PR (1)

Joon-woo closed his mouth as he finished the song he had been singing for the last few minutes, his hands eased off his guitar and he looked up to the crowd that had gathered 'round a bit lost. 

A ring of applause suddenly busted at Joon-woo's eardrums. He closed his eyes at the noise as it beat against his face, a crowd two times bigger than the days before looking at him with admiration like he had never seen.

He fidgeted with his hands as they intersected in his lap, "Thank you, that was my last song…" He whispered red into the microphone. "Please support me on Producer10…" He felt a bit bad, shamelessly promoting himself like such. But if he didn't have a company to do so, who would?

While looking at the ground to avoid the crowd's praiseful gazes and coos, he spotted the guitar case he had used to collect money. He found it full with bills, coins, and even a few folded up phone numbers. He smiled to himself. He could finally afford to feed himself something nice.

He practically drooled at the idea of restaurant tteokbokki, the fanciest of teas, and everything he had missed for years and years. But nothing could top Reggie's mother's tteokbokki. Joon-woo craved a home cooked meal quite badly now, more than he had in the past. Perhaps you only miss things only after you get a glimpse of them again

It took a moment for the crowd to die, their noise and then them themselves. But Joon-woo still began to clean up. He first began with collecting the money into his hands in a more organized manner. He slipped the guitar into its case, his small mic into his pocket. 

But just as he took the money into his hands, it all stacked in Joon-woo's grasp and shining with its glory, a shadow was cast over him. A person stood over Joon-woo. 

He looked up with a small gulp and went to hide his money behind his back. Above him stood a suited man who wore a creepily large smile. 

The man wore a fitting blue tie, black suit, heavy sunglasses, and too-fancy dress shoes. Joon-woo knew this appearance well. This man was a talent scout.

"Are you a student?" The scout's deep voice asked.

Joon-woo paused. He was a drop out. Really, it was quite embarrassing to admit. So he pursed his lips and stayed silent. 

The scout looked at Joon-woo expectantly, before sighing and pulling out a card from his suit-pant pockets. He held it out to Joon-woo's anxious figure with a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek. 

"Have you ever thought about becoming an idol? Even an actor or soloist? You have quite the face…" The scout inquired.

Joon-woo picked at the skin along his wrists, "Ahh, I am already a trainee…" He replied. 

The scout paused, "Oh, that's too bad. If you don't mind me asking, for what company?" 

Joon-woo began to sweat at the question. Because he was a trainee, just not one under a company anymore… If he said he was independent, the scout would probably chase him like some dog, but if he said Sunrise Entertainment, would this man even believe him? 

He sighed, maybe he would have to lie…

"I am a trainee under ICE Entertainment…" Joon-woo replied with a sly lie. 

ICE Entertainment was one of the powerhouse entertainment companies of Korea. They were known for producing vocal AND dance powerhouses, and therefore they were feared by smaller companies. Mi Yong, Jung Hyun-Ok, and regretfully Baek Du-Ho were from ICE, their skills proving their companies name even further. 

Joon-woo hoped, begging that it would drive the man away. He mentally begged for this scout to be from a small, no name company and be scared off. 

But instead the scout just stared Joon-woo down harder. 

"Are you?" The scout questioned, "Well, in a company like that, wouldn't your, might I say quite eloquent vocals be overshadowed? Take my card, yeah?" He continued, slipping his business card forcefully into Joon-woo's hand. 

Joon-woo flinched at the contact. Really, it made his skin crawl. He avoided the scout's gaze, still.

"Think about it!" The scout finished, before running off into the busy city streets. He didn't even give Joon-woo time to reply… 

Joon-woo flipped over the man's business card. What small company would it be this time?

His eyes widened. SOUND Entertainment.

"SOUND Entertainment…" Joon-woo repeated to himself in disbelief.

He quickly pinched deep into his skin, as if to test if this was real. The blood pooling at the pressure said yes.

SOUND Entertainment was one of the other powerhouses. Unlike ICE Entertainment, they focused on vocals more than anything. In fact, K-Pop's best vocalists lived under this company, K-Pop's best soloists, and bands & groups!

In fact, while in Cheerleader, Ha-rin was the only of her group to ever get scouted by such a vocal-heavy company. Hell– SOUND barely scouted trainees because the trainees often came to them. So being scouted by SOUND was essentially a bigger deal than being scouted by ICE or Xe Entertainment. 

Joon-woo hid his face in his hands, almost forgetting the absolute bank he had just made.

–+–

"Hey Joon-woo, have you possibly… grown?" Mi Yong questioned, sitting upon Ryeo Hyun's bottom-bunk bed all ready for a new week of recording. Mi Yong had made it a tradition at this point, to snatch Reggie by his collar and drag him to Joon-woo and the others' dorms like he slept there. 

Joon-woo, who had just exited the bathroom after changing into the show's uniforms, looked at Mi Yong with a deadpan. Because of Mi Yong's comment, everyone in the room, even the ever-sleepy Jung Hyun-Ok, peaked over to Joon-woo in curiosity. 

Mi Yong stood and his 5'8' figure running a hand to his own forehead, before dragging it over Joon-woo's head. Mi Yong's eyes widened. 

"Ehh..? You actually– you got taller!" Mi Yong practically yelled. Really, couldn't this guy control his volume?

Joon-woo shook his head. Over their two-day leisure, Joon-woo, as embarrassing as it was, bought various milks and had been drinking them as if they were water. Kite had teased him endlessly over it. But really, hadn't it paid off? This kid was lucky he was just 18 and still had room to grow…

"Yong Hyung…" Joon-woo groaned, waving Mi Yong's hands away. 

But Mi Yong persisted, "Reggie, Reggie, won't you compare heights?"

Joon-woo's face darkened and with clenched fists he shook in rage. The cameras weren't even on, so why was Mi Yong talking about this?

Reggie stood and marched over to Joon-woo, letting Mi Yong push him around until Joon-woo and Reggie stood side by side. Reggie still towered over Joon-woo like he had before… But Joon-woo knew this body's limit was probably 5'7', maybe 5' 8' if he was lucky.

"Guys, look– look!" Mi Yong cried, pointing to the duo with wide eyes. "Joon-woo grew a little!"

"Mm, I guess you've been drinking more milk then?" Jung Hyun-Ok commented, head and arms hanging off his top-bunk bed as he peered to Joon-woo. 

Joon-woo, who's face had begun to go red, stormed over to his bed. Really, he was embarrassed. He knew his efforts paid off, he just hated getting praised for them.

Jung Hyun-Ok thought it a good idea to continue speaking.

"Did that protein milk Ryeo Hyun suggested actually work?" Jung Hyun-Ok questioned, "Really, you might grow muscles like his next…"

At that the whole group, except for Joon-woo, broke into laughter. Joon-woo's blush grew and his nails dug into his palms almost to blood. He really, really hated these guys.

Thankfully, the speaker overhead spoke, Producer Jang-soo's voice coming through in static. 

"All contestants– meet in stage room in T-five minutes."

The serious tone Producer Jang-soo held shut the group up. Truthfully, Joon-woo was only thankful for the Producer at times like this…

"Oh– the PR videos! I think that's what we're doing next…" Bo Jaesang spoke up, his face twisting into one of hype into a nervous one. "I wonder, though, did people pick us good?"

Joon-woo exchanged a knowing glance with Reggie. He recalled how Reggie had picked a PR video topic for Bo Jaesang, how he asked Joon-woo for help. At least Bo Jaesang would be saved by the petty and jealous grouped contestants. 

"Aish– probably not…" Mi Yong grumbled, "At least not me, Hyun-Ok-ah or Joon-woo…"

And it was true. Because as the recording sessions went on, the three were avoided as if they were hawks. It confused Joon-woo. Why he was grouped to be an outcast with rank one and two? He would never know. 

"I'm not looking forward to mine either." Jung Hyun-Ok complained, "More attention at what cost…" 

Reggie lightly snickered at such, "I guess in this case I'm lucky, then."

"Lucky?" Bo Jaesang asked.

"If it were left up to the Producer's, I would get a bad topic." He shrugged, explaining the producer's prejudice like it was something simple.

Joon-woo's brows furrowed. After the PR video incident, in which Reggie was clearly glared at by the staff, Joon-woo had noticed much more. The staff not helping translate certain things, cameras either getting too close or not close at all, and even remarks! Really, it boiled Joon-woo's blood to no end.

"I don't like that." Joon-woo butt in, "They should be nicer." He huffed. The room's atmosphere agreed greatly.

Mi Yong raised an eyebrow, "Aww, are you pouting Joon-woo?" He asked, going in to pinch at Joon-woo's cheeks. 

Joon-woo jumped back and away from Mi Yong. "Don't come near me." He said, standing at the door. "I'm going to the stage room now." He said with his arms crossed.

He turned and exited the dorm room, ready to get these PR videos over with. Mi Yong in a joking panic followed, pulling on Joon-woo's arm. But eventually the group followed Joon-woo and his annoyed figure to the stage room.