boy in seoul

chapter two

Seoul's streets rushed by while Kien sat in the SUV and starred out of the window. The fast-changing scenery was the only thing that kept his eyes open. One look at his phone and his eyes would fall shut.

He hadn't slept at all last night. With closed eyes and a racing mind, he had lied in his bed trying not to wake up Dang from moving too much. His body had been exhausted but he couldn't fall asleep. Eventually, his alarm went off and freed him from staying motionless. Like a maniac, he jumped up and started his morning routine before everyone else even opened their eyes. He had been the first person in the bathroom, the first in the kitchen for breakfast and the first ready for their departure.

Being the first sadly meant he had to wait. And waiting meant the tiredness came back. Kien would have given a lot to change the appointment with the radio station for dance practice. At least in the dance studio, he didn't have to hide how tired he was.

It started at the breakfast table. Jong-Hun, Sung-Jin, and Shiwon told him he looked like he hadn't slept a minute, which was true but he couldn't let them know. The question of why would follow. So with a shoulder shrug, he told them it just looked like it and they let it go. Dang, on the other hand, didn't say anything. But he also didn't believe Kien's shoulder shrug.

Dang's eyes were on Kien from the moment they met in the kitchen. Worried eyes. When they all left their dorm to go get their styling done, Dang came to him and asked what was wrong. A redundant question coming from him. Kien just shook his head and entered the car.

Their stylists noticed his tiredness as well. Especially the dark bags under his eyes. They worked hard to conceal them and it worked. A little bit more awake and the physical signs of his sleepless night gone everyone quickly forgot about it. Everyone except Dang.

Even now, on the way toward, the KBS building, where the interview would take place, Dang gave Kien a worried look from time to time.

Finally, the little convoy of three cars arrived in front of the KBS building. Kien put on his best smile and opened the door. Together as a group, the five members walked in front of the few reporters in front of the entrance. Standing in line, they bowed and introduced themself as Dynasty.

They were a fairly new group. They debuted just over a year ago but already had two comebacks. The third one would be in a few weeks. Up until now, they hadn't won any awards yet but they were popular nonetheless.

After a few pictures, they walked into the building to get welcomed by a lovely woman named Pak Youna who was smiling at them like a sun.

"It is such an honor to meet you," she bowed toward them. They bowed back and assured her it was their pleasure. "Please follow me," she turned around and guided them toward an elevator. From there she showed them to their waiting room.

"Wait here, get a touch-up, and my colleague will come later and show you the way to the studio." Then she closed the door behind her and gone she was. A few minutes later their stylists and the assistant of their manager came in. All five of them got a touch-up and a slight change in their outfit.

For Kien, it all happened in a trance. He tried to gather enough energy to be more animated during the interview. He didn't even notice Dang coming close to him until he whispered in Kien's ear:

"Don't worry. I help you get through." Kien looked at him and smiled. Dang returned the smile. Now out of his trance, Kien heard the loud voices of his two other teammates behind him. They were doing some vocal warm-ups. Shiwon played on his phone.

Kien turned his chair around wanting to join the warm-up, so at least the little singing part of the interview they had to do would not be as bad. But before he could say anything there was a knock on the door. One of the stylists got up and opened the door.