"There is never an end to where your road takes you, because new foundations are always laid in front of you.

There is never a close to what is behind you, because the footprint of your journey will be embedded there forever."

Donghae shouldered his bag and squeezed his way off the crowded bus. His face registered the light drizzle that was falling   

outside and he automatically quickened his footsteps. He was tempted to stop and inspect every store in the packed

Apgujeong streets but he was aware that he was already behind schedule. He broke into a run as the SM building loomed up

ahead and made it to the sheltered steps just as the heavens really started to bucket down. Watching hundreds of

umbrellas expand on the street in front of him, Donghae exhaled and silently celebrated his acceptance as an SM trainee.

Determined, he prepared to turn and enter the building when a sodden figure suddenly appeared out of the curtain of water

gushing over the shelter. Lee Sungmin pushed the dripping hair off his face and cast a guilty but cheerful smile towards

Donghae. Indicating for them to both step inside the building, Sungmin paused to squeeze the excess water out of his

hair before entering the air-conditioned interior. A few minutes later, they were both led down the corridor to meet the rest

of the trainees. 

Inside the waiting room, Lee Hyukjae looked nervously at the other six people in the room. Particularly the three females

that were already quietly acquainted with each other. He fidgeted, finding nothing to do with his hands or his legs.

As if sensing his unrest one the male trainees motioned for him to come over. Recognising the authority of a sunbae,

Hyukjae moved over and waited for himself to be assessed. To his surprise, the sunbae simply stated:

"You are Lee Hyukjae."

Finding nothing to say in reply, Hyukjae simply stood in semi-awkward silence while waiting for the rather strange

sunbae to continue. To the astonishment of the room's occupants as well as Donghae and Sungmin who had just pushed

open the door, the sunbae let out the most ridiculous laugh that sounded unerringly like a soju-drunk e on Ecstasy.

The room fell into a shell-shocked silence which was broken by the introduction:

"My name is Park Junsu."