"Eunji-shii! Can you hurry up? We're going on stage in twenty minutes!" Baekho jumped up and down excitedly.
"Yah! Quiet down!" Eunji-noona hissed. "Makeup isn't easy, you know! One wrong stroke, and Ren will look like a clown!"
Today was the day we were performing live for the first time. We're in one of the rooms in Music Bank right now, and watching all the new groups that were performing live for the first time too today was nerve racking. I never knew we had so many competitors.
"Okay, so it's this move first, and then this move second," Jonghyun muttered behind me, going over the dance.
"Watch out," Jonghyun's makeup noona snapped. "If you knock anything over, then I'm going to rip you into pieces!"
Noona made a few more touches on my eyes and sighed, "Finally! Ren-ah, you have really pretty eyes! Sometimes, I wonder if you're a girl."
I held my breath, "Haha, thanks noona! But I'm a guy."
"In fact, he likes working out and flirting with girls," Minhyun cut in.
"Yah!" I glared at him.
"Mianhe," he shrugged. "Are you ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be," I nodded.
"OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!! THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING!!!" Aaron squeaked.
"Okay guys, let's huddle!" Jonghyun called us together like we were football players. After we were all gathered into a circle, he started talking, "Today is the day of our debut. We've shed sweat and blood for this day, and it's too late to turn back now. WE'RE GOING TO RISE TO THE TOP!!!"
"Hwaiting!" Baekho pumped his fist into the air.
"Hwaiting!" The rest of us followed us cheer. Even though it sounded a bit cheesy, the pep talk actually helped.
"Okay guys! It's your turn in five minutes!" Manager-nim announced, and we hustled out of our room, down the hallway, and next to the stage.
Breathe in, breathe out. Calm down, Ren. I've practiced so many times that I could dance this in my sleep.
"Ah! Thank you for performing!" the announcer's thanked the group just before us, and the group walked off stage.
"Good job," we bowed to the other group, and they smiled shakily at us.
"Thanks! Good luck!" they whispered, and now it was our turn to rush onto the stage and get into position.
The announcers continued, "It was great, ne? Well, now it's time for the debut of another group! They're from Pledis Entertainment, and have worked hard to bring this performance to you!! Please welcome... NU'EST!!"
The music started, and we all snapped into action. As I looked out into the crowd, I was amazed by the amount of people that were here, cheering us on.
I started shaking, and I knew I had to stop. My part would come soon, and I had to get it together, but seeing the crowd's expectant eyes prevented my resolve from chasing away the stage fright.
It was my turn.
I shakily opened my mouth, my eyes scanning the crowd frantically. The words seemed to tumble, and I wondered whether anyone noticed. A blonde head in the crowd caught my eye.
Is that Zelo?!
He was in the crowd, with some sunglasses to hide his face. When he saw that I was looking at him, he winked and gave me a thumbs up. It seemed like all the stage fright I had melted away.
