Chapter 9

### Building Relationships

On the day I was informed of my acceptance to Hanul Entertainment's audition, my family threw a grand party. Even though I told them that just congratulating me would be enough, I couldn't stop the excited two of them.

Mom reiterated that I should be cautious with contracts. To put her words into practice, she took the trainee contract to a lawyer from the company's legal team and asked for a personal review.

It was just a trainee contract, but a contract is a contract. Being overly cautious couldn't hurt, especially since it was about my dream.

After the contract review, Mom and I went to Hanul Entertainment to sign it.

I wore a neat shirt and slacks, while Mom dressed from head to toe in luxury brands, looking like she was ready to intimidate the company officials with her powerful presence, complete with sunglasses and a cool attitude.

There was a moment of tension when the CEO recognized Mom, but she firmly stated that she was there as a parent to protect her son and asked them to see her only as Ham I-won's mother.

Maybe the Mom I didn't know in her business mode was like this.

"Please take good care of my son."

Mom enunciated each word with emphasis, and I could feel her resolve not to let anyone harm me.

In any case, Mom's strategy to take the initiative was definitely successful.

* * *

Before I could even feel the excitement of starting my trainee life, the clock in the practice room was spinning rapidly.

There were two other trainees who joined at the same time as me. The female trainee had a different schedule, making it hard to meet, and the male trainee seemed to have friends already in the company and blended in with them.

I was introduced to other trainees, but we only exchanged formal greetings.

Especially in my case, since I had no prior trainee experience, I had to start with basic training, which made it difficult to get close to the other trainees.

Am I going to be isolated here too? I can't let that happen.

I have no friends besides Hyun-oh, so I don't know how to make friends. I decided to start with the easiest person.

The head of the new talent development team said there was a senior trainee from Hanul Entertainment at my school, so I resolved to find him first.

His name is Nam Chorok, a third-year student majoring in modern dance.

I had more than enough information to find him. I decided to act immediately.

During the first period break, I stood in front of the third-year classroom, and all eyes were on me.

Is it because I'm a second-year standing in front of a third-year classroom?

"Excuse me, can you call Nam Chorok senior?"

I cautiously asked a senior who caught my eye.

"…!"

"Whoa! It's not the mermaid prince…."

Did I do something wrong?

One of the seniors who was wandering around the classroom made a dazed expression and walked over to a window seat.

"Hey, Nam Chorok. Wake up. A junior is looking for you."

The person called Chorok, who was lying on his desk, woke up.

His hair was messy, but it looked like he had styled it that way on purpose.

He slowly turned his head and pointed at me, then walked over.

"What's up?"

His long, narrow eyes without double eyelids gave him a fox-like appearance.

His overall facial features were sharp, but his relaxed tone and gentle smile softened that sharpness.

It seemed like he had a passive smile.

"Hello, I'm Ham I-won. I just became a trainee at Hanul Entertainment and wanted to get to know you."

"Ham I-won? Isn't Ham I-won the mermaid prince? You can talk, right?"

"Excuse me?"

I had no idea what he was talking about.

"You're surprised. Sorry. You're famous as the mermaid prince."

"Mermaid prince?"

Where did that come from?

"Um, I guess you didn't know, but you're famous for being the voiceless mermaid prince among second and third-year students. But your voice is really good. Did you take care of your vocal cords?"

This person has no prejudice…. Of course, it's natural not to think of a vocal cord deformity when you're talking right in front of someone.

"By the way, you joined our agency? We haven't met before, right? I mostly use the second practice room, so we must have missed each other. Thanks for coming to find me. Since you're new, I'll take good care of you as a senior."

"Thank you, Nam Chorok senior."

"Hey, that sounds too formal. Call me hyung. Let's get along well, I-won."

I built a relationship. And I did it on my own! I felt a bit proud, and my shoulders lifted.

Thanks to my courage, I found a lunch buddy at school.

I also got closer to Chorok hyung's friends. They looked at me with pleased expressions from time to time, but they weren't bad people. They were quite mischievous, though.

After eating together several times, I learned a lot about Chorok hyung.

The most prominent feature was his insane social skills.

Chorok hyung greeted everyone in the school, not just the company trainees and employees, but even the security guards.

…Was I the only one who didn't know this?

He felt like a different species compared to me.

I still find the other trainees, except for Chorok hyung, awkward.

I once heard that you naturally become friends by gradually getting closer, but that's a lie.

Part of the reason is that I haven't finished my basic training, so I haven't had much time to hang out with the other trainees.

Fortunately, my vocal training will move to an advanced level tomorrow, and my dance training will be wrapped up soon.

"I-won, I'm going to eat chicken with some trainees who often practice with me at night. Do you want to come?"

"Is it okay if I come?"

I had been speaking more casually with Chorok hyung for a while.

"Of course. They said they want to meet you. I've been talking about you a lot."

"Then I'll come."

"See you at 10 PM. Is that okay?"

"Sure, I usually practice until 1 AM anyway."

These days, I wake up at 5 AM, go to the gym, shower, eat breakfast, go to school, practice the violin, and then come to the company to practice.

But today, there's a new schedule.

"Meet me in front of the flower shop next to the company at 10 PM. See you then. Practice hard."

I was a bit nervous about meeting new people.

In the past, I put up walls and never made an effort to face people properly. I remained indifferent even when people tried to approach me and eventually gave up.

This time, I want to do it well.

I arrived early and waited in front of the flower shop before 10 PM.

Two minutes before the agreed time, a group of tall men came out of the main gate and walked over to me.

Chorok hyung, who I was already familiar with, spoke first.

"You're here early. This is Ham I-won, the new trainee. Introduce yourselves."

"Hello, I'm Ham I-won. I'm 18 years old, and my specialty is singing."

"My name is Seo Hoon, an international name. I'm 20 and I rap."

He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a body like a physical education student. His face seemed familiar, and he smiled.

"Does it look familiar? I used to be a child actor."

Ah! His facial features were the same as when I saw him in a few dramas as a child.

"My name is Kim Ji-on. I'm a rapper and the same age as you. Let's get along well."

"Ji-on lived abroad for a long time, so he sometimes makes mistakes in his speech. Please bear with it."

Chorok hyung gave a heads-up. I thought Ji-on was older than Seo Hoon because of his deep voice, but that wasn't the case.

His deep-set eyes and prominent features made him look like a mixed-race person.

"Park Ha-joon! I'm 17, so I'm the youngest here! But you can't use informal language with me… right? I feel uncomfortable… right?"

A classic, sculpted handsome man. His appearance was already perfect.

If we formed a group with the people here, Park Ha-joon would definitely be the visual member. However, his tone was still a bit childish.

"Ah, Seo Hoon hyung, is it okay?"

"I'm fine. A few years' age difference doesn't matter in the real world. Just call me hyung. I'm lenient about that."

"I'm also fine. You can use informal language with me."

After Seo Hoon hyung and I agreed, we all decided to speak more casually.

"Thanks! I-won hyung! Are you ready? Let's go quickly! My stomach has been growling since a while ago!"

* * *

The group walked through the alleys and arrived at a run-down chicken restaurant. It was a hard place to find if you didn't know the way.

"The best thing here is the spicy chicken. I found this place, and it's good value for money. The owner is really skilled."

Chorok hyung kindly explained to me, who was visiting for the first time.

"Grandma! Six spicy chickens and three fried chickens, please!"

"Park Ha, you should ask before ordering. I-won, can you eat one chicken? We ordered one more than usual."

Park Ha-joon had already placed the order, so Chorok hyung gently advised him.

Park Ha-joon pouted, saying he didn't do anything wrong, and leaned in. His proactive attitude was a bit overwhelming.

"Ask the others. I'm not sensitive about it, so it's fine. Park Ha-joon."

"Hey! That's cold, Park Ha-joon! Call me Ha! Everyone does."

He also thought it was cold to use his full name. I decided to call him Ha.

"But you usually order eight chickens for four people? You all eat a lot."

Teenage boys could probably eat that much. It would be slightly overeating if each person ate two chickens.

"Ah, that? The chickens are small."

"Chorok hyung, you're lying! The chickens here are bigger than franchise ones. Why don't you say you're a big eater and can eat five servings by yourself!"

Seeing Chorok hyung trying to defuse the situation with a laugh, I believed Park Ha's statement.

He was a big eater, despite being about the same height as me and being thin.

"Chorok doesn't gain weight, so I envy him."

"Seo Hoon, you always exercise. Even if you gain weight easily, you don't have time to. You're a fitness freak."

His British-style English pronunciation was very charming. His noble deep voice stood out more when he spoke a foreign language.

I learned a lot about them. Big eater, body type, fitness freak. Do people get closer by learning these things one by one? Should I share some TMI too?

"My birthday is Arbor Day."

"…Suddenly?"

"…I thought it was TMI time."

Was this not it?

The others hesitated for a moment and then burst out laughing. Did I misinterpret something?

"I-won, you're funny out of the blue. Un peu, which means a little, you're a bit clueless, right?"

"I don't think so…? I'm just not used to this situation."

I've never been called clueless. No one would say that.

Still, I was sensitive to people's feelings, likes and dislikes, and subtle body language.

"I-won hyung, what exactly is this situation?"

"Being surrounded by peers and socializing?"

"Your word choice! Hahaha, this hyung really has no friends!"

How did he know? Does it show that much?

"Park Ha, is it okay to tease hyung like that?"

"It's not okay!"

"I-won is, well, a lonely genius type. That's why he's a school attraction."

I had a feeling that 'that' word would come out. The embarrassing word that starts with 'in…' and so on.

I shook my head vigorously, trying to stop him from saying it. Chorok hyung winked and smiled.

Does that mean he won't say it?

"You're popular as a cold beauty, and your grades are in the top tier."

"Wow! If you were the top student, you'd be a manga protagonist. That's a shame."

"Apparently, you're always first in the school in mock exams. There's a rumor that you turn classical pieces into jazz during your violin practical exams."

How did the rumors spread so far, even though we're in different grades and majors? Why are you so interested in others?

"Ahaha! A lonely genius rebelling against the world! This hyung is really funny. Why did you do that?"

"…I got tired of always playing the score as it is."

I've been listening to classical music since I was a baby, and it got old.

Following the rigid interpretation of the score felt like repeating the same thing over and over, so I couldn't play it that way.

"Let's jam sometime. I'll play the piano, and you can play the violin. How about it?"

"I-won, I want to be friends with you. You're really cool, like a real artist."

"Me too, me too!"

What's going on?

Why do I feel like everyone is flocking to me? What did I do? I can't follow their way of thinking.

"Wanting to be friends is nice, but it feels strange."

"Hahaha! Clueless! Okay!"

Why are they all nodding?

I'm not clueless.

…Am I?