♥ Vain

               SM held its annual SM Best Competition again this year and a new trainee has caught the attention of both the company and the old trainees. Rumors about him spread like wildfire; “The guy’s name is Shim Changmin, right?” “Yeah, I heard he won the best singing category” “He was also chosen as first for both grand prizes!” “But he’s so young.” When Changmin officially began his first training, he felt like a lot of old trainees were giving him the cold shoulder, especially a certain trainee who had the impression that he was unapproachable. But after a few days, he brushed against the same trainee again and the trainee said his greetings first to Changmin. He was hanging out with two more trainees and they all said their greetings to him; one being lively with a bright expression and another was imposing.

                Later he learnt their names were Kim Jaejoong, Kim Junsu and Jung Yunho; Jaejoong and Yunho were teamed together while Junsu was in another different group. He only had a few chances to know them as he was trained to be a solo singer. It was late 2002 when Changmin entered the company.

                They all trained together under the same company until the dawn of a new year; 2003. The company announced that they were going to accommodate the trainees with dorms from now on. Thus Yunho and Jaejoong left their rented room and moved in to the company dorms, ending their 1 year of cohabitation. There was a rumor that SM actually picked foreign trainees and the dorms were actually for them but since the Korean trainees will probably make a fuss about it, they allowed the local trainees to use them too. Turns out, the rumor was true. In March 2003, a Chinese trainee named Hangeng started his training with the company and in April 2003, an American came to their company as trainee.

                “Yunho-ya. Have you heard? A Chinese is training in our company. I really don’t understand this company. They kept on adding more and more trainees but none of us have officially debuted. Plus, why can’t the Chinese just debut in his home country? I really don’t understand this.” Heechul complained to Yunho as they were taking a break but Yunho only gave him a lukewarm respond. Heechul noticed Yunho and Jaejoong were distant since the new year started. “What? You fought with Jaejoong?” Heechul bluntly said causing Yunho to be flustered. “Not so loud, hyung. And no, we didn’t fight or anything.” Yunho whispered to Heechul. Heechul, who was still wasn’t satisfied with his answer, had a then-what-happened look on his face. “I just think we need our own space. We’re both guys after all.” So, Jung Yunho. You were saying you’re distancing yourself from him because you’re both guys? What the hell? That doesn’t make sense. But Heechul doesn’t want to pry deeper, his instinct told him not to.

                Nevertheless, Jaejoong and Yunho still hang out with each other but not as intimate as before and seeing them both being awkward with each other was killing Heechul. this is so frustrating! One night when they all decided to take a day off, Heechul suddenly told Yunho they were going out for dinner and asked him to invite Jaejoong too. Yunho was reluctant at first but he knows how stubborn Heechul can be. Jaejoong and Youngwoon were living in different dorm while Yunho and Heechul shared a room in another dorm. Jaejoong said yes and Yunho was waiting outside for the others to come out. Jaejoong came with another trainee, the Chinese trainee that Heechul complained before. A few seconds later, Heechul came out wearing a pink shirt with pink jeans and a pink handbag. From behind, Heechul looked like a girl! “What are you wearing hyung?!” Yunho just can’t hide his surprise seeing Heechul’s ridiculous style. “Pretty, right?” Heechul said as he hugged Yunho’s arm and snuggled his head on Yunho’s shoulder. He turned around to face Jaejoong, “Oh, hi Jaejoong.” “Hello, hyung. Hyung, I think you’ve met him before. This is Hankyung. He’s from China. Hankyung-ah, say hi.” Hangeng nodded his head and sa