Chapter 4

It's a brand new day. I was debating with myself if I should stay for the remaining days in Gwangju or go to Seoul. The next thing I know, I'm packing my luggage and checking out of the hotel.I paid another visit to the wisteria trail before going to the bus station. With my full battle gear on—mask, cap, and earphones—I started to stroll the trail once more. When I reached the end of the trail and went face-to-face with the big tree once again,"We will see each other again soon or maybe often; make my wishes come true, okay? I wished for two people on you already, once for Kim Myeon Jin and now for Kim Dal Hee." I smiled behind my mask and lowered my head. "This might sound like an absolute joke, but can you give me one more wish, one that is not written? I wish to meet Kim Dal Hee again; if it's too much, send me a sign, okay? I've got to go now; I'll see you soon."I walk back to the trail, playing the same song I used to sing while walking. Fine was a song that reminded me of who I really am and how I feel now. I dialed Minho's number."I'm coming home.""Like right now? Can you go directly to the agency?" Minho said."Why?""Why do you talk less? Is there a problem?""Oppa I'm good; my inner composer has awakened; that's why I talk less.""Okay, go straight here at the agency; I have to introduce you to my members since you're debuting with a collaboration with us. Once you get here, I'll pretend I don't know you, like you want. Just be careful.""Yes, I will. See you in a few hours." I hung up and boarded the bus.Hours passed before I finally arrived at the agency. Keeping my mask and cap on, I walked straight to the reception."Hi, I'm looking for Kang Minho." I asked the receptionist."Do you have an appointment, ma'am?""No, can you tell him it's Lee Jinju?" The receptionist called Minho, and a few moments later she called security. "Ma'am, they will escort you to the VIP elevator used by the artist.""Thank you." We walked to the elevator. "Tell me which room he is in, and you can leave the rest to me." The guards nod their heads. "Thank you."After arriving at the floor, they were in. I sent a message to Minho.[Start acting like right now. I'm on my way to your practice area.][Okay.]I'm now in front of the practice room. I'm deciding if I'm going to knock or just bust in. I got the courage to knock and slowly opened the door."Hi, I'm Lee Jinju; I'm looking for Minho."Five pairs of eyes landed on me. Deep inside, I'm laughing hard. My cousin is a good actor, though.Minho stands up. "That would be me. What can I help you with?""I'm Lee Jinju; I was told to look for you by my manager. Manager Song will be here shortly; he's kind of trapped with the sponsor meetings." I extended my hands to Minho."Nice to meet you. I'm Kang Minho; you can call me Minho. It's all good, but did he realize that he sent you to an all-male room?" He chuckled and ushered her in."Well, I think he didn't know that you weren't alone, and by the way, I'm a fan, so it's also nice to meet you." I smiled."Shall I introduce you to everyone?" Minho pointed to each member. "That one is Donghwa, AKA Yongdam; Seonhwa is there; Dal Rae is there; and Myeon Jin, AKA Jangmin."Everyone greeted me with enthusiasm. I shook hands with them and exchanged a few smiles."We heard your song cover fine a while ago; we were quite amused by it and didn't believe that we would meet you today." Seonhwa offered me a seat, and Dal Rae gave me a bottle of water."Oh my goodness, you listened to my cover; that's embarrassing." Jinju blushed and covered her face with her palm."Oh, she's so cute!" Dal Rae and Seonhwa said this while holding hands and beaming with joy."You sing quite amazing for a rookie who is about to debut." Donghwa smiled at me. "Do you mind if I ask you something?""No, not at all. Since we might work in the near future, I don't mind.""Did you happen to be in Gwangju last year?" Donghwa asked"Uhmm... Yes, I was there at the same time last year."Everyone was frozen by her answer. Minho and Donghwa broke out in laughter."We got our confirmation!" Dal Rae and Seon Hwa are both celebrating; I, on the other hand, smiled."What confirmation?" I'm totally confused about what was going on."It's nothing; they're just a crazy bunch of idols who have never seen a female in their entire lives." Myeon Jin said. He is somewhat mysterious and dark, from my point of view."Did you happen to meet a man while you were there?" Seonhwa asked."To tell you honestly, I don't remember much during my trip to Gwangju." I couldn't answer any of the questions about Gwangju."It's alright. By the way, they said you are debuting with a song collaboration with us." Minho broke my frozen mind."Oh, yes, yes, I was told to do a duet with all of you." I sent a message. "Our CEO wanted me to have individual recordings with each of you and one for the whole group.""You're saying that each one of us will record as a duet, then we will also do a group version." Seonhwa asked.I think I caught them by surprise."Who will go first?" Seonhwa raised his hand after Minho asked."I'll go first; let Myeon Jin Hyung go last. He is our main vocalist in the group." Seonhwa walked toward the guitar. "Before that, can you sing Fine or any other song that I know of?""Wait, let me scribble something I can sing for you guys." I started searching on my phone."Why not try A Million Pieces by Kyuhyun?" Donghwa looked at Myeon Jin."I think she can do it." Myeon Jin supported Donghwa's suggestion. "Jinju, do you know the song?""Yes, I heard of it." I quickly looked up the lyrics of the song. "Let's do it."Seonhwa started to play the intro, and in a moment [Lyrics excerpt from the song "A Million Pieces.]"You have a beautiful tone." Minho said. "If I were to have a duet with you, it would be a great opportunity for me to learn more about tone changing.""Yeah, she's got the tone of our group; her pitch is well controlled." Seonhwa praised her."For me, there was something missing from it." Dal Rae commented."Care to tell as Dal Rae?" Myeon Jin asked Dal Rae. I'm afraid that they will fight over it."Vocally, she is absolutely phenomenal, but I couldn't point out what was missing the whole time." Dal Rae brushes his hair with his fingers. "I kept thinking of it but couldn't even say it."Minho stood up from where he was sitting."Soul; her song was soulless." Minho said.I'm ready to kill Minho later, when we get home."Minho is right. "The soul is missing." Myeon Jin looked at me. "Would you mind enlightening us, Jinju?""Uhmm... What can I say? I can't remember anything about how I used to sing before."A knock broke out during the interrogation in an instant, and I was saved by someone."Jinju, are you here?" Said by the person on the other side of the door.I stood up abruptly and went to open the door. Manager Song, my manager, came into the room."Sorry for the delays; I was caught in the meeting." Manager Song whispered to me about my hotel not being ready and that he was about to book another one. "I guessed that you all had been acquainted already.""Yeah, she also sang for us a while ago." Minho answered the manager's song."Can we reschedule the recording? I've got to bring Jinju to the hotel first so she can settle in.""She's staying at a hotel?" Myeon Jin asked."Just temporarily, I haven't bought her the apartment she is supposed to stay in.""Isn't she supposed to stay at the dorm because she's already been with the company for five or six months?" Seonhwa said"Oh, that. No, she was in China for that period; she just got here this morning.""She doesn't need to stay at the hotel; she can crash in my apartment until she can move into her apartment." Minho offered while clearing up the lyrics and music sheets. "I've got a lot of spare room in my apartment anyway."Oh hell, here comes my overprotective cousin. I glared at him, and he just shrugged."Oh, I can't accept that. I don't want to be a burden to anyone." I immediately said"No, I insist, since we are now friends and you don't know anyone else here. "It's better than the hotel." Minho looked at Jinju. "Manager Song, if it's okay with you, she can stay there."Manager Song talked to Jinju. "Yeah, and I don't trust that she will be comfortable at the hotel anyway." He turned to Jinju. "Minho can be trusted, Jinju; you don't need to hesitate, and he is a good person. It's better to have someone you know by your side than no one.""In that case, I accept the offer. Thank you for letting me stay." I smiled at Minho. You'll be so dead later."Let's go; we don't have any other schedule anyway. I can accompany you to do your chores." Minho led me out."Let's all have dinner first and help Jinju settle in; she must be tired from her flight." Donghwa said as he picked up his backpack."Yeah, I'm starving anyway." Dal Rae added He put on his face mask and cap. "Better to be ready than sorry." He gave me a pack of masks. "Wear it; you don't want to be seen with us in public."I chucked. "Thank you." I put on the mask and moved out of the room.Minho and I exchange words."Like seriously, Minho, how can you do this to me?""I'm just taking care of you.""Take care of your face; tell me how much Xian paid you."He chuckled and nudged me. "He didn't need to pay me. I need to take care of you."Dal Rae broke up my little chat with Minho."Let's use the group van to go to the restaurant." Dal Rae said."Yeah, so we can go all together." Seonhwa added."I'll follow you guys; I bought my car here." Minho said.Minho grabbed my luggage."Jinju, if you go ahead with others, they will take care of you; I've got to go to this meeting." Manager Song said"Okay, I will. Thank you for today, Manager Song." I hugged Manager Song."You be careful, little girl; I don't want Xian to end my life." He laughed. "Call him when you settle with Minho, okay?""Yes, of course. He can be annoying." I laughed.I sat down."Jinju, you don't mind if we doze off for a while." Seonhwa said. "You can sleep a little, and we will wake you up when we are near the restaurant.""Is it far?" I asked while removing her mask."We are going to a restaurant near Minho's place; it will be an hour and a half until we get there; he lives in Yongin.""If there's no traffic, it's usually 40 minutes." Dal Rea put on an eye mask. "Not that we complain since we all live in Yongin, ha ha ha."Moments later, we departed from the agency for our destination. This is going to be a long ride to Yongin.