Chapter 1
Maria... wake up."
Opportunity
She didn't answer him.
"Maria."
Maria pulled the cover further over her head.
"Let me sleep..."
Leo sighed.
"You've been sleeping for over ten hours."
"And that's still not enough for me..."
Leo smiled and shook his head.
"I don't know how you manage to sleep so much."
Maria didn't reply.
Before he could say another word, her phone began to ring on the nightstand beside the bed.
Leo glanced at the phone, then back at her.
"Your phone is ringing."
Maria moved lazily beneath the blanket.
"Who is it...?"
"I don't know. Here, take it."
She reached out her hand and grabbed it.
"If it's an unknown number, I'm not answering."
She looked at the screen, but there was no call.
"It's an email."
"From who?"
Maria's expression suddenly changed.
"...JYP Entertainment."
Leo raised an eyebrow.
"JYP?"
Maria opened the message quickly.
She read it for a few seconds, then said, "They want to interview me."
"What?!"
Arken walked into the room after hearing Leo's voice.
"What happened?"
Leo turned to him.
"Maria got an interview at JYP."
Arken looked at Maria.
"Really?"
She nodded, her eyes still glued to the screen.
"For a photographer position."
Arken smiled.
"That's awesome!"
"It's just an interview... I haven't gotten the job yet."
"But they chose you out of all the applicants to interview, right?"
"Yes."
"Then it's a great start."
Maria smiled shyly.
"I hope so."
Arken sat on the edge of the bed and looked at her.
"But why did you apply for this job in the first place?"
"Because I love photography."
"I know that."
Leo chimed in, "The real question is... why JYP specifically?"
Maria went quiet for a moment.
"Because I need the money."
Arken looked at her in surprise.
"Money for what?"
Maria lowered her eyes.
"For my dream."
Leo understood immediately.
"Ah..."
Arken raised an eyebrow.
"You still want to become an idol?"
Maria looked at him as if it were a strange question.
"Of course."
"Even now?"
"I won't give up on it."
Arken smiled.
"I knew you'd say that."
"But I know the path isn't easy."
"And no one said it would be."
"Besides, I don't really trust my talent that much."
Leo looked at her seriously.
"That's why you need to try, instead of deciding in advance that you won't succeed."
Maria fell silent.
Then she said softly, "That's why I want to work and save money. If I can't enter the idol industry directly, then at least I want to get closer to my dream another way."
Arken smiled.
"And photography is the best thing you can do right now."
Maria nodded.
"Yeah."
Then she hesitated for a moment.
"But... there's another reason too."
The two of them looked at her.
"What is it?"
Maria began rubbing her ear unconsciously.
Leo noticed and grinned.
"You're embarrassed about something.
"No, I'm not."
"Then why are you rubbing your ear?"
Maria stopped immediately.
"I'm not."
Arken laughed.
"Yes, you are.
"
She sighed.
"Fine... there is another reason."
"What?"
Maria said in a low voice, "Stray Kids."
Silence filled the room for a second.
Then Leo smiled.
"Ah... now I get it."
"Don't start."
Arken laughed.
"You chose JYP because Stray Kids are there?"
"It's not just because of that!"
"But it's one of the reasons."
"Yes..."
Maria covered her face with her hands.
"I'm a STAY, okay? It's only natural that I'd be happy to work at the same company as them."
Leo said with a laugh, "Especially Han."
Maria snapped her head up.
"Don't talk about Han!"
"Why?"
"Because I'll feel even more embarrassed!"
Arken laughed.
"At least you have an extra reason to go to work."
Maria threw her pillow right at his face.
"Shut up!"
He caught it, still laughing.
"Alright, alright!"
Maria looked back at her phone screen.
The email was still open.
The interview date was set-just a few days away.
She placed the phone against her chest and took a deep breath.
"Alright..."
Leo looked at her.
"What?"
Maria offered a faint smile.
"I'm going to the interview."
"Obviously."
"And I'm going to get the job."
Arken said, "That's the spirit."
Maria looked at the message one more time.
Maybe it was just a job.
Or maybe it was the beginning of something much bigger.
What she didn't know yet was that this small step was about to change her life completely.
_____
The next few days flew by faster than Maria anticipated.
Finally, the day of departure arrived.
She stood in front of the airport gate, holding her luggage in one hand and her portfolio in the other.
Leo looked at her.
"Are you sure you didn't forget anything?"
"Yes."
Arken piped up, "Passport?"
"Got it."
"Flight ticket?"
"Got it."
"Your portfolio?"
Maria raised the folder in front of his face.
"And this?"
He smiled.
"Alright, you're set."
Maria looked up at the flight departures board, then inhaled deeply.
"I can't believe I'm actually going to Korea."
Leo said, "You've been talking about this for years."
"I know... but talking about it is one thing, actually doing it is another."
"Don't worry. Go to the interview and show them what you can do."
Maria glanced down at her portfolio.
It held photos she had taken over the past few years, featuring the work she was proudest of.
"I hope they like my work."
"They will."
"How are you so sure?"
"Because I've seen your photos."
Maria smiled.
"Thanks."
Then the airport announcement chimed for her flight.
She looked at her brothers.
"Well... time to go."
Arken hugged her tightly.
"Take care of yourself."
"I will."
Leo added, "And don't do anything stupid."
She pulled back slightly and looked at him.
"Me?! Never."
"That exact sentence makes me even more worried."
Maria laughed.
"I'll be back soon."
"Good luck, Maria."
She waved goodbye to them before heading toward the boarding gate.
She was thrilled...
And terrified at the exact same time.
Yet the single question looping through her mind the entire way was:
What will happen when I land?
After long hours of travel, Maria arrived in South Korea.
She stepped out of the airport, looking around in complete awe.
"Finally..."
She pulled her suitcase, holding onto her portfolio carefully as if it were her most precious possession.
She unlocked her phone and double-checked the address for the third time.
"JYP Entertainment..."
She stared at the text again.
"Alright, Maria... don't panic."
After a short ride, she arrived outside the company building.
She stood frozen before it for a few seconds.
"It's actually real..."
She looked up at the building.
She had seen endless photos of it online.
Now she was standing right in front of it herself.
She walked inside toward reception with hesitant steps.
A staff member approached her.
"Hello, how can I help you?"
Maria swallowed her nerves.
"Hello... I have a job interview today."
"What's your name?"
"Maria Valren."
The receptionist checked her computer screen.
"Ah yes, found you. The interview for the photographer position, correct?"
"Yes."
"Great. Did you bring your portfolio?"
Maria held up the folder.
"Yes, right here."
"Wonderful. You can take a seat over there, and someone from the team will come down to take you to the interview room."
"Thank you."
Maria sat on one of the chairs.
She rested the folder on her lap and cracked it open slightly.
She stared at her photographs.
"Don't fail me..."
She snapped the folder shut immediately.
"I'm the one who shouldn't fail myself in the first place."
While attempting to settle her racing thoughts, she heard footsteps approaching.
She looked up.
"Maria Valren?"
She stood up instantly.
"Yes!"
"I'm from the hiring team. Please follow me."
Maria clutched her portfolio tightly.
"Okay."
She followed him down the company hallways.
With every step forward, her heart raced faster.
Then he stopped in front of a door.
"You may go in."
Maria looked at the door.
She took a deep breath.
"Alright..."
She opened the door.
And just like that, her very first interview at JYP Entertainment began.
