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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The girls had started noticing that there were people coming to practice to watch them. They wore sharp business clothes, whispered back and forth with each other, and one was always taking notes or filming them with their phone. They had no idea who they were, or why they wanted to see them, but eventually, after years as trainees, they had learned to always assume the worst. When things deviated from normal, it usually meant more work and less sleep.
One day they were helping each other clean their dorm rooms.
"What is wrong with us?" Lia asked. "I mean, this is seriously nasty, like dirty dirty. Yeji, there is so much candy behind your desk that it is, well, nasty. A biological hazard. When you eat, how much of the food actually makes it into your mouth, and how much lands on the floor?"
Yeji let out a big laugh. "Be more supportive. It used to be 20/80, and I've got it down to 50/50, thanks to my roommate, the amazing Ms Lee."
"I wish I had a roommate," Yuna mused.
"I wish I had a neat roommate," Chae mumbled.
Yeji smiled. "Yuna, have two roommates! You practically live in me and Chae's room! Have you ever even been in your room?"
"No, but the girl across the hall really liked it, so I gave it to her," Yuna said.
Yeji sighed. "I'm going to need a long, long shower after this. I have so much lint and so many dust bunnies all over that I feel like the filter on a dryer."
There was silence.
"LAUGH, PEOPLE!" Yeji shouted. "I am so funny, and none of you ever laugh at my jokes!"
The other four girls looked at each other with scared faces. Then they burst out fake-laughing. "Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha."
Yeji smirked. "When unnie tells a joke, the children have to laugh!"
There was a knock on the door. Lia opened it and a tall man in an expensive suit was standing there.
"Girls, you need to come with me. There's a meeting you need to attend."
"Can we clean up first?" Chae asked.
"Sure, if you want to keep the most important people you'll ever meet waiting."
The girls arranged each other's hair and brushed off as much dirt as they could. They followed the man up to the 23rd floor. He led them through a maze of offices until they reached a large glass conference room.
"Take a seat, ladies," the man said.
At the head of the table sat a man with graying hair. He looked at them with a warm smile.
"Ryujin, Yeji, Lia, Yuna, and Chaeryeong, welcome. My name is Mr Cho. I'm vice president of talent development here at JYP. I think I have some news for you that I know you've been waiting to hear."
