My Greatest Award (나의 제일 좋은 상)

First-name Basis

The next morning, Daeyong brings my roommates and I to Hwang's office as soon as we get to the YG building. As usual, Daeyong doesn't tell us what it's for, but Haejoon guesses that it's for our evaluation results; Hwang did say that our results would be out today.

"Ooh, maybe we're gonna collab with an idol," Daniel says in the most excited mood I've ever seen him in since meeting him a few weeks ago, walking next to me as we make our way through the corridor leading up to Hwang's office. "Maybe Taeyang. Maybe Somi. Ooh, maybe Jennie-sunbaenim." I jokingly roll my eyes, smirking.

"In your dreams, Daniel."

Daeyong ushers the four of us into the cold atmosphere of the office. My nerves tense up as we enter the almost menacing air of the room. We stand in a row to face the stern neatly-dressed CEO in front of us behind her desk. On her desk sits a small stack of papers. Hwang takes in a breath before addressing the four of us.

"I'm sure you all know why you are here, so I'll just get straight to the point," Hwang says bluntly. "Here are your results for your first monthly evaluations yesterday." She picks up the stack of papers and places it in front of us.

I want to flip through the stack to look for my results, but before I can react, Haejoon nearly dashes towards the papers and spreads them out, revealing four pieces of paper. I manage to catch a glimpse of each of our results.

Daniel has all As except for a B for Stage Presence. Haejoon has all As except a B for dance. Taylor, surprisingly, has an A for Stage Presence, but Bs for everything else. Huh, from what Rosie mentioned I would've expected him to get more As. As my eyes move to the right to scan the final piece of paper, my jaw drops. No way.

I'd somehow managed to get all As.

I look up at the others, my eyes still widened in shock. Daniel looks up from my paper at the same time. His eyes become as wide as mine and he looks as if he's about to celebrate, but Hwang's dry voice breaks up our moment abruptly.

"You may review them and celebrate outside," she says sternly. "Though I don't see a reason to celebrate anyway. You all are still nowhere close to your seniors. Not Treasure, not Winner, not iKON, not Bigbang."

She turns her gaze to stare me down menacingly, causing me to gulp. "And if it were entirely up to me, no one would ever get straight As. I don't believe any trainees to be fit for that honour, especially not you."

It takes me quite a lot of effort not to react to her blatant attack. Just as we inch closer to the desk to pick up our respective papers, Hwang places envelopes on each of the papers.

"That's your allowance for this week. Use it well, because you won't get more even if you beg for it."

As I pick up the paper and the envelope, Taylor speaks up. "Sajangnim, I think there's something wrong with my results."

"And what would that be, Taylor?" Hwang cocks an eyebrow.

"Well, it says here that I've gotten Bs for almost everything, but that's just impossible. I know I des-"

"Do you want to question our evaluators?" Hwang raises her voice menacingly, causing Taylor to gulp audibly.

"N-no, sajangnim," he bows his head ever so slightly. A pretty comical sight to see - someone putting him in his place.

"Would you rather I fail you right here and now?" Hwang continues.

"No, sajangnim."

"Then shut your mouth, get out of my face and work harder for next month," Hwang says coldly. "That goes for all of you."