The teachers’ room was quiet and full of intensity after she smacked the papers down on the table in front of Jooeun. Everyone was startled at the sudden thud. Her breathing became audible as everyone did not dare to speak. Jooeun had her eyes glued on the floor, scolding and blaming herself. The teacher glared at her and had her hands on the table.

“Ha Joo Eun, is this what you are giving me after staying in the top 5 of this school? This is not the Jooeun I know. How come you are lacking, Jooeun? I did my best for all of you but this is what you gave me? What should I answer to the principle? Is the reason you withdraw from the extra class the teachers prepared for the top students distract you from studying?” she exhaled. Her eyes piercing at the said girl.

“No, teacher. I am sorry it was my own fault for not keeping up the pace.” Jooeun said. The other four looked at her worriedly. This was her first time getting snapped at; heck this was her first time falling from her studies. The teacher pointed at her weekly assessment paper “Finals is in two weeks, Jooeun. And then your scores will be used to get into college. You can’t go back to high school and repeat your finals, Jooeun. Please, don’t give any of us a headache and catch up.” “Neh” she nodded slowly.

Sighing as she closed the door, she looked at her paper. The one that she was assessed along with the other four top students in the school. She received the lowest marks and yes, she admitted that it was her fault. It was her fault for not focusing more on her education life. She was pressured during training that she could not balance her trainee and student life. She ran her hand through her hair and walked back to her class. Everyone had already leave and only a few students who decided to stay after school was around. Jooeun slipped the papers in her bag and slung it on her shoulder.

The school library was filled with a number of students than it used to be. She slowly pulled out the chair and took out her stationeries. Jooeun never thought it would like this, she never thought that she’d be left behind in her studies. She never thought that she’d be lacking. All this while she pushed herself to the furthest she could. But only to realize, she was never enough. In the students’ eyes, she is the best. She is the role model everyone wanted to be. She is the most perfect student. But they didn’t know, with such titles, she was pressured. Especially after she is halfway to her dream of becoming a singer. Of course being a trainee is not a crime, but ‘why bother being in a field that doesn’t have a stable income?’ mind set in the teachers’ made her feel more…stressed. They don’t understand, they were not in her place. Every strength in her was squeezed out by the trainers before she is excused for finals..and it happened to be one of the days when she was sitting for