Chapter 6

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July 2014
16 years old

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Two years into my journey as a trainee felt like an endless trial. These have been the most challenging two years of my life. News circulated that they planned to debut a nine-member girl group, and with eleven trainees currently, adjustments were inevitable. Last month, Im Suah, one of the younger trainees, was excluded from the project. Consequently, two more were expected to follow. Group dynamics were in constant flux as we shuffled into different combinations, searching for the most harmonious teams. Some groupings proved challenging due to jealousy and selfishness, sparking drama. Yet, surprisingly, I hadn't been paired with Chaeyong, my close companion over the years and newfound food buddy. Ramen noodles had become our main sustenance amidst the chaos.

Our bonds extended beyond Chaeyong. Sharing common interests and a penchant for pranks, Jinny became my partner in laughter. Laughter was a necessity in our generally tense atmosphere. Jisoo, my real-life teddy bear, was a reliable confidante with shared eccentric energy. This eccentricity led others to dub us weird, but we embraced it. Jisoo rarely displayed upset emotions, maintaining a supportive demeanor. Similar sentiments echoed with Jennie, another friend offering invaluable advice as the longest-tenured member. Lisa, always cheerful, shared her infectious energy, occasionally staying late to practice with me and Chaeyong. Our room became a hub for the four of us, while Jinny often joined, thanks to her closeness with Jennie.

During our pre-dance practice stretches, the arrival of the "Potato teacher" marked the announcement of new groups for the month. My joy rose as Chaeyong and I were finally in the same group—Group A. Excitement prompted a spontaneous dance, interrupted by a death stare from the Potato teacher. We refocused on the class, eager to make the most of this chance.

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After completing our schedules, my group opted to stay in the studio to fine-tune our performance. This group proved remarkably cooperative, devoid of jealousy, allowing us ample time to perfect our routine. As the others prepared to return to the dorm, we moved to a different location, just a two-minute walk from the facility. I decided to stay, working on my own choreography, more inspired during nighttime.

Someone entered the studio, offering a polite apology for the intrusion.

"Joesong haeyo. Sorry," he said, his eyes expressing an apologetic look.

"Don't worry, it's my fault. I should have been done half an hour ago," I responded, gathering my belongings. The unspoken rules lingered - we weren't allowed to engage in contact with male trainees. I hoped my unintentional rule-breaking wouldn't lead to trouble.

"Chloe, is this you?" Yu-jun's voice held a blend of surprise and familiarity. I looked at him, initially confused, but then recognition settled in. "Sesang-e Yu-jun! Hey! Omg." Surprise and happiness lit up my face as I walked up to him. Although we wanted to embrace, we maintained a careful distance, adhering to the unyielding rules that kept us apart.

"How have you been? It's been ages," I exclaimed, my voice carrying a mix of genuine excitement and underlying nostalgia. We hadn't spoken since I arrived in Korea, and now, here we were, two years later.

"So much has happened over the years. I'm not a trainee anymore. I didn't like it anymore, so they asked me to become a producer for YG after hearing my beats," Yu-jun shared, laughter punctuating the end of his sentence. His journey had taken a different turn, but his love for dance persisted, leading him to use the studio regularly.

"I'm happy for you. I hope all goes well with your producing. I still listen to the songs you sent me two years ago, by the way," I said, reminiscing about the shared connection we once had.

"Oh really! I'll make sure to give you some new songs to listen to," Yu-jun promised with a smile. The warmth of our platonic friendship was evident as we caught up on the changes in our lives.

"But what have you been up to? You're still a trainee, right?" Yu-jun inquired, leaning casually against the wall.

"Yeah! Still hoping to debut," I shared, the excitement of that dream still burning bright within me. "Well, I don't want to hold you up any longer. I better get going before I get in trouble," I added, a hint of worry creeping in.

"Yeah. I hope we get to see each other when you debut. I believe in you. Don't worry, you got this!" Yu-jun encouraged, rubbing my arm with genuine support.

"Gamsahabnida. Thank you. Yes, I hope so too. Annyeong, bye," I bid him farewell, pouting playfully as I walked up to the door.

"By the way, I missed you, Juni," I admitted, using the nickname from ages ago.

"Me too, Coco," he responded, winking, sealing our brief but heartfelt reunion with a shared sense of fondness.


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