Vocal Trainer Rose (2)
A week had passed since I officially started my trainee life.
After that week, I was finally starting to get used to it. I'd clumsily sat through a few debut team classes, and now the manager director was dragging me around for real, piling on demands left and right.
First up was exercise. Calling it the first didn't mean much, since it spawned a ton of side requirements. Diet management, intense workouts for weight loss—you name it.
Second was foreign languages. Honey Enter aims to produce globally active idols, so they take languages seriously. Word was, acing a foreign language gave you bonus points for debut team selection.
Why do I have to improve so damn much?
For languages, I could pick from Japanese, English, or Chinese. I went with English since it was the most familiar to me. They also mentioned some minor procedures before debut, but I passed on those. They planned to market me as a natural beauty, and even small tweaks could invite scrutiny.
On top of that, they dove into managing my personal relationships. Starting from school days, they checked for any connections that could cause 'Jin Haesol' trouble post-debut. It was extreme privacy invasion, but Uyeon explained it was unavoidable.
"School bullying scandals blew up everything last time. Honey Enter had a group they poured everything into, and now they can't even promote. For the next idol group, they're screening from the start to make it flawless—no scandals allowed."
Honey Enter's stance was take it or leave. Trainees desperate for debut had no choice but to swallow their pride. My situation wasn't different, so I couldn't block the company's checks.
Poni probably set up a clean past, anyway.
The company was clearly dead set on debuting me. With the debut team manager popping in constantly to whisk me away, rumors spread among trainees that I was a lock for debut.
"Anyway, the vibe's gotten tense lately," Uyeon said cautiously, relaying the atmosphere.
"They're jealous seeing the director fuss over you, hyung. Feeling the pressure. But it's not like picking on you guarantees their spot. Just... be extra careful, hyung."
"What could they even do to me?"
"Who knows what crazy shit they'll pull? Think of it as do-or-die for them. Someone makes it, someone drops dead—ain't nobody sane right now. Looks peaceful on the surface, but those smiles? Fake as hell."
Uyeon gently reminded me my situation was unique, why they couldn't help hating me.
The rolling stone gathers no moss, huh.
They'd built bonds over years, couldn't hate each other—then I dropped in, perfect target. If I gave them any excuse to hate me more?
"Hearing you say that, yeah, I gotta watch my back."
"Exactly. This group's gonna be perfect trainees only—no one doesn't know that. They'll flip tables to carve out a spot."
Causing drama could tank even a confirmed debut. Plus, I wasn't in on skills—I was the visual pick.
"Thanks, man. But I'm always taking your help—what now?"
Uyeon flashed a meaningful grin.
"Secret, but just for you, hyung. Heard something from the director."
"What?"
In this timing? Only one possibility.
"No way—debut?"
"Yup! Hehe. Told me last Friday. I'm confirmed for the debut team."
"Holy shit! Congrats, dude!"
This punk hid it all this time? I slung an arm around his neck, messing around.
We giggled and play-fought before refocusing.
"Shh! Can't leak before official announcement. Lineup's not fully locked—they're agonizing over a few spots. Rumors could screw it."
I nodded, lowering my voice more. Sensitive stuff.
"Just you and me set?"
"Only heard about me. Director wouldn't spill full deets. But you're so obvious with him dragging you everywhere. Looks like culling's starting."
Higher-ups had already flagged dropouts for final checks.
"They hint early to no-hopers. Sounds harsh, but it's consideration—links to other agencies, job recs, even severance if wanted. This period's the worst: headaches, cutthroat rivalry."
I filed Uyeon's advice, half-doubting it'd hit me. But shockingly, it did—right after.
It started small.
"Ah, fuck!"
Colliding mid-dance happens all the time. No predicting who hits who, so everyone brushes it off. A slip of the tongue wouldn't have escalated it.
"Jaehun, you okay?"
"Ankle hurt bad?"
"Fuck, you've been a pain next to me all day. Gimme the spray."
"!!"
"…!!"
Casual diss, but everyone knew it targeted my weak dance skills.
Uyeon sidled up, grabbing my arm—stopping me from snapping and making it worse.
I grinned at him, grabbed the spray, and squatted by Jaehun.
"Hurt bad?"
"Don't need it."
Smack! He swatted my hand away—clearly gunning for a fight. His sidelong glares dripped malice.
If I were a real immature 20-year-old, rejection might've stung. But to me, this minor was just a brat throwing a middle-school tantrum.
"Aww, super mad? Hurts that bad?"
I'd chatted with Jaehun before, so teasing felt natural.
"You think I'm joking?"
"Aww~ pissed off~ mad 'cause it hurts~ Big bro'll fix it. Ouchie, so spray time. Gotta heal quick~"
Psssh!
"Fuck off!"
Jaehun grabbed my wrist hard, trying to turn the mood ugly, eyes bulging in threat.
"Wanna die? Acting big 'cause you're a year older?"
Fuming kid—only 19 anyway. Tragic: he knew he was on Uyeon's "hard-to-debut" list.
"It's fine, fine. Just flushed a bit. End-of-month eval's soon, Jaehun's stressed. My bad, should've been careful, right?"
"Fuc…!"
For him, month-end was make-or-break. Not a hard stomp, but sensitive as hell.
One injury, and it's over.
Couldn't snap at a kid's anxiety as an adult. I gently massaged his ankle, soothing his grumbles. Slowly, sanity returned—curses stopped, face fell gloomy.
He realized he overreacted. Plus, friends' worried stares? Mortifying.
"Month-end eval's huge, yeah."
"Glad it's not bad, Jaehun."
Trainees eyed it, then chimed in as it calmed. Soon, recovered Jaehun and I resumed practice. It blew over like nothing—
If not caught crystal-clear on the practice room CCTV.
"Kids are going nuts lately."
"Sad, but can't be helped. Debut ain't child's play."
"That guy's nicer than expected, huh?"
While trainees slaved unaware, every move fed via camera to execs deciding the debut team.
Billions per idol—no room for slop. Big agencies can't just launch carelessly; they prep perfectly.
So surveilling trainees? Zero guilt.
"With that face, probably dated tons. Clean past?"
"Says no, but girls let that slide? Probably hooked up ages ago. Too clean an image might backfire—dude oozes sex appeal."
"Yeah, feels like a 20-year-old who's seen action."
"Actor visual vibes, but no acting plans?"
"Skills suck, he says."
Even giants can't star every group. Bad luck or slip-ups bury them. Grab any fame path, no holds barred.
"Personality passes. Worried Uyeon—young, shaky center—but pairs well with Haesol."
"Mental game's solid."
"Slippery exterior, but killer instinct. Only one never cried in my class."
Rose trainer's testimonial nuked doubts on Haesol's mentality.
"Study attitude cooperative, English base decent but conversational weak—focusing there."
"But singing and dance too weak? Hot, sure, but not first-pick material. Jun's visual too."
"Jun's too introverted—wastes his looks."
"How's Haesol's skills, trainers?"
"Talented. No prior training, but picks up crazy fast. Shocked me. Assuming growth, debut-ready. Might rival Uyeon later."
Dance trainer Hwang Seongman's bombshell stunned the staff meeting.
"Rival Uyeon?"
"Later, not now. Needs years. But no talent walls. Went from squid-flailing to sharp edges in days. Blew my mind. Why waste this? Dance-wise, flawless potential. Just give time."
"Whoa~ Unit with Uyeon and Haesol later? Perfect! They're tight—would love it."
"Damn, jackpot? Knew from first look: grab him. Fate? My gut's gold. Visual pick dances too. Haha! Knew Haesol'd blow up. I scouted him, right?"
Sudden self-praise sparked room-wide laughter.