YG Treasure Box

Prologue

I started grooving when the music started to play, seeing myself in front of the mirrored wall alone. I moved smoothly as how the beats sounds like, trying to feel as if hundred of people occupied the room.

I love what I'm doing, I do pursuing my dreams and I love pursuing my dreams. I can dance, rap, and sing. I love music that much, I'm also learning to compose songs. Every single kpop idol inspired me to show my talent and debut.

I'm 2 years and 4 months trainee, hoping to debut soon. We're not that poor, we're also not belong to the elite ones, my parents have a restaurant as their business, I can buy anything I want, I'm not spoiled tho. Despite of our family state I still need to do some hardwork, I shouldn't depend on them. I shouldn't be known because of my surname that my parents built, I should have known because of my own hardwork.

When the song ended, I chose another song from my phone again, not minding how I get tired from my previous practice. I started grooving again, making my move look natural.

I heard the door clicked, but I chose to continue dancing.

"Oy Yeri. Pahinga ka lang muna." Based on her voice, I know it's Aeka(애가) I still continue dancing for a minutes.

When the song ends, I felt exhausted. I slowly lay down at the floor, I'm fckin tired.

"Grabe ang paghinga natin ha parang wala nang bukas." Tumabi si Aeka sa'kin, dahan dahan naman akong naupo mabilis pa rin ang paghinga.

Aeka, I didn't consider her as my best friend but I admit that she's been a good friend to me through my whole journey of being a trainee. She's a 4 year trainee, she's the first person who entertained me when I first entered this entertainment. She's loud but very kind and caring, I also admire her for being friendly to those new trainees.

"Tubig?" Alok niya sabay abot sa'kin ng isa pang bottle na hawak niya. Inabot ko iyon.

"Salamat." Here I am again. Tumingin ako sa kanya at napansin kong nakatingin na rin pala siya sa'kin, nakangiting umiling na lamang siya at saka kinuha sa kamay ko ang bottled water at mabilisan itong binuksan, why do it seems easy peasy to everyone?

"You're still struggling to open a bottled water." Natatawang sabi niya.

"예(Yeah)," sagot ko. Lumagok ako ng tubig at pinanghalatian ito. Dahil doon ay kumalma naman ako at medyo nawala ang pagod. Matagal kaming nanahimik bago ulit nagsalita si Aeka.

"You're already good. What's the point of practicing nonstop?" Tanong niya dahil kanina pa ako nagprapractice, nakuha n'on ang atensyon ko.

Nakatingin sa mata ko siyang sinagot.
"I don't want to be good, I want to be the best." Seryosong sabi ko. Humalakhak na naman siya.

"I know you'll answer me that." Umiling iling siya.

"I've been here for 4years and I'm satisfied and happy with the things I can and can't do." Dagdag pa niya. Umiling iling rin ako. Yan ang ayaw ko sa kanya.

"You shouldn't be Aeka. You shouldn't be satisfied, you should be willing to learn and change more until you can."

"I'm doing my best but I think I did everything I can, and I can't add more."

"I mean for that 'until you can' is until you can breath. Habang buhay ka pwede kang matuto, habang buhay ka marami ka pang mababago." Tumitig siya sa'kin ng matagal.

"Can I hug you for a while?" Hindi na ako nakasagot nang bigla niya na akong niyakap.

"고마워(Thanks)" sabi niya habang nakayakap pa rin sa'kin.

"Huh? For w-what?" Nagtatakang tanong ko.

"For everything. Especially for motivating me to do more. Thank you so much." Mas hinigpitan niya pa ang yakap bago dahan dahang bumitaw. Pero agad siyang tumalikod at humawak sa mukha niya at my pinahid na kung ano. I knew it, napakadrama niya talaga.

Humarap siya sa'kin na nakatodong ngiti.

"Hindi ibig sabihin na por'ke pinunasan mo na ang mga luha mo ay wala nang magsisilbing bakas na umiyak ka." Ngumuso siya.

"Nahalata mo?" Tanong niya saka nagpunas ulit sa parteng mata niya.

"아니(Hindi)" sarkastikong sabi ko.

"Aish." React niya sabay palo sa braso ko.

"Aray!" Galit ko siyang tinignan. Tumawa na lamang siya.

Tumayo siya. Inabot niya ang kamay niya sa'kin. Weirdo ko naman siyang tinignan.
"뭐? (What?)"

"Tayo na. Nandyan ka pa naman sa gitna baka mamaya maapakan kita."

"Magpapractice ka?" Nakataas ang kanang kilay kong tanong.

"Yun ang advice ng motivator ko e." Ngumiti ulit siya ng todo. Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya, hinila niya naman ako patayo.

"Dun ka muna sa gilid kung gusto mo." Suggest niya.

"Lalabas muna ako. Bibili ng makakain na'tin." Agad agad naman siyang pumalakpak na parang bata. Basta pagkain talaga e.

"Yan ang gusto ko sayo, galante." Inirapan ko na lamang siya at nagpatuloy na palabas.

Nakangiti akong bumabati at nagbabow sa mga staffs at trainees na nakakasalubong ko.

My life as a trainee? I've been in pain, I got injured, I felt disgusted, I felt their disappointment, they gave me insults everyday, I felt tired every second but despite all of that I learned and challenged to bring the best of me. Every flaws, pain, exhaust motivates me to do more.

I'm Park  Yeri. A YG Entertainment trainee.
안녕하세요! 와이지 연습생 박 예리 입니다.
(Annyeonghaseyo! YG yeonseubsaeng Park Yeri imnida.)