YA'LL I MADE IT TO THE TOP!! HECK, I'M ON THE HONOR ROLL IM FREAKING CRYING!!! I LOVE YOU EXO & NCT!!! THIS IS FOR YOUUUU

03

"Wait, so... Haejin-unnie got rejected three times before joining the company?" Minji asked.

I nodded.

She was surprised, "Eh?! Unnie had to go through rejections several times?! But why?! Haejin-unnie is perfect! Sje can do everything!" She said continuously. "I don't understand, appa..." She scratched her head.

I laughed and poked her nose, "You know, things can't just be finished in one go. If it's for you, then it is. You just have to wait for the right time."

"Appa, you even made me more confused!" She stomped her foot.

***

I entered the room and I feel like something's wrong. They were all silent, as if they were expecting something from me.

I looked at them weirdly, "Yah, cut it out. You're all starting to creep me out." I joked. Well, it's true. Imagine 12 guys looking at you, as if you just murdered a cat or something.

They got their senses back and sighed.

"Are we still waiting for someone?" I asked.

Jaehyun-hyung nodded, "Taeil-hyung and Hansol-hyung."

"As always." Jisung snickered.

The moment the two eldest hyungs entered the room, we went to our respective places and danced to the beat of the song.

I must admit, it feels great to be a trainee, it's tiring though, but it's a part of the training. We're here to learn and endure, not to relax and complain.

***

It was lunch time when I decided to drop by Sohyun's practice room.

I knocked once and it was Eunji who opened the door, which I find really odd since it's usually Sohyun who opens the door.

"Oh, annyeonghaseyo Mark-oppa." She greeted.

I greeted back, "Hello, can I talk to Sohyun for a while?"

I noticed that her group members were already behind her.

"Eh? Sohyun-unnie is not here." Junghee said.

I raised a brow, "Is she not with you? What happened?" I asked.

They all looked at each other, "Sohyun is not here with us.." Eunji nodded.

I have a lot of questions to ask, bit I decided to just let it slip. I just smiled at them and bid goodbye.

It's odd. She doesn't usually ditch practice. She's not the type of person who ditches practices.

I decided to all her, but her phone was out of reach.

What the heck is happening?

I went back to our practice room and I saw that Jeno, Jaemin, Jisung and Donghyuck were already practicing Growl.

I placed my phone on the table, hoping that she would call me back as I rushed towards my place even if the song has already started.

***

"Mark-hyung!" Donghyuck whined when I got wrong on the choreography again.

Taeyong-hyung shook his head, "Mark, it's not working. What's happening? Sit down for a while." He said, dragging me towards the couch.

"Is something wrong? You don't look too good." He said, facing the young ones again. "You guys keep practicing. I'll just talk to your 'leader' here." Taeyong-hyung said.

He patted my back, "Yah, is everything alright? You seem tensed."

I sighed, "I'm starting to be worried." I started, then I continued, "She's not picking up any of my calls nor answering my texts. I'm going crazy, hyung. I might die from this."

Hyung hit my back with his hand, strong enough to make me wince in pain. "Yah, what in the world are you saying?! Just because she isn't answering means you'll do such things to yourself!" He lectured, and I swear I think I just heard my mom.

"Maybe her phone's turned off." He said. "Or maybe she's doing something. Did you two fought?"

I shook my head, "No, hyung. O swear to God, we didn't."

"What was the last thing she told you yesterday?" He asked.

"Good night?" I said, kind of a question.

Hyung just shook his head, "Just wait for her reply, if she will, okay?" He said. "Just work first."

I nodded.

***

It's been 10 hours already and I swear, I'm starting to be worried. She doesn't usually leave without telling me.

"Mark-hyung, are you okay?" I turned towards that person and it was Jaemin.

"Oh it's you.." I said. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Are you okay, hyung? Is this about Haejin again?" He asked.

And I swear one more time he asks about my sister, I would conclude that he likes her too.

I shook my head, "Ani... just don't mind me... I'm fine, I swear..." I smiled weakly.

***

"Eomma left to somewhere without telling you? Why would she do that?" Minji asked.

I chuckled, "We'll get to that part later." I ruffled her hair, "You seem to be listening intently." I remarked.

"Of course, appa! It's like I'm listening to a novel. Yes, listening because you're telling me the story!" She said excitedly.

I laughed, "You're just like my sister..."

"Haejin-unnie? Does that mean I'm good at performing too?" She laughed. "Just kidding appa!" She joked.

I laughed, "You will be..."

***

Two days feel odd.

It's been two days since I last saw her, and I don't have any idea what in the world happened to her.

I entered the dorm lazily, and it looked like I just interrupted their conversation.

I just went inside not minding what it was.

I sat on the couch and covered my eyed using my arm, "If you guys are talking about me and Sohyun, then do it. It's not like you have to talk about it behind me."

I heard someone sigh, "Mark, it's not about you two. It's just about you." Taeyong-hyung said.

"For the past two days, you look... gloomy." Doyoung-hyung remarked.

I sighed, "I don't know.."

I grabbed the remote control that was lying on the table. I turned the television on and scanned for shows that I want to watch.

"Hold up... hold up... is that... what?" I asked, not believing what I saw.

I clicked that previous button to go back to the previous channel.

I blinked.

Again.

And again.

And I wasn't dreaming.

What I saw was right.

It was her...

On idol school....

My eyes travelled towards her name tag.

정소현

Jung Sohyun.