2 Kim Namjoon - Opportunity
< 2009 Big Deal Squad >
This was when I had my first audition.
*huu* "This is a learning experience... deep breaths...deep breaths..." I repeatedly chanted to myself. I looked at the black building towering over me, feeling a slight pressure of stress weighing down on my shoulders.
...
After my parents consented to my intention to pursue music, I worked even harder to improve my skills by participating in several competitions to gain much needed experience. I focused even more in composing music. Even so, with meticulous planning, I still managed to have time to study and not neglect my grades.
One day, I was lucky enough to come across a flyer to audition for Big Deal Squad, an underground hip-hop agency. Though it wasn't well known, it was still a good opportunity to test my abilities so I took that chance without hesitation and applied. And now, I just had to wait.
...
"Joon-ah! You have mail!" my mother exclaimed, placing a letter on the dining table while I was busy munching on food. My eyes lit up as a thought flashed across my mind. I fervently grabbed the mail. Big Deal Records!
Clenching the envelope firmly in my hands, I swiftly opened it using a letter opener. I then hurriedly scanned through its contents: Runch Randa, Congratulations! You have been chosen as one of the 50 candidates for our company's audition. Your audition slot is at 1pm. Please arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the appointed time. Location: xxx For more information, contact: xxx
"Mother, I got it!"
...
"Number 35, Runch Randa!"
Hearing the speaker on the ceiling of the waiting room announcing my stage name, I got up from my seat, starting towards a black door labelled with silver plated words: "Auditions"
I gently pushed down the cool metal handle, opening the door with a soft click.
Upon entering the room, small butterflies began fluttering around my stomach. *Gulp* I nervously stepped to the front of the judging panel. All I could see in the room was the black, carpeted floor where three judges were seated languidly on chairs in a horizontal row. They wordlessly flipping through a stack of papers on a long, black table. Other then that, the room was empty.
"Good afternoon! I'm Kim Namjoon, a 7th grade middle school student from xxx middle school, 14 years old, and known by the moniker, Runch Randa." I mechanically introduced myself, forcefully suppressing my anxiety by clenching my left fist tightly behind my back. One by one, the judges turned their attention towards me. The judge sitting in the middle calmly got up from his seat.
"Good afternoon young man. I'm Sleepy, a rapper from the duo, Untouchable. I heard that you are performing with a self-composed recording? I have high expectations, haha! You may start once you're ready! Don't be too nervous." Sleepy continued to chirp away, introducing the other two judges seated beside him. They responded in turn with a slight nod. Sleepy had a cheerful aura surrounding him as he quietly observed the youth before him.
The boy had a tall frame for his age and long, lean legs. His charming monolid eyes positioned high on his smooth, oval-shaped face. His hair was cropped short in a bowl cut slightly swept to the side, showing his brows. Rectangular black glasses framed his face. When he smiled with his full lips, his dimples would dance at the corners of his cheeks and his eyes formed an adorable crescent moon shape. Overall, he had a unique charm. That was his first impression.
...
I cautiously took a peak at the judges expectant gazes. It's time. I shut my eyes and took a couple of breaths to calm my nerves. Focus...focus...focus...
I carefully recalled the song I was about to perform, letting my instincts take the reigns.
...
After several seconds, the boy opened his sharp eyes. The judges' eyes widened in pleasant surprise. Everyone in the room was sucked into his piercing gaze— the youth had quite the charismatic stage presence that had the ability to command the attention of people. His calm and collected aura was magnetic. All eyes were subconsciously trained onto him.
...
The boy started out slow. His voice was light and sweet—pleasant to the ears. As he gradually got into the rhythm, the verses he rapped had better modulation and control. His movements were also not too exaggerated till it affected his rapping. His body swayed rhythmically to the beat as he used his arms to feel the tempo and beat, keeping his flow and cadence in check. In the beginning of the chorus, he seemed to have turned the speed of his rapping up a notch, his rap clear and resonant, flowing smoothly without much difficulty. Towards the bridge, the youth got more and more heated up, his voice starting to sound mildly strained till the tendon and veins on the side of his pale neck became visible to the eyes.
Sleepy was impressed. A boy at his age managed to rap so fluently and at a steady pace with little to no error. He could also express his emotions vividly to the audience, his previous nervousness was nowhere to be seen.
"Thank you." The youth bowed respectfully once the song ended. His face was slightly flushed after the performance, his forehead beaded with sweat. The judges had smiles plastered on their faces as they clapped warmly in satisfaction.
"This kid has talent! He's already rather fluent in rapping. He's only 14, the song he composed wasn't bad, with proper training, he can still improve by leaps and bounds, not like those rappers who are already in their mid twenties!"
"He's a pass for the first round!"
"Why didn't we discover him sooner?"
The judges started murmuring enthusiastically among themselves.
...
*Ahem* "You did well! You may go back to the waiting rooms to wait for the results." Sleepy's lips quirked up as he spoke, showing me out of the room.
I internally breathed a sigh of relief at his words, quickly shuffling out into the waiting room. Did I really do well? A small seed of doubt sprouted within me, a contradiction to my momentary relief.
...
*beep* *beep* *beep*
"The auditions have ended! Please make your way to the reception and look at the notice board containing the list of participants who have passed the first stage."
The moment the announcement was made, I bolted to the reception in anticipation. Swiveling my head to observe the crowd of people that had already gathered around the notice board, my heart thumped faster and faster against my chest.
"Sigh... I didn't make it..."
Thump.
"I-I passed oh my god!"
Thump. Thump.
"Hey hey! Where's my name?"
Thump. Thump. Thump.
A mixture of voices could be heard in the crowd. Happiness, sadness, regret— many people contained emotions that differed from the other.
I anxiously made my way through the bustling crowd to get a closer look. I started to read from the back, number 25, and slowly made my way up, searching for my name. "..." Where was it? Up till tenth place, I still could not spot it. Cold sweat trickled down the top of my forehead, my brows creased in worry. Was my performance... ?
Na joo-hyun... Lee Soo-gun... Kim... Minu...I didn't think I would get kicked out in just the first round...
Just as I felt helpless and was about to turn back, I quickly skimmed across the top three on the list, trying not to hold much expectations.
"!"
Is this for real? Fi-first place... Kim Namjoon! M-me! My whole body froze on the spot. I couldn't believe my eyes. I repeatedly scanned the name that was right at the top of the list. I pinched my cheeks.
"Ouch!"
Eh? Not a dream? Not a dream! I started uncontrollably grinning from ear to ear. Even though I had not considered the possibility of becoming a trainee since only the top five could be accepted into the agency, I had still held a certain degree of expectation for myself. I felt I could at least make it to the top fifteen.
Yes! I pumped my fists in the air.
...
Just then, a young man wearing a black leather jacket and black jeans was standing behind the crowd, also scanning through the list. He was tall and lanky, towering over all the people around him. His chin was held up high and his arms were crossed. The first impression that he gave off was, he was arrogant.
"Tch, I'm actually in second place?... That boy... I see." A look of disdain briefly crossed the man's face as he scrutinized the boy who was pumping his fists in the air joyously. He frowned. He somehow felt threatened when he looked at the boy. Even if I got in...he'll be in my way.
"...Enjoy your moment of victory while you can."
...
I dashed back home to tell my family the good news. "I'm home! Geong Min-ah! I passed the first round!" I exclaimed while panting, upon seeing my little sister lounging on the sofa once I opened the door. Hearing the good news, Geong Min ran up to her brother and hugged him with her short arms, her bubbly little face beaming brightly as she tilted her head up to look at him. "I'm happy too!" She smiled, revealing dimples akin to her brother's at the sides of her cheeks, making her look all the more adorable.
"Joon-ah, welcome home! You passed? We're all so happy for you!" My mother's tender voice resounded from the kitchen. I could hear her happiness. From the sofa, my Father merely glanced at me and grunted, but I could see the satisfied smirk he tried his best to hide. My heart warmed.
...
A few days later, I received another letter:
'For the second round, you are to arrive at the same location, xxx. Your slot will be at 1.45pm. Please reach 15 minutes prior to the appointed time to get ready. For more information, contact xxx.'
Fumbling with the letter in my hands, I silently prayed to myself for things to go smoothly again.
