From Skid Row to Superstardom: An Idol System Novel

Once they were released, Ari quickly changed before entering the practice room, finding a spot on the practice room floor, and impatiently staring at the other occupants.

Levi was leaning against a wall, his usual frown etched on his face, and headphones over his ears.

Leo and Minjun were sitting together on one side of the room, giving Levi a slightly afraid look.

And Vishal and Mathew were sitting close to Ari with the cameraman in the corner of the room, recording the dark atmosphere.

And it was so quiet that each person's breathing could be heard.

Usually, he would be the one to start speaking, so no time was wasted, but Ari just stared ahead blankly.

To be honest, he had no interest in being here right now.

What he wanted to do was go and ask PD Emily what had happened to Jelissa.

Instead, he had to stay here and be productive while smiling for the camera when he would rather go beat William up and demand answers.

Vishal looked around calmly, glancing at Ari, who was unusually silent instead of taking the lead, before pushing up his glasses and beginning to speak.

"Previously, we only heard the snippet of the song, so why don't we listen to the whole thing first and figure out what we're going to do from there?"

Since nobody disagreed, Vishal grabbed the tablet and began playing the entirety of the song, which was over 5 minutes long.

The beginning of the song was manageable, but then it was like two beats were fighting each other with random sounds interspersed, and Ari could feel his face darken even more.

The others had similar expressions except for Levi, whose face remained the same.

Having worked with both Jamie and Jelissa, he knew how much effort it took to create something, but this…this was a mess.

The rhythm was all over the place, the beat was…rough, the melody was sometimes there and sometimes not.

Ari couldn't even imagine how this was supposed to turn into a song.

"I'm not an expert rapper, obviously, so I'd like one of you all to take the lead in helping us decide how we turn this…unique instrumental into a song." Vishal turned to look at Leo, Minjun, and especially Levi, who was technically the rapper with the highest rank here.

Both Leo and Minjun nervously turned to Levi, who sighed in irritation before taking off his headphones and speaking in a clipped tone.

"Split the song, assign everyone a section, and make them write a verse. Combine it later."

"Okay. Do you recommend that we choose a common topic to write about or a concept for the verses?"

"Go ask the producer. Or decide as a group. Just leave me out of it."

"…okay. Then, does anyone have any thoughts about a concept from listening to the song?"

"Robots?"

"Kind of like a fight? Or a sports game. That's what the whistle reminds me of."

"Space ships? From the laser sounds."

At the strange concept ideas, Vishal turned to Ari with hopeful eyes.

"Ari? Anything to add?"

"No, nothing right now."

"Okay." Vishal let out a strained smile, "Then let's split the song up and each try to write a verse and come up with additional concept ideas. Then tomorrow, we'll try to merge them and speak with the producer. Does that sound good to everyone?"

There was a general nod of agreement, even though nobody looked hopeful.

"I'll take section after the third beat change. See you tomorrow."

Without waiting for a response to his announcement, Levi put his headphones back on his head and walked out of the room.

Vishal took a deep breath before forcing another smile.

"Phew, alright….let's split the rest up. Does anyone have a section that they want?"

"I want the beginning verse before the beat switch."

"I want the one after it."

Leo and Minjun quickly listed noncompeting parts as they sighed with relief since Levi was gone.

"Anything is fine with me," Mathew added with a shrug.

"Ari? What about you?"

"I don't have an opinion right now, sorry. Just give me what nobody wants," Ari replied blankly.

Seeing that the energy was really down in the room, Vishal quickly split the remaining parts.

"I'll take the middle. Mathew can have the one before Levi, and then Ari will take the section after Levi. With that, I guess we're all dismissed. Good luck with your verses."

"Thanks."

"Good luck."

"Bye."

Shocked at the ease of things being done, the cameraman looked at the cleared-out room before shrugging and leaving.

He wasn't going to complain about getting the easy job today.

"Ari, want to work on our lyrics together? We can try to make something cohesive?"

"Not right now. I have something to do." Ari shook his head at Mathew before getting up.

Ari glanced at him before shaking his head, "I'm not bothered about having to rap. It's not ideal, but I'll figure it out, just like other things."

"Okay. Just know you can talk to me. I consider you a friend, and I know you were close to Jelissa. Or even sir-drinks-a-lot."

Hearing the nickname that several contestants had begun calling Producer Benny, Ari smiled at Vishal

"Thanks. See you later."

The moment Ari left the room, the smile was wiped from his face.

He immediately went to the now familiar PD Emily's office and knocked politely on the door.

"Who is it?"

"Ariel."

"Sigh. Come in. And shut the door behind you."

The moment he walked in, Ari saw the PD with lots of paperwork on her desk.

Her eye bags were worse than usual, her usually neat hair was in a sloppy ponytail, and there was a pile of cigarettes on her desk.

In fact, the whole room reeked of cigarette smoke.

"What's gotten your panties in a huff. You look pretty angry. Missing your favorite trainer?"

At the PD's flippant words, Ari snapped at her.

"What happened to Jelissa? Why is she gone?"

"What happened to getting your passport?"

At the sharp question, Ari snapped his mouth shut.

"Sit down. I don't like craning my neck when looking at people."

Ari sat.

"Where's Jelissa?"

"She left."

"Why?"

"Or should I say she got replaced. Let's just call it politics that a little kid like you doesn't need to know. She touched the wrong person, and that's that. More importantly, where's your passport?"

"I'm working on it."

Or at least NOVA was supposed to be working on it.

"Working on it by advertising yourself on the news, which you're technically not supposed to be doing? Or working on it by getting dating rumours with a celebrity."

"…neither? I'm working on the passport."

"How?"

"Uh...I'm waiting for my passport guy to contact me."

At the slightly joking response, PD Emily closed her eyes with a deep sigh.

"Ariel. I'm serious. And I feel like I've been lenient with you, almost excessively so. You're finally doing well, and it would be a shame if you got eliminated because of something as stupid as not having your passport."

"I'm sorry. But I'm really-"

Knock knock.

A sharp knock interrupted Ari's apology.

"Go away."

Knock knock knock!

"I'm busy, so it better be important; otherwise, I'm halving your salary."

There was a pause before the knocking became more urgent.

Knock Knock Knock Knock!

"Fine, come in. Remember, your salary is at risk."

Kate poked her head through the crack of the door with a slightly scared expression.

"Uh, PD, sorry to interrupt. Please don't cut my salary. There's a man with a very large cat demanding to see contestant Ariel."

"Send him away. There are kids with allergies, we don't allow random people here, and I'm busy."

"Uhm…." Kate looked back and forth between Ari and PD Emily before coming over to whisper something in her ear.

PD Emily immediately turned to look at Ari, her blonde ponytail whipping around to smack her in the eye.

"How do you know Martin?"

Ari only vaguely remembered the name being mentioned by Pink Puma.

He had no actual idea who the person was, but as someone who was well-versed in stretching the truth, he relaxed into the chair and gave the PD a big smile.

"Oh, him. He's my passport guy."

At least I hope so.

Otherwise, this would be so embarrassing.

Before PD Emily could say anything else, the door was slammed open and a very large cat jumped onto Ari's head.