Please Don't Get Too Friendly

I opened my eyes lazily as I was shaken awake by someone.

"I guess you're not a morning person, are you?" laughed softly a soothing voice. "Good morning, Leader."

I stared up at Seo Hyun as she smiled gently at me.

"Get up, Jung Ah unnie made us breakfast, and it smells perfect."

I groaned and got up. It's only 8 o'clock, huh? Ugh. I'll have to get used to this. Without saying a word back to my friend, which I know was absolutely rude, I went in the bathroom that was in our room and closed the door. After having taken a quick shower, I got dressed silently before going down the stairs with my roommate. To my surprise, everyone was sitting down, waiting for us. I felt guilty and hurried at the table. We then all served ourselves silently. I ate the delicious pancakes our manager had made and I finally spoke.

"Good morning everyone! Sorry Seo Hyun if I didn't speak, I-"

"I know, manager-unnie warned me beforehand. Don't worry, I get it completely," she said, understanding.

I smiled back at her thankfully and we chit-chatted for a while. I waited for Seung Hye to get up and go somewhere before asking the question that was burning my tongue. As I expected, she did leave us after putting her dishes in the sink to get dressed. As soon as I heard her door close, I turned to my manager.

"Jung Ah unnie, I was wondering... The committee has been observing us for a while, right? So they must have known about us not getting along with Seung Hye. If they did, then why did they still decide to put us together?" I asked quickly.

"Dear, calm down. I was actually hoping you would ask me that. Unfortunately, even if I do know the answer, it wouldn't be right of me to tell you. Please ask her yourself," she finished, leaving me puzzled.

"What do you mean, 'it wouldn't be right of you'?" I still continued.

"Don't ask me any more than this, Amy," she warned me gently. "The truth might turn out to be something you didn't expect at all. If you want to know, ask her," she concluded firmly before eating another piece of her pancake.

I stayed silent for a moment, aware of my two other members' stares. I ate the rest of my breakfast silently while Seo Hyun talked happily with Ji Yoon. At 9:30, we were all ready and waiting for our manager to finish locking our door and we went in the van, in direction of the company.

"So girls, what you'll have to do today is basically still go to your classes, although they are at a different hour. But that's because you need a more detailed training as you are preparing to debut," instructed Jung Ah unnie.

"Will they be the same teachers as before?" I asked curiously.

"Yes, they're the best at preparing pre-debut trainees. That's actually why you were assigned to their class."

Seo Hyun and I glanced at each other, dreading our next classes with our bipolar dance teacher.

"You will also have more acting classes than before, because when you debut you will most likely receive offers for dramas and movies. The company is putting a lot of effort on making you the perfect rookie group of this year," she insisted. "I'm warning you, you will get a lot of pressure in the next months. Especially you, Amy. But it's definitely worth it."

I inhaled sharply and stared out the window, hoping that the ride would end soon, because I began to feel more and more squeezed in the tiny space. We finally drove in the alley at the back of the modern building and I practically ran out of our van, needing space and breath. I had felt suffocated in the car as I had thought of all the responsabilities I was going to shoulder. But I had to deal with it.I didn't have another choice. Maybe I could ask Suho oppa about how he manages the stress. We walked in the alley reserved for us and were thankful that not as many fans were there than when big stars were present. I felt kind of disappointed, as it meant that EXO probably weren't there. Wait, what? No, it's okay they're not here. Why would I feel disappointed? Amy, stop. Now is definitely not the time to think about anything else than performing and being responsible. We walked into the nicely decorated building and went straight for the elevators, greeting the ever so gentle secretary. Nobody said a word during the whole time, much probably because we all still felt that Seung Hye was still mad at me. After an awkward time, we got off the elevator at a level I had never been before.

"So that's where the pre-debut groups come, huh?" said Seo Hyun aimlessly.

We all followed our manager as she led us through the corridor. She stopped in front of a door, unlocked it and opened it before going in.

"Here is where all your classes will be," she stated as we all entered the spacious room. "As you can see, the Mirror wall is where you will focus to dance and act, and the space with the piano and the microphone is where you will practice singing."

"All the other groups have used this room before?" questioned Seung Hye, looking disappointed.

Why the heck do you seem disappointed? This room is perfect and it still would be even if the whole world had used it before us.

"Actually, no," surprised us Jung Ah unnie. "Only the most promising pre-debut groups come practice here. I could give you the example of EXO. They were the last group to use it before you."

Seung Hye changed her dissatified look for a contempted one as she walked around, as if she was trying to feel all the places the previous users had touched.

"Right now, it's 9:55. Your acting teacher will be here in 5 minutes, so I'll leave for now. All your classes will follow one another and last for 3 hours each, just like your classes before. You'll be out of here soon," she encouraged us with a smile before waving goodbye to us at closing the door.

We all stayed unmoving for a moment, not knowing what to do. Finally, it was Seo Hyun who moved to the piano and sat down, placing her hands on the keys.

"Girls, do you all know Miracles In December of EXO?" she asked us.

We all turned at her.

"It's a known song, of course we know," scoffed Seung Hye.

Seo Hyun ignored her tone and smiled.

"I know the piano accompaniement for it, why don't you sing along?" she suggested.

Great move, friend. That'll get us closer. You might just be the moodmaker of TetrA.

Ji Yoon and I agreed as well and went around the piano. Seo Hyun began to play beautifully and I felt myself move to another place, just like when I sang El Dorado. But this time, I felt cold, lonely and filled with a hurtful love. As if we had all agreed without saying a word, Seung Hye sang first with a surprising soft voice.

Boiji anhneun neol chajeuryeogo aesseuda
Deulliji anhneun neol deureuryeo aesseuda

Most probably out of instinct, she stopped singing and Ji Yoon continued.

Boiji anhdeon ge boigo
Deulliji anhdeon ge deullyeo
Neo nareul ddeonan dwiro
Naegen eobtdeon himi saenggyeosseo

I started singing after I felt her quiet down. I tried my best not to let them down and I let my emotions overflow in my voice.

Neul nabakke mollasseotdeon igijeogin naega yeah
Ne mamdo mollajwotdeon musimhan naega
Ireohgedo dallajyeotdaneun ge najocha midgiji anha
Ne sarangeun ireoghe gyesok nal umjigyeo

Seung Hye sang the last sentence of the chorus and it was obvious by now that we had seperated our parts like this: I was singing Chen oppa's part, Seung Hye was doing D.O oppa's and Ji Yoon was doing Baekhyun oppa's. We continued on like this, with Seo Hyun accompanying us like she had done that her whole life. Once Seung Hye sang the final words of the song, as if she was herself hurting of a endless but unreciprocated love, we all stayed silent for a moment, still hearing the last note that was played from the imposing instrument in front of us. We all looked at each other, understood the message each of us wanted to pass to the others and our acting teacher came in.

"Girls, that was really good. I stayed outside not to disturb you, but I swear to God, I was brought to tears. And I'm not even acting."

We all stared at the too blinding woman that just came in.

I had felt something while singing along with the usually cold Seung Hye, like she was trying to say something. I thought I knew, but, oh was I wrong.

Notes

Yes, I know, I did end up doing Miracles In December. But it's such a good song, I mean.. I couldn't not do it. You know?

Anyways, thank you for reading so much! I hope it's not too boring, but you guys know by now that I like to set the setting (yes, set the setting) first before going further in the story. Hope it's not too much of a bother! ^^ Please do keep commenting about your feelings on this story, it helps me direct it a lot. And I'm actually already thinking up another story for when I finish this one... I know, I'm much too hasty. But meh.

As always, thanks for reading!
Saranghae :)