章 31: Roomies (7)

Joon-woo facepalmed with an expression of hidden disgust. His ears bled as if stabbed and Kite had retreated to the corner while muttering his lifelong regrets in life. Rank 26 could not, for the life of him, sing. Which checked out in Joon-woo's book as Rank 26's dancing was definitely top ten material, and his ank of 26 could only check out for the fact it was his voice that lacked.

Sure, Joon-woo had heard his fair share of shitty singing. In Cheerleader's trainee days, Ju Hae especially, their voices were less than satisfactory as dance was their companies main priority. In fact, they only added Ha-rin to the line-up because they needed a vocalist in the mix of dancers.

Teacher Nam nodded at the off-key notes of RIZEE's Talk Softly, his so far cheery face showing cracks. He had described to the group the process of coming up one by one and singing lines from pre-decided songs. The songs consisted of one per genre and Joon-woo found it a bit stingy.

Could they really not get the rights to anymore? He pursed his lips, watching Teacher Nam suddenly raise his hand, as if to stop Rank 26 at the mic.

"Ah, kid? Good… job. Let's give someone else a go now." Teacher Nam said, trying to discreetly rub the itches of his ears.

Rank 26 nodded with a closed, almost proud fist. He exited the recording room and joined the rest of the group back. Rank 21, who Joon-woo presumed to be Rank 26's friend, congratulated him with a real, encouraging smile.

Du-Ho, however, nodded at Rank 26's look for praise with pursed lips. And when Rank 26 looked away, he sighed, as if disappointed. Joon-woo held his smile, was this 'Leader' regretting his choices? The sight of a troubled Du-Ho satisfied him.

In a wave of confidence, Rank 21 stood, as if to follow his friend who's turn had just passed. But Teacher Nam suddenly brought his hand up.

"Hey, hey, why don't we have Du-Ho come up next! I've heard great things about you." Teacher Nam said, looking past Rank 21 and to Du-Ho with pleading eyes.

Du-Ho scoffed, but stood, towering over a slightly disappointed Rank 21 as they passed each other. Du-Ho to the recording room and Rank 21, next to Rank 26. Teacher Nam seemed more than relieved.

As if a natural, Du-Ho slipped headphones over his ears and adjusted the height of the microphone higher to reach his taller height. Teacher Nam's eyes practically glowed at the easeful movements. Joon-woo just sighed.

"What genre are you looking to show?" Teacher Nam asked with hearts floating above his head.

Kite, who had slowly recovered from the previously tortuous singing, perched upon Joon-woo's shoulder. "Teacher Nam is like– in love with Du-Ho or something…" It commented.

Joon-woo found himself slipping a smile too close in camera view. He had missed Kite's sly comments.

"I would like to rap, if possible." Du-Ho spoke with that same fake politeness. Seriously, did he only drop it when insulted Joon-woo?

Teacher Nam nodded, "Yes, yes. Your song choice is "Nobody" by Dgust A or "Livin' It" by J2harmony."

Kite cooed at the song choices, earning a judgemental glare from Joon-woo. The songs both had quite advanced rap, hell– Dgust A was probably one of the best rappers in all of K-Pop. Joon-woo, for a moment, wanted Du-Ho to stumble over his words. But as the familiar beat to "Livin' It" by J2harmony played, Joon-woo knew it not the case.

Du-Ho took a breath and adjusted the hem of his t-shirt.

"Average songs of average singers low, low

Everyone put your hands up to my rough flow, flow

The media is roaring paparazzi hound me

Surprise, you're lucky to have found me."

Du-Ho rapped, almost effortlessly– just a bit breathy towards the end. But still, Joon-woo was visibly suprised, as Du-Ho was quite talented even with his lack of experience. Teacher Nam nodded along with his cheeks high into a smile. Muttering something about striking gold.

"Whole new unseen color

Vivid and unique, this is my color

I don't care anyone swaggy, my color's different

I'm the boss, I'm the man, I'm a super, super, super."

Du-Ho then took a breath, nodding at Teacher Nam with a sly smile while ruffling at his hair. Teacher Nam's heart eyes grew tenfold. Was this guy fucking seducing the Teacher? Kite snickered at the action.

"Maybe he's into older guys." It joked.

"Or maybe he's not into guys at all…" Joon-woo whispered his reply.

The beat ran into a verse of singing, it was then Du-Ho signaled for the music to stop. Rubbing the back of his neck he said: "That's all I know, thank you." He slightly bowed in Teacher Nam's direction, with a small satisfied smile.

Teacher Nam looked at Du-Ho with shocked eyes, flinching at the short bow. "No, no, that was fine! Your rapping is very advanced…" Teacher Nam complimented Du-Ho, "You will do well on stage…"

Du-Ho looked away and out of Teacher Nam's view and even the camera in the far corner. Joon-woo watched, trying to hold his amused expression as Du-Ho sent him a slight head tilt as to say, 'Look what I can do'.

Kite slapped his wing against Joon-woo's back, "He's trying to compete with you– you go now!" It encouraged excitedly.

Joon-woo sighed, and, "I think you just wanna see the drama but whatever…" He whispered to Kite but then looked to Teacher Nam with a softened expression, "I will go now, Teacher Nam." He said, slinging some of his hair behind his ear.

Teacher Nam nodded, a fond smile crossing his face. He muttered something to himself that Joon-woo didn't quite catch before saying: "Great, great! What genre do you specialize in?" He curiously asked as Joon-woo set himself up.

Joon-woo tapped at his chin as he slipped thick black headphones over his hair. He placed them on, rather than slid them on, a habit from living with long hair. He also, much to his dismay, had to lower the microphone's height by a few inches, but did so while highlighting his ease.

"I believe I am best at ballads…" Joon-woo shyly requested, forcing an almost anxious expression as Teacher Nam looked at him a bit surprised, impressed.

"Ehh? Ballads?" Teacher Nam asked.

Joon-woo nodded, "If that's too much I can do something more pop-like or a ballad…" He added, versatility showing his forced words.

Kite sent him a look saying, 'Are you actually gonna be this petty?' Joon-woo hid the smile at his act.

Teacher Nam shook his head, "No– No! It's fine, RnB songs are just a rarer choice." He said, looking through a paper list of various songs. "It appears your choices are…" He began reading down the list and suddenly made a puzzled face, "Oh– there's only one song…"

Joon-woo tilted his head.

"It's Day7's Brain-Dead Creature…" Teacher Nam revealed.

Joon-woo pursed his lips, trying to recall the lyrics. The song had been barely promoted by the actual group, as there's been more K-Pop covers of the song than actual performances by Day7 themselves. The song went viral and Ha-rin had even put it on her playlist. Joon-woo remembered the lyrics fondly.

"Yes, I will do that." Joon-woo confirmed the familiar melody beginning to play, "I will do my best." He said, flashing Teacher Nam a short smile.

Joon-woo, waiting for his cue to begin, looked through the recording rooms mirror to the rest of Team Ten. They looked at him with anticipation so fake Joon-woo felt like he was at one of those multi-K-Pop group variety shows. He returned their anticipation with the first words.

"Breathin', but I've been dyin' inside

Nothin' new and nothin' feels right

Déjà-vu, so I close my eyes

Let the demon sing me a lullaby."

Joon-woo kept himself from looking at the reactions of his team, he could wait, he would see their real, camera-less act after the trainer left. But from the corner of his eye he saw Teacher Nam's face twist into one of surprise, his cheeks rising red.

"Today's a present that I don't want

So I'm wonderin' in this world

Am I really the only one

Who's been wantin' to hide out

From the sun and run?"

As Joon-woo continued, he noted that now would be the time that Teacher Nam would normally ask the person to stop. But he didn't, he just looked at Joon-woo with entranced eyes. The stare didn't make him uncomfortable, as Teacher Nam was more staring at the invisible sound waves coming from Joon-woo's mouth.

"When we live a life

Always dreamin' for a dream to come true

So I live this life

Wanting something I can't see

And something I can't reach

Or something that could not exist."

The melody came easy along his tongue, the lyrics as comfortable as Ha-rin had ever been in her short-lived life. It was relieving, finally being able to sing, finally being able to show what he's good at. The dance had taken a lot out of his already limited confidence, so he hoped his voice would do him so good.

Teacher Nam raised his hand, when Joon-woo went to continue to the next verse. Joon-woo flinched up, the illusion of being 'lost' in the song being partly true. He ruffled at his hair out of habit, waiting for Teacher Nam to say something.

"Ahh… Joon-woo. You're only 18, correct?" Teacher Nam asked, almost cautious.

Joon-woo nodded.

Teacher Nam sighed and shook his head, "Oh my… This team is– very very talented." He said, admiring Joon-woo as he slipped off the headphones with ease, placing them carefully down and adjusting the microphones' low height to one of what he predicted was Rank 21's height.

"Thank you, Teacher." Joon-woo said, slightly bowing in Teacher Nam's direction.

Joon-woo expected Teacher Nam to say something brief, too struck to reply honestly. But he didn't. Instead Teacher Nam ruffled at Joon-woo's hair. Without warning.

Joon-woo held his surprise, a bit shaken by the sudden touch. He took to his seat, where Kite was looking at Joon-woo like he was the stupidest man alive. And Team Ten, they looked at him weirdly. Not jealous, Joon-woo was relieved, but as if they had come to peace, to a resolution.

The whole room is silent for a few moments, Teacher Nam still looking at Joon-woo curiously. Kite scoffed at the atmosphere.

"Way to silence the room." It joked.

Joon-woo nodded at the words, "Wasn't my goal…" He replied.

The singing of Rank 21 was as unmemorable as his face. Is what Kite had said the moment he stepped out of the recording room. Joon-woo sighed, wasn't Kite being too confident? They exchanged looks, Joon-woo judging Kite's comment, with dilated eyes.

Teacher Nam scratched the back of his neck as he looked at the group. "You guys have quite the voices!" He excitedly exclaimed. "And sadly, as you know, the nature of this challenge is to compete with each other." He added with a sad face.

"The assignment, though, is to find a song that you all will sing close to 25% of… The decision of said song, though, are gonna be from a list of songs I create based on your singing samples." Teacher Nam explained, "To make it fair." He shrugged.

Du-Ho's face shrunk at the information drop.

"But what songs are you thinking of, for us?" Joon-woo cautiously asked.

All of Team Ten looked at Teacher Nam expectantly. A rapper, a vocalist, and two stragglers, what songs would suit all of them?

Teacher Nam looked at the group and groaned, "That– I will need to think…"

–+–

Joon-woo rubbed at his wrist as it was cusked in a mellow purple bruise. He frowned recalling the moment it had happened. A familiar worry just outside the bathroom he stood in.

"Hey, Joon-woo!" Rank 26 called, as Joon-woo began to exit the recording room.

Recording had finished and they were set to go back to their dorms to clean up for another short, game recording session later. Teacher Nam had exited the room minutes ago, and they were just packing to leave.

Joon-woo turned around, curious and a bit nervous. The camera was off, so they could be as transparent as they wanted with Joon-woo with no consequence.

Suddenly, Rank 26 was sizing Joon-woo up. Suddenly, Joon-woo gulped, as Rank 26 was taller than him, like most. Rank 26 was above 5'10' and Joon-woo stood below with a shadow cast over him.

"Do you think you're special?" He asked.

Joon-woo looked behind Rank 26. Rank 21 seemed a bit surprised by his friend's aggressive behavior. And Du-Ho, just sat there, not even watching the situation. Joon-woo sighed, vision a bit foggy with threat.

"What?" Joon-woo replied.

Rank 26 scoffed, "You think you're better than us… You think you're better just because you're the PD's pick and– and you because you can sing."

Had Joon-woo replying to Du-Ho's competitive threats been visible to the other guys? He thought he had been slick…

"Joon-woo…" Kite commented from the side, concern painting his bird-like expression.

Joon-woo waved it off, he looked above himself to see Rank 26 eye to eye. He was practically paralyzed with bodily fright.

"I'm sorry if it came off that way, Sunbae. I'm only doing what we're supposed to do. This whole challenge is about competing." Joon-woo replied, trapped against the wall next to the door by Rank 26's arm keeping him from the door.

Rank 26 scoffed, as if gagged.

"Now if you're done, please remove your arm and let me leave." Joon-woo said, breath catching in his throat as he tried to duck under Rank 26's arm and towards the door he had been blocked from.

Just as Joon-woo's hand touched the door knob, his fingers pressing the sound it was to turn, a Hand gripped at his wrist. Tightly. So tight Joon-woo winced.

He looked to Rank 26, who had gripped his wrist with wide eyes, "What are you doing? Let me go!" Joon-woo cried, trying to pull his wrist away. He was trapped, he was trapped and a part of his body was out of his control and in anothers.

Rank 26 almost smirked at Joon-woo's reaction.

"So you do get phased." Rank 26 hummed, suddenly tugging Joon-woo's wrist towards him.

With his wrist, Joon-woo followed, and now he was about inches away from Rank 26. Too close, so close and trapped. His vision blurred, his breath too heavy. Rank 21 who was now watching the scene with caution was a blur. Du-Ho who's head had snapped his head towards the two kept his eyes narrow.

"Don't think you're better just because the producers like you. You know you don't deserve it." Rank 26 muttered into Joon-woo's ear, an angry smirk heavy on his face.

Rank 26's breath was warm, it was warm and it tickled Joon-woo's ear in an all too familiar way. Just as Joon-woo began to feel his knees weaken, his wrist was released. And it hurt. It stung.

Joon-woo didn't look back as he practically booked it at the door. His hands shook in his pockets, numb and prickly. All he could replay was the words in his mind, 'You know you don't deserve it.'

He knew it. He knew it well. Joon-woo barely thought he deserved anything that he had been growing. Friendships, a good image, everything Ha-rin lacked. But still, hadn't Ha-rin lacked it for a reason? Hadn't she done something wrong? And wasn't Joon-woo doing that same thing?

He wanted to hide, he wanted to curl into a ball and forget the feeling of unwelcomed warm breath against his ear. He wanted to go home. Not the dorm, not near anyone.

It was then Kite knocked his beak against Joon-woo's neck.

"Joon-woo!" Kite exclaimed, "Take a breath– you're in an open hallway…" It informed, too-level headed for Joon-woo to understand.

"Kite, I don't–" Joon-woo started, "I can't breathe." He admitted, his breath becoming shallow and fogging his comprehension.

Kite pinched at Joon-woo, trying to bring him to his senses.

"I don't want to do this, I can't do this…" Joon-woo muttered to himself.

He barely saw what seemed to be a hallway, white walls, nobody in sight, just Kite. His whole arm that had just been restrained was itchy, dirty, in an all too familiar way.

Wasn't he the weakest person alive? The slightest aggression sending him to such a state? The pinching of Kite suddenly became softer. Softer somehow. How could a beak be softer?

"Kite? Kite?" Joon-woo asked, vision shaky as he looked for the bird.

"No." A voice not Kite said, "No– Joon-woo-ssi."

Joon-woo caught the shape of a tall body. Dressed in black with black hair. Broad shoulders and– were those muscles?

Joon-woo's wrist was suddenly snatched again. The bruise once red, turning purple. How hard had Rank 26 held him? He pulled his wrist back and held it to himself. It was his wrist, his wrist that felt too itchy when anyone else touched it.

"Fuck–" A voice not Kite, but Ryeo Hyun cursed, "Joon-woo, what happened?"