Chapter 24 of 100

Chapter 24

7 min read1,831 words

# Episode 024

Baeg Seol-ha's class began.

"Breathing, breathing!"

"Hap, hu."

"Don't try to force the sound. Let it come naturally with your breath. The sound follows the breath. So don't force the exhale."

"Hu..."

Baeg Seol-ha gave an awkward smile.

This was because Jo Ara wasn't following the guidance well.

"Let's try again. With the exhale, hu."

"Hu."

"Again. Hu."

"Hu..."

"Wait a moment. Try to breathe naturally. Like this, sip, hu. No, just like you normally breathe."

Jo Ara thought singing was just about singing.

The more you sing, the better you get.

It's not wrong, but it's slower without the basic theory.

Those who get better by singing a lot have talent.

"Let's try again from the exhale, hu."

"Hu."

"Yes, yes, that's it! Again."

"Sip, hu."

"I told you, it's not about tensing your abdomen. It's about the vocal cords closing abruptly."

As a result of the training with Baeg Seol-ha, Jo Ara realized one thing.

She had no talent and couldn't keep up with the theory.

Baeg Seol-ha's constant awkwardness and discomfort made this clear.

'Other people probably don't do this. They probably do it easily.'

The more Jo Ara received guidance from Baeg Seol-ha, the lower her self-esteem became.

How could she show a better performance than Baeg Seol-ha in this state?

There wasn't much time left until the short-term training ended, and she hadn't even sung a proper song yet...

"Sip, hu."

"Again."

She couldn't even master the basic techniques quickly...

"That's enough for today. Good job."

"Thank you, teacher."

As soon as the class ended, the practice room door opened, and Seong Pil poked his head in.

The two of them felt a sense of déjà vu.

Lately, Seong Pil had been coming to watch Jo Ara's training often.

"I brought coffee. Would you like some?"

"Thank you, manager."

Seong Pil handed Baeg Seol-ha an Americano.

"They don't do takeout for espresso."

"Oh, you remembered."

"Baeg Seol-ha said you like it, so of course I remembered."

"Ah..."

"Here, Jo Ara."

He gave Jo Ara a café latte.

When Jo Ara looked up at him, he smiled and whispered,

"It's a secret from Rika. If she finds out I gave you sugar, she'll be really mad at me."

It was a tone that sounded like he was talking to a child.

"Yes."

"What's wrong? You look down?"

Jo Ara was surprised.

She had only managed to say "Yes" once. Yet, Seong Pil had picked up on her mood.

"No..."

"Baeg Seol-ha, did you scold Jo Ara?"

"No! No! I didn't scold her!"

Baeg Seol-ha vehemently denied it. She gave Jo Ara a look, urging her to say something.

"She didn't scold me."

"There can be discipline between teacher and student, but primarily, you two are colleagues."

"Jo Ara said she didn't scold her... I don't do that..."

Jo Ara quietly observed the two of them having a pleasant conversation.

Seong Pil tried to include Jo Ara in the conversation a few times, but she didn't show much enthusiasm.

Instead, Jo Ara kept alternating her gaze between the café latte in her hand and Baeg Seol-ha's Americano.

"By the way, how is Jo Ara doing?"

"......!"

Jo Ara's attention shifted to Baeg Seol-ha.

Baeg Seol-ha wasn't a good liar.

Sure enough, she gave an awkward laugh.

"She's doing well."

"Hmm, really?"

His tone didn't sound like he believed her.

Jo Ara, feeling embarrassed, clutched her café latte cup tightly. Seong Pil didn't speak to her again, which felt like a silent rebuke.

* * *

Baek Min-jeong is a trainer.

She might not be a real teacher, but she believed she had the qualifications.

Baek Min-jeong was skilled at reading the emotions of her students.

"Ara."

"Yes, teacher."

Jo Ara responded weakly.

Dark circles had appeared under her eyes, something that hadn't been there before.

Baek Min-jeong felt guilty.

"Want to have dinner with me today?"

"...Yes."

In the past, Jo Ara would have hugged her and kissed her in gratitude.

This time, all she got was a weak "Yes."

Jo Ara sat at the restaurant, staring blankly at the table.

"Ara."

"..."

"Are you really struggling? Is it not a good fit for you?"

Jo Ara had joined Garo Entertainment at Baek Min-jeong's recommendation.

Baek Min-jeong had believed Jo Ara would do well, but it didn't seem to be the case.

She couldn't help but feel guilty.

"If it's not a good fit, it's okay to quit. I know it's hard to say, but I can talk to Seong Pil for you."

"Seong Pil..."

The life had returned to Jo Ara's eyes, which had been vacant. She finally showed some emotion.

Jo Ara gritted her teeth and said,

"Park Seong Pil. That guy."

"Why? What did he say? Did he yell at you?"

"He keeps watching me."

"Huh?"

"He keeps watching my training."

"......"

The food arrived.

Jo Ara, who seemed very hungry, quickly put food in her mouth.

Baek Min-jeong chuckled at Jo Ara's frenzied eating.

'She must be enjoying her trainee life.'

* * *

"Jo Ara's short-term training period is down to just a week."

The month-long journey was coming to an end.

However, Seong Pil's tone wasn't relieved.

"There's a bit of a problem with Jo Ara."

"Problem? You mean a problem?"

"......There are some areas where Jo Ara needs improvement."

"Are you nitpicking?"

"Manager Han, stop obsessing over Jo Ara. Stop giving her chocolate all the time."

Hong Gyu-hun's eyes turned fierce.

"Manager Han, did you?"

"Um..."

"Bad habits are hard to break. You know that, right? Remember how Min-gil lost his habit of eating chocolate bars because of you? He used to hide snacks in his jacket whenever he went outside..."

"I know. I'm sorry. It's just that Jo Ara's eyes looked so sunken."

Seong Pil cleared his throat to steer the conversation back on track.

"First, Jo Ara doesn't try to socialize with Rika or Baeg Seol-ha."

"Does she lack social skills?"

"She doesn't even talk to Rika."

"Isn't that the same for Rika?"

"That's true."

Rika was afraid of Jo Ara.

No matter how many times he tried to convince her otherwise, her preconceived notions didn't change.

With Jo Ara also being aloof and reserved, there was no way their relationship could improve.

"However, it's not just with Rika. It's the same with Baeg Seol-ha. As you all know, Baeg Seol-ha is very kind and gentle."

"......"