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Lesson 2: Honorifics

2 months later

I've been training 6 days a week, every week, ever since I got in Korea. It's tiring but the people I'm with are so kind and fun to be with, it rarely feels like we're working. I've made a couple of friends who are co-trainees, most of them from overseas, the ones who speak English. Training 6 days a week is not a big deal to me as of now, but studying Korean, really, is taking all my energy. I've been having a hard time communicating with the Koreans and just really expressing myself. I'm lucky they understand me and my situation but I know I have to work and study harder so I can fully adapt.

I finally finished packing. Today, I'm moving in with a bunch of strangers for a variety show called Roommate. Two months ago my management asked me and other trainees to audition for it. They said it would help us get noticed before we debut but I was the only one who got accepted. At first I was hesitant because I barely even speak Korean and most of the roommates are already well known idols and celebrities. But the truth was, I didn't really have a choice. What the management says, I have to follow. My manager gave me a few words which helped me see light in the situation though. He said it would be good for me to take a challenge. I'd get to practice my Korean while in the house and learn about the industry and the country from other roommates as well. He also said I shouldn't worry too much about the language barrier cause there are some roommates who speak English. I watched the past seasons to see who was in it and how the show works. Jackson, the GOT7 member who I met on ASC, was there. He was the only one I was familiar of. They were so funny in all of the episodes, it made me excited to meet them.

"Oppa, I'm so nervous." I told my manager, who was driving me to the Roommate house.

"Aishh. Stop worrying. You're gonna do just fine. Besides, it's not like you have to be there the whole day. You'll still have to train and stuff." He replied.

"Fine. Watch out for me, okay? Watch every episode! And you know, I found out we can invite people over once in a while. I'll invite you and Soo Hyun unnie." He looked at me through the rearview mirror, and just laughed.

"Oppa, I'm not kidding. You guys have to come, okay?" I whined.

"Ofcourse, we'll come whenever you want. Here we are!" He said, unlocking the car doors. He helped me unload my luggage and pressed on the doorbell for me. "Okay, I have to go now. They said I can't come inside."

"What?" I whined. "You're gonna do just fine. I'm picking you up tomorrow for training." I hugged him when I heard someone walking towards the gate. "Fighting!" He said as he left.

"Oh hey! I mean uhm, anyonghaseyo. Choneun Samantha-ibnida" I greeted the man, bowing with an embarrassed look on my face. He responded with a laugh and a bow as well.

"Anyonghaseyo. I'm Park Joon Hyung. You must be the one from overseas! Come in, we're all waiting for you." He said I could go ahead while he carried my luggage, so I went ahead but only until the actual door. I looked around the garden while waiting for him. My hands and legs were all fidgety.

"Why didn't you come inside?" He giggled. "To be honest, I'm so nervous, Joon sunbaenim. I'm not really fluent in Korean yet. I don't even know why they accepted me. Am I the only new member?" I rambled.

"No worries. I'll be your translator if you need one. We also have another roommate who speaks English. He's not here now but he'll be back tomorrow."

"Jackson?"

"Yeah, him. Have you guys met?

" We have, a few months ago. I don't know if he'll remember me though. I only know it's him cause I watched the show before coming here."

"That's good."

I finally budged and went inside. There weren't as many people as I thought there would be. Bae Jong Ok, Sunny, Park Min Woo, and Jackson weren't there. I started freaking out on the inside when I noticed that I was the only one who was new. I started to greet everyone I saw using my best Korean introduction. Some of them were still busy preparing food since we were having dinner in an hour. Gook Ju, Kang Joon, Young Ji, and Joon Hyung stayed with me in the living room to chat.

"*KR* So how long have you been here in Korea? *KR*" Gook Ju asked me.

"How long have I been in Korea? Hmm. *KR* A little over 2 Months *KR*" I replied.

"*KR* Oh, how's your stay so far? Are you liking Korea? *KR*" Kang Joon followed.

"*KR* It's *KR* uhm..." I scratched my head, struggling to find the right words. " Joon oppa, how do you say 'It's exciting, tiring and crazy. Just really fun cause I get to do a lot of things I never thought I could do like being here and meeting you guys'"
Joon Hyung went on to translate what I said.

"*KR* Awwww! That's so sweet of you. I'm so glad I meeting you too, even if you can't understand half of what I'm saying. *KR*" Everyone started laughing after what Gook Ju said. I didn't understand half of what she said but I just laughed with them.

We continued talking in the dining room. They prepared a variety of Korean food. We had bossam, bulgogi, buldak, along with kimchi, japchae and rice.

"*KR*Thank you for the food*KR*" I said to them, before we all took a bite.

"*KR* Yes, please eat well.*KR*" Dong Wook said then he raised his glass for a toast. "*KR* Welcome to Roommate, Samantha.*KR*"

I talked a lot about myself even if I had a hard time. I told them about where I came from, what I came here to do, and how I felt about being here. I told them I came from the Philippines and that I'm training under JYP to be a singer and an actress, but singing and making music is what I really love. I also told them I'm really excited about coming here to Korea but I already miss my friends from home, even more so because I haven't made a lot of really close Korean friends yet because of the language barrier. I apologized to them for not being able to speak Korean fluently but most especially to Joon hyung because it's only been a few hours but it seems like he's already translated a full novel. He ended up just translating 90% of what was said in the conversation. I was kind of embarrassed because it might have been tiring for him to translate everything for me. Especially when I should have at least known how to carry a simple conversation in Korean by now. I asked them to be a little patient with me and I promised them I'll be more or less fluent in Korean in a month.

We gathered in the living room after eating. Our room assignments were supposed to be given out but since we weren't complete, the PD decided to delay it and asked the older members to sleep in their old rooms and me to sleep in Sunny and Jong Ok's room. I was in the room, fixing my stuff, when Gook Ju knocked and asked me to come have street food and soju with them. I was still so full, but I heard it's impolite to reject an older person's offer to drink soju so I went with them anyway.

"*KR* Is it your first time having street food and soju here in Korea? *KR*" Kang Joon asked, munching on a fish cake.

"*KR* No, actually, I had them on my first night here! *KR*" I laughed.

"First night, huh?" Joon Hyung responded.

"Yeah, but I didn't really drink alot."

"*KR*Should we make you drink a lot this time?*KR*" Gook Ju replied and made everyone laugh.

I hope they would be family to me, people to call Oppa, Omma, Unnie, and Appa. A family that may be even better than the one back home. Don't get me wrong, I love my parents. But I always feel like we could've developed a better relationship. A closer one. One where we hug, say I love you, and stuff like that. Which are probably normal for most families, but not mine.

They ended up really making me drink a lot. I, somehow, passed out on the sofa. I woke up to the sound of someone coming in but I couldn't open my eyes. It seemed like the person who came in was trying his or her best to not make a sound but I could still hear the noise. Every breath sounded like a strong gust of wind and every step sounded like a huge boulder falling on the wooden floor because of my headache. An intense pain was radiating throughout my head and I couldn't breathe. I felt like I was gonna die.