Current date of story: 2014 November 25th, a Tuesday
Character profile:
Name: Hong Min-ji
Age: 18
Birth Date: 30th December 1995
Height: 5 foot 4
Weight: 48kg
Nationality: American
Heritage: Korean
Parents: Unknown
T.P.V (THIRD PERSON VIEW)
Min-Ji has been a trainee at Big Hit Entertainment for around a year now. She's eighteen and yet to find her place in the company. She trains day in and day out, hoping that her day will come soon. She sighs and looks around the rehearsal room. She knows she shouldn't be complaining; some idols spend five yeas in training. All her life she's looked up to K-pop idols. They endure countless hardships during their careers, and yet they manage to always plaster a smile on their face and make everyone around them happy. That's all she wants from this, to make others happy. She squeezes her fists together and whispers to herself, "I can do it, I will do it." She walks over to the piano in the corner of the room and takes a seat on the lumpy stool. Before she came to Big Hit, she was in school and learning piano, violin, and guitar. She takes in a deep breath and hovers her hands over the keys. She presses the c keys and eases into the melodic sounds. She's not playing a particular song, just free-styling. Min-Ji lets the music take over her whole being, her soul. Her fingers have a mind of their own, they skip over the keys in graceful motions. She plays for what feels like hours, days. When her fingers finally cease, she takes a sharp breath and slumps down a little.
"Very impressive..." she looks up to see a man dressed sharply applauding her efforts. Who is he? She narrows her eyes at him as he walks closer towards her and the piano. "No need to be alarmed dear."
She jumps up from the chair and takes a small step backwards "Who are you?" she questions.
"No one to be scared of. My names Jonathan. How do you do?"
"F-fine," she stutters.
"Good. Your music...is intoxicating. If I may ask, are you a trainee here?"
"Ah y-yes, yes I am."
"I thought so," he smiles, "I work at Pledis Entertainment. I was sent to scout out new recruits. You seem quite talented. Would you be able to show me anything else?"
She simply stares suspiciously at the strange man. She doesn't know who he is, but right now, she'll take whatever opportunity is thrown at her. This could be her big break...
"S-sure...what would you like to see?"
"Well I would love to hear you sing and dance. Can you play any other instruments?"
"Yes, I can play guitar and violin as well."
"Wow...that is impressive! Do you have music you can use afterwards?"
"I still have a CD in the player. I could dance to that first and then sing after?"
"Perfect! Take it away...miss....?"
"Hong Min-ji, sir."
"Well Min-ji, let's see what you've got!"
She walks over to the CD player, presses play, and quickly moves into position. She was dancing to Boy in Luv by BTS earlier, so that's what she is to do now. She lets her body move in perfect time with the music. She's been practicing this choreography for a long time now, so her movements are deliberate and précised. She makes her way through the dance with ease, but none the less, her heart beats out of my chest, likely because one, she's tired, and two, she's nervous. This is some random gentlemen who happens to work for a rival company who stumbles upon Min-Ji playing piano with intense passion. The music slows a little, she allows her muscles to relax. The last beats passes.
"Very well done!" Jonathan claps once more.
"Thank you, sir," she bows, arching her back at 45 degrees.
"No need for pleasantries. Do you think you can sing that same song?"
She nods, "I can give it a shot."
"Brilliant! Take it away," he gestures to the space where she had just danced upon.
She hits play on the CD player again and begins to sing and rap along with the music. BTS being her seniors, she simply adores their music and the way they seem to make her bones rattle with excitement and energy. She befriended BTS when she first started at Big Hit and has been friends with them ever since. After the song finishes Jonathan claps and praises her, "Simply wonderful! I will give you my card," he pulls out his business card and passes it over to her, "May I have your phone number Ms Hong?"
"Ah...sure, its 09********." He enters the number into his phone.
"I shall call you. Thank you very much for your time today." Without saying another word, he exits the room, leaving Min-Ji standing speechless.
She shakes her head back and forth before plugging Jonathan's number into her phone. If she can move to Pledis Entertainment then maybe, just maybe she has a shot at joining a group. She knows whole heartedly that she's being greedy here. She's only been a trainee for one year, so shouldn't be expecting so much. But she can't help it, she wants what she wants. "I have to keep working," she mutters. She storms over to the CD player and switches to another song. She begins moving her body to the music. Dancing, singing and playing music has always been her escape ever since she was a little girl. It's how she's coped and still copes with the stress that comes along with life. My breathing quickens as I continue to dance. She'll utilise music in a way that would distract her from whatever is happening. From overdue assignments to desperate loneliness, the one thing that truly comforts her is her music.
"Min-Ji!" someone calls.
She stops moving. Jungkook walks in. "Kookie!" she screams, breathless.
"Yah! I told you not to call me that," he pouts.
"But you're so cute!"
He grumbles before walking over and pulling her into a hug. "I've missed you so much."
"I know, it's been well over a month. But what are you doing here?"
"We have a day off, I decided to come see you." They have a new comeback coming out soon, the boys have been practicing they're little hearts out. He backs away a little but keeps his hands on her waist. She looks down at the ground. She's happy for her boyfriends success, but in her eyes, she sees his accomplishments as a reminder of what she is yet to achieve.
Obviously knowing what she's thinking, he speaks in a cheery voice, "Don't be sad, I'm sure you'll debut soon enough!" He pulls her into his chest and looks at her in earnest. "I love you, never forget that okay?"
She nods. "I love you too Kookie", she says, smiling mischievously at him.
"That's not very nice...I might just have to punish you!"
"P-punish?"
He nods and pulls her harder against him. He brings his face closer to hers. His lips are almost touching her one, but not quite.
She hears Jin cry out, "Yah! Maknae! Let's roll out!"
She trys to pull away from Jungkook but he tightens his grip on her. She searches his eyes. He tilts his head to the side, "I'm coming hyung just give me a minute." Jungkook pushes his lips onto hers and kisses her passionately. She closes her eyes, but can hear footsteps. Jin.
"Maknae what could you possibly- oh...never mind...I'll leave you two alone..."
Jungkook forces his tongue between her teeth and into her mouth.
She places her hands around his neck and pulls him into her. He moves his hands up and down her body before breaking the kiss.
"I have to go. I'll see you soon, I'll miss you." He cups my face in his soft hands.
"I'll miss you too, I love you," she kisses his cheek lightly.
"I love you too," he kisses her lightly on the lips.
"I'll call you okay?"
"Arraso," He kisses her again and pulls away. He walks backwards out of the door way, never breaking eye contact. "He's just too cute!" she giggles. She supposes she should just head back to the dorms. She grabs her bag and makes her way out of the studio and then office. Buildings of all different shapes and colours tower over her as she steps out onto the street. The air smells of smog, a smell that wasn't welcomed by her lungs as she wheezed a little. Little greenery adorned the street, only carboard boxes and empty plant pots spotted the small concrete jungle. Today, on this winter afternoon, few people walk the streets. The remnants of icy snow cling to their sizable fur lined coats and fuzzy beanies. Min-Ji still grasps onto a little warmth from her hours of practice, but none the less, the slow icy wind makes the hairs on her neck stand up. She breaths into her bare hands, rubbing them together to capture whatever warmth she can. The street is laden with etchings of melting ice sheets and speckles of remaining snow, Min-Ji makes sure she plants her feet firmly with every step. She pulls her hair free from elastic and pulls it to rest on her shoulders, hoping it will calm her chilled skin. She walks on, closing her eyes briefly to take in the wind and its delicate touch. The wind picked up slightly as she opens her eyes, and the cause, a young gentleman. Force knocks into her shoulder, sending her spinning. She swings her arms about, trying to regain her balance. Her efforts fail, she feels herself falling towards the icy street. She shuts her eyes, bracing for sudden impact. An arm settles around the back of shoulders and wind whips in the wind in a dance of black fire. She opens her eyes, blinking a few times. Eyes of a deep mocha colour stare back at her. The contours of the mans face remind her of her own, so shockingly similar that a hand of her own shoots out, stopping just before the young man's face. He didn't hide his own shock, either. Pure confusion and terror is written all over his face. The piercing loud scream of a care horn forces the man to jump and let Min-Ji slide from his grip. She falls to the street, living what she had dreaded moment earlier. The air is knocked from her lungs as her back makes contact. The young man yelps, "Oh my gosh I'm so sorry," he reaches his hand out to Min-Ji who huffs and nods, the phrase 'typical male' coming to mind. He pulls her to her feet and escorts her to the other side of the street. He bows deeply, "sorry again." They stare at each other once more, no doubt thinking the same as the other, 'we look identical'. He shakes his head, "My names Hong Jisoo," might I ask your own?" he says, reaching to shake her hand. She grasps it, "Hong Min-Ji". Jisoo mutters in English under his breath, "same last name and everything." Min-Ji sighs, she doesn't blame him for thinking she can't speak the language, but she'll show him. "It's weird isn't it?" she peaks.
He runs his hands through his hair and leans back, obviously shocked. "Sorry, I didn't know you could speak English, any other languages I should know about?" he questions.
She nods, "I can speak eight fluently, including Korean, and enough Italian to get by."
His mouth drops open, "that's insane, how?"
"I just had a lot of time on my hands while growing up."
"So besides English, Korean and Italian, what can you speak?"
"Chinese, Japanese, Thai, French, Spanish and German."
"That's...amazing." Min-Ji nods in response. "I've only lived in Korea for a couple years, you a local?"
"I wouldn't call myself local, but I guess so. I moved here from America five years ago when I was thirteen."
"I was casted in L.A, so here I am!"
"You're a trainee too? From Big Hit?"
"Oh, no, I'm at Pledis Entertainment. I joined a group called Seventeen. We haven't debuted yet."
"I'm at Big Hit, I haven't been assigned a group yet, although I'm hoping to change companies."
"To...?"
"Pledis, Maybe," she purses her lips.
"It'd be great to have you! I have to get going. Could I get your number?" he asks, his cheeks slightly flushed.
"Oh...sure I guess," she reads him her number. Jisoo sends a message to her in confirmation. "I'm in bit of a rush, sorry again!" he shouts before sprinting off into the distance. Min-Ji wonders what was going on in his life to make him run so fast. She shrugs it off and turns back around, continuing her trek back to her dorm.