This is the story of Ryujin & Yeji from childhood, through Itzy, and into retirement. During that time, an intense and sometimes painful love blossoms, made difficult by the demands of fame and the search for meaning and purpose during Itzy and afte...
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Move-in day was exciting and a little scary. Ryujin had to grow up. She was now solely responsible for what she did, and she had to meet the expectations of her teachers and instructors to survive. And if she had a tough time - which was guaranteed - she couldn't call her parents every time and ask them to save her.
She would also have to keep her secret. She had gotten used to hiding the fact that she was gay, but now she'd be living with a roommate and in close contact with the other students. Would they accept her? Or would the girls fall into that old stereotype that Ryujin would be ogling them all the time?
Better to wait and find out. Korea had made a little progress on these issues, and Seoul more so, but that didn't guarantee anything, particularly in the world of kpop. There were no out-of-the-closet idols, and in any event, women were expected to be both sexy and wholesome at the same time.
Ryujin's father set the last box on the curb and slammed the trunk shut. He already had tears in his eyes.
"We'll see you in a couple of months, sweetie," he said. Suddenly the tears began. He wrapped his arms around Ryujin. "But a couple of month will be a lifetime for me! What will we do without you?"
Ryujin's mother spoke up. "Remember that the most important thing is to be happy, more than being rich and famous. You'll achieve what you want if you work hard, harder than anyone. But if you're not happy, don't feel like this is the only path for you. You're capable of anything."
Her parents began picking up the boxes and luggage she had brought with her. Ryujin put her hands on their shoulders.
"Mom, dad, I think it's best - I think I need - to bring this stuff in by myself. It's just that I have to start standing on my own two feet." She leaned her head on her dad's shoulder. "It's nothing to do with you guys, it's just my feelings. I need to learn to stand on my own feet."
"We understand completely, honey," her mom said. "Give us a last hug and we'll see you soon." They all hugged and her parents got in the car and left.
Ryujin looked around. City traffic was speeding by, and pedestrians were going to and fro with their own business. She looked at her boxes and luggage and felt a chill. It's begun, she thought.
Then she felt electricity in her veins: she was now a kpop trainee. Some of the people walking by looked at her curiously. She was a trainee at JYP! She might be famous in a few years. She picked up her first box of clothes and took a deep breath.
