weight of their success and their failures alike.

As she scanned the sea of faces in the audience, Aria couldn't help but feel a pang of apprehension. Each pair of eyes seemed to bore into her, scrutinizing her every move, every imperfection laid bare for the world to see. But amidst the crowd, a voice cut through the noise, a beacon of light amidst the darkness."You look beautiful just the way you are, Aria!" a fan called out, their words ringing out like a chorus of angels. Aria's heart swelled with gratitude as she locked eyes with the stranger, their genuine kindness washing over her like a wave of relief. In that moment, she felt seen, truly seen, for the first time in what felt like an eternity.But as quickly as the moment came, it was gone, swallowed up by the cacophony of applause and cheers that filled the air. Aria plastered a smile on her face, her gratitude mingling with a sense of longing for the connection she had briefly glimpsed.

Her thoughts drifted to her mother, her anchor amidst the turbulent sea of her life. The memory of her mother's gentle smile, even in the face of adversity, gave Aria strength when all seemed lost. But now, even her mother's love couldn't shield her from the relentless demands of the industry.

Nadia's voice pierced through Aria's reverie, snapping her back to the present. "Aria, you look a bit sick," she remarked, her tone laced with thinly veiled disapproval. Aria forced a smile, masking the turmoil churning within her. How could she explain to Nadia that her pursuit of perfection was slowly consuming her from the inside out?

With each passing day, Aria felt herself slipping further away from the person she used to be. The once vibrant young woman who had dreamed of gracing the stage now felt like a mere shell of her former self. Yet, she pushed on, driven by a sense of duty to her group and a fierce determination to prove her worth.

But beneath the façade of confidence lay a well of insecurity, a gnawing fear that she would never be enough. No matter how many hours she spent in the gym, no matter how strictly she adhered to her diet, it was never sufficient in Nadia's eyes. "Good, you are 50 kg, let it remain that way," Nadia's words echoed in Aria's mind, a constant reminder of her perceived inadequacy.

And so, Aria found herself trapped in a vicious cycle of self-loathing and despair. Each day blurred into the next, a relentless onslaught of rehearsals, interviews, and public appearances. She longed for respite, for a moment of peace amidst the chaos that consumed her life.

But even in her darkest moments, Aria clung to the flicker of hope that burned within her. The hope that one day, she would break free from the shackles of expectation and embrace her true self, flaws and all. Until then, she would continue to dance to the tune of others' expectations, a puppet on strings pulled by the whims of an industry that demanded nothing less than perfection.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, yet Nadia's expectations remained unchanged. Each morning, Aria found herself rising before dawn, the weight of exhaustion heavy upon her shoulders. But even as fatigue threatened to consume her, there was one thought that kept her going: her mother.

The memory of her mother's gentle smile, her unwavering support, was a beacon of light in the darkness that consumed Aria's life. It was her mother's illness that had driven Aria to pursue a career in K-pop, a dream she had once shared with her mother in the quiet moments they had spent together.

But now, as Aria found herself caught in the relentless grind of the industry, her mother's illness weighed heavily on her conscience. "If not for the fact that my mother is sick, I would have quit my job," she would tell herself, the words a mantra that echoed in the recesses of her mind. Her love for her mother stood above all else, even above the importance of her own life.

And so, Aria pushed herself to the brink, following every rule, every command issued by Nadia with unwavering obedience. She ate healthy, attended yoga sessions to maintain her physical and mental well-being, and practiced tirelessly with her group members, each movement a testament to her dedication and determination.

Yet, despite her mounting resentment, Aria remained silent, nodding obediently to Nadia's every command. It was infuriating, maddening even, to be trapped in a cycle of endless expectations and unattainable standards. But for the sake of her mother, for the dream they had once shared together, Aria refused to give up.

And so, she pushed on, her determination fueled by love and a fierce sense of duty. Each day brought new challenges, new obstacles to overcome, but Aria faced them head-on, her spirit unbroken despite the weight of the world pressing down upon her shoulders.

" I can quit this job, right? "

But until then, all she could do was nod to Nadia's every command, her heart heavy with the weight of her dreams and the burden of her love.

"How Tiring! "