Idol Life: ON Stage

Ch.2 - Sowon

"Step, step, swing, jump!" The dancer teacher shouted as our group learned the dances. "Excellent job, Sowon!"

"Thank you!" I brushed my hair out of my face as I fell to my knees, trying to catch my breath.

"You're doing well for such a rookie artist, Sowon."

I smiled, "Thank you sunbaenim."

He smiled at me and handed me a water bottle. "I'll get going. Practice well!"

"Thank you!" I caught my breath as I went towards the door and left the practice room.

"Hello, sunbaenim!" A group of trainees bowed as I made my way to the restroom.

"Hello, train well." As a one year debut idol, I felt as if I was still a trainee and felt myself feeling a tug towards the trainee's practice room everyday.

"Thank you!" They chorused and we went separate ways.

Making it to the restroom, I went up to the sink and started applying lip gloss back onto my lips. "He's so good-looking...stop daydreaming, Jang Sowon!"

"Who's so good-looking?"

I turned around in a hurry and saw a senior idol coming out of the stalls. "Oh! Leena sunbaenim! Hello!" I quickly bowed and smiled.

"Who were you talking about?"

"Oh...just Songgyeol sunbaenim."

"Mm...he is pretty decent, isn't he?"

"Yes sunbaenim."

"Are you a trainee?"

I rapidly shook my head no. "No, I'm a member from MUSICNOTE."

Leena nodded as she applied lipstick. "Ah, our label's new girl group?"

"Yes, that's the one, sunbaenim."

"Mm...is Songgyeol your role model?"

I laughed quietly to myself. "Oh no, he was just a senior at my high school, so I just recognize him."

"Oh... Songgyeol is also still in high school, yes? His last year? How old are you?"
"I'm eighteen, I'm graduating this year."

"Songgyeol must be nineteen then."

I shook my head. "He graduated last year, actually."

"Oh, twenty then?"

"I'm not completely sure, but I think that would be most reasonable."

Leena sunbae finished appling makeup and stood up straight. "I'm sorry, I don't think I ever asked for your name."

"Oh! It's Jang Sowon, sunbaenim."

"Jang Sowon." She tested the name on her lips. "Huh. I'll be sure to remember you, then." She patted me on the shoulder before putting on her mask and leaving the restroom.

I turned around and smiled at myself in the mirror. Jang Sowon... don't reveal any details....

___

"She's such a pretty little thing! I don't think she looks like you too much, though!" My mom's friend would laugh. "She's so positive! And she likes everything and doesn't complain too much! Oh Jiae, your so lucky to have a daughter like her."

"Oh, Songgyeol is such a bright little boy too! He's probably the news of every school. You should make him a kpop idol one day! His visuals and his voice, oh my! Where did he get such a beautiful voice!"

"If it's not Dan, I think it might be me!"

"Oh please! Songgyeol is nothing like you!"

"Well maybe we should send Sowon and Songgyeol on a blind date sometime!"

"Maybe we should! They would be perfect for each other."
"She might like him. I don't think she'd complain about going..."

___

I coldly stared at myself in the mirror. "Boo Songgyeol, ugh!" I held my head in my hands. "Just because I'm positive doesn't mean I can put up with everything too..." I frowned but exited the restroom and started to walk down the hallway, head down. "Ugh..."

And then I bumped into something. Or someone.

"Ouch!"

"Ow!"

"Songgyeol, are you okay? Hey! Kid! Watch where you're going!" A staff member yelled. "Songgyeol-ah, are you okay?" He pushed me out of the way as he got towards him.

"I'm fine. Are you alright?" Songgyeol addressed me. He peered at me and then said, "Aren't you the hoobae I was teaching earlier?"

I got up and bowed (for the millionth time of the day), "Yes, I'm so sorry I bumped into you, sunbaenim."

"You should be-"

"Please stop." He spoke to the staff in a cold way. "I'm not the only one who fell. Shouldn't you show some sympathy to our hoobae as well?"

The staff member shut his mouth and nastily glared at me. "Well..."

"I'll take care of this mess." Songgyeol bent down to my level and made eye contact with me. "Jang Sowon, right?"

"Y-yes..."

Songgyeol tilted his head until there was a cracking noise. "You should look up while walking. If I was a much more senior idol such as YWILD sunbaenims, they wouldn't have been much more lenient." He stared at me intensely, "Say, I don't think we have a big age difference. How old are you?"

"I-i'm eighteen, sunbaenim."

"Oh, I'm twenty- one. But my birthday has already passed this year, has yours?"

"N-no."

"That explains a lot." He chuckled. "I think I'm assigned as your vocal mentor for this month, Jang Sowon-ssi. Let's get along well." He gave me a hand up and shook my hand. "Feel free to contact me when you need help. Okay?"

I slightly nodded as I got up and bowed. "Thank you."

"No problem." He flashed a winning smile at me and then walked away.