A/N: Hello, again! Just a slight warning: There's one curse word here uncensored! That's all!
...
Meeting with Duk Hwa, big Hyung Seok didn't know what to expect.
That was soon going to be answered as he grabbed his chair. Right when he sat down, Duk Hwa, excited, already started telling him plenty of K-Pop agencies that would be good for him.
Hyung Seok is overwhelmed by the suggestions. Not knowing what to say, he goes with the thing that first pops up in his mind, "Which company should I pick?"
Pausing for a second, Duk Hwa hummed, "Do you want to go solo or join a group?"
Pondering for a few seconds, Hyung Seok decided, "Um. I'm not sure... Bo-both?"
Duk Hwa nods before talking to himself, "So, a company that has both successful solos and groups."
Thinking more about it, he comes to a conclusion, "That would be DY Agency. They mostly do solos, but they have one group that is very successful. They are also a guaranteed place for getting famous. Probably a lot of money too."
Hearing the mention of money, Hyung Seok gulps, "K-Pop idols get a lot of money?"
Duk Hwa nodded, "From my information, they do. Only the most famous ones do, though."
He hesitates: Maybe this is the job I should take! I was scouted before, so it might work!
Before he could state his answer, he remembers what the DY Agency is. The agency that rejected Duk Hwa. Memories of the CEO giving him the card instead of the expecting Duk Hwa, flowed through his mind.
Clamping his mouth shut, he looks down, feeling regretful before thinking through it again.
Duk Hwa seems to understand the expression he was showing as he said, "It's fine."
Now staring at Duk Hwa, Hyung Seok waits for him to continue.
Duk Hwa smiles, trying to reassure him, "I'm already over it. Besides! I'm now a famous Paprika star because of them!"
Not completely fine with the answer, he nods anyways.
Sensing some disbelief, Duk Hwa continues, "Don't let that stop you from doing it. It's nothing. Got it?"
Hearing the firm tone, he was forced to think that Duk Hwa really didn't mind if he joined the agency that rejected him. Giving him a nod of understanding, Duk Hwa continues:
"Good. Now, come here tomorrow and the following days for practice."
"Practice?"
Duk Hwa nods, "Of course. What else would you do? You need to practice a lot if you want to become a K-Pop trainee."
"Trainee?"
"You have to be a trainee before you become an idol. Once you become a trainee, that doesn't mean that you'll be able to debut. You'd have to do a lot more practicing and get picked if you want to become an idol," raising an eyebrow, he continued, "Didn't you know that?"
Gaping, Hyung Seok thought, I didn't know that!
...
Jin Sung walks through the streets, not having a set destination. Wondering where he could go, he considers going to the convenience store.
As he walks, passing by buildings, one building catches his eyes.
DY Agency.
Recognizing the building as a K-Pop agency, he stops. He doesn't know why he stopped, but it felt like something was pulling him down on the spot.
He was about to try and leave again, but couldn't as he had a flashback to the time he went to the movie theaters with Mi Jin.
...
"He was really polite," jab goes the first arrow, "cool," thrust goes the second one, "and kind!" stab goes the third, "Will there be a guy like that in real life...?"
Jin Sung got pierced with the fourth arrow while smiling and crossing his arms.
As if thinking about it, she claps her hands, "Oh! There are!"
Jin Sung perks up at that. Having false hope, he waits for a response like, "You're my ideal type, Jin Sung!"
Only to be rewarded with her saying, "There are plenty of male K-Pop idols that fit that description!"
Jin Sung was impaled with another arrow, feeling upset that she mentioned some random guys instead of her childhood friend to be her type.
That day, Jin Sung swore he would become better than those K-Pop idols, one way or another.
...
Coming back to reality, he didn't realize someone sneaking up on him.
The man tapped his shoulder, making Jin Sung jump and put on a defensive pose.
"Woah there."
Putting his defensive pose away, he glares, "What do you want?"
"I just wanted to scout you since you seemed like you wanted to audition." Giving a slight pause, he continued, "Unless I was wrong?"
Taken aback at the man's assumption, he stared at the man.
About to say that he was wrong, he opened his mouth before an image of Mi Jin's smile, talking about her ideal type, appeared in his mind.
There are plenty of male K-Pop idols that fit that description! ...plenty of male K-Pop idols! ...male K-Pop idols! ...K-Pop idol!
...You should be a K-Pop idol!
He closed his mouth. Not being able to say it, Jin Sung considered the idea.
Should I become a K-Pop idol? Mi Jin will like me if I become one. They probably pay a lot too...
The scouter patiently waits as he ponders.
After plenty of thinking and rubbing his chin, he returned his stare on the man.
Determined, Jin Sung smirked, "How much are willing to pay me?"
...
At their hideout, Vasco and his Burn Knuckle crew hung out.
They were all doing their own thing. All having their own conversation, chilling. All peaceful and quiet. Too bad that it was short lived.
With no ill-intention, a member mentioned the K-Pop topic from school.
Everybody shut up, all glaring at the one who said it. Noticing what was going on, he covered his mouth, regretting that he mentioned the topic. The word "K-Pop" had been banned ever since the girls in the cafeteria started fangirling over them. The reason being the fact that Vasco would cry every time he saw the girls mentioning K-Pop, even if it was only a word or two.
They all glanced at Vasco, only to see him cry from one eye.
Sweatdropping, Bum Jae tried to consult him, "It's okay, Vasco! You're much cooler than them!"
Pouting, Vasco turns towards Bum Jae, "Really?"
Bum Jae smiles, "Of course!"
Vasco smiles before turning towards the others, "Do you really think so?"
Why are you turning to us?!
Sweating, they responded, "Y-yeah."
Believing them, Vasco turns back to Bum Jae, "Do you think I can become a K-Pop idol?"
"If you wanted, yes!"
Vasco is so happy that he gleams, "I'll become a K-Pop idol."
Bum Jae, at this point, wasn't fully functioning as his priority was to make Vasco happy:
"I'll support you all the way!"
Knowing what he said, Bum Jae blinked, wondering how he could say something so reckless.
Before he could take it back, Vasco was gleaming, making it impossible to take it back.
"Bum Jae..." Vasco says, incredibly happy.
The members stared at Bum Jae with incredulity while Bum Jae could only silently curse under his breath.
Shit.
...
Jang Hyeon pants and sweats, hands on his knees.
The other people around him were too.
Some were on the ground while the rest were standing. Everyone wiped off their sweat, clearly exhausted.
Time went by before someone shouted, "Break times over!"
Their pants filled the room as someone pressed the play button. The ones sitting, stood up, ready to continue the practice. Getting into positions, they danced. The dancing wasn't hard, but they were tiring. They felt like dying as their muscles begged them to stop, but they knew that they couldn't possibly stop or else they wouldn't debut. Keeping that in mind, they continued to dance.
Jang Hyeon was faring well, at least better than half of the guys there. He was the best dancer there, after all. Not a surprise as he was one of the more experienced trainees there, just waiting for his chance to debut. The other trainees knew that too, they're just waiting for the CEO's news.
Finishing the dance, Jang Hyeon wiped off his sweat as he drank from his water bottle.
The sound of breathing filled the air as they waited for the dance leader to excuse them.
The dance leader glanced at the time before dismissing them.
Jang Hyeon stood up and got his stuff.
"Yo, Jang Hyeon!" a black haired, handsome face waved his hand.
Jang Hyeon walked over to him, greeting back, "Tae Jun."
Tae Jun wrapped his arm around his shoulder, "The practice was exhausting, huh?"
Jang Hyeon nodded, "Not any different than usual."
He smiled at his response, "I thought you were depressed, but seeing you now makes me think that it was all in my head."
Jang Hyeon tilted his head, "I was depressed?"
Seeing him clueless, he just shook his head, "Never mind." Looking at the time, he took his arm off his shoulder and waved, "See you next dance practice!"
Jang Hyeon waved back, watching him go. Walking towards the door himself, he glanced at the time. Sighing, he got ready to leave. Before he could, he got stopped by the leader.
"You've been getting better, Jang Hyeon."
Jang Hyeon smiles, "Thank you. I try my best."
The leader nods, "I bet you do."
Silence filled the air, making Jang Hyeon glance at the time again. Before he could say his goodbye, the leader leaned closer to Jang Hyeon's ear.
"The CEO called for you."
Jang Hyeon blinks before he nods. Getting ready to dismiss himself, the leader says, "Good luck."
With that, Jang Hyeon leaves for the office.
Not knowing what to expect.