1 Trainee

It's quite gloomy again today. Seoul has been drenched for the past couple of days and it's not doing anything good for me. I had to run from the bus station to the studio the other day because the bright little me forgot her umbrella at Choonhee's. And now, I am feeling quite feverish. Looks like I'll be having colds soon.

I can't really afford to be sick though. The company has been talking about our debut and I need to make sure I use all the time I have to polish my vocals and my dancing. I need to make them think that we are ready for this debut. I don't wanna spend another year under the scrutinising stares of my so-called friends at school.

Choosing to become a trainee has brought me both joy and pain for the past two years. Atleast now, I know who my real friends are. Eventhough it's been two years since I signed with JG Entertainment, sometimes the things people say about me over the internet or at my back still gets to me. I still can't understand why people find it so easy to throw harsh words and comments online. As if it won't hurt because it's digital.

I was basically fuming when I arrived at the dorm. Memories of a darker past playing in my brain. I didn't even notice that I was already home.

"Eunjung-ah, is that you?" That would be Sooyong-eonnie.

"Ne, Eomma!" She loves it when I call her that. Everyone in the group knows my story but being my room mate, Sooyong-eonnie knows everything and she has taken the responsibility of being a mother and a big sister for me.

She happily ran-hopped to the living room and gave me a warm hug. She pat my hair before pinching my cheeks, some habit she formed recently.

"Want some hot chocolate? We still have time before our dance recitak." I've been trying to cut on sugar and carbs to maintain my figure but I really can't say no to those big shining eyes and that bright smile. Sometimes I wonder if I was really the baby or it was her. Nevertheless, I couldn't care less.

"Did I hear Eunjung's name?" Jin Ju-eonnie lazily prodded to the kitchen. Looking at how messy her bob is, she must have just woken up.

"Yup! It's me!"

"I don't know how you do everything you do, Eunjung-ah. Don't you just want to lay in bed all day, cuddled in a lot of pillows and a warm blanket." The aura Jin Ju exudes as an idol trainee and as a normal are exact opposites. She looks so sharp and alert and active during training but at home, she turns into a sloth. She basically just wants to sleep all day if she can.

"Eonnie, as much as I would want to cuddle with you, I had a presentation earlier. Don't worry too much though, I'm close to finishing my requirements for this semester. I can miss classes soon." And with that Sooyong eonnie's eyes blew out like ping pong balls.

"Cho Eunjung! Don't you dare miss school! Yah! Jin Ju yah! Why are you swaying our dongsaeng? I expected much more from you. I'm disappointed!" Her motherly instincts kicked in once again. I understand where she's coming from though.

Sooyong-eonnie goes to uni like me. Unlike me though, she came from a poor family so she values all the opportunities given to her. And being sponsored by the company is one of them.

"I'm sorry Eomma. You know I was just teasing. Can I have some hot chocolate too?" Jin Ju eonnie made a flower cup on her chin and blinked a couple of times while pouting. Honestly, who can say no to that?

"Psh! You all call me Eomma but you guys always disobey me!" Okay! Sooyong-eonnie's mood swings are really out of this world! One minute she's all sweet and cute the next she goes all out mother mode.

"Forgive me please. Promise! We will do our best not to stay up late in the studio." Jin ju eonnie elbowed me while shooting looks at our group eomma. I follow suit.

"Yes Eomma. Promise! Can we have the hot chocolate please?" This time it was my turn to act cute and I swear I almost vomit. I feel the hairs on my arm rise as I cringe. I really hate having to do aegyo but I've learned to bear it. The job calls for it and I need to adapt.

"Okay but just because Eunjung looks like she's really goin' to be sick real soon. Next time don't ever forget your umbrella. If you happen to misplace it, make sure to buy a new one!" She continually scolded as she handed us a mug each.

"Ne, Eomma!" We responded in chorus and Sooyong-eonnie finally smiled warmly again.

The hot cocoa felt so good in my mouth and it does wonders to my soul too. Sooyong-eonnie's hot chocolate is really to die for. Well, anything she cooks is to die for. Sometimes I even wonder why she chose to take up international studies rather than culinary arts. I'm sure her restaurant will be the talk of the town in case she decides to open one.

"YAH! EVERYONE'S CUTE DONGSAENG IS HOME!" Yup! That monster of a kid Yuri is finally home.

"No one said you're cute!" Finally, I was starting to wonder where Hyunju was. My soul sister and partner in crime. "I almost slipped in the bathroom when I heard you scream you little sh*t!" Yup! Hyunju's fully awake. My beloved potty mouth.

"Eomma! Eonnie's cursing at me again!" The maknae acted like she was hurt. Like this didn't happen almost every time they're together.

Sooyong-eonnie just shook her head slowly, sipping from her own cup of hot chocolate. Hyunju took this as a sign of victory and stuck her tongue out at Yuri which started their making faces battle. I am not one to complain, I enjoy watching them make a fool out of themselves. And between all the movements they were doing, Hyunju's towel managed to get dislodged from her chest and armpit that it completely fell.

"AHHHHHHH Eonnie!!!! NOOOOOO!!! MY EYES!!!!" Yuri screamed as she hid behind me as I almost fell from my seat watching everything unfold. Jin Ju eonnie actually choked on her drink which made me laugh harder.

"Yah! I am the perfect definition of sexy. I am the goddess of sexy! You should be proud to see the wholeness of my beauty!" And we all had to chortle at that. My god! This woman really has no shame!

"Oh my God Hyunju! Pick up that towel and cover yourself before I burn you!" Jin Ju eonnie finally had enough but she was still snickering as Hyunju rushed into their shared room to make herself presentable.

The ring of the doorbell followed by the sound of the main door opening and closing had us all in attention. There is only one person who does that, Byung Ho Oppa, our manager. He makes sure to announce his arrival via the doorbell so that we can make ourselves presentable. Let's just say, the incident earlier happened more often than we want to and Byung Ho Oppa doesn't want to embarrass himself by popping into a full on chili red blush.

"What have you guys been up to?" He really knows us quite well. "You look like you're all about to cry."

"Hyunju decided to wake us up by flashing us." And I had to face palm, trust Jin Ju eonnie to be as open as a naked baby. Eventhough he did not blush, his ears turned all red at what eonnie revealed.

"Guess I got good timing then. Atleast, I didn't have to witness it." He nervously laughed.

"Oppa, you've had enough of naked girls flashing for the rest of your life. Again, we are sincerely sorry for putting you through all that and we will do our best not to put you through it again." Sooyong eonnie was almost laughing as she apologised while she remembered the awful lot of times Byung Ho oppa arrived while we were in our birthday suit. It was cute watching him scramble to hide himself but a man can only go through so much of that embarrassment.

"To what do we owe the honour of you fetching us today though?" We were usually fetched by the company van to and from the dorm. "As far as I remember we only have dance the recital today and that's not until late afternoon." I'm getting quite excited with the possibility of change in schedule.

"I'll get to the details once everyone's here. How was uni?" Though the company isn't paying for my education (they obviously wouldn't be able to), I still have an image to maintain so it's natural for him to check on me every now and then.

"Uni's fine Oppa. Nothing I can't handle. I'm doing something I love so it's easy. Though, I'm not really sure that it's the same for the maknae." Yuri shot daggers at me with her eyes and I had to cackle at her.

"Schoo's just hard with all the schedules. I get too sleepy and sometimes I even end up dozing off for a couple of minutes." Byung Ho's brows shot up at that. Unlike me, they are paying for her tuition.

"It's a wonder how this hasn't been reported to us. Or are you bribing your teachers?" We really can't hide anything from this man.

"Well.." Yup, Yuri's caught but before she can spill Hyunju's ringing "PRESENT!" disturbed our peace yet again.

"We will certainly talk about school later, Yuri-ssi. But now that everyone's here, who's up for a little field trip?"