Chapter Four

"No buts, Lee Taeyong. Lower ranks' professors are complaining that you're more than skilled enough to be there. You deserve to be a leader, now leave."

He went out of the director's office but he breakdown right outside, thank God there's a bench out there. He can't just help but have a mental breakdown.

For two weeks of being part of the Golds, it's like the best time of his life. Just by thinking that he's the leader again is making him cry.

Why is being talented and skilled feels like it's a punishment from the heavens? Or maybe, it is.

Taeyong went back to the dorm, there he saw Doyoung who looks so focused on his phone. "Hey, Tae." He called.

"Hmm," he's not really in the mood to talk, but he doesn't wanna be rude. "Monthly evaluation is happening in three weeks." Doyoung showed his phone.

A monthly evaluation is done every last Friday of the month. Thie first and last month of the school year is exempted.

A monthly evaluation performance is either done by solo, duo, or by group. 50% of their grades are based on this event.

It could really help a student rank up, or rank down too. It's actually crueler than anyone could imagine.

Taeyong could see the excitement from Doyoung's eyes, it's his first time anyway. He's excited, not knowing how cruel that event is.

The red haired guy wanted to take a rest but before he even could, two annoying brats entered their room.

"Oh, hey Doyoung hyung!" Yangyang greeted and lay down at Doyoung's bed. It wasn't that hard to be close. Ten, on the other hand, sat down at Taeyong's bed.

"How are you guys going to perform on the monthly evaluation? Solo? Duo? Group?" Doyoung asked.

Yangyang raised his hand with a proud smile, "I'm grouping with my friends on dance demonstration class! Xiaojun and Hendery!"

Taeyong nodded and showed a proud smile too, "That's cool. I'll look forward on your performance." That made Yangyang giggle.

"I'll do solo, as always." Taeyong answered. He's been performing solo since last year. He doesn't want to be dragged down nor drag anyone down.

Doyoung looked at Ten, "Hmm.. I'll be doing a duo with my dance buddy, Sicheng."

"How about you?" Yangyang asked the owner of the bed he's lying at. "A vocal performance with Taeil,"

"Moon Taeil? You're close with him?" Ten asked in disbelief. "Yeah, we practice our vocals together sometimes." Doyoung replied.

Taeil is a only a Pro member but actually famous for being the best in vocals. Everyone looks up to him and appreciates his talent, he deserves it anyway.

"Wait, what's the Last Evaluation?" Doyoung asked when he saw a random comment on his phone. "It's an another event that happens every end of the school year." Yangyang explained.

Ten gasped when he remembered the Last Evaluation last school year, "Oh hell, it's hell!" He exlaimed and cling onto Taeyong's arm who's laughing.

"Not everyone is required to join that event, it's your choice if you want to or not. But there are different companies who'll attend to watch, and they could choose any student they think has a potential to be their trainee." Taeyong explained more.

In short, that event is an opportunity for anyone. They could graduate in an instant.

Yangyang laughed too when he remembered last year's Last Evaluation, "Taeyong hyung and I didn't join that but Ten did, some praised him but someone harshly judged him. You'll also laugh if just have seen his face."

Ten threw a pillow to the youngest, but he missed.

"How about this year? Are you all joining?" Doyoung asked. Ten and Yangyang shook their heads straight away, "Heck no!"

But Taeyong was spacing out- thinking if should he join or not. He's tired of this confusing hell school, maybe graduating this year could help him escape.

"Hey," Ten poked him, three of them were waiting for his answer. "I.. don't know. I'm  considering it though."

The four talked for a bit more before they decided to part ways. Doyoung took a nap, leaving Taeyong awake alone.

Damn. I forgot to tell them that I'm the leader again.

**

Jaehyun woke up by the sound of his alarm, his head is at the footboard side while his feet is at the headboard side, he kicked his alarm clock cause of the annoying sound.

But the kick was too hard, it hit Johnny who's sleeping at the other side of the room. He groaned before getting up from his bed, he walked towards Jaehyun's side and placed the alarm clock beside his head.

"What the fuck, Suh?!"

"Yeah, fuck you" Johnny's last words before going inside the bathroom to take a shower. Jaehyun got no choice but to get up, he gazed at the window- sun hasn't risen yet.

He got to wake up earlier than the usual to practice for the monthly evaluation. He'll steal Taeyong's spot, that's his goal.

"Why are you so eager to get the Leader position this year, anyway? Taeyong already gave it up but you gave it back." Johnny asked out of the blue from the bathroom.

Jaehyun sighed. "It's already my third year, I need to be on the spot where I deserve. Taeyong, giving it to me is seriously offensive, you know."

It's only half of the truth. He can't find the right words to explain to Johnny about what he really wanted to say.

Jaehyun hates Taeyong, but no one dared to ask why. Everyone assumed that he hates the red haired guy because he's the leader, that's it. Cause that's also the reason why everyone hates Taeyong.

Little did they know, Jaehyun hates him because he's noncompetitive. Everyone hates him for being the leader, and Taeyong- doing nothing nor not proving himself is what's making Jaehyun frustrated.

He's talented, he's skilled. Why can't others see it? It's not just me who should appreciate his skills.

Trigger Taeyong until he's competitive enough is one of Jaehyun's goal, but his main goal? Being the Leader, of course. His dream must come first.

"Bruh, stop spacing out!" Johnny called out while peeking at the bathroom's door, "I said, pass me my towel." So Jaehyun did.

Times passed and the squad is suddenly complete, Jaehyun, Johnny, Yuta, and Lucas- inside a vacant dance studio. There are numerous studios for students to use on their free time.

"Are we gon' perform as a group?" Lucas asked- still yawning. "It's just the first month, let's do solo." Johnny yawned back.

"I agree. I don't wanna put so much effort for the first month," Yuta uttered. Jaehyun's about to say something when a group of three came in the studio.

It was Yangyang, with Xiaojun and Hendery. The other two boys are also part of the Diamonds.

"Seriously? Are you doing this on purpose?" Yangyang frowned immediately while crossing his arms.

This dance studio is where he usually practice with Ten (not Taeyong because that guy likes to practice alone). Cause this is the only studio that doesn't have a cctv inside.

Jaehyun rolled his eyes, "Doing on purpose? Sorry kiddo but this place can be used by anyone. Go find somewhere else." He smirked.

Yuta stood up and glared at the younger, he's still holding grudges against him because of what happened on the first day of school. Lucas also stood up, he hasn't moved on that the younger once punched him.

"Let's just go-" Hendery didn't even finish talking when Yangyang shrugged him off, "No, this is our place. We- stay."

Johnny walked toward the young ones and pushed him a little by the shoulder, "You're making my blood rise earlier than the sun, huh."

Xiaojun pulled his friend backwards to avoid skinship, who knows? They might just start a fist fight anytime soon. "Bruh, stop." Jaehyun also pulled Johnny, "You're scaring the kids."

"Look, I don't want to mess with you this early so just go." Jaehyun tried to talk nicely but Yangyang scowled, "I said no! This is our place, we're staying!"

Lucas lost his temper and went to hit the younger with his knuckles, Yangyang immediately hit back. Suddenly, Taeyong appeared and pulled the two against from each other.

No one expected his appearance, everyone was shock cause no one noticed him entered the studio. "Liu Yangyang!" Taeyong glared.

Both Yangyang and Lucas got a bloody lips. Taeyong closed his eyes tightly out of frustration. No CCTV here. Hendery and Xiaojun would be too scared to speak up. These four motherfuckers will flip the real story and put the blame on Yangyang, even though Lucas started it.

In short, they're in trouble again.

"Taeyong, I-" Jaehyun didn't even got to say what he wanted to say when Taeyong grabbed his arm ang pulled him out of the studio.

They stopped in a quiet hallway where no one's around. Jaehyun wanted to speak, he wanted to say that he wouldn't expect Lucas to do that. He never wanted to create a trouble in the first place, he tried talking to Yangyang nicely.

Nevertheless, the older is already glaring at him.

"I just don't fucking get you! You said you wanted the position so I gave it up, but you give it back! What should I do so you and your squad can leave us alone?!" Taeyong is so mad, so mad that he wants to cry.

Jaehyun felt it, so replied in a calm manner- hoping the other would calm down too. "My pride. Yes, I wanted your position, but let have it using my own way. Giving it to me makes me feel so pathetic."

"I know that, you fucker! I also never wanted to give it just like that, I know you can steal it away from me- but you're just so unfair! Using your own way?! How?! Framing me up and shits?! Stop playing so dirty!" Taeyong screamed until a tear escaped his eye.

He faced the floor and let himself cry. Jaehyun gulped by his view, he slowly pulled the older towards him and locked him in a soft hug, That made Taeyong cry more, trying to push Jaehyun away but the younger just tightened the hug.

Jaehyun feels so guilty, he knows it's his fault. "I'm sorry.."

"Last school year was my first year here, I got the chance to be the Leader but everyone hated me- everyone framed me up for things I never did. It was hell. I almost gave up everything.." Taeyong whispered.

The younger felt the pain. He never knew Taeyong was experiencing those kind of things last year. He knew students hated him, but the framing up? He thought he's the only one who did that- which was only this year. He really thought Taeyong was a noncompetitive irresponsible troublemaker.

"I'm sorry.." is everything he could say.

note : this is unedited. expect more typographical and grammatical errors. thank you.