“Yujin… you see, she got injured…”
Manager Kim said with a heavy heart since Yujin was supposed to debut with IVE, the group she's managing now.
“a freak accident Yujin fell down the stairs I don’t really want to overstep my boundaries OC, you two seems to know each to a certain level so just ask her”
You didn't reply,If you could hear what silence is it’s this, you just stared at the screen of your phone thinking.
“what the fuck is this life”
You feel bad for Yujin, that wasn’t supposed to happen. You both planned out your life when you both are still young.
You don’t know what to do or to say to her tomorrow. Do you just pretend that manager Kim didn't tell you what happened to her? Do you ask her directly so that you would get the full story?
Yujin’s voice echoes in your head all the things she said the day you guys made that promise, but what stings the most is this.
“OC-ya I dream to stand with you on KBS when we both get nominated for a music bank win. Let's both cheer for each other when the time comes, okay?”
Knowing how good Yujin was, it felt so unfair, you think about it again and again and again. She wasn’t just talented, she's a person that would always get a look back whenever someone sees her.
Whenever she danced, every movement felt effortless, graceful enough to make the entire practice room feel brighter. It was like the music itself followed her instead of the other way around.
And when she sings, it’s comforting yet powerful. Listening to her sing almost didn’t feel real sometimes, like hearing something too beautiful to exist in such an ordinary place. Back then, you used to joke that Starship wouldn’t even need stage lights once Yujin debuted because she could light up the entire stage on her own.
You talk to yourself like you’re carrying something heavy in your heart.
“She’s a natural born star… it’s too bad too bad that she…”
You couldn't even finish what you were saying, everything right now just doesn't make sense.
You woke up earlier than usual, you only slept for 4 hours last night. The sun is lovely today. You feel like it’s insulting you somehow because of the knowledge you learned from last night. Being bright and sunny today somewhat pisses you off.
You arrived at the company and there they are the 3 stooges or your groupmates named Jin, Mori and Kei whatever you wanna call them on a specific day, lively and loud as ever.
“Hi guys goodmorning”
You greeted them normally like last night didn't happen
Jin comes to you holding his phone with a dumb grin on his face looking like he's gonna boast about something.
“Wassup OC-chan!! Bro look at this shit I got double 5 star on genshin last night I recorded it too”
“Don’t ever call me that again weaboo” you said to him jokingly “anyways dude what the hell is that luck bro, did the RNG gods bless you last night? But be careful if I were you, you might have just used up all your luck and get unlucky today lmao”
You try to scare Jin
“Screw you man” He said while laughing
Kei called everyone over
“Why don’t we start training already we have a lot to practice today”
Everybody agreed and they assumed their position, but you suddenly remembered the speaker is not set up yet so you did it yourself. After that you all started to practice but an hour in you notice her walking in, Yujin you gave her a quick nod and continued to practice with the three of them.
“Okay everyone lets take a break, drink water or something just remember we gotta continue in 15”
After Kei told everyone to take a break you just sat in a dimly lit corner with your phone fake scrolling in it while stealing glances at Yujin. You notice things that you didn’t yesterday. Yujin has a small limp while walking, and her eyes look dull and hollow. You want to approach her and try to talk to her but you don’t, you think to yourself.
“I’ll just give her space for now let her get comfortable with all of us”
But to your surprise, Yujin walked towards you. You thought she was gonna talk to you but she’s just handing out water like what a manager should do.
You said “thanks” softly to her when she gave you one, she then nodded to acknowledge that she heard you.
“Yujin wait-” you said then regretted it immediately, she looked but you shook your head “no nothing nevermind” so she went on her way giving out water to the other members.
A while later you all continued your guys’ practice while dancing all of you keep getting mistake on a single part on the choreo of Fire by BTS which resulted on getting scoffed at by Yujin, Mori noticed it and teased Yujin by saying
“Manager-nim if you’re gonna scoff at us it’s only natural to show us how to really do it no?”
Jin chimed in by doubling down
“Yeah show us how to do it”
they both laugh, but Yujin replied to their teasing
“Alright I’ll show you”
She then starts to dance, watching her do the choreo beautifully and no mistakes it reminds you how good she is. Not that you needed a reminder, you always know to yourself how elite of a trainee an Ahn Yujin is.
But after finishing the choreography the small limp became big. She almost fell down but she’s able to balance herself and not fall.
You ask her
“Yujinnie are you alright?!”
She froze for a moment, hearing you say that nickname of hers did that but she continued
“I’m alright just a little bit tired, I’ll leave you guys be for a moment”
“Alright Manager-nim drink water or something we need you to have the same energy as us”
Kei replied to her, she just nodded and left the training room.
Immediately after Yujin left the room, Mori said.
“Dude she’s good!! Why is she just a manager though I mean don’t get me wrong manager’s job is also hard but like she can definitely debut if she wanted”
Kei and Jin agree in unison but you just stand there thinking if you will or will not follow Yujin… You did, you left the room with the pretext of going to the bathroom to take a shit what a load of bullcrap.
You followed Yujin to the manager’s lounge and you saw her taking painkillers and punching her legs, the kind of punch athletes do when they need their legs to wake up. You didn't confront her, you just stood there watching and it broke you, though not to the point that you’re gonna cry. So you just left quietly before she notices you.
You got back at the training room fairly quickly, so the guys asked you.
“OC bro did you not wash your bum? That was really quick for pooping” said Kei
“Just gas I just farted” you replied
Mori chimed in “Bro fart or shit I ain’t going there in another like 30 minutes. That restroom must have smelled so bad after you left.”
Yujin also comes back to the training room. You try not to look at her as much to not look suspicious, but you can't help it. You want to talk to her, to ask her if she’s okay or how can you help, but ultimately you restrained yourself. You just glance at her from time to time.
So you tried to continue the day as normal. You guys practiced Yujin helping in choreos if someone is struggling. But you can’t, you notice every single thing like how she uses the wall sometimes to support her standing up or how Yujin sometimes rubs her knees. This continued till evening.
When you guys are gonna go home you see Yujin carrying many things you offered to help.
“Mind if I carry it for you?” you said to her
“I can do it myself OC just press the ground floor.” she replied and you just nodded and pressed the elevator button for the ground floor.
You tried to make small talk. “So Yujinnie how have you been?”
She tensed up upon hearing that nickname “Just living by OC, Actually I want to tell you something-”
She gets interrupted by the sound of the elevator reaching the ground floor. She just left without continuing what she was saying.
So now you’re more confused “Is she hiding more from me and not just the injury?” you ask yourself. Then you notice she dropped something and you pick it up but when you’re about to call her to tell her she’s just gone like the wind.
You look at what you picked up, it’s the matching keychain that you guys won when you were 10 years old at an arcade. “Oh she still kept this… out of the things she threw away but this… It’s still with her” you remember. After some time after winning this keychain she started calling this her “Lucky charm” but now it’s old colors faded and some scratches.
You’re back in your dorm room. You're thinking about something but not about the keychain or about Yujin’s injury that she’s trying to hide from you. You’re thinking about how you would survive till the next allowance which is in 2 weeks. It’s one of your weaknesses the moment you get your allowance you live kind of lavishly especially on food. Then suddenly to interrupt your thoughts Jin texted you
Jin: Yo dude I can’t sleep wanna play Wildrift?
OC: Yeah me too, my deep thoughts are gonna kill me
OC: alright, I’m down
Jin: Sweet open up I’ll invite you
You guys are in a call in discord when Jin asks you something.
“Bro you’re kinda off tonight. You can’t smite for to save a country which you can do easy normally and you’re on a huge gap against their jungle”
“Just really distracted right now you know”
“I know, ever since our new manager came you’re acting a little weird. Don’t think I don’t see your half a second glances on her once every 5 minutes”
“You noticed it huh?”
“Yup I did”
After that conversation you guys continued to talk about trainee life, Jin talking about how his family bet everything on Jin becoming an Idol so he can’t even think about quitting now even though that did come to mind from time to time.
After hearing that you realize that everyone has burdens in their life. So Yujin probably has one too, not that it’s your place to know that right now. Jin talks, asking if you’re still down for one more.
“I’m getting sleepy imma log off now” you replied
“Oh okay, goodnight OC ggs”
After playing with Jin you felt tired and sleepy which made you happy since you can finally go to sleep unlike earlier.
“Finally some sleep.”
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