I was ready to go to the company but made a quick stop at Suga's room to return his clothes, apologize for bothering him in the morning and for being so rude in trying to convince him to share his bed with me.
He just listened to me and told me not to take all his aggressive comments or behavior seriously because that's just how rude he is. We went our separate ways, and I went to find out the company's response regarding my performance.
An employee came from the room where they were going to tell me the results; they were taking longer than expected, so she sent me to the cafeteria to wait for someone to come and get me so I could go back and hear the news.
I found Jimin there, trying to work, but he was completely distracted and didn't seem likely to get anything done today in that mood. I approached him and greeted him normally since we were inside the company. He invited me to sit down and talk.
She noticed I wasn't as relaxed and happy as I had been that morning. I told her about the meeting... I didn't know when it would end or what answer they would give me. I really wanted a reason to stay, even though I'm sure I'll have to live somewhere else and won't see them around as I have been doing since I arrived. We talked quietly and were a bit distant compared to yesterday.
He tried to convince me not to worry because RM and Hoseok were there giving their opinions, and so would the other guys I've worked with, probably the group leaders or main dancers. He said I'd probably already won their hearts because I'm naturally respectful and find a way to work in a cheerful environment.
I appreciate it, but I wanted to distract myself from thinking about this, so I politely asked him about his work. He explained that he had an idea for a song but wasn't making much progress because he couldn't put what was in his head down on paper. I could see what he had written...it was a mess.
Sipping drinks while helping him organize what he had managed to put together, with the music on one piece of paper and the lyrics on a separate sheet, he decided to change some parts to make it make more sense. He also said that perhaps he should ask his friends about his doubts since their words could inspire him. He talked about it with Taehyung because he was also working hard to compose on his own... but everyone is different and has very different styles as well, considering that it is a creative work, for each member the process of making a song is unique.
The only one capable of putting everything together easily was Suga because he doesn't care about the final result; he simply puts his soul into his music and isn't ashamed to make a track that might be rejected or changed to the point of being unrecognizable, or simply use the music and have others write the lyrics.
The boys found us together and came to look, but Jimin didn't want to show his work half-finished, so he grabbed everything from the table to continue working later. They said it was time to eat, and I was still waiting to hear something about my case.
They ordered food, but I'm so nervous I'm not hungry, and having a big breakfast was making me want to wait until later to eat. They said they were working on different projects and wanted to release them as soon as possible. They also said they were waiting for Yoongi because he had to go to the hospital that afternoon. I knew he was in pain and could barely move his arm, but I didn't know the details.
Upon arriving, massaging his shoulders, he said he had tried to play the piano and felt stiff and blocked. He asked for something light, like his friends, while I drank even more iced tea and excused myself for a moment to use the restroom.
P/V of Namjoon :
- Hey guys, you haven't seen Baby around here, have you? - I asked as soon as I saw my friends from the doorway.
"She's in the bathroom, the poor thing hasn't stopped drinking iced tea since she arrived because they told her to wait here," Jimin said while carefully eating his vegetables.
Hoseok's in the bathroom too... we've been meeting all morning and I'm exhausted, but first they'll give her several options, so we'll see her at least for now... she'll definitely tell us what she's going to do afterward. And before I forget to ask, Yoongi, call me when you're done at the hospital. It's necessary for our plans... that way you can recover and rest before they realize you're going to be in the hospital for a while and can't show up until New Year's, so don't forget to call... I'll be in another endless meeting making the plan with the team, waiting for the doctor's recommendations to make sure we do things right. Taehyung will go with you today, so don't draw too much attention at the hospital... well, you never do, but this time the more visits there are, the harder it is to protect you... you know I love you... but I have to eat something before they strap me to that chair again... I almost forgot, are you still working on the Christmas songs?
"Mine didn't end up being a Christmas song, I already submitted it, so I'm sure they'll say something to you today," Jin said.
"Don't worry, the important thing is that they have solo tracks for the ARMYs who like their individual talents the most, but it will be released this year, we'll choose a nice date, so we're working hard to record it," I said, and the others congratulated Jin for finishing the song.
"And you guys?" I asked as my order arrived, and I immediately started eating. But they took the opportunity to change the subject and greet Hoseok.
"Awww, I went with Baby to the boss's office and then went back to eat. Oh, and I finally handed in my song. If I'd known today would be such a chaotic day, I would have fixed it earlier... I have to review the Christmas performances because we won't be dancing that much until Suga is back, so I don't know when I'll finish... I'll call you guys if I need you to get me food for dinner tonight," Hoseok said.
- Jiminshi honestly... your song goes like... - I said
"Ah, I don't know... I was working before they arrived. I'm working diligently, so I hope I can finish on time," she replied, covering her face with her hands.
"Hey guys, I know you want to be able to do everything on your own, but most of the time I ask for help or opinions to move forward, so if you need me, just ask and I'll help you, anytime...understood?" I told them, and they all agreed.
When Baby returned to the cafeteria, she was paler than a ghost as she wandered around until she could sit in the first empty seat she found. We surrounded her to see if she was okay... Her representative came in later and told us to take good care of the new trainee to become an Idol of Big Hit Music for the next seven years, and I think my eyes didn't pop out of their sockets because they're glued to my body.
The girl never wanted to be famous but ended up in our boat; her hands were shaking like crazy, so Jimin took them carefully.
"That man is crazy... I think he somehow brainwashed me... I really did accept the contract... I'm going to sing in public... Hehe... haha..." she muttered to herself like a catatonic character from a movie.
I moved the group representative aside for a bit.
"Why did she get so upset? I know she prefers to be in other people's shadow, but the training isn't as bad as when we joined the company... Didn't she negotiate the contract details?" I asked, confused. I know she could return to her same position next year because for now we're going to minimize the team to adapt to this process and won't be using dancers for a while. Being a freelance dancer is complicated, but it's possible... and becoming a trainee was the best option because she can continue being part of the dance troupe, she can model or act to have a good income, even if she never debuts in a group or solo in those seven years, if she turns out to be good at producing or writing lyrics... and she was surely able to change the conditions because she's not Korean and doesn't need to worry about earning a lot of money, according to what we were told today. She's impressive at her dancing and in her own business... but what could the boss have said to upset her so much is the question.
"No, she negotiated every point of the contract, every word included, before accepting... the thing is... no one has heard her sing, right? She doesn't know how... her voice is nice, but I doubt anyone can teach her to sing properly," said her now ex-manager with a sad smile.
- Well, Jin was that age when they taught him to sing and dance... and he does it very well, maybe he'll be good at rapping or something... we just have to wait and see. Why the concern?
- Ah, because he told her to send him the goals. If she can't pass a company audition within a year, they increase her participation by up to fifty percent?... The thing is, if she's among the top three, she debuts as the company wants, and the contract is automatically extended for a full year. If she doesn't make it... The interesting thing is that she didn't refuse to continue honing her skills throughout the contract period. Her income will be good because the company can already use her as a backup dancer, or as a model, since the photographer, the one who did the wedding dress shoot, asked the company to include her in the casting for the next drama he's going to be in... about... what was it like... well, it doesn't matter, the decisions she made are the best in my opinion.
- So she's only worried about having to sing in public in a year or less? - I repeat to make sure I'm absolutely clear.
"Kid, go to your first lesson and find your own answers, but I think he's more afraid of people than anything else," she said simply before disappearing to arrange her departure from the hotel and catch the last flight back home. I'm not a fabulous singer either, but it's not like I'm going to be scared of someone hearing me sing horribly... let them discover I'm bad at singing, ARMY finds our imperfections cute.
"Okay guys... she has to be among the top three singers in the company's next audition to be allowed to be used as an idol, while she trains like everyone else and works as a dancer, model, and actress since the photographer from yesterday asked for her information for a drama she's going to work on, but I don't know which drama or which character... so officially she's an artist with the company for the next seven years," I said breathlessly. I shouldn't blurt out all this information at once, but my day is going to be very long... and I don't have time to answer all your questions.
Taehyung p/v:
"So Baby won't be able to go out like yesterday?" Most of the members looked at me meanly, as if I had said something wrong.
"I can go out as much as I want, I negotiated that part of the contract. The only thing is that I can't show affection in public and that my priority will be my work during my contract. PD is permanently my manager or I don't sign it... because even though I'm good at business, I don't like being famous... and that's why I end up taking small jobs without having to directly showcase my talents... obviously, singing isn't one of them," Baby said.
"I also had to learn many things from scratch and I'm still working on it because I found my love for it... you can't be worse than Yoongi... and he can sing properly for a second or two," Jin said, laughing, while some wondered what Suga had to say about it, but he ignored us while eating a bite.
We all finished our lunch break since we all have obligations, and the girl showed us the requirements PD sent her for the next girl audition. She also said he'll be more involved because the industry is even crueler to girls than it is to us, and Baby hasn't experienced any of that because she wasn't born here. Our president will surely know how to be both clear and terrifying to guide her career; he's a demon in business and will keep a close eye on her to ensure his plans for her work.
- Baby... do you want another date with your number one and number two husband now? Or are you busy? - I asked her with my best pout.
"I have some free time. Later, I want to go with my friend to the airport and sort out our business because I'm going to be living here longer than I imagined... I have a lot of paperwork to sort out first because I'm a foreigner, but the boss says they'll try to resolve it this week in case I need to travel back to my country for any documents until everything is in order. They'll find me a place to live because in the new building, setting up spaces for girls wasn't a priority since the subsidiary companies manage them, and there's a good chance they'll train me with them so they can fully evaluate me and I can make friends who will help me understand the culture in general, so... Yes... where are we going?" I celebrated internally and hurried Yoongi along so we could leave.
She bundled up in her winter clothes as we automatically went into work mode to enter the hospital. We were a small group, just us and one security guard. She would be my security personnel, while Yoongi kept the security professional by his side.
We were led to an empty waiting room by hospital staff named Jung or something similar, so we didn't have to identify ourselves anywhere or spend much time in public. We waited until a doctor and a nurse arrived; she blushed deeply when I politely bowed to greet her, though I ignored it since she immediately made a point of noticing Baby, who was less covered up now, her feminine figure more noticeable.
Yoongi and I followed them into the adjacent consultation room while they waited for our checkup to finish. I simply needed a prescription for an ointment for an itchy area on my leg, but nothing too bothersome.
My friend had to undress, but it was a slow process for him lately, and the nurse was a disaster. She wanted to be the one treating him, but the doctor handled the situation so she had to take care of other things in the meantime. She went out to get some medical instruments, and I noticed how much trouble she had getting Baby to come inside the office.