We Were Too Young For This

Trainees P2

It has been almost a month since Gemini had started on his journey on becoming an idol, and it was already exhausting. He would wake up at 5 am. to finish some homework he couldn't get done the previous night. It was during this time that he would wonder what the point of homework is? You spend almost 7 hours at school doing school work only to do more school work at home, when you should be relaxing? The education system was rigged, and it was at times like these that he wanted to find the perpetrator and deal with them.

Maybe he should consider home schooling? But he was already almost at the end of his first trimester, so he had to push through with it. He had to be at school by 6h45 because for some insane reason, classes started at 7am on the dot. He would sometimes be too exhausted to chat up a storm with his friends and be just there, just listening. He was fortunate that academics came easily to him, so he was able to maintain his straight A record and his 4.0 GPA.

At 13h30, his mother would pick him up so he could be at the company by 14h00, the latest for either the vocal lessons, or the dance classes, or some media training. The only days he had off were Sundays, and it wasn't really off days because he would either be working on assignments or doing more vocal lessons or practicing choreography.

At times, he wished to just drop out and forget about becoming an idol. He could pursue medicine and still do music on the side. He doesn't even have to be a professional. He could just open up a YouTube channel and drop his music there. However, when he thinks about the conversation he had with Fourth, that one evening when they were sitting on the bench eating ice cream and talking about dreams. Fourth's eyes sparkled at the thought of having millions of fans globally who adored them and their craft. When he thinks about that, somehow his spirits get renewed, and he pushes himself to work harder.

Today was Monday, now fully a month since they started as trainees, meaning they had less than 5 months left to become perfect. It was also the day when their progress was going to be reviewed. Gemini wouldn't say he was nervous per say, he knows he had improved, he had worked hard and put in a lot of effort in everything he did but he still had that small little part of him that was scared of receiving criticism that his best wasn't good enough.

He woke up early, at 4 am, to go through some algebra homework he didn't do since he only got home at almost midnight last night.  Although yesterday was supposed to be his "rest" day, Mark had suggested they meet up and work on their singing and dancing since the review was today. Gemini couldn't just not show up. He couldn't just tell Mark he was fine and he did his best, so he didn't need to show up. They were a team. They were in this together and somehow had to show a united front.

Gemini was impressed with how everyone had improved in such a short space of time. Prom's singing had improved. It wasn't the best, but he didn't sound like a dying goat anymore like Captain had previously described it. Satang's dancing had also improved he just needed to be more confident and less stiff, but at least he had the choreography memorised. Mark, Winny, Ford, and surprisingly, Captain had improved in both their singing and dancing.

The one who impressed Gemini the most was Fourth. His vocal ability had improved so much, and he had the choreography memorised, and when he danced, it was like a performance. He took the choreography that was given to them and made it his own. He almost danced like a pro when he was in his element. If everyone was giving it their 100%, then Fourth was giving it his 110%. Maybe Gemini's admiration was biased, and maybe he wasn't being objective. The only way he could know for sure was based on the critic they would receive on today's review.

"Morning honey. Ready for the day?" His mother asked with a bright smile.

"As ready as I can be." Gemini replied honestly. He was surviving on a maximum of 4 hours of sleep almost every day for the past month, and he was exhausted.