A Way To My Dream

Chapter 6: East, West, Home is Best

"East, West, Home is Best."

Two months has it been. Long months away from home. Leona never felt so alone like this. Never felt so cold, not this cold.

"Trainee! Today we will be going to group you in to 5." Leona rub her arms and listened to the mentors. Two months ago, she's been wishing for this. Two months after, she's working on it. She met all the four mentors, or maybe five. Including Ashley who monitor their progress from time to time.

She's afraid of him, that's for sure. He's like her terror teacher back in school.

"Mr. Lee, here, will be the one to pick everyone of you." Ella said, encouragement laced her voice. Then her eyes stumble upon the girl at the back.

"Starting today onwards, your training will be more strict and hard. I do not intend to discourage you. But, if anyone of you wants to leave, do it now. The sooner the better." Ashley with his monotonous voice that always makes Leona gulp hard. He intently eyed the youngest girl. Leona looked away and sighed.

The grouping has started.  Huian, the one with short hair was chosen to lead her group. She looks strict and hard core for a lady. Huiling, Meili, Lifen, Jingjin, Changying, Meihui, Mengxua, Lihua, and Liquan. Liquan is the given name for Leona. Being the only one who has foreign name, she's asked if she wants to have a screen name. She doesn't want it. Ashley does give her at the end.

The ten leaders stood in front of the other girls.

"From today until the end of this month, you are incharge of your members. Anything that happen during the duration, you will be hold liable."

"Yes, Sir!" Leona's heart took a leap out of her chest. She's nervous.

"Ok," Ashley clapped his hand. He motioned David to come forth.

"Give them the list of their members." David nodded.

"Don't worry, each of one of you will be given a chance to be a group leader. Put this in mind. Everything you give, will be given back." Ashley took his exit. He secretly took last glimpse of Leona before closing the door.

"I believed, we need not to explain everything further. Be ready for another performance later." All of the mentors left the dance studio room.

Leona couldn't stop fidgeting. Looking at the piece of paper.

"Jia, Jiao, Jiayi, and Jiaying, please come to me." She softly called out. Jia, the cute girl with short blonde hair stood and joyfully came to her.

"Hi,Leona..." She dragged out, chuckling. Leona timidly smile to her and waited for the other member.

"Jiao, and the two of you! Come on..." Jia called out happily. She cling to Leona.

The Jiayi and Jiaying are obviously twin sisters. Aside from the cute mole under Jiayi eyes, all are identical. From their black long straight hair, round face, cute nose to a slit for an eyes, all are the same. They're cute. They look quiet and reserve, like Leona. Jiao on the other hand is kinda jolly and smiley. She's definitely like Leona, when she's still at home.

Though all of them always see one another, they all barely talk and converse. They focused on competing, performing, practicing, and trying to please the mentors.

"Hi, I'm Jiao. You can call me Jaojao. I'm 16 years old." Jiao smirked and winked to Leona. It cause a tint of red on her face.

"Hey..." Leona shyly smiled.

"I'm Jiayi, and she's Jiaying. We're twins, and we are 16."

"Okay, I'm Liquan, aka Leona. Please be nice to me." She bowed to them.

"Likewise," The four said in unison.

Leona and her group sat on the farthest corner of the room to talk, trying to get to know one another. She listened to Jia and Jiao since they're the talkative. She still speak here and there to answer some of their question but aside from it she just listened. She tried to talk with the twin. Alike her, they also just want to listen.

Meanwhile, on the other room couple room ahead from the dance studio. Ashley sat on the single sofa and open the TV.

"Showbiz News! Mysterious dancer took over the internet, making the media gossips reach the highest peak! This video was uploaded in Weibo by famous vlogger of XiaXiaVlog. The nitezines started to comment and ask for the name of the Mysterious Dancer. Some of the curious nitezines concluded that it might be one of XiaXiaVlog gimmick to gain more followers, since the video footage is extremely clear. Aside from the face, everything is clear. One of the XiaXiaVlog followers even commented jokingly that it might be the mysterious XiaXiaVlog vlogger. Is the mysterious vlogger started to show who they are? Who is the mysterious dancer?!" After the news stream, the video footage then followed. The video ended after a minute. Ashley frowns. It surely took his interest.

"For the video. The link has description below."

Ashley turned on his phone and open his Weibo account.

"This looks familiar to me..." He said pertaining to the place that backgrounds the video.

"Mr. Lee, I'm sorry to disturb you. The mentors were asking if are you going to come here. We have started the audition." Ashley stop his car to the side. The road is quite slippery and dangerous.

"I'm on my way." He took a glimpse outside. He set his car's heater higher.

"I understand. Please, be careful." Ashley frowns hearing a bang on the other side of the phone.

"Please, excuse me, Mr. Lee." The line was cut off before Ashley can say anything.

He started the engine and continue the drive.

"Ah... it was there. It's the park." He mumbled. Smirk has slightly paint itself on his face. His quite delighted of his own discovery.

...

Afternoon came, another performance awaited the trainees. For the past months, they have been taught of different of different dancing styles. Some of them improve their singing and dancing skills. Ashley could not helped but notice that some of the girls has more higher potential in modelling than dancing and singing. Some excel with their talents. But, some are mediocre.

Ashley motioned David to come near him.

"Yes, Sir?" David asked. "After this, tell the crew to install telephone station in the dorm. Put it inside the trainees room. Tell them to cut the internet connection." Ashley informed. David nodded without question. This is why he stayed longer. He does everything without questions.

"I understand,"

The mentors came inside the function hall and sat on their respective seats. The trainees started to gather on the backside preparing themselves.

Mr. Chan stood in front of the hall. He cleared his throat to get the trainees' attentions.

"For today's performance, the mentors selected a pair to compete with each other. You will be graded individually depending on your performance, however, your grades will be compared to each other. There are three chances for everyone to salvage the lose. If one of you loses trice, the consequence will be given."

After hearing the announcement, the trainee let a loud gasps. Murmur of complains tool the room.

"No way!"

"I'm nervous, Ying." Jiayi whispered to her twin. Jiaying nodded as she felt similar.

"It's survival..." other trainee, beside Leona, mumbled. Leona nodded subconsciously.

"Outside, it's not safe, it's not easy, it's cold and it's not home..."

"Mom..." She whispered. She clenched her knuckles on her laps and sighed.

This is the path that she's chosen to take.