The Second Chance of A Suicidal Idol

Roomies (5)

A staff member who had led the four of Team Ten to their respective recording room, shut the door behind them after saying: "You have ten minutes to get to know each other before the cameras in the corners begin. Please get along well."

And of course, things had gotten awkward immediately after the staff had left them alone.

"Haah– You have to be kidding... I think the gods hate me." Leader Du-Ho huffed, his voice dropping the friendly tone he had earlier when welcoming Joon-woo. "How old are you again?"

Joon-woo flinched up, "Uh– I'm eighteen, Sunbae." He replied, the malice in Du-Ho's voice knocking at Joon-woo's anxiety.

As if amused, Du-Ho turned to Rank 21, who tilted his head at the age reveal.

"Ha– He's your Hyung!" Du-Ho said to Rank 21 as if it was something so funny.

Rank 21 chuckled, "Really? I thought the opposite..." He admitted with a slight smirk.

Joon-woo looked back and forth between the two. Were they perhaps saying he looked younger?

Rank 26 chimed in then, "No kidding... I thought you were a middle school student and was like– 'What parent lost their child?'!" He exaggerated.

Joon-woo wanted to shrink into the chair he sat in.

As if noticing his discomfort, Du-Ho said: "No, no– It's a compliment! Whenever the finals come around and you debut, you will age very slowly and look young for a long time." He explained, as if to comfort.

The words, however, didn't comfort Joon-woo. Did he really look that young? He thought he looked at least 17...

"Ah– Who knows if I will debut, the ranks can change anytime..." Joon-woo said, trying to bring up a group relevant topic.

They exchanged glances, as if finding Joon-woo's words amusing, as if to not take them seriously.

Du-Ho shook his head, "Wouldn't you like to know– Mr PD's Pick." He suddenly jabbed, malice laced in his voice.

Joon-woo looked at the ground, controlling his flinch at the words. Ah, he thought, that was it. The first episode's editing. How Joon-woo wasn't evily edited, but instead shown building a friendship with Mi Yong. How he got more screen time.

He wanted to roll back his head and scream. It was really either the public hates you or your competitors, he realized with a frown.

Rank 26 noticed Joon-woo's expression and opened his mouth, "Ehh, so you know it too?"

Joon-woo wanted to curl up in a ball and hide forever. He missed the fun yet irritable nature of his roommates, anything but this– he thought. Anything but these immature guys...

–+–

After a long conversation that excluded Joon-woo, an announcement was made overhead.

"Contestants, cameras will roll in about a minute, please stand by..." A static-like voice said over speaker.

Rank 26 sighed, blowing at his lips before turning to Joon-woo. "You know, you should call me Oppa..." He said with a fake straight face that burst into an uncontrollable smile at his own 'joke'. 

Joon-woo with his face darkened in annoyance, kept his eyes at the ground. "Recording will start soon." He replied, keeping his voice dry. He really didn't want to waste much or any energy on these people at all.

"Yes, yes... Let's be friends." Du-Ho teased, as the group watched the camera's light begin to blink a familiar red.

They sat in silence for a moment, waiting for further instructions overhead. Joon-woo's skin crawled with anticipation for this whole thing to end faster, for time to pass like no tomorrow.

"Contestants, welcome to your new teams!" A cheerful voice said over speaker. Misa. "Please get along well, as you will do many vocal challenges together." She revealed.

Joon-woo's face darkened. 'F*ck' he thought.

"But first..." She began her voice trailing off, "Please welcome your vocal trainer!"

Suddenly the door opened. Suddenly friendly middle-aged mustached man walked through the doors, waving at the group with a wide smile. Joon-woo's mouth went agape at the sight, but it wasn't the sun radiating off of the vocal trainer that surprised Joon-woo, but instead the Kite riding on his shoulder. They stood and bowed nonetheless.

Joon-woo winced and took a deep breath at the sight. Would Kite have to witness this now? Joon-woo getting jabbed left and right? He just wanted this day to have something worth it for him, was that really so much to ask?

Kite winked at Joon-woo flying off the cheery vocal trainer's shoulders and towards Joon-woo.

"I was getting bored all alone..." Kite explained to Joon-woo's questionable look.

"Shut up." Joon-woo whispered  to Kite with his eyebrows practically knitted together at this point. He gestured to the vocal trainer who had begun to introduce himself.

He adjusted his hat backwards, the vocal trainer, and said: "Hello Team Ten! I am to overview your vocals! The name's Bang Gui Nam!" He exclaimed, adjusting large-rimmed black sunglasses. "And you all are?"

The group, for once including Joon-woo, exchanged eye contact. Du-Ho opened his mouth but closed it, he nodded towards Rank 21, who shook his own head nervously.

Joon-woo sighed, "Hello teacher, I am Park Joon-woo..." He said.

Teacher Nam nodded, and as if a scholar, placed his hand under his chin and rubbed at it. He looked down at Joon-woo, just an inch or two taller, but his gaze felt shorter, it felt innocent.

"I am Baek Du-Ho..." Du-Ho greeted with that same, fake happy voice he had greeted Joon-woo with.

Rank 21 and 26 followed suit, voices just as fake. Joon-woo hid his glare at the irony.

"Well great, great! You guys, I'm sure, are very talented to be here!" Teacher Nam said, clapping his hands excitedly.

The group exchanged awkward glances again. Was this guy really so sincere?

However, before any questions could be asked, Misa spoke over the speakers.

"With introductions out of the way, let's begin our first team practices! Please look to your vocal trainers for instruction..." Misa announced, voice distant as if reading from a script.

The group turned to Teacher Nam, who had settled himself inside a small room with a microphone, headphones, and a large soundboard. Joon-woo recognized the setup. It was a recording set up.

Then, they waited for him to speak.