ćWhoās Gonna Take the Blame?
For: @idjunseo
Word Count: 989 words
Plot: Flashback to Yeongshik and Junseoās trainee days at 99 Entertainment in early 2015. Yeongshikās tardiness and poor attitude in dance class has sparked a serious conflict of interest.
It was the early in the year of 2015. The winter had consumed the entire city of Seoul in a blanket of freshly fallen snow and a solid two days of overcast skies. The city of hopes and dreams felt dark and hopeless for the 99 Entertainment trainee as he deliberately dragged his feet just a little too slowly to the company building.
He had applied and joined this company under the pretense of something greater in his future. He wanted nothing more than to sing and to share his thoughts and dreams with those who were willing to listen, but this company had a tight grip on their collection of students. They whispered promises of fame and fortune, but it was hard to see that bright light when your tunnel was filled with mindless, useless dance lessons and personality training.
Yeongshik had considered quitting many times, but his pride kept him from going anywhere. Though not, apparently, to his dance lessons. For the last week each time he walked to the door that lead to the dancing studio, his heart dropped to his feet, and his stomach wanted to lurch out of his throat while his mind screamed, āThis isnāt me, this isnāt me!ā How much longer would he be able to keep forcing himself to do this? How many more times could he possibly fail doing a basic step-ball-change and body wave? His pride demanded that he see this training through, but his heart and mind continued to scream at him to run and hide.
He walked around the back of the building and took the stairwell up to the third floor. Each heavy footfall echoed loudly sounding the toll of his inevitable doom. He exhaled a little too loudly as he shoved the door open with his shoulder and stumbled into the blinding lights of the 99 Entertainment building. The building was brilliantly designed with proud posters and plaques of their successful artists and awards. Each day he came to this building, he stared at them longingly. He didnāt necessarily know who each artist was, as pop music wasnāt his preferred genre of music, but he envied them for their successful debuts and careers all the same. Some loud, chattering noises of fellow trainees bellowed through the halls. Yeongshikās eyes remained ahead, though his ears picked up on their sudden change in conversation from bellowing laughter to soft snickers and crude comments. One of the boys, despite being considerably younger than Yeongshik, deliberately walked a little too close so that his shoulder tackled hard into the guitar that was strapped onto his back.
The older trainee cursed loudly and used the inertia of the tackle to whip himself around and raised his fist to fight back, but they had already rushed out of his immediate grasp, shouting names and insults as they left.
āFuck, fuck, fuck!ā Yeongshik hissed as he quickly pulled his guitar off of his shoulders and unzipped the soft cover to check if there was any damage done.
He pulled the guitar out and gave it a quick once over. Luckily there was no substantial damage done, but now that he had his guitar in his hands, the urge to skip his dance class and go straight to vocal was even stronger. However, the name calling and newfound rage made him want to try. Reverse psychology was such a bitch.
Yeongshik was almost ten minutes late after he had finished changing and had locked away his belongings in the change room. He quietly pushed open the door into the class and snuck into the back row of the classroom. The music was almost deafening, but the teacherās voice somehow managed to carry itself over the volume and directly into each studentsā ear drums.
āOne and two andāYeongshik-ssii. So glad you decided to join us. And four and five! Keep your eyes straight!ā
Yeongshik bowed his head low as he shuffled to his usual spot and struggled to catch up with the more advanced warm ups that they had learned during his absence. He was a good beat behind, and a few of the students in his row shot him disapproving glares through the mirror. He deliberately adverted his gaze and struggled just to get through the first session without causing much of a fuss. It was no secret that Yeongshik hated dancing. The teacher didnāt seem to take it personally, but she also didnāt take it as an excuse either. Her hands were as cold as ice as she snapped his arms and legs into the proper positions that seemed impossible for his body to hold. However, after a handful of attempts to help him, she abandoned him to his own devices and proceeded to focus on the students who actually cared.
They went for a solid hour with no rest, and Yeongshik was certain that the entire lower half of his body was going to fall off.
āExcellent form, Junseo-ah!ā The teacher praised from the far left of the room. āPlease assist your partner, he seems to be struggling.ā She said while pointing her chin at Yeongshik.
Yeongshikās eyes widened a little he looked at the young man in front of him in the line. Was this guy supposed to be his training partner? Even though Yeongshik didnāt know anything about dance, there was no ignoring the fact that Junseo was one of the top students in the class. Yeongshikās shoulders dropped and his arms swung at his sides as he struggled to catch his breath. Had he really been out of dance lessons for so long that he missed the part that they had partners? There was an immediate change in atmosphere in the classroom as some partners murmured amongst each other and cast their curious gazes on the two young men in the room. Never in his life had Yeongshik had so many eyes piercing at him at once.