After a brief moment, the rest of TXT arrived, their presence filling the room with a sense of excitement. I rose from the couch and offered them a respectful 30-degree bow, a gesture ingrained in me from years of training. As I settled back down, Yeonjun's playful inquiry caught me off guard.
"Why do you bow to them but not me?" he asked, his eyebrows raised in mock offence.
"Because I respect them, not you," I replied with a playful smirk, bracing myself for the inevitable retaliation. True to form, Yeonjun grabbed a nearby pillow and tossed it in my direction, prompting laughter from the group.
As we bantered back and forth, Kai returned to the living room, balancing two glasses in hand. He handed me my glass of water with a smile, and I expressed my gratitude with a heartfelt "Thank you," appreciating the small gesture of hospitality amidst the playful atmosphere.
"So how's life going? You're still a trainee, right?" Beomgyu's question cut through the casual chatter, his gaze fixed on me.
His inquiry made my heart race a bit faster. After all, he was my bias in TXT - no offence to my cousin though!
"Yeah, still a trainee," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady as I met Beomgyu's gaze with a smile. "It's going well, although the training sessions are pretty intense. But I can't wait to debut!" I added, my excitement bubbling beneath the surface.
Beomgyu nodded, his expression thoughtful. "We've seen some of your pre-debut videos. Looks like you've already gained a lot of fans," he remarked, gesturing to the other members and Bahiyyih, who echoed his sentiment with nods of agreement.
Soobin chimed in, his tone calm but curious. "AceIcy, right?" When I nodded, confirming the name of my group, he continued, "I've heard a lot of idols talking about your future debut during my appearances as an MC on shows."
His words filled me with a surge of confidence. I glanced at Bahiyyih, who was seated beside me, and she winked in silent encouragement.
After a few minutes of lively chit-chat, we decided to spice things up with some games.
"If you were a brand, what brand would you be?" someone posed the question.
"Dior!" "Ralph Laurent!" "LV!" "Ferrari!" "Rolls Royce!" The TXT members chimed in eagerly, each naming a high-end brand.
"Miu Miu?" Bahiyyih hesitated, unsure of her choice.
All eyes turned to me, waiting for my answer. "Chanel and Versace," I replied confidently, citing my two favourite brands that I felt resonated with my style.
"More like Aliexpress," Yeonjun teased, and this time I was the one throwing a pillow at him.
Next came the question: "Favorite K-pop girl group?"
It was a risky question in the K-pop industry, where mentioning other groups could lead to backlash or even being cancelled. But in this room, it felt safe, a testament to the trust we had in each other.
The answers came swiftly: Twice, Aespa, and Snds were mentioned. When it was my turn, I proudly declared my favourite as Blackpink.
Then came the question: "Favorite K-pop boy group?"
The initial chorus of "TXT" from the boys elicited laughter all around, but Soobin and Yeonjun quickly amended their answer to BTS, while Kai opted for Seventeen. Beomgyu and Taehyun chimed in with their support for BTS as well.
Bahiyyih's response to Stray Kids earned a nod of approval from the group, signalling their camaraderie and mutual respect.
As for me, I couldn't narrow it down to just one group, so I proudly named three: Enhypen, Stray Kids, and Big Bang, each holding a special place in my heart.
The next question sparked curiosity: "What celebrity you would like to meet?"
"SZA!" "The Kid Laroi!" "Bebe Rexha!" "Post Malone!" "Beyoncé?" the responses flew in, each name carrying its own allure.
I found myself shocked as Taehyun and I simultaneously blurted out "The Weeknd!" in unison.
"Oh?!" we exclaimed at the same time, our eyes meeting in surprise. Without missing a beat, we excitedly exchanged a high-five, prompting laughter from the group at our synchronized response.
The next question arrived like a whisper in the room: "Your Ideal Type physically?"
We all took a moment to ponder our answers.
"IU," the boys declared unanimously, a choice that hardly needed an explanation given IU's universal appeal.
Bahiyyih, unsure of her response, chose her group member. "Yujin?" she hesitantly suggested, eliciting a giggle from me.
Feeling a bit hesitant to mention Heeseung, given the boys' friendship with him, I opted for "Ricky" from the group Zerobaseone.
"Ooh," the group chimed in teasingly, amused by my choice.
After some delightful hours of chatting and playing games, I stole a glance at the time. It struck noon, signalling the inevitable return to YG for my afternoon training regimen.
I discreetly signalled to Bahiyyih, who nodded in agreement, recognizing the same need to head back to her own dorm. With a slight sigh, I turned to the boys, explaining our impending departure. They nodded understandingly and promptly arranged for a taxi to take us back to our respective companies.
"It was nice having you here!" Yeonjun exclaimed cheerfully, his eyes reflecting genuine warmth. "Totally agree!" Beomgyu chimed in, his smile mirroring Yeonjun's enthusiasm.
Bahiyyih echoed the sentiment, "Yeah, it was a blast!"
With exchanged bows and casual good-byes, we prepared to depart. Bahiyyih gave her brother a playful tap on the back, while I shared a nostalgic high-five with Yeonjun, a reminder of our shared past in America.
Exiting TXT dorm, Bahiyyih and I made our way to the Hybe entry hall to await our taxi, which was already on its way. While waiting, a notification popped up in our AceIcy professional group chat managed by the company. We had two group chats-one for casual chatter and another for official business, like schedule
"Your afternoon schedule has been cancelled for today. Please be present in the Meeting Conference room by 2 pm, everyone!" The message from our manager conveyed a sense of urgency.
"Why should we?" I challenged, unwilling to blindly follow without explanation.
"Important matter. Be present, Hera." Manager Kim responded promptly, his tone indicating his familiarity with my occasional stubbornness.
I knew that I had no choice but to attend this "meeting?" I'm not sure of what It is.
Knowing I had little choice, I prepared to attend this evasive "meeting," uncertain of what it entailed.
Arriving at the lavish YG Headquarters, I bid farewell to Bahiyyih, expressing gratitude for the enjoyable hangout, before briskly making my way to the hall. After signing the access register, I hurried towards the exposed capsule-like meeting rooms designated as 'working zones.'
As I entered the meeting room, my heart skipped a beat at the sight of all my group members seated around the large table, wearing expressions ranging from serious to concerned. Manager Kim was also present, seated at the head of the table. I hesitated for a moment before taking my place, settling next to my partner in crime, Jiah. We exchanged a glance that spoke volumes, silently "What the hell is going on?" questioning the unusual atmosphere pervading the room.
A heavy silence hung in the air, unbroken by conversation. It wasn't my style to stick around in such seriousness, and I felt the urge to laugh bubbling up within me. Suppressing a grin became impossible, and laughter escaped me uncontrollably. All eyes turned to me, and I managed to stifle my laughter, though a hint of amusement lingered.
Growing impatient with the silent tension, I finally voiced the question on everyone's mind. "So, what are we doing here?" I inquired, unable to contain my sarcasm. Manager Kim's gaze bore into me as he responded, "We are waiting for someone."
In a moment of sarcasm, I quipped, "Well, I hope it's Beyonce making an appearance. I refuse to sit in silence like a mute video for just anybody." Manager Kim's reaction was a silent reprimand, indicated by the pen placed to his lips, urging me to refrain from further remarks. With a roll of my eyes, I complied, though the tension in the room remained palpable.
After what felt like an eternity, the door finally creaked open, revealing none other than YG PD-Nim himself. Seriously, what was he doing here, and why did he take so long to arrive? As everyone stood up to greet him with a bow, I remained seated, unimpressed. After all, he wasn't Beyonce.
"PD-Nim, it's 2:35 pm. You told us to come at 2!" I couldn't help but voice my irritation, earning a sharp glance from Manager Kim. YG offered a brief apology for his tardiness before getting straight to the point, addressing the main reason for our meeting.
"There are pictures of you all over dispatch," Manager Kim dryly stated. As his words hung in the air, the tension in the room became palpable, and glances were exchanged among me and the girls.
"Where did you go yesterday night?" YG PD-Nim's voice cut through the silence, his gaze piercing.
"To eat food outside!" Soomin replied, attempting to defend our outing.
"You were at a food festival, Soomin!" Manager Kim responded, his irritation evident.
"Yeah, but there's food at a food festival!" Soomin retorted, trying to justify her statement. Quiet murmurs of agreement rippled through the group. "She's not wrong," we all muttered under our breath.
Manager Kim simply sighed. "We had our masks and caps on, though. How did they know who we were?" Nari asked, her curiosity piqued.
Instead of responding, Manager Kim handed us the incriminating pictures. I glanced over at PD-Nim, who was diligently jotting down notes in a notebook.
As we examined the photos, it became clear that Dispatch had been tailing us since we left the YG building through the back door. They captured moments of our interactions with Lesserafim, including Soomin and me singing along with them. There were even snapshots of Enhypen waving at Jiah.
While I felt a surge of anger and concern, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of relief that my awkward encounter with Heeseung near the bathroom hadn't been captured. Imagining Dispatch spinning that story into something scandalous sent shivers down my spine.
"YG ENTERTAINMENT TRAINEE DATING ENHYPEN HEESEUNG!"
"You're fortunate they didn't recognize you or capture your faces. Imagine the repercussions if they had," Manager Kim said, his tone grave, driving home the seriousness of the situation.
"So what happens now? Are we not going to debut because of that?" I asked, a tinge of annoyance lacing my tone.
"You are going to continue your training and practicing for the last leg of your pre-debut journey," YG PD-Nim stated firmly. We all turned to him, waiting for further explanation. "Given the recent scrutiny from viewers trying to uncover who sang with Lesserafim, Soomin and Hera's involvement will undoubtedly generate more interest in the group," he continued, exuding confidence and perhaps already envisioning the potential boost in popularity. Manager Kim nodded in agreement.
"Now, this matter is closed," Manager Kim declared, signaling the end of discussion on the topic.
"We need to discuss AceIcy's future," PD-Nim announced, shifting the focus to our group's trajectory. I exchanged knowing glances with my members, a sense of anticipation building as we awaited the final confirmation of our plans.
"What concept do you think would fit AceIcy?" PD-Nim inquired.
"GIRL CRUSH!" We chorused in unison, our voices resonating with excitement. Soomin took the lead, elaborating on our collective vision. "We've long agreed that our group should embody a girl crush theme, combining elements of boldness, fierceness, and attitude," she explained confidently.
YG PD-Nim attentively listened, jotting down notes while Manager Kim nodded in agreement, his focus fixed on Soomin's words.
"Alright, Girl Crush it is then. It's reassuring to see that you're all aligned on this vision," PD-Nim affirmed, his tone conveying approval.
"And I wanted to announce that your debut song will be produced by me," YG PD-Nim declared confidently.
"HUH?!" I exclaimed, shocked by the unexpected revelation. Glancing at my members, I could see the disappointment mirrored in their expressions. I shot a pleading look at Manager Kim, but he appeared powerless to intervene.
"Actually... We had hoped for a different arrangement regarding the production of our debut song," Eunji ventured hesitantly.
"Who did you have in mind?" PD-Nim inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"We were hoping for Teddy Park to be our main producer," Soomin stated with a hint of apprehension, voicing the sentiment shared by all of us.
PD-Nim regarded us silently for a moment, then jotted down something in his notebook.
"Anyone else?" he asked, his tone serious.
"Well... Yes," Soomin replied nervously. The tension in the room was palpable as she hesitated to mention the next name.
"Yes, we also wanted G-Dragon Sunbaenim to be our lead producer," I interjected quickly, hoping to alleviate some of the tension. Manager Kim shot me a surprised look, while PD-Nim continued to focus on his notebook, his expression unreadable.
For us, G-Dragon Sunbaenim was an icon of the K-pop industry and a legendary YG artist. Having him produce our debut song alongside Teddy Park Sunbaenim would ensure our debut's success. However, the relationship between YG Entertainment and G-Dragon Sunbaenim was complicated due to his departure from the company after his contract expired.
"Next, who would you like to write your lyrics?" Manager Kim diverted the conversation, unaware of the bombshell response awaiting him.
"I, Soomin, and Jiah would like to take on the writing responsibilities," I declared.
"That's great!" Manager Kim exclaimed, attempting to inject positivity into the room.
"But..." I paused, causing Manager Kim to break out into a nervous sweat.
"We also want CL Sunbae to contribute to our songwriting," I continued, my voice filled with quiet confidence.
CL Sunbae, like G-Dragon Sunbaenim, had a complicated history with YG Entertainment. However, we were confident in her abilities as a composer, and we believed her involvement would elevate our debut.
As I delivered the unexpected news, Manager Kim's hand flew to cover his mouth in shock. YG PD-Nim, who had been diligently scribbling in his notebook, finally raised his head to take note of our request.
"Choreographer for the song?" PD-Nim interjected, his tone neutral as ever, redirecting the discussion.
"Kiel Tutin and any other YGX choreographer!" Nari exclaimed, her excitement palpable.
Nari's enthusiasm earned a small smile and nod of approval from YG PD-Nim.
"And also Bada Lee and Noze, If possible," I added firmly.
I was confident that Bada and Noze would accept the offer if YG proposed it to them. Their involvement would undoubtedly elevate the choreography and bring more attention to our debut.
"We will see what we can do," PD-Nim responded, acknowledging my request before exchanging a glance with Manager Kim.
It was a small victory, the first sign of agreement from YG since the discussion began. With any luck, we might just have Bada and Noze as our choreographers!
After some time of discussion, YG PD-Nim concluded the meeting, stating that we had covered all necessary points for now. He emphasized the importance of focusing on our final training before proceeding with the production of our debut song. With that, he exited the meeting room, leaving Manager Kim behind to attend to some remaining tasks.
As we left the meeting room and returned to our dorms, there was a sense of relief mixed with anticipation. The decisions made during the meeting would shape our debut, and we were eager to see how everything would unfold in the coming weeks.
AUTHOR NOTE:
Hello! That ends of this episode! I genuinely hope you enjoyed it. What are your thoughts AceIcy Debut song Demands? Do you think they'll get their song to be produce be G-Dragon and Lyrics by CL?
-> I would like to apologize for having such a bad update schedule but I'll try to update every weeknd either Saturday or Sunday if possible!
I'm overjoyed to hear your opinions and feedback. If you have any prompts or ideas of what I should put in future episodes, Let me know!
Anyway, catch you soon! ♥︎♥︎