“Ina ssi! Over here please!” the director calls, causing the Vietnamese girl to quickly throw her hair over her shoulder and shuffle into place. The rest of the group was already seated in a booth, so Ina slips in next to Liqin and fluffs her hair. Playing around with the food in front of them, the director calls out for the next take and all sound on the set goes silent. Ina looks down at her food, pretending to chat with Solbi, when the door to the set is open and Han Dohyun, one of the trainees from YRB2016 and the main lead of their MV, walks in. Dropping everything, Ina resists the urge to smile as she and the other members turn to stare ‘lovingly’ at said male. Well, Ina tried her best to act, she still wasn’t very good at it and honestly, she probably looked more amused than in love. But the director seemed to like it, seeing as he called to an end to the scene within five takes.

                “I wonder how they’re going to get around to the whole colour concept,” Solbi stretches, taking a sip of Liqin’s cola (they were lucky enough to get actual food rather than the fake kind for the shoot). “I’ll probably watch the MV a million times just to admire my face and the CG.”

                “You’re face? What about mine?” Ina remarks, slapping Solbi’s hand away when the girl reaches for Ina’s burger. “And you better watch it a million times, inflate those views!”

                “Isn’t that illegal?” Eunhwa blinks. “Something along the lines of fraud?”

                “Technically someone is watching it right? So not really...?” Solbi tries, but the skeptical look on Eunhwa’s face stops her. “Whatever, I just hope it’ll be interesting. 4 Walls had that whole aesthetic mystic vibe going for it, this just seems like a regular MV you know?”

                “We haven’t had to make cutesy, heart signs at the camera yet so not really,” Liqin says quietly. “And the song is kind of mellower than your usual girl group song?” she tries again when Solbi gives her an unconvinced look.

                “Yeah, my songs aren’t main stream,” Ina rolls her eyes playfully, swatting Solbi’s arm. She misses, somehow, and knocks over the mustard instead. Luckily, the lip is still on so all it does is make a loud noise. Startled, some other trainees (Taewoo and Bongjoon?) turn to stare at them, watching in confusion as the four girls burst out into laughter.

                “I like these outfits better than the 4 Walls ones though,” Eunhwa stretches ruffling her orange skirt. “They’re brighter, and less... weird looking.”

                “Don’t let Xiuxin unnie hear you, she’ll cry for the next two days,” Solbi states, patting her own orange dress. “But yeah, I agree with you.”

                “Ina! You’re up first!” the director calls and Ina begrudgingly gets up from the table of food.  She walks over to the director, who fills her in with the specifics of the shot, before going back to the table. She was supposed to, quote on quote, ‘walk up and stagger over to Dohyun as if she was shot with a bullet of love’. Resisting the urge to snort, the tall girl waits for the director to call action before starting her acting. She walks over, ruffling her hair, before sitting down next to Dohyun. The boy, obviously used to acting, gives her an unimpressed look as she swings herself closer to him. Awkwardly performing a couple more flirtatious acts, the director calls cut and they run through the scene a couple more times.

                Sighing in relief when her individual shots were finished, Ina scampers off the set as Solbi takes her place. Accepting the water one of the staff members give her, she lets a stylist fix her hair while another one touched up her eye makeup. Sitting down and watching Liqin forcefully takes food from another table for Dohyun, she snorts and claps after the shot is done. Looking to her left as she spies someone sitting down next to her, she’s met with Seungcheol and Taeryung – two other members of YRB2016 and extras for the MV as well.

                “You guys are pretty good,” Taeryung compliments, bouncing in his chair. Cracking a smile at the energetic puppy, Ina can’t help but want to pet him on the head. The boy was notorious for being affectionate – especially towards his hyungs – and it seemed like he had imprinted on Cosmos as well. “You’ve only had like, what? One video? And you’re already this experienced!”

                “Dohyun is doing good too bro,” Seungcheol shakes his hair out of his eyes. Ina resists the urge to swipe the other boy’s long hair back – it was so unkempt it was pissing her off. “And we’re going to get experience too after this whole YRT or whatever is over.”

                Nodding, Ina listens in as the two boys lead a conversation of their own. She puts in a couple thoughts here and there, mostly poking fun at Seungcheol and complimenting Taeryung, but her real focus is on the MV filming. She didn’t want to sound impatient, but she was. 4 Walls did well enough for a debut song, and Ina wasn’t hoping for some kind of miracle, but she really hoped Colour would raise their popularity. She didn’t want Cosmos to become one of those groups which had to wait four or five years – maybe more – for their first win. It would hurt her especially, seeing as their songs were her responsibility.

                Shrugging her doubts from her mind, Ina gets up as the director calls for a group dance scene. There was too much to do right now than to worry about the future. Even if this song didn’t work out, Ina would for sure make the next bigger and better. After all, from now on, there was nowhere else to go but up.

                “We’re pre-recording already?!” Solbi shrieks as they file into the van. The MV filming had just ended and everyone was as cranky and crabby as they could at 4 AM in the morning after filming for a good 12 hours. The last thing Ina wanted to do was go to the studio, put on another stage outfit and makeup (she was just relishing her makeup free skin too) and dance and sing for another hour or so until that director was satisfied.

                “You won’t be able to perform this Saturday because one of you have another schedule so unless you want to do the show as three – which Yoo-nim has already ruled out – this is our only choice,” Sanghee sighs as she starts driving.

                “But it’s 4 AM,” Ina whines. “No broadcasting station is open at this time!”

                “Yes but the salon is – at least the one associated with our company. You’ll have to re-dye your roots and get your makeup done, by that time it’ll be 5:30 maybe later and we still have to get to the studio before 7.”

                “And why can’t we film it another day?” Liqin asks quietly as Solbi continues grumbling to herself. Ina nods aggressively, wanting nothing more than to crawl into bed and cry. Well, maybe not cry, but she definitely wanted to sleep.

                “Tomorrow you’re going to film a ‘Let’s Dance’ segment and have a comeback interview. The day after that will be the first YRT2016 broadcast and you’ll be there as MC’s and hopefully to attract more traffic – it’s already been announced that you’ll be appearing on your fan cafe,” Sanghee lists out their schedules.

                “And why are we not filming on the regular day again?” Eunhwa inquires, biting back a yawn as Sanghee turns onto the highway.

                “Ah, here’s the exciting part,” Sanghee grins as the members give her a curious look.  “One of you has an individual filming that will coincide with the broadcasting time so you won’t be able to make it.”

                “Individual filming?!” Ina and Solbi screech at the same time, jolting awake. Eunhwa gasps loudly and even Liqin makes a soft squeal in confusion and excitement.

                “Who? What? Where?” Solbi immediately bursts out. Cringing at the sudden rapid fire questions, Sanghee concentrates on the road as a car cuts in front of her before speaking.

                “Dream Team, they’re having a special for rookie girl groups,” Sanghee explains. “You guys know Dream Team right?”

                “Oh God I hope it’s not me I’m so unathletic,” Ina grumbles, more to herself than anything but it’s picked up by the sharp ears of everyone else in the car. Erupting into a fit of giggles, Solbi snickers outright while Liqin laughs behind her hand. Eunhwa, at least, has the dignity to assure Ina that no, she was definitely fit in her own way.

                “Don’t worry, it’s not you Ina ssi,” Sanghee laughs as well. “Do you want to guess who it is?”

                “Solbi?” Eunhwa guesses. “She’s the one whose focused on the most when we actually get interviews. The fans are even calling her a variety prodigy at this point.”

                “It might be Eunhwa unnie too,” Ina points out. “Fans and even people who didn’t know us liked your rap in 4 Walls and people already want you on Unpretty Rapstar.”

                “So is it either of us unnie?” Solbi leans forwards, tapping Sanghee on the shoulder. Eunhwa inhales sharply with a strained, ‘she’s driving’ before Solbi takes the hint and settles back down. “Who is it?”

                “Liqin,” Sanghee says.

“WHAT,” everyone (including Liqin) screams, causing Sanghee to jolt to the side. Luckily there were no cars in the other lane but the woman breathes a sigh of relief anyways.

                “Can you guys maybe not do that I’m driving,” Sanghee scolds, causing the four girls to sit back and mutter various apologies.

                “But Liqin? Really? I mean, she’s pretty and talented and all but-” Solbi starts.

                “I never talk unnie why would they cast me?” Liqin finishes. While the rest of the group was in disbelief, Liqin was mostly anxious and scared. Ina looks over and shoots her an understanding look. While they all hadn’t gotten along in the beginning, Ina could feel their friendship growing each day. It wasn’t to the point of being best friends, but there was a different kind of familiarity between the four of them. Something in between a family and a friend, they were just there for each other and Ina couldn’t deny that. It seems, by Liqin’s pallor face that neither could she.

                “I don’t know,” Sanghee shrugs. “They just called for her – saying that she stood out the most in performances? She was also apparently athletic since she’s a dancer.”

                “But Solbi unnie is a dancer too!” Liqin’s voice borders on a whine, and if Ina had been more awake, she would’ve teased the other girl about it.

                “Maybe because the premise of Dream Team focuses more on your actions than your words, Solbi would’ve been picked if it were a talk show,” Eunhwa analyzes logically. “In any case, there’s nothing we can do – unless you really feel uncomfortable and we get Yoo-nim to cancel the offer.”

                “No!” Liqin denies quickly. “I’m nervous but this could be a good chance to get us out there so I’ll try my best...”

                “Yeah, we’ll be behind you 100%!” Solbi cheers, leaning over to pat Liqin’s face. “And you’ll do great, you have better strength than me anyways – although I beat you in the stamina category.”

                “Do your best,” Ina smiles. “And don’t worry about getting screen time, even if you utterly fail and embarrass yourself, my songs will be enough to get us into the public’s eye.”

                “Very reassuring Ina,” Eunhwa calls from the front seat and the car breaks out into giggles. As they reach the salon however, Ina sees Liqin smile thankfully at her. It seems like maybe they’d be alright after all.

I'm so sorry for not updating ;; School punched me in the face oh goodness. And this chapter is short and ty ugh. ;; More crying lol. I was kind of stuck on how to write this portion so that's why I guess haha. The next chapter will be fun tho~

In terms of positions:
Yeoeun - Ina
Yoomin - Eunhwa
Yein - Liqin
Chahee - Solbi
 

Hope you're smiling!

~ Yun