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...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The next day, after breakfast, Ryujin and Yeji walked around Seoul. They had the day off from school and practice. It was a warm summer weekday and the city was bustling.
Sometimes it seemed like they lived in an alternate universe. People were rushing to work, delivery trucks roared by, and cyclists were everywhere. Meanwhile, the two of them were training for the strange life of an idol - assuming they made it. If they did, and were successful, walking down the street so casually might become impossible as they became more famous. It was exciting, scary, and surreal, all at the same time. They would essentially skip the life normal adults lived.
Each of the girls had said, at one time or another, that they were actually terrified of succeeding, and that they didn't think they were good enough to be idols. This is where Ryujin shone. Even though she sometimes felt the same, she felt fiercely protective of all of them. Once she had found Yuna crying in the stairwell, and she leapt into action.
She sat down next to her and pinched her cheek. "Yuna, what are you so upset about?"
"Oh, unnie, I'm so awful at this. I'll never make it. I'll work so hard and they'll just hand me my stuff and tell me to get lost!"
"That is never going to happen, Yuna. I won't let it. You are so talented, and your height gives you such a great visual. On my best day I could never dance or sing as well as you. And I'll tell you a secret: you're the one in practice that the rest of us try to imitate. If I can be half the singer you are, I'll know I've accomplished something."
Yuna leaned against her and Ryujin put her arm around the younger girl's shoulders.
"Do you really mean it?"
"You know I'm a terrible liar, right?"
. . . . .
"Do you want ice cream?" Ryujin asked.
Yeji smiled. "Sure! Vanilla crunch, please."
"How about I pay for it, but you go get it? I'm still sore from practice and I need to sit down."
"Ok, gimme some money, rich lady," Yeji grinned. Ryujin reached into her pocket and withdrew a handful of crumpled bills.
"Hold out your hands," Ryujin ordered. Yeji cupped her hands. Ryujin dumped the whole bundle of squashed bills and grimy coins into her hand.
Yeji smelled the money. "Good god!" she exclaimed. "This money is disgusting! It smells like... it smells like mustard and soy sauce. Maybe a hint of applesauce...? Did you keep this in your shoe while we practiced?"
Ryujin laughed. "Hey princess, be nice. I'm just a poor trainee. Do you want ice cream? Beggars can't be choosers!"
Yeji smiled and skipped off toward the ice cream truck, singing to herself, her long ponytail swinging from side to side. "Yep, she's actually skipping," Ryujin smiled.
