Inked

Chapter 7- 9 to 5

I woke up around 5am after I dreamed of a new strategy for the trainee program. Quickly I grabbed my phone and started to type down the ideas. The system so far did not take into account what the individual skills of the trainees are and they undergo the same training as the others. There was no individual plan until they get the basics. Taking that into account some trained for several years while others debuted after 6 months. For example Youngjae debuted after a few months while his team members debuted after 3-4 years of training. I had to look at their training plan and see what was different and maybe I will find a way to shorten the training period. I texted Jo asking her to arrange a meeting with Youngjae around the afternoon. I decided to get up and head early to work and have a look at the training files of them again. These days there were a lot of trainees and I believed that having too many might be inefficient. When they get accepted as trainee there should be a guarantee that they debut and do not have to wait and see and maybe even get kicked out. They spend most of their days in the training system and when they leave without debuting they are ruined and have depths.

It was around 7am when I arrived with a cab at work and the building was deserted. Cleaning ladies were having their coffees in the restaurant area and security men were outside smoking. I greeted them briefly and headed to my office. The basement was deserted aswell and the lights were out everywhere. I received an E-Mail from Jo about the meeting and smiled about her efficiency. I slide my phone back into my jacket pocket. Suddenly I heard noise from one of the dance studios at the far end and was wondering who would be training so early in the morning. The trainees were training in the smaller dance studios at the front and the back area was solely for debuted artists. I opened the door and was surprised to find a panting Jinyoung dancing to their new song alone. This guy was a pure riddle to me. He never talked much and just observed. He just sat there in the middle with his Hoody on and he started to yell in frustration. I flinched a bit and watched him redo the choreo and messing it up. Clearly he was having a hard time so I decided to go and talk to him. Quietly I closed the door behind me and walked up to him. Until now he had not seen me and as I approached he stopped and turned the music down and smiled towards me.

"Oh hey Noona. What are you doing here so early?", he said grabbing a towel. He had red eyes. Was he crying?

"Hey I wanted to start early. And you? Seems like you have been here for a few hours?", I said seriously not leaving him out of my sight.

He chuckled and said: " It is comeback season and I made a few mistakes on our last live show so I will make sure that this never happens again. I just have been here for 30 min or so".

I looked around and saw a pile of towels, his bag in the corner, a few emptied water bottles and his phone plugged in. I was sure that he had been here for a few hours.

"Come on you should take a break for a bit. I have some delicious coffee in my department. Join me", I said to him and I saw him hesitate.

" I can drag you out of here you know", I said smirking and he just laughed and grabbed his stuff and followed me out.

In silence we walked out and into my department which was deserted. I texted Jo that I needed the office empty until 9am. She texted me that she would inform the rest about it. I suggested that they all should head for breakfast on my expenses. We reached my front door and I slid my card past the detector and typed in my password. The light went on and Jinyoung seemed impressed by the design.

"Come on in. Just put your things in my office there for now and I will make a coffee for us", I said pointing at my office and we headed off.

I grabbed the coffee jar and decided to make two flat whites for us.

"Can I help you?", he asked me and I shook my head.

Wordlessly he sat down on the kitchen counter bar chair. I took the first cup I made and handed it to him along with sugar.

"Thank you", he said and took the mug.

I placed my mug on the counter aswell and went to the fridge to get 2 porridges that were made by the team for us. They were healthy and I was curious how they tasted. I grabbed two jars and spoons and gave him one while I sat down on the chair opposite to him.

"So Mr. Park what are you beating yourself up for?", I asked him as I took a sip from my coffee.

He froze and looked at me confused.

" What do you mean?", he asked me giggling nervously.

I put my mug down and looked at him seriously.

"I have been in this industry for a few years and I see things that others miss. Judging from your stuff in the studio you have been there for more than 30 min. I bet you did not even go home and just trained. I saw you screaming or yelling and making mistakes over mistakes. Here is the thing: Mistakes are human nature and as Idol you are still human. It is admirable that you train so hard but you exceeded the level that is good or even healthy. I guess you beat yourself up about a small mistakes no one else than you recognized. You never talk a lot and just observe so I assume you did not talk about this to anyone. I came here to change traditions and help you", I said to him and I saw him being lost in thoughts.

He finished his coffee and food and looked at me and did not say anything. He grabbed his bag, bowed and left. You cannot force anyone to talk until they are ready to. I let him go and washed up and started to work in my office but his reaction did not leave my head. Around 9am the whole team came in laughing and with bags of food. They were in a good mood and greeted me smiling. Jo came inside the office with a coffee and pastry for me.

"Here just fair that you get to taste heaven just like us", she said beaming at me and sitting down.

"Thanks. Glad you all had a nice start into the day. Thanks for setting the meeting up. When was it again?", I asked her taking some notes.

She looked it up on her computer and said: "At 1pm. You have 2hrs. Just in case".

I nodded and continued to compare the files. I decided to ask Jo to join me and we compared the files together.

"They are the same but here it says that he had a broad skillset before he joined. Why are we looking at it? Do you have a new plan?", she asked me curious.

I explained to her my thoughts and she brought in her view on the subject which sparked new ideas and questions I had. The rest of the morning passed and I skipped lunch to prepare for the meeting and decided to pick Youngjae up from their practice. GOT7 was dancing really hard when I entered. JB saw me in the mirror and stopped the music.

"Yo Naja what is up?", Mark greeted me.

" Yah Hyung she is a director now. We have to be formal", Yugeom scolded him and greeted me formally.

I started laughing and shook my head: " It is just us so it ok. Anyway I am here to pick up Youngjae".

Youngjae started to panick and looked at the time: "Oh no I am late right? I am so sorry".

"No no. You can not enter from outside for now so I thought I will just get you. Let us go. I have tons of meetings after this", I said as Youngjae packed up.

I looked at Jinyoung who looked at me unfaced. Such a stubborn kid.

"What are you guys doing? I want to come too?", BamBam whined and got scolded by Jackson.

" You can not go because I will go", Jackson said.

" Sorry guys this is exclusive for Youngjae", I teased them.

"Chill guys we have a meeting. It is work", Youngjae said laughing and we left.

The next hour I interviewed him about his training period and he answered all my questions. Jo was there too towards the end and took notes. After he left I had a meeting with the trainee development staff and inquired them about the program. Jo and I spend the rest of the day in developing a new program. We both knew that it would need more work but until Friday we needed the idea planned so we could present it on our party.