An alternative universe to The Littles...
What if... Nara left the show and JYP-but didn't walk away from the entertainment industry entirely?
What if... SM saw her potential, recognized the star she was meant to be, and gave her the stage she trul...
Normal - Korean Italics - Chinese _______________________
The gentle hum of the air conditioning filled the spacious vocal room, a quiet symphony in tandem with the soft rustle of sheet music scattered across the grand piano's polished surface. The warmth of late evening lingered in the air, filtered through the soundproof walls and dimmed overhead lights.
Nara sat cross-legged on the cushioned bench, a pencil between her fingers and a quiet melody on her lips. Her voice barely rose above a whisper as she hummed through the final chorus of her self-written ballad, the echo of each note lingering in the silence that followed.
Suddenly, the creak of the door pulled her from the moment. She turned instinctively-and her eyes met a figure she hadn't expected.
EXO's Lay stood in the doorway, framed by the golden hue of the corridor lights behind him.
Her eyes widened. "Oh? Yixing 哥?"
She shot up from the bench, almost spilling the pencil as she moved to bow. But Lay simply lifted a hand, his palm open in a quiet, gentle stop.
"No need," he said with a soft smile, his voice carrying the familiar warmth she'd always associated with him-gentle, assured, almost like a comforting melody on a weary day.
Nara hesitated, then slowly settled back onto the bench, watching as Lay stepped inside. His fingers trailed lightly across the piano's surface, as if reacquainting themselves with the instrument, as though music itself lived in his very skin.
The silence between them was calm, not awkward. Still. Like the moment before a song begins.
Then, he spoke in smooth, fluid Mandarin, one he know she knew well.
"So... Johnny told me about BoA 선배님's offer to you."
Nara exhaled slowly, her shoulders sinking. Of course Johnny had told him. She should have known he wouldn't keep it to himself for long-especially not from someone he trusted.
Lay's gaze remained steady on her, gentle but piercing, like he could see through the tangled mess inside her mind.
"What's holding you back from saying yes?"
Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her hoodie, her eyes lowering to the floor as she searched for the words that had stayed stuck in her chest for days.
"Maybe because... I don't think I'm ready to stand alone." Her voice was quiet, edged with vulnerability. "I always pictured myself debuting in a group-surrounded by members, harmonizing, covering each other's weaknesses. Being part of a team."
She paused, then added with a shaky breath, "Tomorrow marks my fourth monthly evaluation. Four months since I became a trainee. Not four years. How can I take such a leap now? It feels too soon... too unearned."
Lay listened in silence, allowing her fears to rise without interruption. Then, slowly, he reached out and rested a hand on her head, his touch light and steady.
(妹妹: ᴍᴇɪᴍᴇɪ / ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ꜱɪꜱᴛᴇʀ)
"You're too humble, 妹妹," he said with a soft chuckle, the affectionate term catching her off guard. "That's a beautiful trait... but don't let it turn into a chain that keeps you small."
He leaned back, folding his hands over his lap. His expression shifted slightly-nostalgic, thoughtful.
"Opportunities like this don't come by chance," he said. "BoA 선배님 has an eye for potential. If she saw something in you, it's because it's already there. You may not feel ready now, but sometimes readiness isn't a feeling-it's a choice."
His fingers idly skimmed the piano keys, letting out a quiet chord that resonated low and sweet through the room.
"I trained for four years before debuting in 2012," he continued softly. "And then... just two years later, I lost three of my brothers in EXO." His voice faltered slightly, but he pressed on. "No one prepares you for that. No training, no stage experience. It hurt more than I can put into words. There were days I didn't know how to keep going."
He turned to look at her again, this time with a calm but undeniable strength in his eyes.
"But I did. We all did. Because life doesn't always wait for us to feel ready. Sometimes we have to move before the fear convinces us to freeze."
Nara sat in stunned silence, his words settling into the cracks of her doubt. She had always admired Lay-not only as a global artist but as a human being who carried pain with grace and still chose light.
"And if it's the fear of being alone on stage..." Lay said, his voice softening again, "Remember this: you are never alone. Even in a solo spotlight, the people who believe in you stand behind you like constellations-quiet, steady, always watching. You carry them with you in every step, every note."
Her throat tightened, emotion catching like a knot she hadn't expected.
He smiled gently. "Don't let fear rob you of something beautiful. Think about it, 妹妹-but don't let doubt decide for you. You're still you. And that's more than enough."
He stood slowly, his hand offering one final reassuring squeeze on her shoulder. Just before leaving, he turned back at the doorway with a knowing grin.
"Oh... and by the way-Johnny says he's betting you'll say yes."
A breathless laugh escaped her lips before she could stop it, the heaviness inside her chest lifting ever so slightly.
"Don't let him win too easily," Lay teased with a wink, before slipping quietly into the hall.
As the door clicked shut behind him, Nara was left alone once more in the silent room.
But something had shifted.
And for the first time since the offer had arrived...
She felt her heart leaning toward the answer.
She just might be ready to fly.
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