Chapter 22

# Episode 022

A former dancer turned idol said,

When she first became a trainee, it was incredibly tough.

While underground and idol styles aren't completely opposite, there are significant differences.

"Underground style? Underground style?"

"First, the expression. Yeah, when you perform a dance, you can have an 'I'm immersed in this' kind of look. But we need the mood and the expression to match the song. You, well, you seem to be too absorbed in yourself, you know? That's the feeling I get."

Joa-ra's face turned red and pale.

She had always been praised for her dancing, but Seong-pil was now criticizing her with some arbitrary standard.

She wasn't used to this kind of criticism.

"An idol stage is a completely different world from what you know."

"I'm not an idol..."

"It will take some time to break your habits. And your posture is also slouched."

"What's wrong with my posture...?"

Joa-ra looked at the side mirror.

Her shoulders were slightly hunched and drawn inward.

She had never thought this was strange.

Dancers often move away from proper posture as they master different genres.

Their basic posture changes because they frequently perform bending and drawing-in movements.

She had only thought it was cool.

"...What's wrong with my posture?"

Joa-ra subtly straightened her back and shoulders.

She thought she could get away with it, but the observers couldn't help but notice.

"And also..."

Seong-pil was about to say more. Joa-ra felt cornered.

No one had ever spoken to her so bluntly.

Even if she were insulted by a stranger, it wouldn't be as humiliating as this.

"Mr. Park, that's enough. We'll evaluate later."

"Understood."

"I think it's good. Shall we move on to the next part?"

"..."

The next part was singing.

Joa-ra's skill was below that of an average person.

It seemed like her vocal range only went up to 'Sol,' and her singing was stuck in a low tone.

It sounded like she was reciting a dirge.

'Honestly, I didn't expect her to be good at singing, even if she's a great dancer.'

Hong Gyu-hun could easily accept this.

Singing can be improved with training.

If Joa-ra joined the group, he planned to make her the main dancer. Baek Seol-ha would be the main vocalist, so Joa-ra only needed to improve a little...

"Stop! Stop!"

Suddenly, Seong-pil shouted.

Han Goo-in was taken aback and stopped the song. Joa-ra, relieved, immediately stopped singing.

"Joa-ra."

"What now? What can I do about not being able to sing...?"

"Don't sing like it's a joke. Even if you can't sing well, you should at least be serious about it!"

"That's not true..."

Does she have to be ridiculed just because she can't sing well?

Of course, this was Joa-ra's personal feeling.

In reality, she had been singing carelessly.

It's embarrassing to be bad at something, especially when it's something you show to others, like singing.

It's embarrassing to be criticized for your true skill.

But if you deliberately make mistakes, you can console yourself with, 'My real skill isn't this bad.'

"Do you know what this is called? It's called a self-handicap strategy. It's when you say, 'My real skill isn't like this. I'm not this bad,' to console yourself."

"..."

Joa-ra, who had been criticized to the point of feeling emotionally drained, trembled.

"Again. Be serious about it."

While Seong-pil was saying this, Hong Gyu-hun was jabbing his side under the table.

It was useless since he didn't stop.

As the song started again, Hong Gyu-hun whispered,

"Mr. Park, what's wrong with you? Do you want to die after this is over?!"

Seong-pil, for the first time, saw Han Goo-in's eyes burning with anger.

If they were alone, it might have come to blows.

"You just don't like her..."

"Hidden—!"

At that moment, Joa-ra sang with all her might.

She wasn't joking around this time.

She was trying to hit the right notes, pulling air from her lungs.

Of course, it was miserably bad.

But it felt like she was giving her best.

"Everything—! To you—! I'll give—!"

Joa-ra's face was as red as a beet.

Her eyes were tightly closed, and the embarrassment was palpable to the observers.

But it was hard to say anything bad.

She was giving her best.

That's how Joa-ra's embarrassing vocal test ended.

'I really feel like I'm going to die of embarrassment.'

Joa-ra didn't want to open her eyes ever again.

She had exposed her embarrassing singing skills.

It was the first time she felt this ashamed since a singing test in elementary school.

And she expected harsh criticism from Seong-pil.

"You did well."

No, that wasn't it.

"Your emotions came through."

Joa-ra felt like she had a rock stuck in her throat until the end of the song.

When the song ended, it felt like a heavy weight was added to her heart.

Just thinking about the harsh criticism from Seong-pil made her sigh.

But when the expected harsh words turned into praise, a sudden sense of relief washed over her.

"You can do it if you try."

"..."

A different kind of embarrassment came over her.

She wanted to say, 'Don't give me empty compliments,' or 'You're just saying that,' but...

For some reason, instead of feeling rebellious, her heart felt ticklish.

"Then, the next part is—"

* * *

"What are you doing?!"

Han Goo-in grabbed Seong-pil by the collar and shook him.

Judging from the earlier atmosphere, it was a miracle he didn't punch him.

"If Joa-ra runs out, saying she won't do it, will you take responsibility, Mr. Park? No, you can't! Where will we find a star like Joa-ra?!"

"You're drinking all the kimchi broth yourself. We haven't even decided to take her in yet."

"Is that so?!"

Joa-ra had gone to the break room for a moment, and the three of them gathered to discuss the test results.

"Didn't you see how well Joa-ra danced? She would be a perfect main dancer. Plus, her sharp eyes. She has a cool charm that Rika and Baek Seol-ha don't have. She would help balance the team's color."

"You didn't care about idols, right?"

What exactly did Han Goo-in see in Joa-ra to be so invested?

He said he first met her during a volunteer activity at an orphanage. Did he witness a once-in-a-century performance there?

"To be honest, I like her dancing. She said she only dances after eating. She has the right to say that. I can't distinguish the specifics, but... her singing... can be improved. Also, because she has been dancing for a long time, she knows how to strike good poses. She knows how to look cool."

"Indeed, Mr. President. I don't know where to put myself with your keen eye and discerning ears!"

"Is that so? What do you think, Mr. Park?"

"I like her too. I'm not sure if she can handle a month of short-term training, though."

"Didn't you say you didn't care about idols?"

In the end, the three of them agreed to 'approve.'

Since Garo Entertainment needed to form a group as soon as possible, Joa-ra, who was already a master of dance, was a valuable asset.

"Let's tell her the results. She will decide then."

* * *

Rika went down to the first floor to get some health juice.

Joa-ra was sitting in a chair in the first-floor break room.

Wearing Rika's training suit.

"..."

"..."

"Good morning."

Surprisingly, Joa-ra spoke in Japanese.

"A, a, good morning isn't it, it's good afternoon..."

"What?"

"A, a, nothing!"

Rika, with tears in her eyes, ran away.

She couldn't say anything even though a stranger was wearing her clothes.

And she didn't even get the health juice she came for.

Bullies are scary...

"Joa-ra."

Han Goo-in, Park Seong-pil, and Hong Gyu-hun came down to the first floor.

Hong Gyu-hun was the one to deliver the results.

"We would be grateful if you joined our company. As you heard, you won't become a formal trainee right away. After a one-month short-term training program, if you still want to do it and you approach it with sincerity, you will become a formal trainee."

"Hmm."

"If you need more time to decide, that's fine too."

Joa-ra looked at the other two behind Hong Gyu-hun.

Han Goo-in, with his hands clasped over his chest, looked like he was waiting for an answer to a love letter.

It was nice to be wanted, but it also felt strange.

What did Han Goo-in see in her to be so obsessed?

'Why did I take this test?'

Right.

Because of Park Seong-pil.

To give him a taste of his own medicine.

If she refused here, it would be a good one.

"..."

But she didn't feel good about it.

Look at him now.

Seong-pil's eyes were calm and unmoving.

It seemed like it didn't matter to him whether she did it or not.

'He criticized my dancing, didn't he?'

If she showed him a dance that could make him fall in love during the one-month short-term training...

Would he have a different expression then?

'That would be my revenge. But do I really need to do that?'

Do I have to take vocal lessons I'm not good at for the sake of revenge?

In that time, she could practice several dances.

Even though it was a request from Teacher Baek Min-jeong, it was difficult to invest time in something she wasn't interested in.

'I also have to work part-time, so it will be hard to find the time.'

Joa-ra's parents didn't like that she only danced. When she was young, they sent her because she wanted to, but she skipped school for years to dance day and night.

They had fought over this many times.

'Soon, it will be that season again. They'll cut off my dance school fees to make me quit.'

Anyway, she had to go to dance school and work part-time.

Most importantly, the part-time job was a problem.

If she did the short-term training at Garo Entertainment, she wouldn't have the money to return to dance school when it was over.

She wouldn't be able to work part-time.

'Still...'

She wanted to give Seong-pil a taste of his own medicine.

"Ara."

"Why?"

As they say, if you talk about a tiger, it will come. While she was imagining Seong-pil begging and pleading, he spoke to her.

"If you want to continue going to your dance school, that's fine. We have two dance schools planned for the short-term training. One is for street dance, and the other is for idol dance. For the street dance, I'll send you to You No Dance Academy."

"..."

"Just, if that's what you want."

Seong-pil's words hit the nail on the head.

Joa-ra had been going to the same dance school for years.

Suddenly losing that connection was scary.

It was like suddenly transferring to a new school.

But if that issue was resolved, there was no need to hesitate about joining Garo Entertainment.

She could continue going to dance school and also humble Seong-pil's arrogant attitude.

Besides, it was only a one-month short-term training, not a formal trainee program.

It was a proposal that fit her situation so well that it felt strange.

'Is this uncle reading my mind?'

Well, what does it matter?

"I have one question."

"Ask away."

"How many people approved of me joining?"

Seong-pil held up two fingers.

Two people.

Joa-ra smiled.

"Uncle, do you not like me?"

"I never said I was against it."

Yes, this was good too.

Surprising someone who looks down on you.

Even if the other two approved, he could have pretended to agree, but Seong-pil openly opposed it.

'I was wrong. I'm sorry. I'll make those words come out of your mouth.'

And as a bonus, she would save a month's worth of dance school fees.

"Okay. I'll join."

"You made a good decision!"

Han Goo-in was overjoyed, as if he was throwing a party, and Hong Gyu-hun shook Joa-ra's hand, welcoming her to the team.

In the middle of all this, Seong-pil stood there expressionlessly. He quietly smiled, making sure no one else noticed.

* * *

The first week of short-term training was over.

On her way to the agency, Joa-ra reflected on the past week.

It was tough.

But not unbearable.

'Park Seong-pil, I'll give you a scare. What? I can't handle it?'

That's only true for ordinary people.

It's a rule that doesn't apply to someone as capable as her.

'Of course. I only eat and dance. How hard can it be to add singing and acting to that schedule?'

Of course, the training schedule was challenging.

Seong-pil had deliberately told the trainers to push her.

Since it was a short-term training program, he wanted to see her passion and perseverance, and he wanted the training to progress quickly.

'Just wait, uncle.'

On the last day of the short-term training, Seong-pil would be as surprised as a rabbit.

He would praise her talent and beg her to stay at Garo Entertainment.

Then, Joa-ra would say,

'Oh, it's not really my style.'

The thought of Seong-pil's despair made her smile.

Just thinking about his face made her want to eat a whole bowl of rice.

"Hello."

She opened the door to the company with a lazy greeting and saw a new face.

A woman in a blouse, skirt, and loose cardigan. She exuded an adult aura.

Joa-ra hesitated, and the woman stood up with a smile.

"Hello. I'm Baek Seol-ha. Are you Joa-ra?"

Joa-ra was surprised again when Baek Seol-ha stood up.

It was because of her height.

'How tall is she? Over 170cm?'

She had long legs and an excellent figure.

When she saw the trainee Rika, she thought Rika was pretty.

She didn't feel inferior to her.

But Baek Seol-ha seemed to have a real aura.

"Yes, I'm Joa-ra. Baek Seol-ha... ma'am?"

It felt awkward to add 'ma'am' to her name.

Just that made Joa-ra feel younger than Baek Seol-ha.

"I knew it as soon as I saw you. Mr. Park and Mr. Han told me a lot about you."

"Ah, yes."

What did they say?

She was curious.

But it felt a bit too prideful to ask.

"That you're a really good dancer and work very hard."

"I work hard because I love dancing."

"I also heard you're very pretty."

Baek Seol-ha's compliment about her beauty had a tone that made her feel like a child.

And Baek Seol-ha was indeed older.

'But, they said I'm pretty?'

So, either Seong-pil or Han Goo-in must have said, 'Joa-ra is pretty.'

Who was it?

She was curious.

She waited to see if Baek Seol-ha would say more, but it seemed she was done.

"Ara, you're here?"

Seong-pil called from the second-floor railing.

"Yes, I'm here. Hello."

"Good. You're early again."

Something strange happened.

Seong-pil came down the stairs as if he was running.

It was a side of him she had never seen before.

He looked like someone who had just heard that a package had arrived.

Seong-pil stood in front of Baek Seol-ha with a wide smile.

"Did you talk to Ara?"

"Yes, just now."

"..."

Joa-ra could sense the joy in Seong-pil's voice. His face was radiant throughout the conversation.

He had never shown this side to her.

'What is this?'

Isn't this like discriminating against someone?