Ephemeral › Produce101 PD101 ff

t h i r d ;

Look who forgotten to publish a new chapter yesterday? Me

"I know where to hide" he whispered and brought me to the lockers nearby.

"Just keep quiet, he's not that detailed he won't check the lockers"

I nodded and was panting nervously. The locker itself wasn't stuffy but it is kind of small, especially fitting two pre-teens in here.

It was just pure silence, I looked at Justin that's opposite of me, he looked at me, we could only hear our heartbeat.

The guard came in with his flashlight and flashed the room simply then went out. Both of us heaved out a sigh with relief and I opened the locker.

"Thanks or else my career would be gone within weeks time"

"Don't need to"

I looked at my phone and it's around two in the morning.

"It's late you should get some sleep" I said like a mom.

"You too"

We didn't talk much since I'm quite an introvert, we parted ways to go back to our dorm. When I opened the door, they're all asleep. I bathed and washed my face quickly so I could get back to sleep.

—; ❀

It was exercising period, we did a lot of extreme exercises, most of us were already exhausted.

"Alright take a five minutes break" the fitness instructor said and I sat down immediately. Just when I was about to drink my water, I realised it's already empty.

"Teacher, I'm going out to refill" I told the instructor and he nodded so I went out.

I refilled some cold water and drank it. The taste of freshness after exercising is sO GOOD. I wished I could've eat pizza and have some desserts. That's what I thought of 24/7 to be honest.

"Ma'am I'm sorry you can't just walk into our training centre this is against the rules" I heard one of the staffs, trying to stop someone.

As I looked at the end of the corridor,

"Holy shit" I whispered and tried to walk faster.

"HWANG JINHYUN" someone shouted

I was about to grab the doorknob until someone grabbed my wrist instead.

"HOW DARE YOU DO THIS"

"MOM YOU SHOULDN'T BE HERE" I shouted back.

"FOLLOW. ME. BACK" Her fingers weren't grazing my skin. They're like scraping off my skin.

"NO"

"I DON'T CARE IF YOU WANT OR NOT YOU NEED TO BE BACK" She pulled me towards the exit and I could feel my veins being squeezed by her hands.

Having enough guts, I pushed myself away from her and went into the training studio but I was pulled back the moment I opened the door.

Woah what's happening outside?

"YOU'RE MY CHILD YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS TO DISOBEY ME" She grabbed my arms this time and she hit my head hard.

"I'M NOT GOING BACK" I tried to get her hands off me.

"HEY LEAVE HER ALONE" Another person cut in.

I looked behind and I was glad that someone's actually defending for me.

"It's not your turn to cut in my lecture time" Mom said.

He walked here and pulled my arms away from mom's hands.

"You're not lecturing you're abusing your child" Zhengting spoke.

"Abusing? Learn your facts well, kid"

He held my arms and showed her my scars and injuries.

"Lecturing? I don't think so"

"You-" Mom was out of words.

"Zhengting, don't-" I told him.

Without any caution, I felt a tight slap on my face. She did that.

"YOU'RE-" Zhengting was about to rage but I held his arms, hinting him not to fight back.

"I won't just disappear. I'll be back. And next time, it won't be just a slap. It won't be you, only" She stared at zhengting and turned around, stomping off.

I had tears but not much, plus I was facing down so I don't think anyone saw my face.

"Let me see your injuries" He took my hands but I flinched and took my hands back.

"I'm fine thank you" I said awkwardly and timidly while holding the side of my face that I just got slapped then walked in, without tilting my head up.

Zhengting just stood there, letting out a sigh with disappointment, curious and worry.

I went in like nothing happened. This will only be kept to zhengting and I only.

We were dismissed later than usual and we were all half dead. But the moment I opened the door to our dorm-

"WHAT HAPPENED?" Soomin gasped.

My eyes were widened. The room was in a mess. Things were scratched, flipped around, thrown all over the place.

I looked at my bed, my testpapers were on it.

"I'm sorry it's my fault" I held the testpapers with angst.

"What?" Siyoung asked.

"It's my mom. She already came to find me at the training centre but she stomped off because I talked back, she came here for revenge I guess"

"I hope things will get better" siho comforted me.

"Thank you for understanding, I'm so sorry, I'll clean this mess up" I felt like sobbing.

"Don't, it's okay, we'll do this together" Soomin said and I was deeply touched.

Here I am, I found a place that I could be comfortable at. A place where someone understands me.

I was physically and mentally tired but I was on the bed, opening my eyes, having deep thoughts.

When will mom approve what I want? When I succeeded, will she be happy? When I'll be able to earn money for the family, will she still act this way?

I don't know, I could only continue my journey and see what awaits me.