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***

" Are you ready?"

" I don't know."

" Do I say my full name or..?"

" Yes."

The camera finally focused on the young woman who was about to get interviewed. " Okay. Hello, I am Cody Aniyah Nana Elumbu. I'm 20, Born on March 13 2001 and I'm a trainee at HYBE. " She smiled at the camera before looking behind it. " Was that good? "

" Yes! Now, tell us about you."

" I'm African-American, Congolese, Togolese, Korean and Chinese. I was born in France, lived in Belgium for a few years then moved to Canada and now I'm here. In South-Korea."

***

" What do you do? What are your talents?"

" I sing, rap, dance, produce and write."

" As I said, I compose, produce write, however I'm not very confident in my music. Oh! Something happened that kind changed my view on it. I don't even know if I can talk about this. I like listening to my music out loud so I can point out things I don't like about it. One day, my door was slightly open, and the music was probably a bit too loud. I heard my door move and I saw SEVENTEEN' Mingyu Sunbaenim, DK Sunbaenim, The8 Sunbaenim and BTS' Jungkook Sunbaenim. I was shocked and fangirling. I apologized thinking I was disturbing them, but they told me that they were actually listening to the music. To my music. I was shaking. They then asked where they could find the song and I was like nowhere as it isn't out yet. I told them it was my music, and they tell they really liked it. I was freaking out. They even got Woozi Sunbaenim and RM Sunbaenim to listen to it. It was a dream come true, but it put a lot of stress on me." She laughed a bit. " It's like, they liked those songs, will my next song be at the same level? I need to make it better."

***

" I'm scared. " Cody chuckled with a horrified look on their face. " I'm scared of how people will treat me when I debut because, as you can see, I'm black. The micro aggressions, the stereotypes, the ignorance and the blatant racism. I've been through it all but now it won't just be a few people, it'll be world. That terrifies me. I know it's going to bring a lot of attention on me as I'll be different. I just wish and hope that people will see my talent and not only my skin color. I'm way more than that."

***

" I have no idea why I'm filming an interview. I was just called, and we started filming. I wish I was joking. " Laughs erupted from behind the cameras. " See how it's funny to them. Says a lot."

***

" I'm the oldest female trainee in my section. Being the oldest, I feel like I'm expected to take care of the younger ones and I do. I care for them deeply. I have always been the oldest,(in her family) so it is nothing new. I am the only one considered as an Adult, so I try my best really take care of them. They are kids who miss their family and friends, so I took on the role that fills in that hole in their hearts. As maybe a parent or an older sibling. That's why I work 3 times as hard as them to secure my place as a trainee for both them and my dreams. "

***

Days later btw

"You were seen closing your eyes. Were you imagining something?"

" I miss my mom. I was imagining myself hugging her. It's been 3 years since I've seen and hugged her. We had our differences, but we still loved each other very much. I miss her so much. " Cody looked down wiping away a stray tear.

***

September 24th, 2021 (3 days after Chuseok*)

Cody was in the trainee studio working on a few beats when someone knocked on the door. Pausing she got up and opened the door. On the other side, a friend and staff member stood. The woman smiled at Cody.

" Cody-ah, " She cleared her throat making herself sound more professional. " Your presence has been requested in the meeting room. The chairman will be present."

They frowned at the news. " Why? Is there something wrong?"

" Go found out. "

As she went to the meeting room, she 'bumped' into BTS' V with whom she'd made friends on chuseok. They bonded due to their shared love of the Rap line.

" Hey, Nana!" He waved at them. They waved back with less enthusiasm. " Are you alright?"

" I don't know. I have an impromptu meeting with the chairman." Her voice was laced with anxiety. She tried to calm herself, but her mind wouldn't let her.

V put his hand on her arm trying to stop her shaking. " Hey, I'm sure everything is okay. C'mon let's go."

Cody looked at him confused. " Where?"

" To the meeting of course."

There she stood in front of the room. Her heart was beating out of her chest, her hands shook out of anxiety, but V was there to calm her.

" Knock." He whispered to her, so she did.

" Come in." A voice said from behind the door. Cody almost ran away.

" Go on. I'll wait for you here."

" Okay..." She let out a shaky breath as she pulled the knob, opening the door.

The sight in front did not calm her, at all. The chairman, producers, managers, directors, you name it. They were all there, looking at her. The look on her face showed everything that was happening inside her.

The chairman, Bang Si hyuk or as many knew to call him, Bang Pd motioned for her to come in, and she did. She sat down on the empty seat. The table shook as her legs kept bouncing.

" Nervous?" She nodded. " Don't be."

She just nodded again trying to stop.

" I swear, I was about to poop my pants. " A shot of Cody during the interview was shown.

" Cody Aniyah Nana Elumbu, Choi Soo Hyo, correct?" A woman that Cody recognized as she had assisted at their audition.

" Yes, ma'am."

" You've been a trainee for 3 years, right?"

" Yes, ma'am."

The woman smiled at her. " I remember your audition. You stood out."

" I had to bite back a, is it because I'm black?" She smiled at the camera.

" You were great. I agree with your decision, Mr.Bang."

Cody looked around the room as they have eachother looks and nods.

" I remember thinking, what the heck is going on?"

A man who was also there at the audition, chuckled at the look of confusion on her face.

" I'm sure you're confused."

" C-confused is an understatement, sir." Many laughed at the comment which made some of the nerves she had dissapear.

" We'll get straight to the point then." The man smiled at her. " Mr.Bang?"

" Yes." He nodded before looking at Cody. " You've been a trainee for a long time, and you were one of our most successful trainees. Topping every monthly test. You always raised the bar a bit higher for yourself and made our expectations grow but you always outdid what you'd done the previous time. Being hardworking, determined, and talented are things we search in trainees. In idols. " Her eyes widened at the praise, catching the last part. "After watching you closely and a lot of thinking, we've decided to debut you, Ms.Choi. "

Her jaw dropped at the reveal.

" Now, it won't be easy. If you thought being a trainee was hard, being an idol is five times harder. Netizens are judging and ruthless to Idols. Anyone that hits the stage is attacked with criticism. Even Korean Idols. I have to ask, Are you ready to debut as a foreigner? Are you ready to take on the world and its criticism?"

Cody let out a shaky breath. " Uh, I've thought about it many times. I know I'm different. I know not everyone is gonna like the fact that I am different but it's always been like that. I've been through everything, the racism, the micro-agressions, all that. It won't be anything new but I know it'll be harsher. I've grown to accept that and I won't back away from completing my dreams just because of it. " She looked up determined and confident. " So, yes. I'm ready. "

Everyone in the room smiled at her, proud of her.

" So, it's set. Cody Aniyah Nana Elumbu, Choi Soo Hyo, will debut as a soloist under Big Hit entertainment / Hybe Corp. " As he finished his sentence, they all clapped.

She got up ans bowed at them, tears running down her face. " Thank you so much. You won't regret it. "

" I know we won't. We'll have another meeting to discuss about your debut. You can go."

" Thank you." She bowed one last time before leaving.

She found V standing where she'd left him.

" Judging from the smile on your face, it didn't go bad." He smirked a bit. " Tho, it's a bit hard to know with the tears."

" Not at all. I'm debuting!" She exclaimed grinning.

" Congratulations!!" He brought her into a hug as they jumped around.

The door opened as directors, producers, managers and the chairman came out. They looked at the hugging duo with amused looks and raised eyebrows.

They let go of eachother and bowed at them. " Hello." " Goodbye."

As soon as they were out of view, they went back to their fangirling.

" Holy-, I was hugging one of my many idols and fangirling with him. I won in life." She leaned back with smirk. The laughs of staffs filled the audio as she joined them.

" I'm ready."

Coming soon

XODY

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