still Ken's pov
I've been staying on the exact same spot for almost five hours which is sitting cross-legged on the bed and staring at my laptop screen.
I'm pretty sure I've reviewed a majority of all the submissions but I still couldn't find the right person. All the ones I have watched were all different but I don't think I'll work well with any of them.
Some of the people in the video submissions looked over-excited, some looked like they were trying too hard with all the makeup they've put on their faces with their clothes that looked more like bikinis and some even looked scared and too shy with the amount of stuttering they had while they were talking in the video.
"Argghh!!" I let out a frustrated sigh that sounded more like a grunt after receiving a text message from our manager saying that he would come in a few hours to know the partners we've all picked. I squished my cheeks together and rubbed my forehead feeling more tensed up than before.
Later then, Hyuk came into the room to tell me that dinner was ready. I lied him to him saying I wasn't hungry at all and that I had something personal to be emailed to manager-nim when in fact, I was extremely hungry from all the stuff I've been doing for the past few hours.
Hyuk didn't suspect anything more and went ahead to eat dinner that Leo had prepared with the rest of the members. Right then, I was alone again in the room and got back to watch the videos. If it was really up to me, I would've given up long ago. But then, when I thought about the Starlights, I didn't want to let them down and make them sad. And so, here I am, still on the bed with my eyes completely glued to the laptop screen, hopelessly watching the videos.
After watching a few more, I came across one that really caught me. It was a teenage girl who's currently living somewhere in Busan. I relaxed my back against the headboard and watched the rest of the video's contents. This one got my attention so much because she looks awfully familiar, REALLY familiar.
"Annyeonghaseyo, my name is Bae Soo Hee. I am 15 years old and I live in Busan. The reason why I think I should be picked for this contest is because I just want to see a different part of myself, the one that is still hidden in its shell. It is also to see how I would feel when I am out of my comfort zone"
She then said something else to close up her talking and shortly after, the video ended. I thought about this Bae Soo Hee girl again. Hmm weird, even her name sounds too familiar. Feels like somehow, I've seen this girl from somewhere before but I don't exactly remember when or where.
Even just looking at her from the way she talks, reminds me of someone that I couldn't really picture from inside of my head.I shook my head to let the thoughts fade away. Aigoo, what am I thinking, she's only a fan. Maybe I had seen her from one of our concerts or something.
I chuckled at my own weird thoughts and thought back about the video. Judging with everything in the video, it was pretty good. The girl didn't look like she was putting up a fake annoying act or anything like that. They way she dresses looked normal and it didn't looked irritating nor too showy.
Her face looked perfectly fine and not caked up with tons of makeup. The way she presented herself in the video also didn't look like an over-excited person but she made herself looked more presentable and nicer by smiling whole-heartedly throghout the video.
I snapped out of my thoughts after my phoned dinged. It was sent in by our manager, again, saying he'll be here in fifteen minutes. I looked back at the laptop screen. I let out a sigh, wondering if I'll be able to work well with her later or either I have to watch some other videos and pick someone else.
I thought about it for a while and finally decided to just pick this girl since I have no more time to watch more videos and she looks just fine with me to work with.
Minutes after, our manager came to our dorm to know who the members and I have picked for the contest so that he can notify the people we've picked and it'll be easy for the mangement to inform the other fans about it through FaceBook, Twitter and also other social networks.
After each of us told the manager the people we've picked and showed him the videos of them for him to know them more, he thanked us for our cooperation and left to continue his work.
The other members then sighed in relief after manager-nim left and threw themself on the couches in the lounge, except for Leo who had quietly made his way to the kitchen to make a drink for the members. I furrowed my eyebrow in confusion upon seeing their action.
"I'm glad that was over. I had a really hard time choosing my partner" mumbled Hyuk, still loud enough for the members to hear him.
I chuckled. "I didn't know it was all the same for the other members. All this time, I thought wrong" my thoughts spoke up in my mind.
"Yeah, me too. I didn't think just choosing someone to be our partner would be this hard" said Ravi agreeing with Hyuk's statement. "I know it was hard for all of you guys because it was the exact same for me too. But after this, I'm sure everything will be more fun" exclaimed N-hyung and clapping his hands trying his hardest to lift up the members' spirit.
Hongbin smiled widely in agreement and nodded. "N-hyung's right and I mean, what's next that could go wrong?" he added. The members only kept quiet and yawned, getting sleepy by the minute. Leo-hyung came and brought in a tray of warm chocolate milk that he used to say that would make us sleep easier at night.
As usual, we'd all thank him for the drink and start drinking the milk he prepared. In seconds, the glasses that were full of milk became empty. By that time, almost everyone was half asleep that it got up to where their eyes could not be opened anymore.
As a caring leader, N-hyung patted everyone on their back and told them they did a good job today. He also noticed the extreme sleepiness state the members were in and told them to go to bed.
The members just listened and started to slowly drag themselves to their respective bedrooms. As for Leo, even though he was tired, he collected the used glasses and carefully brought them back to the kitchen for them to be washed.
As he was about to wash them, I stopped him and insisted that I'd be the one to wash the glasses and that he should go to bed even though he clearly said that it was fine. Leo finally gave in and said goodnight to me. In a blink of an eye, he had already disappeared into his room.
I, too, did the same right after washing up the dishes. I walked into my bedroom and instantly saw Hongbin who had changed into his pajamas was already sprawled on the bed with his legs wide apart and already travelling to dreamland.
I tried to supress a grin not wanting to wake him up and went towards the bed. I softly pushed him to the side a little as his body was right in the middle of the queen-sized bed and laid beside him. I turned my body around so that my face was facing Hongbin. I lightly pinched his nose and giggled.
Until I was up to counting 17 sheeps in my head, I slowly drifted off to sleep and finally joined Hongbin on his adventure to dreamland.
*end of chapter
