“—rthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, dear Jin-Hye, Happy Birthday to you~”
It was already 1 in the afternoon. Jin-Hye slept well knowing that her latest song was finished. She opened her eyes and saw her mother and father by her bed carrying a cake and some gifts. She sat up as she gives her mom and dad some hugs and thanks. She closed her eyes to make a wish.
Give me a sign for my dreams, please. And with a blow, the light in the candle faded away with hopes for her dream.
She was so engrossed in making music that she forgot it was her birthday.
“Wash up, sweetie. Let’s have your birthday meal downstairs. Happy 16th birthday.” Her mom gave her another kiss in her forehead before heading downstairs. She decided to wear a simple baby blue dress for their family meal. Downstairs, her mother and father was waiting for her by the dining area. She sat by her usual sit across her mother with an empty sit beside her which was her brother’s usual seat.
“Is Mino-oppa coming?” Jin-Hye hesitantly asked, prepared to have her heart broken in the absence of her older brother. She kept her head down, silently waiting for her parents’ reply.
“Well, you see, sweetie…” Her mother halted half way her statement when she then heard multiple voices coming from their living room.
“Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, dear Jin-Hye, Happy Birthday to you~” Coming from their living are five boys that are very much familiar to her, with her brother at the center carrying a cake. All the frustrations she felt last night suddenly disappeared at the sight of her older brother. She was happy that at least her brother made effort to celebrate her birthday with her.
“Happy 16th Birthday, Jin-Hye!” There was her brother’s warm smile as he carries the cake towards her. “Happy Birthday, Yeye!” Mino’s whole team was also there to greet her on her birthday which earned a sweet smile from the birthday girl.
“Make a wish.” Mino was now in front of Jin-Hye, holding the cake out for the girl. Just as Jin-Hye was about to close her eyes and make a wish, her phone lit up, hinting an incoming notification. She quickly took a glimpse just in case it was importance. It was an email once again.
Fr: YG Entertainment
Jin-Hye quickly put her phone back to her pocket and turned to her brother, closing her eyes and silently make her wish before blowing the candle.
“Just one more sign, please.”
They just finished their meal so both Jin-Hye and Mino headed out to their balcony while the rest of his friends sat comfortably by their living room. There was suddenly an awkward silence between them. Jin-Hye noticed that Mino kept fiddling his fingers beside her.
“Is there something you want to tell me, oppa?” Jin-Hye decided to start the conversation to avoid the further awkwardness.
“Well, about last night. I’m really sorry that I missed dinner. I know I’ve been doing the worst ever since I started training and it’s not something I’m proud of.” Jin-Hye knew that this was what her brother would talk about and the least thing that she want in her birthday is the reminder of her frustration towards her brother.
“Oppa, please. You know how much I don’t want to talk about that.” Jin-Hye was about to head back inside but Mino pulled her back to her seat beside him.
“Just hear me out please. Just once. Just today.” There. That had always been a weak spot of Jin-Hye towards her brother. The warmth of his brother. She took a deep breath and sat comfortably beside Mino.
“I understand why you feel like that, Jin-Hye. You were mad at me for breaking my promises. You’ve always hated that. And I kept doing that. But more than that…” Mino held Jin-Hye’s hand and slightly faced her. “I know you’re worried about me.” With Mino’s last statement, Jin-Hye held his head up and looked at her older brother. Looking at her brother now, she knew how much her brother changed physically ever since starting training. She always noticed it every time her brother goes home. Even if she never showed care, she was worried that all those hardship would just be for naught. She doesn’t want that because unlike her, her brother really strived for his dream.
“But believe me when I tell you that someday, this is going to be worth it. One day, we’re going to debut. All our efforts would be rewarded.” Mino slightly presses his sister’s hand. “But I don’t want it if you wouldn’t be there to support me.” Jin-Hye’s eyes widened to the sudden words of his brother.
Jin-Hye was very confused with what her brother said that she didn’t know what to say. “W-Would that really matter? After all this years and hardships that you went through?” Jin-Hye tried to pull her hands away from Mino but he just held her tighter. Mino had his head down which made Jin-Hye unable to see the little tears forming in her brother’s eyes.
“Oppa…” She then noticed her brother’s shoulder to shake lightly.
“It’s just that. Seeing you today made me regret that I wasn’t there for the family these past few years.” She had always wanted her brother to realize that but she didn’t know that hearing it from him directly would hurt her also.
“Oppa…” Jin-Hye held her brother’s face. Seeing the tears stream down her brother’s face, she hugged me. “Are you happy?” Her brother fell silent for a while and she felt her brother nodding.
“Yes. I am.”
“Then I’m good.” Mino suddenly pulled off from the hug, surprised with what Jin-Hye said. “As long as you promise me that you will never give up no matter what, alright?” Mino gave her a warm smile and grabbed her for a tight hug.
“I promise. Every performance that I will make would always exceed my hundred percent.” Jin-Hye hugged her brother back. “Just take care of yourself always for mom and dad. They’re also always worried about you.”
The sibling spent a little more time together by their balcony before heading back inside where his brother’s friends are who are having a talk with their parents.
“Looks like Mino just finished her heart to heart with Yeye.” Seungyoon started teasing his friend who obviously have puffy eyes from crying which also earned a laugh from everyone in the room.
“Aish. Stop it.” Mino turned red out of embarrassment as he tackle his friend by their sofa.
“YAH! Let’s give Yeye our gifts now!” Taehyun suddenly suggested before Mino tried killing them one by one after teasing him.
“You didn’t really have to. Coming here even though you have your assessment coming near is already enough.”
“It’s something the whole team came up with so we would really appreciate it you would accept it.” Coming from the eldest in the group, she just gave a small bow as thanks.
Mino stood up and lead Jin-Hye to their small basement.
“So what are we doing here?” The siblings stood infront of the basement door. Jin-Hye looked back and saw everyone else follow them. Mino suddenly covered her eyes with his hands as she hear the basement door opening.
In front of her was a mini-recording studio.
“Happy 16th Birthday, Jin-Hye. To more birthdays and music to come.” Mino whispered in her ear.
Overwhelmed to everything in front of her, she jumped on her brother and gave her a tight hug as Mino spun her around. Still feeling very excited, she gave each of her brother’s friend a quick hug. After doing so, she entered the old basement which is now her new recording studio. Everything was fit to her liking. Her brother definitely knew her taste.
“We’ll be heading off now, Mom, Dad, Yeye. We’re going straight to the training building. We’re going to practice through the night.” Mino gave each member of the family a quick hug as the day comes close to dark.
“Keep in touch every once in a while, alright oppa? I might need help with some of my music.” Jin-Hye jokingly reminded her brother.
“THE Jin-Hye needing my help? Maybe it would be the other way around.” And with a final hug, the team left.
The whole family head in and started cleaning when their doorbell suddenly rang.
“Maybe oppa forgot something. I’ll go get it.” Jin-Hye volunteered and hurriedly checked their front gate but it was not her brother by the gate. It was a new face that she hasn’t seen, not even in their neighbourhood.
“Good evening. Is there anything I can help you with?” Jin-Hye headed need their gate with caution.
“Song Jin-Hye, right?” The man by the gate though big had a warm smile in his face. “I’m sorry this may seem sudden but I’m from YG Entertainment. Here’s my card.” Jin-Hye failed to process immediately what the man said but unconsciously reached to the card the man was handing out.
Na Taewoong
YG Trainee Manager
Looking at the company position of the man, she thought he was her for her brother and her friends.
“I’m sorry. You must be looking for Mino-oppa. They just left earlier. They said they were heading to the training center to—“ But the man immediately cut her off. Wondering what Jin-Hye was taking so long, her mother headed out also to find a familiar man with her daughter.
"Taewoong?"
“Good Evening, Mrs. Song.” The man politely greeted her mother.
“What brings you here tonight? Mino and his friends just left.” Her mother invited Taewoong inside.
“I know, Mrs. Song, Jinwoo already informed me of the changes of their plans for today since they went out for the day, they’re going to spend the night practicing. I came here for a different reason.” Na Taewoong suddenly faced Jin-Hye. “I’m here to talk with Song Jin-Hye in behalf of YG Entertainment.”
“What do you mean?” Jin-Hye’s mother was confused as she was not aware that Mino once sent an application of her to YG along with his.
“President Yang has always had eyes for talent. From the moment he heard young Jin-Hye’s demo along with Mino’s, he had eyes on her. As Ms. Jin-Hye grow older, Mr. Yang wanted her in YG. He had been sending Ms. Jin-Hye a lot of conditions. All of them great if I may say but it seems Ms. Jin-Hye doesn’t have interest in the just like way back then. That’s why President Yang sent me himself to have a small talk with Ms. Jin-Hye if I may?” Manager Taewoong looked at Mrs. Song as if asking for permission which had Mrs. Song look at Jin-Hye.
Is this the sign she was asking for? Hence, she gave her mom a little nod.
“I’ll leave you two alone.” With a small smile, she left the two by the balcony.
"I'm sorry if this came out so sudden. President Yang have been preparing something big for the company and he badly wants you to be in it." The man was sounding so gentle to not pressure young Jin-Hye so much. "May I know the reason why you didn't push through the audition in the past?"
"I wasn't the one who really passed my demo tape. Mino-oppa happened to thought that I do so he sent mine along his." Jin-Hye politely answered.
"But were you able to receive the emails that the company have been sending you or did we have the wrong contact information?"
"It's correct. I have been receiving. It's just that I'm not interested in it. I haven't even read most of the mails." Jin-Hye tried so hard not to sound rude.
"I see. I understand that you are still young, Ms. Jin-Hye but with your talent, do you really not want to become a singer, an idol or even a song writer?" Manager Taewoong's words made Jin-Hye seat in silence. It was her most dreaded questions because it will weaken her resolutions. With her silence, Manager Taewoong understood.
"What's stopping you?" Manager Taewoong's soothing voice made Jin-Hye tear up.
Has this been the signs she was asking for?
"I'm scared. With how everything changed in the industry I loved so much. I'm scared for my music to be hated. I'm not strong enough for that world."
"No one is, sweetheart. Not even your brother. And President Yang knew that it may be one of the possible reasons for your rejection but you see, he really wants you. For that reason, he made different type of proposals that I never imagine he would make. That's how great he sees your potential. And take this as a personal opinion but I believe the last one he sent you may be the best of all. A proposal that may have been sent earlier maybe?" Even though he just met the man, she believed in his sincerity.
It was the email that she set aside earlier. She then picked up her phone to finally check the content of the email and never did she thought she would get to see such proposal.
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Mino's instagram post:
current instagram accounts of all the Winner and iKON members are not the accounts they are using in real life.