┈─★ ও rising ̮ ̮ ҂ ࣪ ˖

and we met once upon a fairytale..

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⋆   ۫   ໒    𝓶𝓲𝓭𝓷𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓻𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓮   ׁ    𐑥   ָ֢ 
ᰋ. ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ 𝓂𝒶𝓇𝒸𝒽 ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ : ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ₂₀₂₄ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ᰍ

The day was finally here. The day she had been dreading for the last week or two. It was a big day for her, and yet she felt like she wanted to vomit. Vomit up every emotion she was feeling. Nervousness, fear, and the feeling of things not going right. Maybe she shouldn't think like that but how could she not when she was terrified and yet nervous? Today was a big day for her because she would be releasing her first album.

"It's not helpful when you pace back and forth like that, you know," Zola says looking up from her phone at Nami. Nami didn't say anything as she was in her head, contemplating all the outcomes. What if she got hate comments, what if people disliked her music, what if they disliked her voice, what if she was doing the wrong thing, and worst of all what if she got zero listens or views on her songs?!

Zola let out a long sigh, placing her phone down on the couch. "Nami, seriously, you've been working on this for weeks. You poured your heart into it. The last thing you need to do is spiral right now." Nami couldn't stop. Her thoughts feel like a tornado, pulling her deeper into the what-ifs. Her mind was coming up with every possible worst scenario imaginable. She didn't wanna think like that, but she couldn't help it, especially when it was her mind doing all the horrible thinking. It's not like she could turn off her brain.

She paused her pacing to glance at Zola, whose calm demeanor added to her frustration. " You don't get it," Nami said, her voice shaking. "This is everything to me. If it flops... I don't know what I'll do. I've worked so hard on this for the last few weeks. I haven't slept, I haven't studied, I haven't done anything besides make this music and these songs. And if it all fails, it will all be for nothing." Nami says plopping down onto the couch with a huff.

Zola rubbed her back as a way to comfort her best friend. "You're right. I don't get it," She said, shrugging. "But here's what I do now—you're not giving yourself enough credit. You worked too dang hard to let some imaginary comments ruin this for you before it even started. I've heard the song Nami and they are amazing. So stop thinking about the What Ifs and putting yourself down because I love them and I know other people will love them just as much as I do."

Nami frowned, wrapping herself. The room suddenly felt smaller, as if the walls were closing in. She hated that Zola was right, but the fear clung to her like a second skin. "What if no one listens? What if it was all for nothing? What if everyone thinks my voice is too high and too squeaky? What if I'm not a good singer what if? What if I'm just not good enough to make music and put it out there for people to listen to?"

Zola tilted her head, her expression softening. "Let me ask you something. Do you love the songs you made?" She asked gently. That made Nami freeze as she thought about the question. "Of course I do, I've put my heart and soul into every one of them. They are something I feel happy about creating." Nami replied without hesitation.

"Then it was worth it. It will be worth it. You are happy that you made these songs and regardless of what people say you'll still be happy that you made these songs because exactly like you said you put your whole heart and soul into them. So why does it matter if there are a few hate comments? It doesn't matter what they think about the song what matters is what you think about it. And I know that you love him so that's all that should matter." Zola said simply. "Even if no one listens— which, let's be real, won't happen— you made something beautiful. You should be proud of that."

The words hung in the air, and for the first time that day, Nami felt a flicker of calm. She looked at Zola, who was now grinning at her like she was trying to lighten the mood. "Besides," Zola added, "I already pre-saved the album, so at least you'll have one listen." Nami couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. "You're such a dork," she said, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly as she nudged Zola who laughed.

"That's what best friends are for," Zola replied with a wink, before grabbing her phone again. "Now stop moping and cheer up. I'm ordering takeout cheese tteokbokki & chicken to celebrate." Nami looked confused as she watched her. "Celebrate what?" Nami asked as Zola rolled her eyes. "The fact that in an hour your album will be out, and you'll officially be a superstar," Zola says as she taps away at her screen.

"You can't stop it now, you might as well embrace it. You're going to be a superstar, baby!" Zola says as Nami shakes her head, a small smile, tugging at her lips despite herself. "Superstar? You're being dramatic," she said leaning back against the couch. Zola raised an eyebrow, her grin widening. "Dramatic? Girl, you haven't seen drama until you've seen me cry over K-drama finales. This," just her to the laptop and Nami's phone sitting on the table, "is not drama. These are facts. Big facts."

The playful tone managed to ease some of the tension in Nami's chest. She glanced at her phone, where the countdown clock for the album release sat on her phone. 45 minutes. She couldn't tell if it felt like too much time or not enough. "What if it doesn't feel real?" Nami asked softly, almost to herself. Zola's fingers paused over her phone screen. "Don't tell me you're letting the thoughts get to you again," Zola says tilting her head at her best friend.

"I mean..." Nami sighed. "What if it happens, and I don't feel anything? Like...I've hyped this moment up so much in my head, but what if it just...passes me by? What if it doesn't feel as big as I thought it would?" Zola sat her phone down and leaned forward taking Nami's hand in hers. "Nami," she said gently, "It's okay if it doesn't hit all at once. Sometimes the biggest moments in life feel small at first because they haven't sunk in yet. But trust me, when you see people listening to your songs, leaving comments, sharing them...It'll hit. And it will feel real." Zola says squeezing her hand.

Nami bit her lip, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her hoodie sleeve. "You think so? I hope you're right about it. I do." Zola nodded. "I know so," Zola says firmly. "And even if it doesn't feel real tonight, I'll be here to remind you just how much you've accomplished. Deal?" Zola says holding out her pinkie.

"Deal," Nami said, her voice barely above a whisper as she linked her pinky with Zola's. The hour crawled by, every tick of the clock stretching the air in the room until it felt heavy again. But this time Nami wasn't pacing. She sat cross-legged on the couch, her laptop, balanced on a cushion in front of her, her phone in one hand, and a glass of water in the other.

She sipped the water slowly. "Food's on its way," Zola announced, plopping back onto the couch. "We're eating good tonight." "Great. I can stress-eat while I wait for my career to either launch or crash and burn," Nami muttered, half-joking.

Zola gave her a sharp look. "What did I say about spiraling?" Nami smirked faintly. "I'm kidding. Mostly." Zola shook her head with a smile. "You'll thank me later when you're too famous to even have time to eat."

The minutes crawled by, but soon the delivery arrived, filling the small apartment with the spicy, comforting aroma of tteokbokki and crispy chicken. The smell alone managed to ground Nami, even if her appetite was nowhere to be found. Zola dug in without hesitation, holding out a piece of chicken toward Nami like a peace offering.

"Eat. You're going to need your strength for all the interviews and sold-out shows," Zola teased, earning another eye roll from Nami. Despite herself, Nami took the chicken and nibbled on it absentmindedly. "You've got quite the imagination," she mumbled, though a part of her wished Zola's vision would come true.

By the time the clock hit 11:59, Nami's heart was pounding so loudly she swore Zola could hear it. The two of them crowded around her laptop as the countdown began. "Alright," Zola said, her voice unusually soft. "This is it." Nami stared at the screen, watching the seconds tick down.

10... 9... 8... She held her breath.

7... 6... 5... Her chest tightened.

4... 3... 2... She felt Zola's hand squeeze hers reassuringly. 1.   

The screen refreshed, and just like that, it was live. Her debut album, Her Heart and Soul, was officially out in the world. For a moment, Nami didn't move. She stared at the screen, her eyes wide, as notifications began flooding in. The album appeared on her Spotify page, bold and shining. On YouTube, the premiere countdowns for her lyric videos had started, and viewers already trickling in to watch.

"It's out," she whispered, almost in disbelief. "Damn right it is," Zola said, beaming. "Look at this! People are already tuning in!"

Nami's phone buzzed on the table, signaling her first notification. She picked it up with trembling hands and saw a text from her other friend: So proud of you, Nami. Listening now!

Her eyes watered, and she let out a shaky laugh. "Oh my god," she breathed, finally letting herself feel the enormity of the moment. Zola pulled her into a hug, grinning ear to ear. "Congratulations, superstar. You did it."

And for the first time all day, Nami let herself smile fully, her fears melting into the background. Maybe she didn't know what the future held, but right now, she felt proud. She felt alive. Her journey was just beginning, and no matter what came next, she had already won.