❝ RUN, BUNNY, RUN... 𓏴 ♢
ᶻ 𝘇 𐰁 . . . 𝗜 𝗠𝗔𝗬 fail but i will never give up ❜ ⸝⸝
⊹ . ◌ ༚ ˳ 🕳️⠀﹒⠀ ꙳ .
🖇·˚ ≋♡
- 2018, February
Adjusting to her new life in the cutthroat world of the entertainment industry was proving to be a gradual process for Mercy. Harder than expected, especially in an environment that relentlessly demanded perfection. The barrage of instructions and critiques echoed in her mind — chin up, chin down, left, right, faster, better. The constant scrutiny became a deafening chorus, questioning her presence and worth in an industry that could be unforgiving.
Those comments were familiar; everyone faced them occasionally. Yet, it was the ones tailored specifically for her, attacking aspects beyond her control, that stung the most.
Useless girl.
Stupid little girl.
The emphasis on 'girl' felt like an intentional infantilization, as if she were incapable of understanding the complexities around her.
'You need to learn to shut them out,' her brother had advised. 'Do not let it get to you.' Easier said than done when the comments surrounded her, forming an unrelenting barrier.
No, Mercy decided she wouldn't let those comments define her. She would rise above, proving she was better than the judgments thrown her way. Perhaps that wouldn't be too difficult, but she kept that thought to herself.
Amidst the challenges, there were occasional respites. Even if not exactly on the weekends as Taehyun had envisioned, they made the most of their free time to unwind. Currently, Mercy and Beomgyu were heading back to the building from the store, armed with well-deserved snacks.
'Can you believe it?' Beomgyu asked her. 'We're debuting soon.'
'I know,' Mercy chuckled. 'It's mad.'
Smack!
Her laughter halted abruptly as Mercy collided with someone, accidentally knocking their belongings to the ground.
'I am so sorry,' she uttered, swiftly kneeling down to help the person gather their scattered items. However, her attempt to assist was met with a swat, and before she could comprehend, the person — now a man, judging by his face — pushed past her.
'Did I do something wrong?' Mercy asked Beomgyu, her confusion evident.
'No,' Beomgyu reassured her. 'He was just strange.' The incident left an awkward tension in the air as they continued their journey, the encounter lingering in the back of Mercy's mind like an unsettling note in an otherwise ordinary day.