ALLISON

As I walked into the practice room, my heart raced with anticipation. This was my first day as a K-pop trainee, and I was eager to get started. As I looked around the room, my eyes fell on Jiwoong, who was chatting with some of the other trainees. There was something about him that caught my attention during the auditions, and I couldn't help but feel drawn to him.

Eager to make a good impression, I walked up to Jiwoong and the group, mustering up the courage to introduce myself. "Hey there, mind if I join the fun?" I asked with a playful grin.

Jiwoong turned towards me, his eyes lighting up with a mischievous twinkle. "Of course not!" he replied, extending a hand for a handshake. "The more, the merrier. I'm Jiwoong, by the way. Welcome to the team!"

I shook his hand firmly, feeling an instant connection. "Thanks, Jiwoong. I'm Allison, thrilled to be here."

As we settled into our training, Jiwoong's natural sense of humor quickly became apparent. He had a knack for lightening the mood and injecting laughter into the room. Throughout the day, we shared jokes and playful banter, creating an atmosphere of camaraderie and friendship.

During one of our breaks, Jiwoong turned to me with a mischievous grin. "Hey, Allison, want to hear a K-pop joke?"

I chuckled, intrigued by his offer. "Absolutely! Lay it on me."

He leaned in, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "Why did the K-pop idol bring a ladder to the concert?"

I played along, pretending to ponder the question. "Hmm, I'm not sure. Why?"

"Because they wanted to reach the high notes!" Jiwoong burst into laughter, his infectious joy filling the room.

I couldn't help but join in, the shared laughter creating a bond between us. "That's a good one! You definitely have a talent for keeping the spirits high."

Intrigued and slightly skeptical, I couldn't resist the opportunity for some lighthearted fun. "Alright, Jiwoong. Show me this epic Jellyfish Shuffle."

With a burst of energy, Jiwoong proceeded to demonstrate a series of exaggerated, wiggling dance moves that resembled a jellyfish's graceful sway. We both burst into laughter, thoroughly enjoying the ridiculousness of it all.

As the day progressed, Jiwoong and I continued to support each other, offering words of encouragement and sharing funny anecdotes. Our friendship blossomed amidst the shared challenges and excitement of our training.

As we began to work together, I quickly realized that we had a natural chemistry. Our movements complemented each other perfectly, and it felt like we had been dancing together for years.

I found myself struggling to keep my feelings in check. I couldn't deny the chemistry between us, and every time we were together, my heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. But I knew that we couldn't act on our feelings.

On Wednesday morning, as we took a break, Jiwoong turned to me with a smile.

"Hey, Allison," he said. "I was thinking, maybe we could grab some lunch together after morning practice?"

My heart skipped a beat at the thought of spending more time with him, but I knew that we couldn't take things any further. I hesitated for a moment before responding, "I'd love to,"

We spent the rest of the day hanging out and getting to know each other better. We shared our hopes and dreams, and I found myself opening up to him in a way that I hadn't with anyone else. Jiwoong and I continued to spend time together outside of practice. We would grab dinner or explore the city, and I cherished every moment we spent together. But as much as I enjoyed his company, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were both suppressing our true feelings.