NO WHERE NEAR

"Wait so you're telling that the audition you went was just the first step ?" Yugyeom sip his carbonated drink . 

"Yeah . I guess that's what the staff told me" 

Chanwoo wasn't sure about spreading the news yet , but letting some parts out of his mind was enough to ease the weight on his chest . 

"I thought they only needed three new members to complete the group ? And now you're going to compete again for a new group ?" Moonbin scratches the end of his chin and grimaced at the thought of being an idol . What it really feels like .  "That's what they said . But they were called Team B and now YG wanted us to compete again for another spot in his new boy group" Chanwoo shook his head as if he was having a major headache . With the noises of students inside the cafeteria , he was going no where from peace . 

"Dude , if you think you can't do it , back off while you still can . Just hearing you say about those guys in Team B already showed the kind of jerks they are" Moonbin said and Chanwoo knew better than to believe his friend . But he's will to become an idol , and also to help his aunt is his number one dream . Right now all he can hope for is the best for himself . "I won't . I don't want to give up that easily" Yugyeom shared a concern look with Moonbin before Chanwoo stood up from their table . "I'm going for my practice in an hour . Bye guys" The boy slung his bag over his shoulder before walking away . 

"YG is a total nut head for making that competition" Yugyeom spat out . 

"Definitely . Just hope Chanwoo can survive from the others" Moonbin suddenly coughed and drank his milk . 

"You okay ?" Yugyeom looked towards the boy beside him . "Yeah , I'm fine" . 

* * * * * 

The door bell rang as the cashier greeted him , "Welcome !" Chanwoo gave a warm smile before heading to the back to get himself some snacks and drinks . As far as he knows , practising would consume a lot of his energy and can leave an empty stomach . He grabbed himself some energy drinks and two bags of potato chips , and even some chewing gums just to be safe . He was about to head to the cash register when a familiar face popped out from another aisle and went to the cashier . 

Chanwoo was centimetres away from him but the boy havent noticed him yet . He took the chance to approach him , why ? Well because he'll be seeing those bunny looking teeths for a long 10 goddamn weeks . Chanwoo stood beside until he finished paying and finally took notice of his presence . 

"Yo ! Aren't you the kid that came to the studio yesterday ?" The guy asked , feeling much enlightened than when Chanwoo first met him . 

"U-um...yeah . And it's Chanwoo by the way , if you have forgotten" Well he was lowkey sure that the older had totally forgotten about him . But he mustn't take that in too seriously , it was just yesterday and they were all tired . No one can remember a person in that kinda of state anyway . "Oh yeah , Chanwoo ! Where you heading ?" The guy rumbled his things in his plastic bag before pulling out a soda . "To practice . YG told me that I would start by today" He replied while piling his stuffs on the counter . "Then let's go together" He said while smiling and Chanwoo only nodded . After paying , the two of them walked side by side towards YG's building . 

"Um....hyung , right ?"  Chanwoo broke the deafening silence . Though he knew the guy was older than him because he just wanted to start some conversation while on their way . 

"Hm ? You mustn't forgotten ? You can call me Bobby by the way but hyung is enough I guess ?" The older smiled warmly .

"I-I just wanted to be sure . That's all" He stammered nervously . Bobby laughed , making Chanwoo dazed by his action all of the sudden . "Don't worry Chanwoo-yah , I wont bite you . In fact I like you better as the maknae" He slung his arm around Chanwoo's shoulder and the boy almost reject the offering but finally ease at the contact . "Unlike Junhoe who doesn't even want to talk to me . That maknae can be cold sometimes . He only likes Jinhwan-hyung , and of course everyone likes him" Bobby sighed and clicked his tongue . Chanwoo remembered who Junhoe was and hearing from how the older describe their relationship together already made his stomach twist . He's probably the last guy Chanwoo wants to mess with . 

"Say hyung , how long have you guys been together ? As a team ?" Chanwoo asked and momentarily he could see Bobby looking a bit too far from the question , some hint of sadness in his eyes . "Longer than you should know maknae" He chuckled at the thought . "We lost to Winner , our sunbaes and YG promised to debut us again . But we never knew it was another competition . That is until you three came to join in" The older continued . Chanwoo suddenly felt bad , almost about everything that they've been thorugh and now here he was suddenly butting in without any proper training while the others had much more experiences . He did felt like a freeloader . One who's suddenly appearing while others had to wait for years to train and finally shine . 

"Now I get it why Junhoe called me a freeloader" Chanwoo looked down on the pavements . His grip tighten on the plastic bag . "Hey , you shouldn't hear what Junhoe has to say okay ? He's just being a diva sometimes and there's no prediction to what might come out of his mouth next . He's like that and you just have to bear with it" Bobby comforted him and caressing his hair just like how his aunt does . Chanwoo felt the slight tint of redness on his cheek . He doesn't know why but Bobby somehow can make him feel protected for some reason , like how a big brother would protect and care for his younger . Chanwoo hoped that all of his hyungs can make him feel like that . Atleast show that they care about him rather than making him feel outcasted just because he joined the very last minute . He looked at Bobby and smiled , "Okay hyung" . Bobby nodded before he playfully pulled his ears . "Good , now let's hurry up to practice before Hanbin gets cranky again" He said before both of them laughed .

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