Instant Noodles

“That’s not healthy” Ji told her as she chowed down on ramen.“What’s not healthy about ramen?” Dara asked.“THAT ramen is not healthy because it came out of a cardboard cup” Ji reiterated “Now, stop eating that! I bought sandwiches.” He turned to face the other girls “I don’t want to see you eating this stuff, ok?”He took away Dara’s cup, much to her frustration and threw it away.“Sunbae!!!” she screamed.“NOW! Eat this!” he handed each one of them a sandwich.“Sorry Sunbae” Chaerin replied “We… uhmmmm… don’t have the time to run down and buy decent food so we often eat instant noodles.”“No wonder you’re all so thin” the senior commented, eyeing them one by one “Anyway, let’s all eat this and we’ll return to training.”They all followed, Dara still looking longingly at the ramen Ji threw. “If there is anything harder than all our training, it is this” she thought “pretending not to know him and acting like this is the first time I’ve ever seen him.”She was improving on it, though. For the past two months, she and Ji had developed a unique relationship - it’s as though they had both agreed to forget everything. He acted as her senior and she acted as a ‘very’ obedient junior - unless during the times he would act like an BEEP - like, today, for example.“You don’t bring Gaho like you always do before Sunbae” Bom told him.“I don’t bring him along during YOUR training because you tend to get distracted. You spoil him” he accused Bom “and Dara runs away from him because she’s scared.”Chaerin and Minji laughed and Bom and Dara looked at them sharply. They quieted down. It was Ji’s turn to laugh.“When is Manager Teddy going to come back from LA?” Chaerin asked, changing the topic.“He’s due to arrive tomorrow and he says he’s bought a lot of gifts for us. The launch was very very successful and I’m guessing the Wonder Girls might stay there for good” Ji answered.“That’s fantastic for them” Dara commented “I hope we can perform there too.”“You really want to go there, don’t you Unnie?” Minji asked.Dara nodded enthusiastically.“Big Bang-oppas will be sad if we leave” Chaerin told her, then faced Ji “Isn’t that right sunbae?”“Of course we will be” Ji automatically answered, earning a big smile from the maknae.“Leaving?” Ji thought as the girls continued to eat. Peripherally, he saw Dara playing with Bom’s hair and then pretending it was Minji who pulled it. “Isn’t that just like her… always leaving.”

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Candy Dandy

“We’re working on a lot with this” their voice coach explained “We’ll sample Dara’s voice coz it has the right pitch for this part. The chorus as you well know will be Bom’s. Her voice matches that of T.O.P.’s. The maknaes will be alternating but it’s still pretty much your sunbaes’ song.”One month into their launch, they were preparing for their very first performance. They had trained for various songs - most were written by Teddy and Ji - but what they were using for their debut wasn’t a song that was solely theirs.In a move to up the ante, Teddy decided that their first act will be alongside Big Bang.“This number will be the finale of their performance. I want to give everyone just a taste of you to make them crave for more” Teddy explained to them upon his return. He was full of ideas for them and very hyped up. A good friend of his from LA had advised him on how to debut them.“That’s exciting” YB replied.“It is” Teddy agreed “You’ll be training together for this. I want it to be color-popping!”And so here they were, together for the first time - in training.“Lolli-lolli-oooh-Lollipop…” Dara began.“Make it higher” their voice coach interrupted “As in - think of a very very cute kid singing this part and try to emulate that. It has to sound way too cute.”Dara nodded and began again.“Better! Now… everybody… we’re gonna do the first run ok?”“Yes!”He inserted the mixed tape and signaled for Dara to begin. It sounded good.“Nah. That’s now how we do it” Ji rapped.The beat changed. “Lolli-lolli-lolli-pop-oh…”All four girls sounded great. The sunbaes were looking at one another proudly. The hard work was paying off.T.O.P. began his rap piece. Chaerin followed.After three minutes, the song ended and their coach clapped his hands, almost tearing up.“You are great! I have never taught a more talented group of girls” he commented. “Compose yourself hyung” Seung-ri replied “You’re going to cry soon!”The man laughed. “Nah! I just had something in my eye.”They laughed with him, all feeling exhilarated.“That isn’t bad for a first rehearsal” YB laughed.“No… not bad at all” Ji agreed.

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An unexpected visitor

They went down from YB, Ji, and T.O.P.’s car. Dara had ridden with YB along with Seung-ri. Minji and Chaerin were with Ji and Bom and Daesung were with T.O.P.They just came from dinner and had bonded well - no one noticing the tension between her and Ji. They noticed, though, hers and T.O.P.’s awkwardness.“He just isn’t used to someone really really cheerful and child-like” YB explained to her at the car. She nodded and said that she really didn’t know how to act around him because she sensed that.“I can’t be all serious around him… that won’t be me at all” she told YB.“That’s ok noona. Don’t worry about Hyung. I will always like you” Seung-ri declared and she laughed.As she helped YB unload their bags from his trunk, another car entered their apartment complex’s drive way - a yellow Volkswagen beetle.“Who’s that?” Chaerin asked aloud. None of the girls were familiar with it.Seung-ri let out a whoop. “It’s Han Byul-noona!!!!”Dara froze. “Han Byul???” she thought “Park Han Byul???”“BIG BANG!” Han screamed - the same way they said their name whenever they were performing - and all five boys gathered to where she parked. The girls held back - unsure of what to do. Their sunbaes looked so happy.“When did you come back?” YB asked.“Is this your car?” Daesung injected.“You’re prettier than before” that was Seung-ri.“Is Se7en with you?” that was T.O.P.“Why didn’t you tell us you were coming???” the loudest question came from Ji, who if Dara was right, was as stunned as she was.“So many questions!” Han told all five guys and hugged each one of them “I’ve got presents for you in the trunk. And as for your questions - I came back yesterday YB. Yes, Daesung, this is my car. Thank you Seung-ri, you’re also more handsome than the last I saw you. T.O.P., Se7en is currently managing Teddy’s in LA - I thought you knew that and Ji, I didn’t tell you guys I was coming coz I wanted to surprise you.”“Why don’t we go inside noona?” YB told her.“I’d like that” Han answered and that was when she noticed all three girls. “Hey! Who are these beautiful ladies?”“They’re our sisters” Daesung replied “Actually they’re our juniors. They’ll be replacing the Wonder Girls.”“Oh! Goodie!” Han clapped her hands “I wanted to meet you! I didn’t know you were already staying here. I should have brought gifts for you too.”“Thank you” Chaerin replied.“But… uhmmm… I thought there were four of you.”Everybody looked around. “Oh! Unnie said she had to go to the comfort room” Minji remembered.“Well… I guess I’ll meet her later then” Han brightened “I’m Park Han Byul. What are your names?”“I’m Bom.”“I’m Chaerin.”“I’m Minji.”“Such cute names. And what is your fourth member’s name?” Han asked.Before any of them could answer, Seung-ri let out a scream. “You bought my favorite headphone!!!!” he announced as an explanation.Han laughed. “Yes I did. Se7en specifically chose the colors for each of you.”“You bought one for each of us?” Ji asked, thankful at Seung-ri’s timely intervention, changing the topic as strategically as he can.“Of course I did” Han replied and went on to narrate all about her trip back here in Korea.They all trooped inside, without Dara showing her face. Ji felt his insides dance the conga but he knew that time was running out fast. Han was telling him that Se7en will also be arriving in two week’s time.When they see Dara, there’d be a lot of questions.And he didn’t think he could handle that.