Vocal Coach ~ Baekhyun & Sungchan(NCT)

Chapter 7

Knowing I only have 4 more days in South Korea, Baekhyun wants to make every day count by having a vocal lesson every day I am here. After getting to meet NCT, I always appreciated the vocalists of NCT. They are literally so talented and I strive to be as good of a vocalist as them some day. Today, though, Baekhyun has a special guest with him, an employee of SM Entertainment known to scout some of the most talented idols at this company. I don't know what this means for me. If they want to sign me after watching over my vocal lesson with Baekhyun, or why the scout is here, but it makes me more nervous.

I try not to focus on the fact that a scout is in the recording studio today. I just try to focus on Baekhyun and what advice he has for me today. We decided to learn a new song today. It's a vocal heavy song, From Home by NCT U. This is one of my favorite songs off the NCT 2020 album. It has so much emotion, and is so good. Baekhyun told me we'll be working with the Korean version so I don't have to worry about learning and singing in Chinese or Japanese. That is a bit of a relief for me. We begin going through the lyrics, and learning Korean, I am starting to understand these lyrics a bit better now.

About halfway though the vocal lesson with Baekhyun, the scout stops us for a moment.
"I would like to offer you an exclusive trainee contract at our American branch, SM Square." He said.
"Wait, really?" I asked.
"Yes, I believe you are a talented vocalist. We thought that giving you a contract on your home soil would make you feel more comfortable." He said.
"I- uh, I don't know what to say, sir. I never really wanted to become an idol in the first place. All I wanted was to become a better singer." I said.
"Well, it's your loss. If you change your mind, here is my business card." He said, then left the room.
The business card reads:
Moon Jung-Hwa
Occupation: Idol Scout
Contact: moon_junghwa_sm@gmail.com
+82 (2xx)-xxx-xxxx
I couldn't believe the business card I was staring at. That man, Mr. Moon, just handed me his business card, trying to offer me a trainee contract in America. If I know anything about trainee contracts, it's that I for sure don't want to do it. I would rather become an independent artist and learn how to dance from taking classes elsewhere, instead of becoming a trainee.

I explained this to Baekhyun and why I had denied the offer. I just wouldn't want to be a trainee. I really want to finish high school and college before taking up a risky job offer like that. I know it's hard being an independent artist, but I believe if I build my team up large enough, it won't be as hard. It will be a long time before I get to that point, though. Baekhyun understands if I don't want to be a trainee and knows all too well how much some foreigners struggle in being trainees here. He witnessed it himself while he was a trainee. It was sad, and so he doesn't want the same thing to happen to me. He just wants to be my mentor and help me through. To getting to that ultimate vocal goal.

Later that day, I had found a place to stay so now I don't have to stay at Shotaro and Sungchan's dorm. It is better for me that I be in my own space rather than invade their space. I feel like it's respectful of me to let them have their dorm to themselves. I have just rented a hotel for the rest of the week, which is a bit expensive, but I think it's fine for now. I wasn't the one who flew me out here. It was Baekhyun, so if anything, he should pay off my stay at this hotel, but I won't make him. That would just be a bit demanding and rude, so I'll pay it myself. I'm glad I figured out how to use the ATMs here or I wouldn't be able to withdraw money and turn it into Korean Won. It took me a second to figure it out, but with the help of a few locals passing by, they were able to help me take money out and all that stuff. They also told me I could have done the same thing at the airport, but this is fine. I have enough to pay for my stay at the hotel and have 3 meals a day. I'll be able to survive the rest of my time in Seoul.

I go to my room and settle down. I haven't really gotten the chance to really calm down from meeting NCT and EXO. It's been a crazy three days already.  I'm here for four more days, and I don't think I'll be able to handle it. I already met two of my ultimate groups of K-pop. I'm just waiting for the moment when I meet Stray Kids or BTS. My luck has probably already run out, and now I'm just the best of friends with NCT and Baekhyun. I love it here. I've made friends with people whom, without Baekhyun, I would never be able to befriend. Now, I'm still trying to process the fact that Shotaro and Sungchan like me. If I really must choose, I would honestly choose Sungchan. I don't usually like rappers, but there's something about NCT rappers. They're bred differently. I don't know. If worse comes to worst, then I can just be friends with them, and they can forget about their crush on me. We are honestly better off as friends. Dating in the SM Entertainment circle is a bit messy, so I wouldn't like to be a part of the long list of dating scandals. Unless. . . Someone changes my mind.