vinn had approached her earlier with the idea of filming another challenge video, hoping to add more content for his next post. he never imagined that trying to complete this challenge with her would be such a challenge in itself. "how about we switch positions? maybe that will help?" they've tried filming this at least ten times, and yet, nothing seems to be working.

with a sigh, he deletes the previous attempt and resets the video. "ready?" he asks, glancing over his shoulder at hanna before jogging back into position. he counts down from three, ready to try once more.

scrunching his nose, vinn scans the sea of people. his eyes dart from face to face, searching for someone who looks like they might need company. most people here seem to be attending with a group of friends, and vinn would rather approach someone who’s alone; it’s less intimidating that way, and the thought of embarrassing himself in front of a single person is far less terrifying than doing so before a crowd.

his gaze finally lands on a guy standing by himself. vinn takes a deep breath before walking over. as he makes his way towards the guy, he mentally rehearses a dozen conversation starters, but reality often proves trickier than imagination. as he approaches, his foot catches on a loose patch of earth, and he nearly trips, flailing slightly before righting himself. his cheeks flush as he bows in apology, even though he caught himself before a collision could take place.

“i am so sorry,” he blurts out. he supposes this could help break the ice too. “the ground is so slippery from all the water.” his laugh comes out a bit awkward, but vinn tries his best to calm his nerves. “i’m vinn, by the way.” once his name is out in the air he wonders if perhaps he should have used his korean name instead to make things easier, so he quickly adds, “you can also call me jinwoo,” just in case his korean name feels more approachable.

he watches another set of videos, mentally cataloging the steps, when he spots a woman doing the same thing—well, except she's already filming the challenge, pausing occasionally to redo parts, and vinn is just kinda standing there, watching her movements.

part of him wants to step in, to help her perfect the dance, but he hesitates. correcting a stranger uninvited feels presumptuous. so he continues his ogling for a bit longer, curious if she’ll actually get everything right this time, and when she does, vinn claps instinctively, realizing too late how odd it must seem since she hadn't known he was watching. exposed, he decides to roll with it.

"you nailed that," vinn says, offering her a small smile. he places his phone on the ground, using his water bottle as a makeshift stand to keep it from falling over. it’s his turn now to film the challenge, but an idea strikes him just as he’s about to start. he turns his body back to the woman. "i know you just completed your video, but would you like to try the challenge together?"

vinn hadn't expected to enjoy himself this much, but the sheer joy of the event sweeps him up, and he’s glad he decided to attend (even if it’s only as an audience member). maybe one day, he’ll be up on that stage, but for now, he's too focused on aiming his water gun at any stranger near him. laughter bursts from his lips as water splashes against his skin.

dodging the jets of water proves almost impossible with so many bodies pressing in around him. instead, vinn adopts a new strategy—soaking his chosen target before they can drench him. it seems to work; he watches with satisfaction as the front of his opponent’s shirt becomes thoroughly soaked.

the guy is a stranger, yet they've been locked in this playful fight throughout the festival. vinn doesn't mind. he’s been enjoying the little battle, it’s just hard to say who is really winning here–unless you count the soaked clothes as a marker of victory, in which case they're both winning, they are equally good at aiming it seems. he’s mainly just laughing and they haven’t exchanged many words either, so vinn decides to walk closer to where his opponent stands and finally introduce himself properly. “you’ve got great aim,” vinn compliments as a sort of icebreaker.

however, he’s only been in korea for about two years now, and there is still a lot he hasn’t seen. he barely has any friends here—maybe that’s also one of the reasons why his aunt insisted he attend the waterbomb festival. she’s constantly urging him to go out more, make friends, live a little, and he’s grateful she’s looking out for him, but he also feels bad for worrying her so much.

either way, he’s here now, and to his surprise, he has run into a few familiar faces already. he supposes it makes sense, considering how huge this event is. plus, a lot of popular idols are going to be on stage—who wouldn’t want to witness that?

he still feels a bit awkward though—sort of out of place. a lot is going on around him, and he is still trying to settle into the atmosphere. but he’s also holding back because what exactly is he even supposed to do? it’s not that vinn doesn’t know how to have fun, but he’s also still unfamiliar with everything, and things are starting to get overwhelming. he needs to calm down and breathe.

so that’s exactly what he does—takes in a deep breath and then squeezes his way toward one of the many food stalls. he’s somewhat hungry, but especially thirsty from the heat, so when it’s vinn’s turn, he decides to order something to drink. but when the cashier tells him the price, vinn’s eyes almost drop out of their sockets. this has to be considered a scam because who the hell demands this much money for a bottle of water, in this heat no less?

vinn could protest and start an argument right here, but there is a long line waiting behind him, and he really doesn’t want to be the one who ruins all the fun. so, he begrudgingly reaches into his wallet to pay for his drink, only to realize he’s short on money. well, if things couldn’t get any more awkward, vinn turns around to the person behind him in line, giving the guy a sheepish grin as he rubs the back of his neck. “ugh, i’m sorry to ask, but could you perhaps lend me some money?” maybe asking a complete stranger for cash could be considered one of many of his embarrassing moments, but vinn’s really in need of some water, so he’ll swallow his pride and hope for the best. “i’ll pay you back, just give me your name and bank information.”

most of his days slip away at his aunt’s convenience store, and his free time is spent chasing his dreams. mingling with people his age, let alone befriending them, is a luxury he can't afford. yet, occasionally, vinn gets dragged into gatherings by those who might consider him a friend (though he’s still unsure why or how such people exist). that’s how he’s ended up here, at some kind of party-slash-friend gathering. he tried to decline twice but ultimately got convinced to show up anyway, and vinn is a man of his word, so here he is.

the party is in full swing, but it’s crowded and noisy. the air inside the house feels a bit suffocating. he’s sitting on the couch with a few other guys, who are deep in conversation about… something—vinn hasn't really been paying attention. deciding he needs a break, he stands up and lets the guys know before stumbling toward the open balcony door.

when he steps outside, he realizes he’s not the only one seeking a break. siwoo is already there, smoking a cigarette. for once, vinn doesn’t feel the urge to turn around and avoid him. they are vastly different individuals, but they also have a lot in common—vinn just hasn’t decided if he likes or hates the guy. either way, he approaches siwoo. at least he knows the other won’t chat his ears off like everyone else inside.

“mind sharing?” vinn asks once he’s right beside siwoo, nodding toward the pack of cigarettes. it’s a habit he knows he should have kicked long ago, but the temptation in times of stress is undeniable. though he smokes sparingly now, today feels like a day to indulge.

he stretches his arms above his head, feeling the satisfying pull of his muscles, then rolls his shoulders to shake off the stiffness. helping his aunt at her store is something he genuinely enjoys, but being here seven days a week can get pretty bland over time. after two years, things have become a routine he’s memorized so well that he’s confident he could work at the convenience store blindfolded and still do an excellent job.

or maybe his confidence is misplaced and he could still improve a lot more. suddenly, his accomplishments don’t seem that great anymore. vinn notices an item missing from one of the shelves, prompting him to shift his gaze to the empty boxes stacked on the side. his eyes search for the missing item, but it doesn’t appear to be inside the boxes.

“taeha?” vinn calls out as he rounds the corner, head peeking out to get a clear sight of his coworker, who is currently busy checking out one of their regulars. “did the delivery for the spicy shin ramen not come in today?” if the delivery hasn't arrived, he'll have to call the service and sort out the mess—something he really doesn't feel like dealing with right now.

when he doesn’t get an immediate reply from taeha, vinn strides over to the counter with a sigh. he plants his palms firmly against the surface, feeling the coolness of the marble under his skin as he leans forward to support his weight. “hey, did you hear me?” taeha, who’s been working here with him for about four months now, has been a refreshing presence. unlike the usual workers who prefer to stay glued to their phones for the entire shift, taeha actually puts in some work to help vinn out as much as she can, and he’s grown used to her face—so much so that he now looks forward to their shifts together. especially on slow days like these, when there isn’t much else to do, her presence makes the hours pass more quickly. “did they not deliver the spicy shin ramen?” he repeats, now that he is certain she will hear his question.

it's become an endless cycle by now, one that vinn can't seem to escape. it always starts the same way too—vinn does something yulhee doesn’t like and suddenly it’s the end of the world. her eyes flash with anger, and her voice rises, sharp and cutting. she gets upset at him for the same things she does too, but when he does it, he’s in the wrong. even now she won’t allow him to get a word out to explain himself. she’s yelling at him so loud that he’s certain their neighbors will call the cops on them again. her tirade grows more ferocious when she brings up his past mistakes. she always keeps them as spare ammo for their next fight, ready to point out all his wrongs and drown out her own mistakes.

“why do you always blame me for everything?” vinn’s voice cuts through her insults, his fists clenched at his sides. he finally wants to express what has been running through his mind for the past year they have been dating. he’s tired of it; everything about their relationship exhausts him. he’s reached a point where he doesn't know if he can endure further exhaustion just for love’s sake.

yulhee reacts predictably, her eyes widening before tears spill down her reddened cheeks. she knows those tears usually work, making vinn feel guilty for even voicing any form of blame her way. her body trembles with practiced vulnerability, a tactic to regain the upper hand.

any other time vinn would have given in and apologized for whatever mistake he had made, but today he has reached the edge of the cliff. if only they could go back to how things used to be at the start of their relationship. yulhee used to be so sweet, but it must have only been a facade to lure vinn into all this.

he’s simply tired of feeling like he’s constantly in the wrong, as if nothing he does will ever be right for yulhee. he feels like a disappointment and a failure, all because she always has to point out his mistakes. he has tried explaining before how it hurts him, but she never cares enough, always shifting blame and playing the victim.

“let’s break up. do whatever you want, i don’t care anymore.” yulhee’s words are said so easily as if she doesn’t feel the same type of love that vinn feels for her. he should be used to it by now, but it still stings every time she tells him to break up whenever they have an argument.

his own eyes become watery, but he doesn’t allow himself to spill any tears. he won’t allow her to bring him to his knees again—not anymore. “fine, let’s break up.” it’s the first time he’s agreeing, and perhaps he had seen this outcome a long while ago. things between them have always been rather predictable. even now, he’s not surprised by yulhee’s nonchalant reaction as she walks out of their living room, knowing full well that vinn will stay with her anyway.

but this time, he remains standing, watching her retreating figure with a new determination hardening in his chest.

nonetheless, vinn doesn’t distance himself from shouta like he usually would upon realizing he’s into someone. maybe it’s because they’re something like friends, or perhaps because they’ve been talking a ton during vinn’s shifts at his aunt’s convenience store whenever shouta shows up. he finds himself longingly staring at the entrance daily, hoping shouta will visit him again. his heart flutters whenever the door chimes, his eyes darting to the entrance with hope. god, he probably looks like a puppy waiting for its owner to return.

maybe he could stop himself from crushing harder if shouta weren't so infuriatingly perfect in his eyes, but alas, it's an impossible feat when vinn believes everything shouta does is worth adoration.

he’s getting bolder now. perhaps he’s on a mission to get closer to shouta—reasonably so. it was already a challenge to jump over his own shadow and invite shouta over to his aunt’s place. he's essentially asking shouta to meet his family, an enormous step considering they've never been completely alone in such a small space. the convenience store usually has at least a few other customers milling about, and the space is large enough to prevent them from having any proper privacy. but now, vinn is opening the door to his aunt’s place, letting shouta inside.

his hands are clammy, and he quickly wipes the sweat off onto his jeans as he watches shouta take off his shoes. “i’m glad you could make it,” vinn says, his voice just a touch shaky. “my aunt said she can’t wait to meet you.” his gaze flickers over shouta’s face, searching for any sign of discomfort. he knows this isn’t something everyone would be comfortable with, even if he’s aware of the fact that shouta could have declined his invitation to begin with.

when shouta finishes taking off his shoes, vinn stands there awkwardly, caught in the moment. he’s too busy admiring shouta to remember that this is shouta's first time here, and he has no clue about the layout of the apartment. “sorry, uh… follow me,” he finally instructs, motioning for shouta to follow him.

as they walk, vinn is hyper-aware of every step shouta takes behind him as he leads shouta down the hallway. he knows his aunt is busy washing vegetables for the dishes she plans to cook today. he clears his throat, the sound loud in the otherwise quiet space, and his aunt looks up, a wide smile spreading across her face the moment her eyes land on shouta.

she greets him with enthusiasm, a bright sparkle in her eyes. vinn feels a flush of nervousness as he introduces them. “shouta, this is my lovely aunt who has been asking a million questions about you.” he watches as his aunt steps forward, bowing as a greeting. "it's so nice to meet you shouta, vinn has told me a lot about you."

tl;dr:

cha vinn was born on 14/09/2002 in inglewood, california

he grew up in an orphanage there, left behind by his biological parents due to unknown reasons

when he turned nine years old, an american family adopted him. although grateful, vinn still had a hard time warming up to them as he wasn't used to being part of a family

he was a troublesome child at first, getting into all sorts of trouble until meeting a music producer who worked with underground rappers

this was also when he developed an interest in music, learning to create his own beats and write his own lyrics

at the age of 16 vinn reconnected with his ethnicity and stumbled upon k-pop which sparked his interest in the genre and ultimately lead him to attending dance classes as he wished to imitate all the choreographies from all the music videos he saw

after turning 18, vinn decided he wanted to find his biological parents. he managed to contact his aunt, who helped him reunite with his biological mother living in korea

wanting to make an effort to build a relationship with his biological mother, vinn accepted his aunt's offer to move in with her and her husband

he also began working part-time at the convenient store they own, while attending university and giving private guitar lessons

his main goal is still to get scouted as a trainee and eventually debut

trivia:

is rather quiet and a big introvert

he's a perfectionist who criticizes everything about himself

vinn still doesn't know who his biological father is, but he's determined to find him too

his korean isn't perfect, and he still has a strong american accent when talking in korean

most of the time he looks angry even though he isn't actually upset

close / deep relationships and / or friendships scare him, so he tends to avoid them

he's aiming to become a trainee at studio delta

although he is serious most of the time, he can be a big dork too, it just takes him a while to let loose

possible plots:

customers of his aunt's convenient store who have become accustomed to vinn's face as he works there seven days a week

people he is giving guitar lessons to

someone who wants to befriend vinn, but he's being reluctant in giving in, although they spend a lot of time together

other aspiring trainees with the same goal as vinn. they could talk about their dreams and fears, maybe even practice together

past flings or almost lovers. as vinn never commits to relationships, he could have left behind some bitter feelings or mutual understanding. either way, his excuse is usually the same: he's not looking for anything serious (even though he is)