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열 일곱

Taemin sits behind the wheel of his car, his hands still shaking so much that he is not ready to drive just yet. Yeona sits next to him in the passenger's seat, just as overwhelmed, as it begins to set in for her that the two of them are about to embark on the hardest years of their lives.

In Yeona's lap are two stacks of paper, their traineeship contracts, but neither her nor Taemin are ready to look at them. Yeona's mind races as she realises she will need to speak to Jonghyun, that she will need to tell him what happened today, and she is almost as terrified as she was for her audition itself.

"We should get going." Taemin says, convincing himself more than anything

"Are you right to drive?" Yeona asks

"I'll be fine, I just want to get back to school." Taemin says

"What the fuck are we going to do about school?" Yeona asks

"We'll read the contracts first, and we'll work it out." Taemin says

Yeona feels comforted, she is terrified, but knowing that she will be a trainee with her best friend helps her so much. She stares out ahead of her as Taemin drives them back to their school.

"Are you gonna tell Jonghyun now?" Taemin asks

"I'm gonna have to, aren't I?" Yeona asks

"You're not going to be able to hide it for long." Taemin says

"I know. I'll think of a way to tell him." Yeona says

As Taemin parks his car, Yeona puts her contract into her bag, and hands Taemin's for him to take. They walk together towards the dorms, stopping at the end of the corridor where their paths need to split.

"Thank you, for being by my side through all of this. There's nobody else I would rather do this with." Taemin says

"Thank you, too. I feel the same." Yeona replies

They hold each other tight, both endlessly grateful for each other, before they step apart again to leave.

"I'm gonna read my contract. Text me?" Taemin asks

"I'll do the same, and yes I will." Yeona says

"I will tell Kibum not to tell Jonghyun too, he knows that we auditioned together, I've already explained it all, but I'll reiterate that it's a secret." Taemin says

"I really appreciate that, Minnie. I'll tell him, I just need to work out how." Yeona replies

They wave each other goodbye, before turning to go to their respective dorms. Giddy, nervous, excited, the pair are unable to process much right now at all.

———

Yeona sits on her bed, resting her back against the wall as she reads the contract, over and over. She tries to get her head around the rules, the requirements, and the expectations, all while texting Taemin to see whether his contract is the same as hers.

Taemin
I think my brain is going to implode if I have to read this again.

Yeona
Me too, and Jonghyun will be back from class soon.

Taemin
Are you going to tell him?

Yeona
I'm too scared, not yet.

Taemin
You need to, soon.

Taemin
Anyway, did you want to go out tonight? I feel like dancing.

Yeona
Taemin, do you ever not feel like dancing?

Taemin
Not really, but I want to celebrate.