Trainee Trouble

{Chapter 32: Showcase}

[^What you were supposed to perform with Min Gyu (you can either imagine sh*t kingz' version or GOT7's version to perform]

The week went by quick as usual. Everyday after school, Min Gyu and I would rush to the company to practice our routine. After which we would split up after midnight to practice our solos.

Just like expected, I had the misfortune to run into Hyunseok sunbae almost every day. He would always have a smirk on his face and would bump into me to intimidate me. At least he seemed genuine about competing against real potential because he wasn't trying any funny things to sabotage his competition.

Soon, Saturday came around. Since we had spent the whole of the week practicing or studying, we stayed home on Saturday to recuperate, catching up on some much needed sleep.

Finally the big day arrived. The whole company was in chaos getting ready for the monthly evaluation. According to Suga, the company often chose to let go of at least one underperforming trainee on showcase day a year. You never know which showcase it'll be and when but it happened often enough for the older trainees to keep on their toes. That got my teammates and I on the edge of our seats.

Walking to the company with BTS in tow, we were vaguely informed that today's judges were going to be idols instead of the usual directors and trainers. That meant that our fate depended on wether or not our sunbaes were impressed which seemed like a tougher task than impressing the company director.

To start off, we changed into our performance outfits when we reached our practice room. It was chaos everywhere. Coordinators were running back and forward. Trainees were singing, dancing and rapping out loud to practice one last time. Idols were walking back and forth to encourage and greet their hoobaes. Instructors were shuffling about and a crew was setting up lights and cameras in the studio.

"What are the cameras for?" asked S.Coups.

"Every performance is recorded and kept in inventory. Just in case anytime you leave or transfer the company, at least you'll have a portfolio. It's written in the contract for our benefit if anything happens" J-Hope explained.

"More like to release when you debut so that people can see the fetus you" Jimin scoffed. Seemed like he was bitter about the release of his dance videos when he was a trainee. He was short, chubby and painfully cute.

"All trainees please proceed to Studio 5 now for the showcase" an announcement sounded throughout the company.

All 12 of us made out way down to the familiar room where we spent countless hours practicing and sleeping. It was packed with people save the centre of the room which was were we were to perform.

I spun around to make a comment to Jungkook who was standing beside me before but saw the boys settle down at the judging panel.

What. The. Ducking. Deuces.

I was thrown back in time to my audition where Rap Mon, J-Hope and Jungkook turned out to be the judges. Déjà Vu really plagued my days.

Shooting a glance to my teammates, we rolled our eyes. It was just like BTS to do this and we weren't surprised in the least now that we had gotten used to their ways.

Just then, the room burst out in excited chatter. Stepping into the room was K.Will, a famous solo artist that I had seen perform way too many times to be healthy. PD-nim followed closely behind the star and called for silence.