AKW Stardol Entertainment — Open Recruitment

We are seeking individuals with potential.
Singers. Dancers. Models.
No experience required.
Auditions open to all genders.
This could be your chance.

Seo Ayoung stared at the poster like it had personally insulted her.

“What bullshit,” she muttered, peeling it off the cracked wall with her dry bruised fingers. The paper tore unevenly, leaving half the word chance still clinging to the concrete. She crumpled the rest and tossed it into the overflowing trash bin nearby, where it landed on top of empty cups and flyers just like it.

Chance. Right.

She walked on, slightly dazed from drinking all afternoon, the city lights blurring into soft halos around her vision. She felt a chill as the wind blew past her, her ragged, worn out hoodie was doing litte to provide any warmth to her. It was past midnight, the kind of hour where Seoul felt quieter but more dangerous, where people like her slipped between convenience stores and bus stops like ghosts no one wanted to acknowledge.

Her stomach twisted painfully.

“…I'm so goddamn hungry,” she said to herself, knowing she had not eaten since last night.

The convenience store doors slid open with a cheery chime that felt wildly inappropriate for her mood. Ayoung went straight for the instant ramen, grabbed the cheapest one, then paused before adding a pack of cigarettes. She stood at the counter, tapping her fingers while the cashier rang it up.

“That’ll be 4,800 won.”

She checked her wallet.

Once.
Twice.

She was 1000 won short.

“…Wait.”

Her hands moved faster, digging through pockets, pulling out coins, a crumpled receipt, lint. She laid everything on the counter like an offering. The total didn’t change.

“I—hold on,” she said, her impatience rising as her stomach growled silently once more. “I thought I had more. I don't even have enough for a ride..”

The cashier stared blankly, already reaching to push the items aside.

Ayoung laughed. “Right. Of course. Just—never mind. Just a bottle of water will do.”

She turned to pay, hunger gnawing at her so badly it felt personal.

“Excuse me.”

The voice was soft and smooth like jade. Calm. Too composed for this hour.

Ayoung turned back.

The woman standing behind her had deep pink hair, styled effortlessly, and wore clothes that didn’t belong in a place like this—clean lines, expensive fabric, the kind of elegance that didn’t try to prove itself. She held out her card like this was nothing. Probably the child of some chaebol...

“I’ll pay,” she said. “If that’s okay.”

Ayoung blinked. Once. Then twice. Did she hear right or was living off of alcohol finally catching up to her?

“…Huh?”

The cashier didn’t wait for further discussion.

When the receipt printed, Ayoung stared at it like it was proof she’d finally lost her mind.

“Oh my god,” she said suddenly, bowing too deeply, as her voice suddenly developed a different tone. “Thank you. Thank you, thank you so much kind ma'am. May the heavens reward you! You’ve blessed this poor lowly soul tonight, truly—”

“It’s really fine,” the woman said, a small smile touching her lips. “You looked like you needed it.”

She grabbed the bag, then hesitated, embarrassment finally catching up to her from cooing like an old drunk begger. “Seriously though. Thank you. I won’t forget this kindness.”

“I heard you earlier,” the woman said gently. “You said you didn’t have enough for a ride?”

Before Ayoung could protest, a few bills were pressed into her hand, even more than what she needed for a single ride.

Ayoung stared down at them.

“…Are you an angel?” she asked solemnly.

The woman laughed quietly. “Just take it. You look like you might need it later.”

Ayoung clasped her hands together dramatically. “May your life be blessed with eternal happiness and prosperity!”

When the woman finally walked away, heels clicking softly against the pavement, Ayoung groaned and buried her face in her hands.

“God..,” she muttered. “That was so embarrassing. Why do I do that. I hate doing that...atleast it gets me a few extra bucks..”

She paid for a late-night ride and got off a few blocks from her place, choosing to walk the rest. The city felt colder now, sobriety creeping back in along with shame and exhaustion.

That was when a man stepped out from the side of the street.

“Miss,” he said quickly. “Sorry to bother you so late.”

Ayoung stopped, already annoyed. “Is this another cult joining persuasion? Look uncle I've had to deal with 13 of those this week do I look like I got time for this bullshit?”

He laughed awkwardly. “No, no. I work in entertainment. Modeling, mostly. I'm a trainee recruiter from AKW Stardol Entertainment. I couldn’t help but notice—”

“Notice what,” she snapped, “that it’s 1 a.m. and I look like hell? Yeah. I know. I got that already today.”

“You have a unique look,” he said, unfazed. “Have you ever considered modeling? Or auditioning as an idol? Such visuals are hard to come by so easily. I would have assumed you had a ton of procedures done to your face, but I highly doubt that with the...uh....state of you...”

She glared at him, ready to gauge this man's eyeballs out.

“Fuck is that supposed to mean?! And what kind of bullshit are you sprouting at one in the morning?” she said. “Do I look like I have time to become an exploited doll for pictures for some randomass scam company?”

“It’s just an option,” he said, holding out a company card with a number and an address on it. “If you’re interested.”

Ayoung squinted at it, suspicious, then took it anyway as she murmured to herself. 

He chuckled nervously as she walked off.

Her apartment greeted her with silence and dust. One tiny room. Barely enough space to stretch out her arms. The lights flickered when she turned them on, then went out entirely.

“…Of course...I forgot I haven't caught up on my electric bill,” she said, collapsing onto her mattress.

She slept for only a few hours, constantly moving throughout the night, unable to find comfort due to the cold.

The phone ringing at 7am suddenly dragged her back to life.

“Ayoung-ssi,” her landlord’s voice snapped through the speaker. “You’re late. Again. You have one week. Pay your rent or get out.”

The call ended before she could respond.

She rushed out, hair unbrushed, wearing the same hoodie as last night, heart pounding, straight to the bank. The teller didn’t even look surprised.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “Your debt is already too high. We can’t approve any more loans.”

Ayoung stepped back onto the street, sunlight burning her eyes.

“Fuck,” she hissed. Then louder, “Fuck!”

She kicked the curb, cursed at the sky, at herself, at the city that kept swallowing her whole. She didn't know if she wanted to cry or scream her heart out like she was possessed till someone reported her and got her dragged off to the psych ward. Atleast she'd have a place to stay, even if temporarily. 

She reached to grip the edge of her hoodie, about to pull it off and throw it to the ground despite it being 4 degrees outside, but before she could do so her hand brushed against something in her pocket.