☆ SPECIAL CHAPTER ☆

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| October 14th, Saturday, 2017 |

  Once again, it was one of those days filled with thrill and anxiety: monthly evaluation day. Except today was a bit more special, it was going to decide who gets to perform on the open trainee showcase and who doesn't.

The types of trainee on days like these were easy to identify: there's the one who keeps fidgeting with their fingers, looking left and right; the one who can't stop talking due to the nervousness; the one who's late because they were practising last minute; and the one who's chilled out because they have been through a lot already.

Annie was a mix of the first and last one. How so? Well, she had been through two of these special evaluations already and got decent results, but for this one, she got scolded on the last practice and was told to "get it together because it's her second year as a trainee".

On the other side of the room, a group of eight boys warmed up. Bangchan, one of Annie's few friends, tried to assure all of them that they'd do well and the most important thing was to enjoy the stage.

"Everyone, please stand close to the wall and keep quiet. Ahn Gunwoo, to the front."

Annie felt her heart beating faster. Following the alphabetic order, she would be next.

She listened carefully to the feedback given to the 14-year-old boy. He was one of the best dancers and, being four years older, the girl couldn't help but to feel nervous. Annie knew she was getting older, therefore her chances to debut were getting harder and harder.

Still, it's not like she'd give up now.

"Ahn Haerim?"

"Yes!"

She jogged to the front, receiving a "fighting" from her friend Katsuno and a smile from Changbin.

"I see you chose one of the songs I recommended. Self choreographed again, I believe?"

One of the women sitting down with papers and pens asked.

"Yes! But Ms. Hyewon helped me a lot."

She glanced at the choreographer, who had a subtle grin on.

"Alright, you may start."

Upon the sign, Annie walked to the corner of the room and pulled a chair to the centre.

"She's using props?"

"Woah, I wouldn't dare to, it's much easier to make a mistake."

"She's been here for two years though, I guess it's time to level up."

A group of friends whispered to themselves as the sound was set up.

The song started and, unlike people who knew Annie were used to, it had a soft and chill vibe to it. Her movements were light and she seemed free while dancing. Her facial expressions were also on point.

The highlight was probably when Annie turned around and, when she looked to the front again, glitter fell from above.

"What's her name again?"

Minho asked Chan, whom he knew was an acquaintance of Annie.

"Ahn Haerim. She's good, right? She sings and raps very well too and I'm helping her with producing."

"I see...so, are you two a thing?"

He carefully asked, paying attention to the elder's reaction.

"Me and Annie? Oh, hell nah! She's like a little sist- hold on, you're–!?"

Bangchan yelled in a whisper.

"What? No! I just wanted to know! But Annie? Is that your nickname for her?"

"No, no, actually..."

As Chan took his time to explain how Annie was a mixed child born in Korea that moved to Canada when she was young, Minho's eyes were once again fixed on her.

It was almost as if she had put a spell on him. Minho was part of a famous dance crew, he went to countless competitions and saw many talented people. What was so special about this girl dancing?

No.

It wasn't her nor her dancing skills. It was the song. That "Batshit" song was really cool and the guy's voice was super deep, that's why his eyes were glued on her.

Nothing else.

"She uses the floor a lot."

Minho mumbled to himself, clueless his friend had heard the sentence.

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| October 16th, Monday, 2017 |

It was 11:57 a.m when Annie looked at her phone before entering the queue to have lunch at JYPE. Currently, there were two people in front of her and it was around 12:15 p.m. She took a look at the side dishes, most of them would probably be gone by her turn and either her or the next in line would have to wait five more minutes to get new ones.

Her vocal lesson was at 1 p.m and trainees are required to get there ten minutes earlier for "manners".

It should be fine, right?

"Huh!? What the hell? Why would they change it now? And 10 minutes earlier? That means I have to give up on lunch!"

Annie unintentionally listened to the guy behind her, who sounded frustrated and upset at the same time.

She took one step to the front and grabbed a tray.

At the same time she did so, he looked back and forth, hesitant.

Argh, whatever.

"Here, you shouldn't skip a meal."

Annie handed the tray to him with a kind grin on her face.

"Oh- really?"

"Hm! You should hurry and get your food."

She awkwardly motioned with her hands.

"Thank you so much! I promise to pay you back later! I'm Lee Minho, by the way."

He slowly grabbed the tray, then put the plate and cutlery on it.

"No need to! And I think I know you...weren't you the one that broke the record for learning the basic dances?"

"Ah...that...yeah..."

Minho scratched the back of his head.

"You're so cool! But go on, I don't want to make you late."

"Ah, right."

He bowed slightly before hurrying to get the food, quickly finding a place to sit down.

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| October 21st, Saturday, 2017 |

"I'm back!! Who wants to hear about my day??"

Jisung yelled through the dormitory while taking off his shoes.

"No one."

Hyunjin, who was in the kitchen, answered before going back to his room with a cup of water.

"Whatever. Channie, Changbinnie! Oh? Lix and Minho are here too."

Jisung jogged to the living room, where four boys were either laid down watching TV or sitting on the sofa playing games (on the TV).

"How was your day, Hannie?"

Chan asked with a fatherly smile on his face, the others still focused on the game.

"Perfect! So, I went out with Rim, right?"

The boy jumped on the sofa, placing a cushion between his body and legs – that were hugged tightly with both arms.

"Right, where did you go?"

"So, me and Rim have a similar taste in movies and shows and anime and– well, anything that's watchable."

"Haerim likes the same stuff as you?"

Chan questioned, he had never heard about it.

"Haerim?"

Minho turned away from the television.

"Oh, you don't know her. We met 2 years ago and we're besties now. She's like, super pre- productive and all."

"He knows her! He asked me who she was at the interim evaluation."

Bangchan explained, surprising his friend.

"You asked about her? Why? Are you interested?"

Jisung asked, not in a teasing way like he usually would, but genuinely curious this time.

"No! Why do you all think I like the girl just because I asked about her once!?"

He raised his voice, making the other two turn their heads.

"No one said you like her...we just asked if you were interested..."

Bangchan spoke quietly, although you could feel the teasing on his tone.

"Well, I'm not interested nor do I like her, happy now?"

"Alright, alright, damn..."

The eldest laughed.

"Anyway, about me and Rim...we went to this place called Petite France, it's inspired by The Little Prince that we both love and it was so cool! They had European food and..."

Jisung went back to happily talking about how he spent the day with his best friend, visiting places that were known as date courses and eating tasty food. According to him, this was the best free day he's had in a few months.

Of course, someone else was still paying attention to the conversation, despite apparently being focused on the game playing on the big screen.

He didn't exactly know why, though. Maybe he was jealous that his best friend had such a great time with his, supposedly, female best friend.

It's not like he was starting to grow feelings for Annie just because she danced in a captivating way...and choreographed really well...and sang nicely...and was always kind to him...and was lowkey pretty...and-

Goddamn, Minho.

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author's note

| Heeyy! We'll get more of simp Minho in the future, so I chose to show a few things that made him fall in love with Annie and how he reacted to it!

| Btw I decided to post this special chapter because today (dec 2nd) is actually my birthday...yay!

| I hope you had fun reading, thank you~