Passing by each other

The night Haneul left after performing, the group 'light of dance' were bombarded with comments and tag's in their SNS as a video of them started to turn viral overnight, reaching the top 10 searches. They had a huge influx of followers, as well as many comments complimenting them and asking when their next performance was.

"Hyunsoo-hyung! we're blowing up! We finally going big!" The youngest exclaimed while reading through the comments."

"Hyung, we got emails and messages from companies, asking if we can open for their events!" A older member said aloud to the group excitingly.

They were all excited because previously, they had not been offered many jobs to perform at events and such, thus had to make do with part time jobs on the side to feed themselves. At least now, it seemed like they finally had a firm foothold to hold onto.

"But they're all asking for that guy to perform as well right?" Seo Hyun soo retorted to them, killing their joyous mood.

"R-right, but i think it will be fine, since Minhyuk is back. " The youngest said with biased confidence.

"Speaking of which, the manager from TM Entertainment who contacted us will be here shortly; what time did you say it was?"

"10:30 am, that's what his reply said. I'm getting nervous just thinking about it! What if he want's to sign us as exclusive dancers with the company? I mean, it's TM Entertainment! It's so exciting."

"Stop getting worked up, isn't it just TM? Why are you making all this fuss; they only have

'Bestfriend', and have you heard their new album? It's so bad; totally doesn't match their group." One of them retorted.

"Plus, I heard from my uncle's friend's sister, that their company is on the verge of bankruptcy if they don't recoup profits by the end of this year, since investors are going to withdraw from the company." He continued on, while acting like he said a huge secret.

"Damn, it doesn't matter if it's from your uncles's friend's sister! Guys, I found out I have a 100 Million USD inheritance from my Great Great Uncle's second brother's mother in law." Another retorted, clearly mocking his friend.

"It's true! Why do you all never believe me!?"

"We'll believe you when you start paying for your share of the meal, you useless pig!" They all shouted.

"Enough, get ready to meet the manager, it's nearly time." Hyun soo instructed, while holding onto an old wallet and id card in his hands.

'Kim Haneul, won't you come sooner?'

***

"Is it here?" A man whipped his sweat with a handkerchief as he stared at the stairs leading underground.

Park Han San, a new manager starting his job at TM Entertainment last month, and transferred after failing to manage the boy band 'Another' in Blank Music Ent. He has been with them for 1 year, and was fired because he was careless while transporting their stage costumes and had torn one of them.

'Assh*les! it was just an inner shirt, and they were wearing a blazer over it anyways! F*cking pricks, I hope 'Another' group smashes your comeback song to bits!' he cursed in his mind.

Ever since he was joined TM, he was shocked by the failure rate to retain their trainees, with 80% of them leaving within the first year. In the industry, that was unheard of, and such the stress on the scout managers to find potential stars were placed, creating a heavy burden to each employee.

He was at first passionate starting out his new job, finding talents every week, however they left one after the other. He couldn't blame them however, since he saw how their training schedule was packed to the brim with lessons, leaving only a few hours of sleep.

'Though it's only a new company, they still have such strict evaluations. Sigh, no wonder there are talks about investors planning to leave. whatever, i'll just do my job, thinking about all that is above my pay-grade.'

He then by chance saw a video from the person sitting next to him last night while he was on the train home, and was judging them as mediocre until someone random from the crowd joined in. He felt shivers running through him as he continued to watch intently, not even noticing he missed his stop.

After getting home and searching online, he finally found the group's contact details and organised a meeting today.

"Hopefully that guy is here as well."

He walked in and found the group sitting around the bar bench-top, looking at him expectantly. He knew what their eyes were trying to ask, but he couldn't help but disappoint them.

"You bunch are all talented, and as much as i want to help you, i'm not really in the position to do that, haha... At most i can do is give you guy's an audition chance." He nervously said while rubbing his head.

They were obviously disappointed, but still had to thank him for the chance, after all, when could they receive the chance to audition anywhere else?

"You're here for him right?" Hyunsoo questioned rhetorically, while looking blankly at the manager.

"Haha, well yes." Park Han San enthusiastically responded.

"Kim Haneul, that should be him. Unfortunately for you, we don't know him. All we have is his wallet he dropped last night. " Hyunsoo stated coldly.

"That can't be." The manager dejected, not minding his rude behavior.

'What am i going to do now? i need to find new talent before tomorrows audition's or the boss is going to fire me. My sh*t luck'

"Well... I'll leave my card details here, so if you find him anytime soon, please give him my details and call back as soon as possible." He scribbled his number on the card his company gave him, and left briskly shortly after saying goodbye.

"There goes our shot at being signed." The maknae sighed dejectedly.

"Why are sighing? It's just TM. For us, there is only going up!" Another tried to cheer up the group.

"Whatever. Let's get ready for our performance. It's nearly time" Hyunsoo ordered, leaving to set up the stage.

***

"It was here right? God damn it. My only hope left is that those guy's last night have it" Haneul grimaced at his bad luck.

He was at the site where he danced last night, only to see it wasn't there, and only to be replaced by billboard signs from the store upfront. He even spent time digging through the rubbish in the alleyway hoping to find it.

"Don't tell me i have to get it replaced? It's such a hassle!" He complained.

He was never that fluent with Korean, so speaking to the office about complex important details were hard for him. Thankfully though, that time he had Sunhee around, doing everything for him, from getting his ID card, to his banking details and such.

"Oh well, might as well give up." Sighing while heading towards the main street.

"It's starting soon! Hurry up." A girl shouted to her boyfriend to hurry nearby.

"Why are you in such a rush. It's only a dance group." The boyfriend complained.

"What do you mean only a boy group? It's 'light of dance'! They're totally hot and trending online right now. We even missed last night because you wanted to play some LoL. Oppa, are you really going to do this? Do you want to break up?!" The girl threatened.

"Alright, Alright, Oppa's sorry. Lets hurry then." He said, calming her down and rushing along with her, crossing the road.

'Hm? isn't that the group from last night? What luck!' Haneul admired his good luck before following the couple across the street.

***

Hansan, sighing at his bad luck was dejected while waiting for the light to go green.

'What do i do? I'm going to receive an earful tomorrow. I even boasted about this super rookie earlier this morning.'

He crossed as the lights turned green, and saw a couple running across.

"How cheerful, when am i going to get a girlfriend... It's been 7 years." He jealously envied.

He then saw another guy following from behind them.

"How cheerful, chasing after another guy's girl... It's been 7 years." He jealously envied yet again.

'Wait. Isn't that him!?' He remembered as he reached the other side of the road.

Turning his head back, he could only see cars rushing as the light turned red, blocking his view from the other side.

Once the cars finally passed, all he saw was an empty street.

"... F*CKKKKKK!!!"

"Is it really going to end like this?! Passing by each other?!"

Yes. Yes it is.

He cried at his misfortune.