SEVEN SOULS [Discontinued]

[Chapter 12]

"Seokjin-ah."

The owner of the name turned his head towards their dance trainer, looking as Sungdeuk approach him. "Can we talk?"

Seokjin nodded, wiping the sweats from his face and neck. It was actually his and Jungkook's individual practice schedule, but because of what had happened three days ago, Jungkook was still had to rest, leaving him to practice alone.

Sundeuk sat cross-legged in front of him, watching him closely as Seokjin chugged his water and closed it, placing the bottle beside him before giving Sungdeuk his attention.

"I've been paying a close attention at your dance progress, but it seems like the gap between you and the other members keep getting further and further." Sungdeuk informed him, leaning with his elbows on his knees. "And I saw that for the past few weeks, your dance hasn't improved so much, from your weekly evaluation, I couldn't find any significant change from your dance skill."

Seokjin suddenly felt nervous, the sweats that had stopped a few minutes ago started to make its appearance again.

Sensing the younger's nervousness by looking at how his fingers fidget on his lap and how he lowered his head, Sungdeuk spoke up. "But I'm thinking to give you an additional practice every night for two hours, it makes you come back later than the others, about one in the morning, but I think it's necessary so you can protect your position in the group and not let the others down. How does it sound?"

Seokjin let out an audible sigh, looking at the way his fingers fidget nervously on his lap.

He didn't know if he should take the offer or work harder at every practice. If he takes it, he will be back at one in the morning and will only get a few hours of sleep, maybe less than two hours if he has a work from his class.

"I know that this is hard for you." Sungdeuk continued, patting the trainee's knees. "But you want to debut with them, right? You don't want to hold them back, right? And you know about how unexpected Bang PD is when it comes to the competition between the pre-debut group, right?"

Seokjin was about to complain, but Sungdeuk was right. He didn't want to let anyone down, he wanted to make them proud, he wanted to be presentable when he is up on the stage, he wanted to be good like his other members. He wanted to make his parents happy and pay him more attention, like what they did to his oldest brother.

He wanted to be good. He wanted to be visible.

Seokjin felt like he had to feel grateful too for the offer. Sungdeuk was really kind and generous to offer an additional practice when the trainer himself must be tired too for teaching them a whole day.

He knew that it was also good for him. He didn't have to hold his band members back, he could learn every night without having to make them stuck in the same choreo for a long time because he can't get it right.

Then he remembered about how the other members were barely smile or laugh for the past few weeks. Argument and fight were being thrown here and there, cold shoulders were a daily sight in their dorm.

Maybe, just maybe, everything will be okay if he can help it by increasing his dancing skills to make them happy.

"Ah, I'm sorry. But don't you know that you're the one who always hold us back?"

Hoseok's word rang inside his ears without he could prevent it.

"You're the one that hold us in the same place, only moving slightly forward because we have to wait for you!"

Seokjin sighed.

"Your dance is terrible! Your voice is weak! Even your acting skills is more terrible that Namjoon and Yoongi hyung! What can we expect from you?!"