Chapter 29

"Trainee life"

Yeonjun slowly walked down the wide hallway, trying to figure out where he was and which way to go. He cursed himself for not paying better attention on his first day at the Entertainment company, when he was given a brief tour of the building. He tried shifting the blame, given the excuse that all the new impressions were the real reason he couldn't remember his way around. It might first and utmost be a bad excuse, but it wasn't a lie either. All the new things he had to learn and remember, all the new people he met. Just remembering the names of the other trainees was giving him a hard time. Even still he made it a rule to say hello to everyone he met on his way, hoping he would be able to get along well with the people here.

After making a turn and finally seeing something he found familiar, he let out a sigh of relief, but in the same second, he felt a hand on his shoulder and he nearly felt his heart jumping out of his chest.

"Wow, easy there," said the young boy standing behind Yeonjun, when he saw the shocked expression on his face, "I was hoping you would be happy to see me."

"Oh, Ji Won, it's you," said Yeonjun when he took notice of his fellow trainee friend, "I was just surprised, I thought no one was around."

"Sorry, I wasn't planning on scarring you," said Ji Won, "are you going to the dance studio? Let us go together."

"Sure, thank you," said Yeonjun, "I am still having a hard time finding my way around, but I think I know where I am right now."

"That is good," said Ji Won and he was just about to continue until both he and Yeonjun took notice of a young girl walking towards them. Even though she was still far away, Yeonjun was sure he hadn't seen her around before. She seemed to be around the same height as Yoo Jin, but much slimmer and much younger too. As she came closer, Yeonjun became almost certain she was younger than him, although her facial expression looked way more mature.

"Hello!" said Yeonjun with a smile when the girl was only a few meters away from them. She quickly stopped in her tracks and looked at Yeonjun in surprise, as if she hadn't taken notice of him and Ji Won until now.

The silence was overshadowing everything as the two boys stood in the hallway in front of the young girl, who still hadn't said a single word.

"Well…" said Yeonjun after the silence became to awkward for him to bear, "I am a new trainee, my name is Choi Yeonjun, I hope we will get along." Yeonjun bowed politely and as if something clicked inside the mind of the girl, she quickly bowed too, but when she straightened her back again, she looked at Yeonjun with the same ice cold expression as before, and still, no word left her mouth. Again, Yeonjun opened his mouth to say something, but before he got that far, the girl suddenly started walking again, not sparing the boys another look, but instead she disappeared behind them.

Left behind, standing in the long hallway, Yeonjun wondered what had just happened, going over everything in his head, but while he did that, Ji Won suddenly patted him on the shoulder.

"Don't take it to the heart, she is always like that," said Ji Won, "her name is Kim Su Bin and she really does act like a Queen around here."

"Oh…" was the only thing Yeonjun was able to utter.

"Anyway," said Ji Won, feeling the awkward silence make its way into the atmosphere again, "we should get going, but after practice, why don't I show you around again? Since you said you were still having a hard time finding your way."

"Thank you, that is very kind of you."

***

Dragging his feet behind him, Yeonjun neared the street with his house, and he could almost feel the softness of his bed calling out to him, but while he began fastening his pace, he suddenly felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. 

"Hello," said Yeonjun, too tired to look at the caller ID before he answered.

"Hello? You sure sound thrilled to talk to me," spoke Taehyun on the phone and Yeonjun just let out a sigh.

"I am sorry, I am just too tired today," said Yeonjun, "did you want something?"

"No, not really," said Taehyun, "I just wanted to know how things are going so far. I know you haven't been a trainee for very long, but I still wanted to know if you like it so far." Yeonjun almost started speaking, when Taehyun suddenly continued again.

"But, if you are too tired, we can talk another time."

"No no, it is fine, I am not home yet so I can talk for a little longer," said Yeonjun, "I like it so far, it is all so new and exciting, but it is also tough, I am getting home late every night and that won't change."

"I see, but I am glad you like it," said Taehyun, "I guess you won't be having time to hang out with me and the others anytime soon?"

"Well… I wish I could…"

"I know… I know…" said Taehyun quickly, "you will be busy with school and idol training and I don't want you to burn out, but I will miss hanging out with you."

"Oh stop it, will you?" said Yeonjun, "you can't deny you also want to spend more time with Noona."

"I guess that is true," said Taehyun and chuckled, "but I will still miss you. You won't come to school all the time, we won't see each other outside school, so let us at least call each other once in a while so I know how things are going."

"That sounds like a good idea," said Yeonjun, "anyway, I am home now and I really want to get some sleep."

"Totally understandable," said Taehyun, "goodnight."

"Goodnight," said Yeonjun and hung up the call just as he entered the dark and quiet house. It was already past midnight and Yeonjun figured that everyone would have gone to bed already, so he quietly snuck upstairs, careful not to make any noise that would wake anyone. He finally reached his bedroom and after walking inside and closing the door behind him, he ran towards his bed and immediately threw his tired body on it.

"Sleep… I need… to sleep…" whispered Yeonjun to himself, forgetting that he still hadn't brushed his teeth or washed his face yet. But before he finished arguing with himself about whether he would be able to pull himself together or not, the door to his bedroom was swung open and in less than a second, his sister jumped onto the bed, almost kicking Yeonjun out of it in the process.

"What on earth!" yelled Yeonjun and turned around, staring into the eyes of his older sister.

"How was it?" asked Yoo Jin with eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Are you serious? I am dying right now, I just want to sleep…" complained Yeonjun.

"Come on, I haven't been able to catch you for a second to hear how everything is," whined Yoo Jin, "just talk to me for a few minutes, then I will leave you alone, promise!" Yeonjun stared at his sister and then let out a huge sigh.

"You and Taehyun really know how to catch me when I am the most tired…" said Yeonjun under his breath and Yoo Jin tilted her head in confusion, but Yeonjun quickly shook his head and changed the subject.

"I am fine, everything is fine," said Yeonjun, "satisfied?"

"What? How would I be satisfied with that?" said Yoo Jin, "tell me something more specific. Are people nice? Are you friends with the other trainees?"

"I haven't been there long enough to really say I am 'friends' with anyone," explained Yeonjun, "but everyone I have met so far seems really nice and welcoming."

"That is good, I am glad," said Yoo Jin.

"Although there is this one girl…" whispered Yeonjun under his breath.

"Oh, did I hear you say 'girl'?" asked Yoo Jin.

"Don't look at me like that," said Yeonjun annoyed, "it is nothing really, I just met this girl today, and she was a little… unapproachable."

"Unapproachable? How so?"

"First of all, she didn't say a word to me when I introduced myself," said Yeonjun, "we met each other again later when we had dance practice together. I thought I should try to make conversation, but she completely ignored me, so I was sure she hated me, but on the other hand, I felt her eyes on me several times during practice, so I simply have no idea what is up with her."

"I see," said Yoo Jin, "how old is she? Your age?"

"She is much younger than me," said Yeonjun, "I asked another trainee and he said she is only 15."

"That isn't much younger than you, only 3 years," said Yoo Jin, "but it must be scary… being a trainee at the age of 15, so much pressure and so many eyes are on you… you should be nice to her."

"Why wouldn't I be nice to her?" said Yeonjun, "I am always nice."

"Yes yes," said Yoo Jin, "I mean, don't assume she is a certain way until you get to know her. Cut her some slack, as I said, it must be scary for her, being so young as a trainee." Yeonjun opened his mouth and then closed it again, thinking deeply about his sister's words.

"Fine, I will cut her some slack," said Yeonjun, "but now you really need to get out of my room, I want to sleep."

"Already? But I want to hear more!"

"Not now," said Yeonjun and got up from the bed, whereafter he pushed Yoo Jin out of his room, "goodnight."

"Goodnight then," said Yoo Jin before Yeonjun closed the door, "and FIGHTING!" Yeonjun just laughed at his sister and shook his head at her enthusiasm.

***

Days passed by in a flash. The things happening in a single day of Yeonjun's life, could easily fill out a normal work week for most people. He woke up early, went to bed late and sometimes felt like he was walking around like a living dead, but even still, he loved what he was doing and he wouldn't trade it for anything.

While greeting everyone on his way, Yeonjun slowly walked towards the practice room, going over the routines in his head. Suddenly, Yeonjun noticed a familiar girl walking towards him, and immediately, the words of his older sister replayed in his head.

I should be nice to her.

"Hello!" Yeonjun almost yelled out while the girl was walking towards him, and the sudden raise of his voice seemed to have startled her, seeing how she made a small jump up in the air and dropped her phone to the ground with a thud.

"Oh no, I am so sorry," said Yeonjun and quickly bend down to pick up her phone, "I hope it is not broken, if it is…" Yeonjun stopped talking as he looked at the phone and noticed the crack in the screen.

"I guess I wasn't that lucky…" said Yeonjun and handed the phone back to Su Bin, "I will pay for the repair, I promise." Su Bin reached and took the phone, carefully looking over it, still not saying a word.

"I am really sorry," said Yeonjun again and Su Bin looked up.

"Don't," said Su Bin coldly and Yeonjun gulped, seeing her glare at him, "it was… already broken… before…" Yeonjun looked at the girl and then suddenly seemed to realize what she was saying, his heart filling up with relief.

"It… it was? That is a relief… I mean… I am sorry your screen is broken… but… ugh I am gonna stop talking now," Yeonjun blurted out, "sorry I startled you… see you around." Yeonjun took a step forward, feeling embarrassment taking over him.

"Choi… Yeonjun…" Yeonjun stopped in his tracks when he heard the voice of Su Bin again.

"I am sorry, what?"

"Your name…" said Su Bin while her eyes were fixated on the floor, "your name is Choi Yeonjun, right?"

"Yes, that is right," said Yeonjun confused.

"I have seen you dancing…" said Su Bin, "you… you are really good…" 

Su Bin again turned silent while Yeonjun simply stared at her, wondering if he should say something or not.

"K… Keep up the good work…" said Su Bin and then quickly turned around and walked away.

Left alone in the middle of the hallway, Yeonjun stood frozen on the spot, still in confusion about what had just happened, but he had a somewhat satisfied smile on his face and a good feeling in his stomach.

Hello everyone!

How was the chapter? Did you like it? We focused a little more on Yeonjun in this chapter and I hope you enjoyed it. 

I hope you will all have a lovely weekend and stay happy and healthy wherever you are!

Love, Annalise~