When She Became A Pledis Trainee

CHAPTER 8: FAST PACE

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This is a work of Fiction. Names, characters, places and incidences are either products of the author's imagination or, if real, are used fictitiously.

Please refrain from reproduction, transmission, or storing in an information retrieval system in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, taping, and recording, without prior written permission from the author. Thank you, and enjoy!!

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In one month, I've watched a lot of their videos on Youtube. I usually watch on my phone, in between classes while waiting for the class to start. I've never been so thankful for the campus's all around wifi.

The boys are amazing. They can be so hilarious, you'll stumble out of your seat dying in laughter and sometimes they can be so heartbreaking, you'll cry your eyes out. Charlene gave me copies of One Fine Day in Japan after I finished watching 13 Castaway boys. After that, she recommended Going Seventeen. After knowing the members and hearing their stories from OFD, I felt so glad and was strongly certain that I am stanning the right group. Especially learning how Seungkwan persevered for his dreams, despite his difficulties in dancing way back during his trainee days. All of them are really hard working and talented boys. I also watched the Seventeen Project shortly after, and saw how they worked hard in mastering their craft. They are really professional. I saw our differences in culture and was amazed at how creative their TV shows were. Whenever I thought they couldn't amaze me anymore (because I thought I've seen all of their videos), I'll stumble upon Part Switch Version videos and SVT Club episodes then slip hard into their lives all over again.

Other than making me happy, Seventeen made me see how different our lives are. Here are boys, some who are of the same age as me, doing something I can never imagine myself doing. I dreamed of performing when I was younger of course, but the need for academic excellence extinguished all of the flames, leaving only embers of my once passionate dreams.

For a more than a month, Seventeen gave me back the cheerfulness and energy I once had. I was really inspired. Their songs give me so much energy; I had to find ways of using it. Every morning, after our PE session, I would sneak into the dance room and practice some of their dances with the help of dance tutorials. I could only have the room for an hour and it was not enough. After practicing for an hour, I head to the computer room and review for school, since I couldn't really abandon my academics. I learn Hangul during those hours as well and can now say and understand basic conversations. Every evening, the dance room is available and I use it for two hours before going home. I loved the way I can control my movements to my bidding in time with the beats. It was an achievement every time I succeed to execute complex or fast series of steps in synch with the beats. Sweating and breathing heavily every evening left me content and happy. I even do cartwheels and the 'baby freeze' poses again like I used to when I was younger.

I learn a new dance every week and I've learned at least three now. The first one was Mansae of course, and it is actually the one which triggered all my thirst for dancing. I thought I could never get the steps for the chorus part, but when I did, I was really happy. My body started remembering the thrill of dancing. After that, I learned 'Oh My!' then 'Clap' shortly after. For a whole week, with more than 15 hours per week, I learn and practice the same song over and over until it's time to learn a new one. I loved the idea that my body is doing the same series of movement the boys do for a particular song. I think, 'This is what they feel when they dance to this song.' The satisfaction is unparalleled.

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One day, while streaming on Youtube in the computer room, I stumbled upon a video. It was an audition video for PLɛDIS. A girl was singing, but it sounded somewhat autotuned. I scrolled through the comments and saw some saying that she should sing live since PLɛDIS aims for quality and they will definitely not accept autotuned audition pieces.

Audition.

I went to Google and looked for the PLɛDIS website. I read all of the info there and saw that the online audition is always on going and that any gender, age or nationality may send their audition pieces. They were encouraging everyone to show their talent and grab the opportunity to become one of their stars (which was really encouraging). My heart started pounding. I didn't understand this feeling at all. It felt like hope. A strong dosage of it, and I know it is dangerous because being hopeful leaves you depressed later on if things hadn't gone the way you hoped them to be.

Do I want to audition? Is this what this feeling is? It is isn't it? This hope I'm feeling.

My brain starts summoning self-defense statements again, to protect my sanity and stop myself from panicking. My consciousness starts talking some sense into me: 'Okay, this is an opportunity here. Just breathe. Breathe. Usually in a global audition, only one or two are selected. You won't make the cut okay? Alright. But, sure! Go ahead and send an audition piece. Download the audition form and make your audition video, because knowing you, you'll never get rid of this itch unless you go ahead and do it. It's all right if you don't get chosen, at least you'll be at peace knowing you tried. If PLɛDIS doesn't think you're good enough to be a trainee, so be it.'

I blow a heavy sigh. Woooh. That was one long self-convincing speech right there. I'm calm and collected now.

So, okay. I download the audition form and fill in the details. I saved the accomplished form in my drive then planned my audition piece.