Red String | Trainee A Leo

Chapter 1 - So Sick

"Thank you Aehyeon-ah, sorry for the inconvenience." said by Leo's mom.

"It's okay auntie. Anything for him." Aehyeon smiled as she said goodbye to Leo's mom to go home.

*

~The next morning~

Leo woke with something stinging in his head. Probably hangover. His phone rang the moment he got up to eat breakfast. It's Sangwon who's calling.

*on the phone*

Leo! Thank goodness you
answered! Where exactly
are you?!
                     
                        Uhm, in my bed? And
                        why are you shouting
                        at me, Sangwon-ah?

Have you forgotten that today
is our monthly evaluation?!
Mr. Bang is getting angry!
Come here a.s.a.p!!!

  

Leo's eyes suddenly widen. Oh no! he did forgot about the evaluation! He's doomed. He prepared to go as fast as he could, passing his mother in the kitchen.

"Adeul, aren't you gonna eat? This hangover soup is special, this will be cold by the time you get back." His mother said, offering a steel container to Leo.

[Adeul = son (in Korean)]

"Ahm, I'll just take this and eat at the agency eomma, I'm already running late." said Leo as he take the container from his mom. And straightly went out without his shirt properly buttoned.

"I gotta go eomma, bye! I love you!" said Leo who was in a hurry walking out through their house while putting his shoes on.

~

–Hybe Building–

"Leo! You're late! the evaluation is almost over!" whispered Junil to Leo who is panting because he took the stairs instead of waiting the elevator. As expected, Leo was scolded by Mr. Bang. He's lucky that he didn't got kicked out tho.

Leo finished his performance with a blink of an eye. And Mr. Bang didn't uttered any word for seconds after he finished.

"Leo, you aren't doing any good. Its the same as the last time. You seemed to stop progressing. I'll give you one last chance next evaluation, but if you fail to show progress again, I'm afraid I'll have to kick you out of this agency." Mr. Bang said which made Leo sigh.

"I understand PD-nim. Thank you." Leo responded as he bow 90° to show gratefulness.

~

"What happened to you Leo? You never come late! And last year, no one got a single chance to steal first place from you but now..." Sangwon is worried to his friend. Leo wasn't like this before. He is always on top. But these past few months, his rank seems to get lower than the others.

"He still can't move on from what happened to Hanna." said by James who was just passing by but eventually joined their table for lunch and meddle with Sangwon and Leo's conversation.

"Shut up." Leo glared. But it is true. He's still affected on Hanna's death so he can't seem to focus.

"You still have us, Leo. You'll cope with it sooner." James added. Leo is lucky to have friends like Sangwon, James and Junil— wait a minute, where is Junil?

"Where is Junil? He vanished after the evaluation." asked Leo to the two.

"He's probably out there dating another chic trainee." Sangwon and James shrugged.

"He's enjoying being free because once we confirm to debut as 'Trainee A', dating will be restricted and the dating ban will only be lifted after 4 years." James said while he ate his lunch.

"Leo you smell like alchohol, did you drank again last night?" asked Sangwon out of curiosity.

"I did, but I don't even remember how did I got home. Aren't you guys the one who fetch me?" Leo seems to be clueless. He doesn't remember a thing. He opened the steel container of soup that his mother gave for breakfast. It's still a bit hot, thank goodness.

"Uh, no. Its the first time that you haven't called any of us to hang out." James answered briefly.

'But how did I got home?' Is the biggest question that runs through Leo's head at this moment.

They're eating at a cafeteria near the agency– tho it was forbidden to go out with their co-trainees; Leo, Sangwon, James and Junil still eats together secretly. They are those types who like to break rules because breaking rules are fun as they say.

Leo was slurping to his soup but after a few moments, he noticed that the other people in the cafe–specifically the girls– were eyeing him. He just continued to eat and didn't care for it. It must because he's freakingly handsome.

A moment of silence. The three ate lunch but Sangwon finished earlier than Leo and James. He then decided to visit Twitter and was surprised on what he saw on the trends.

"Leo! You gotta open Twitter!" Sangwon shouted, he seems shocked.

"Not now Sangwon-ah I'm still eating." responsed Leo with a full mouth.

"But Leo you're all over my feed! Come check it now!!" Sangwon made it sound so urgent that Leo ceasefired and followed his orders.

"Fine. Fine." Then Leo did open Twitter. He widened eyes as he saw his pictures and a video of him singing was all over his feed too.

"#1 trending: Club Hearthrob"

|to be continued|