Chen looked out into the streets of Seoul. The showcase was a huge success. He didn't get as much screams as the others.. After all he wasn't the best looking guy in the team. And the focus for today was EXO K, not M. Chen shuddered at the thought of going to China tomorrow. He has only learnt Chinese for half a year, and the fact that he couldn't understand whatever his other members were talking about in chinese made him upset. Well, at least there's Xiumin to accompany him. It seemed that everyone was asleep, as Chen sighed and took a gulp of water. It was then he heard his group's title track playing in the background. Wait, it wasn't the song, someone was singing it. The boy turned around to see Eun Min singing along to the song. Her voice was.. familiar. It was then Chen realised who she was. 

***

-A YEAR AGO-

"Everyone, this is the new foreign trainee CEO-nim was talking about. She's Janice-u!" The vocal trainer smiled as she placed an arm over the girl's shoulder. Jongdae could see her flinch when she mentioned her name. The girl smiled and bowed, muttering a greeting in korean. "She doesn't know Korean, so please be nice to her!" The trainer warned and left the recording studio after instructing him to sing with her, leaving her alone with him and 2 other female trainees. The female trainees nodded to her and left quickly, whispering about how they were going to communicate with her since she didn't know any korean. And suddenly, it was just left with him and her alone in the recording studio. Jongdae adjusted his glasses and held out a hand. 

"Hi, I'm Kim Jongdae." he spoke slowly in Korean. The girl stared at him and nodded, shaking his hand.

"I'm Janice." She trailed off. Jongdae smiled and guided her to the mic stands. "Let's try this out?" He took the other mic stand and signalled for the trainer to start the music. He didn't know why she chose a male group's (2AM's Can't Let You Go Even If I Die) song, but he sang with her anyway. Jongdae belted out Seulong's parts perfectly, and wondered if the trainer was mad by giving her Changmin's high note. As much as she was a girl, his notes were hard to hit. They harmonised perfectly during the chorus, even Jongdae himself was amazed. As the bridge neared, he started to feel nervous for her. What if she couldn't do it well? The trainer would nag at her endlessly.. Everyone hated her when she does that. But he got his answer when she hit that high note, and sang her own adlibs. Jongdae eyed everyone who was outside. All their jaws dropped. He was equally shocked, and when the song ended he couldn't say anything.

Janice stared as everyone, including Jongdae cheered. The trainer started blabbering in korean which made her confused. Did she do well? She scratched her head as she recalled what the two of them just did. The boy's voice was gentle yet strong, but on the other hand soothing. It may seem like an irony but it was true. His voice was something Janice wanted to have. BAck to the present, everyone was still giggling excitedly but she didn't understand so she shrugged and bowed before exiting the room quietly. Before she could disappear, someone tapped her shoulder. Janice turned around and saw Jongdae smiling at her. He has a nice smile to add on to that nice voice, she thought as she bowed slightly. He pointed to her, then gave a thumbs-up sign. So it went well after all, Janice heaved a sigh of relief and smiled as she thanked him in korean, and waved him goodbye. 

***

So Eunmin was Janice, Chen thought as she smiled to himself. The very girl who came into SM shortly after him, and the girl who urged him to work harder as a trainee. If he had to thank someone other than his company and family, he would thank her. For encouraging him to work even harder and be deemed good enough to debut despite having trained for less than a year. Chen stood up and went to sit beside her. "Eunmin..?"

Janice got a shock when she felt the seat beside her sink. So it was Chen.. "Oh, did I wake you up?" Chen shook his head. "Eunmin, do you remember me?" Chen spoke slowly in Chinese. Janice raised an eyebrow when she heard his question. She had seen and worked with so many trainees during her year at SM.. And most of the time she had only met them once or twice, except the current group of male trainees she was training with. She puffed her cheek and shook her head.  Chen pouted (My gosh he's cute, Janice thought), and started singing a song. Janice recognised that song as her audition song, and suddenly recalled the boy she had sang this song with. She had only sang this once with someone else.. "Jongdae!?!" Janice exclaimed and covered as she realised she was too loud. Chen smiled and nodded, as he continued singing the song. Janice sang along with him, harmonising perfectly to the chorus..

So, he's my first trainee crush, Janice thought as she listened to his voice. It was the same, strong yet soothing voice Janice fell in love with a year ago.

AHHHHHH so sorry for slow update, I was busy planning out the story heh. It's another crappy chapter :/ & Daehyun won't be coming out so early.. sorry people who are waiting for Daehyun! I promise his entrance would be impactful! :D And thanks for subscribing! And Chen needs more love :)