Aeri: The Idol's Child

제4장

aeri: the idol's child

i wonder how i can even dream of being an idol. seeing the issues that my father's group faced, those leaving issues, dating issues and such. idol life is surely hard but here i am, inside sm entertainment, doing the same routine as the the other trainees. it has been one week since the management contacted those who passed the audition. together with me is seika eonni who i met that day, and the other trainees who are a part of sm rookies.

during the 6 days that i've started the training here in sm, i learned that they are not only teaching trainees how to sing and dance nor rap, they also give extra lessons like proper eating etiquette, languages, how to speak well in varieties and such. i chose the languages, just like dad i want to be like him.

"hey lami." seika eonni approached me, she looked like a mess. she sat beside me and put her head on my shoulder.

"ne eonni, you seem to be exhausted." i told her.

she slowly nodded her head and sighed. this sight always happens everyday. eonni has been taking the dance lesson with extra hour since the management assigned to her. me, on the other hand i've been training my vocals more.

"eonni, don't sleep." i said when i noticed her head getting heavier on my shoulder.

"i won't." she said in a whisper that i almost never could have heard.
i averted my gaze at the mirror infront of us. this room is full of mirror anyway.

i was staring at my own reflection when the door opened revealing the sm rookies members; koeun, ningning, yiyang, hyeri, and hina. all of them are holding water bottles and some snacks which i presumed they bought at the canteen.

"hey lami, have you eaten already?" koeun asked as she slumped on the floor. i shook my head as i have not eaten any since breakfast.

koeun halved the burger in her hand and offered me the half.

"sorry, i would like to eonni, but they want me to be on diet." i politely refused. two days ago, we had a weight checking and the management doesn't want my 45kg for a 10 year old tall kid. they told me to observe diet until i achieve atmost 40kg weight.

"oh okay." koeun kept the half of the burger on the side. feeling sorry, i apologetically smiled at her.

"here lami, you can eat apple right? it's better than not to eat at all." hyeri said as she took out the apple from the plastic bag she's holding.

"thank you eonni but--" hyeri cutted me off and insisted the apple on my hand.

"thank you koeunni and hyeri eonni." they both smiled in return.

"seika's asleep?" hina who is now seating to seika eonni's left asked.

"yes eonni, she's exhausted."i said. hina eonni murmured some Japanese word which i do not understand but i know she's conveying it to seika eonni.

on the other side is yiyang and ningning who was busy chatting with each other using their mandarin language.

a little minute later, the instructor came back. i immediately woke seika eonni up as the practice resumed.

"okay girls, let's practice with cameras on. we'll check your projections and camera angles. are we clear?" we all nodded as mr. shim, our instructor said.

when it comes to being photogenic, i think seika eonni is the best. she likes to take selca everytime and she really knows her angle. no doubt that even in performing, she knows how to project well and look good infront of the camera.

"that's a wow seika, it's a wrap now girls. we'll discuss the evaluations tomorrow. ayt? have a safe trip home." mr. shim said and went out of the practice room.

i grabbed my towel from the side and wiped my sweats. i looked around and saw everyone panting and sweating profusely like me. it's always like this everyday. everyone is working hard to get chosen for debut. you must not let your guards down and improve yourself everyday to get out of this basement and ascend to the top.
that's how trainee life goes.