Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
nine.
YEONJUN AND SOOBIN STOOD IN THE KITCHEN, wondering what to cook. There was a noticeable tension in the air considering the past events but they decided to drop it at the moment in order to make the debut work. Of course, the main purpose they were in Soobin's house was to make amends for their future.
"What should we cook?" Yeonjun asked as he walked over to the fridge and took a look inside. "There's just pasta here and...bread."
"Let's go with pasta. We can make some spaghetti and ramyeon. I have it in the cupboards," Soobin replied as he walked over to the cabinets and grabbed a few packs of ramyeon.
They went on with cooking but it was undeniable that the tension was rising and the awkwardness lingered in the air. Yeonjun recalled the past events and wondered why he even agreed to cook with Soobin since the two have been constantly arguing and fighting over even small matters that other people would call immature.
When did it even start?
The two couldn't remember exactly.
"You know, we have to go back to practicing soon and we still haven't decided on our group's concept," Yeonjun started the conversation.
Soobin recalled how they argued over the concept a few days back and couldn't stop the words from coming out of his mouth.
"Well, you did start the argument about the concept."
Not knowing how his words impacted Yeonjun, Soobin continued pouring the pasta into the hot boiling water. Yeonjun, however, felt his mood plummet as he remembered the bitter feeling of jealousy. The recollections of his past trainee days replayed in his head.
----
"Oh, is that the new trainee?"
Yeonjun looked at the stage to see the new trainee walking in front, adjusting the mic to fit his height. "What's his name?" He asked his co-trainee beside him.
"Soobin...I think? Wow, amazing, his looks are top-notch and he's really tall. I heard that he can also sing well," The trainee replied.
Yeonjun nodded, staring at the trainee with a small hint of envy in his eyes. He admitted that the new trainee looked very handsome and with his height complimenting him, Yeonjun looked average in comparison when it came to visuals.
He felt bitter.
But he shrugged those thoughts away, wanting to be appreciative of the new trainee instead of being intimidated. They are family, that's what Bang-PD said and so Yeonjun ignored his jealousy and clapped for the trainee, soon wanting to be his friend.
----
Yeonjun's expression turned cold as he looked away. "I don't understand why PD-nim chose you."
Soobin looked at him with confusion in his eyes. "What are you talking about?"
Yeonjun concluded...maybe it was during the time they chose their positions.
----
"Of course, Hueningkai will have the position of the youngest." Bang Si-Hyuk chuckled, ruffling the top of Hueningkai's head.
"So I have it planned and you've all confirmed your positions in the group, right? Then I'll read it out."
"Your positions will not be official or permanent which means that you can change your position every comeback except for the leader, center, and maknae. I will be reading out the main for every position so the others get to choose which else they like every comeback."
They all nodded, listening to the producer diligently.
"Kang Taehyun is in charge of vocals, Choi Yeonjun for dance and rap. Hueningkai for maknae and Beomgyu as center as well as visual..." He paused, watching all their reactions.
"and Choi Soobin as the leader."
Yeonjun's smile faded. He appeared happy and congratulated the others for their positions but there was darkness in his heart, a feeling of envy as he looked at Soobin. He didn't understand why he wasn't chosen as leader, even though it would be pressuring, he wanted the role.
Why wasn't he chosen? He kept asking himself on his way home. He was the oldest and had the most experience out of all of them.
So why Soobin?
----
"Is there something wrong with me? Did I fail?" Yeonjun asked, feeling the resentment once again.
"I don't understand—"
"You're the leader. It was supposed to be me!" Yeonjun interrupted, snapping at Soobin. "I was in bighit the longest! I am the oldest out of us five. I always get first in all the rankings but why didn't PD choose me as the leader?"
Soobin's eyes widened at his sudden outburst. He now understood why Yeonjun suddenly looked at him in a bad light. How his first friend in bighit became his enemy when the five of them were chosen to debut.
"Yeonjun, I didn't know you thought of it like that. I'm sorry..." Soobin spoke in almost a whisper.
"Now when we debut everyone will ask why I wasn't chosen as the leader. They'll think I'm lacking, that there's something wrong with me." Yeonjun sniffled, feeling tears well in his eyes.
"Yeonjun..." Soobin walked over and pulled Soobin into a hug.
Not knowing that Yeonjun secretly reached for the frying pan on the counter behind Soobin.
"We can tell PD...you can be the leader if you want. I'm okay with it," Soobin comforted him as he slowly pulled back from the hug.
"Some things are better left unsaid, Soobin...I'm sorry about this."
Soobin's brows creased in confusion as he noticed the smirk on Yeonjun's lips, but he was too late to notice how Yeonjun raised his hand and the glint of metal that appeared as he looked behind him.
