While we were waiting patiently outside the door to the audition room, the staff took this chance to remind us again that we should look at the camera and not the judges. They also gave us a run down of the procedure: sing 2 songs, dance and/or talent, if not instructed otherwise.

I breathed in deeply and tried to focus on slowing my erratic heartbeat. "Good luck" was whispered all around, and then we were let in.

Just like at the Round 1 auditions, we were told to place all our belongings down in the back corner of the room.

Just like at the Round 1 auditions, they had the big audition promotional banner hung up covering the entirety of the back wall.

Just like at the Round 1 auditions, the room was a long, rectangle shape with a piece of black tape on the floor in front of the back wall which marked where we are to stand. 

Just like at the Round 1 auditions, there was a small video camera besides the judges desk, which was being operated by a girl who seems to be the translator.

But, there was one major difference.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5...There were 5 judges seated and observing us intently like picking out the winning lottery numbers. Well, that's what it looked like...but not much can be analysed from their face-masked faces. A cold must be going around the city already...well, it is winter.

Huh? Wait. Wha? That wasn't what I thought it was, was it? The judge seated at the far right end of the table sent a wink this way towards us. No, I must be seeing things. His face mask doesn't help clear up the situation either. I struggle to pinpoint whether his eyes are conveying amusement or pity. The female judge next to him seemed to notice something off and nudged him in the arm when an older judge began to speak.

"Chughadeulibnida! Hangug e osin geos-eul hwan-yeonghabnida!" The judge spoke.

"Congratulations and welcome to Korea." Said the translator.

"Uliege choeseon eul boyeo jusigi balabnida." The judge smiled widely.

"Please show us your best performance." Bowed the translator.

"372A," called a curly-headed judge.

The first one. 

It wasn't my number, but my thoughts go out to the petite girl who was now quivering out onto the floor.

"Please stand behind the black tape." The translator called out. "And look at the camera please."

All eyes were on her.

She started off slowly with a ballad, which calmed her nerves down, then began her second song. All the time with the judges' loud scribbling acting as a broken metronome.

"Dance?" The middle judge interrupted at the end of her second song.

"Yes." The petite girl answered with confidence, and my was she a good dancer. She was so good that the judges didn't even ask her to perform her talent.

"Please follow the staff out when finish." Said the translator who was gesturing to the two staff standing by the door, one female, one male. The female staff held her hand up and led the first auditionee out.

1783B was the next number called. She didn't seem as nervous as the first auditionee, but had a few cracks in her two songs. She couldn't dance, so the judges got her to clap along with the music. Then, it was talent time. A guitar was brought out from the corner behind the judges desk and placed into her hands. She eyed the guitar nervously, then began to strum some simple chords. The curly-haired judge stopped her and she followed the male staff out in tears. Seems like it's be prepared, or go home.

"175B." Curly-head called.

The slightly-tanned girl strided confidently towards the black tape, then breezed through her songs. After she finished clapping, the female judge seated on the far right stood up and walked towards her.

"Copy me." She said as she stood beside her in a stance. "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, 8. 1, 2 and 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8"

She was getting the auditionee to follow her dance moves. The judges stopped her when they had seen what they needed to see and then moved on to her talent performance. 

After she was finished, she was escorted out by the female staff, and the next number was called.

My number.

I inhaled a deep breath to slow my heartbeat down back to normal pace and slowly walked towards the black line. Before I turned around, I got into the mood for my ballad. 

Think of sad things.

When dad yelled.

When my first pet dog died.

When people at school teased me, critisised me, said there was no way I knew how to sing.

When they told me to give up my dreams.

I mixed these emotions into the lyrics and willed for the tiniest drop of tear to fall. I could already feel my eyes stinging and getting blurry. Come on, tears, don't fail me now. 

Final chorus. Push it all out. It's b. Just a little bit more.

There. Rolling down the valley and mountain of my cheek. A tear.

After that final long held note and precious tear drop, I quickly turned around and wiped my cheek clean, ready for my happy upbeat song. I want to show them that I can handle emotions well.

I paste on a big smile and jump right into my next song. The song was done in no time, I walked to the center of the floor for the next part. 

"Dance?" The judge asked.

I replied "no" and got ready to clap, calling on my younger years when I played clapping games.

With my foot at the ready, and my hands up in the air, I waited for the music to start.

Ah, Kpop. My foot easily eased into the beat of the song with my hands following in half beats before coming down to start a rhythm which complemented the song. 1-1-2-1, 1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2-2, 1-1-1-2-1. I was having fun. More fun than I should have. I found my cheeks sore from involuntarily smiling widely.

This time, the winking judge stood up and walked onto the floor. He came to stand beside me and said only "copy me".

His moves were fluid but solid, I could tell that he was a master at this style. I tried following along as best I could. Arm work, leg work, floor work. Wait. Floor work?

He flipped to do a handstand kick in mid-air. I can't do that. But I gotta think fast. Think, think, think. The only I could think of was a one-handed handstand, and so, that's what I did. Close enough for being a beginner at this. He seemed alright with my replacement move so we repeat the choreography one more time. But this time, chaos.

His cap falls off during his handstand kick, revealing jet black hair, which induced a squel from the seat at the side where the auditionees were sitting, which in turn made him jump and lose his balance, toppling over. 

"Ah, apeuda. (Ah, it hurts)" He hissed.

I drop down from my handstand and steal a glance towards the origin of the squeal which was now being removed from the site. I look back at my dance judge and ask, "Neo gwaenchanh ni? (Are you okay?)," whilst offering my hand to help him up but retracting it quickly incase it was misunderstood as a fangirl action.

"Nan gwaenchanh (I'm okay)," he smiled, his eyes smiling along too. Where have I seen those eyes before? They look so familiar...

One of the judges gave a loud cough and I looked up to see irritated faces. Uh oh. Did I do something wrong? The balding judge who coughed spoke quick korean, too fast for my beginner korean to comprehend, but it seemed like something was wrong, as I heard "why" coming from both dance judges. My dance judge huffed and turned around to face us auditionees. He took off his face mask and tucked it neatly into his pocket.

"Annyeonghaseyo, jeoneun Syupeo Junieoui Eunhyuk-ibnida. (Hello, I am Super Junior's Eunhyuk)" He bowed as he introduced himself.

Another squeal, another one sent home.

Eunhyuk sighed and walked back to his seat, the other dance judge getting up and moving to the floor.

"Annyeonghaseyo, Sonyeoui Sedaeui Hyoyeon-ibnida. (Hello, I am Girls' Generation's Hyoyeon)" She said softly, then returning to her seat quickly after more squeals.

"Wae? (Why?)" Eunhyuk asked, head on desk, not wanting to see anymore potential trainees lose their chance.

I stood frozen throughout the entire ordeal. Eunhyuk-oppa and Hyoyeon-eonni were standing so close, almost within reach. So I've got to hold out for just a little bit longer. I'm so close, I'm in Korea, a chance like this may not come around again.

I stare at the corner in front and recognise a small little black case. Talent performance is next.

I open the case to reveal a lovely Pearl Flute. I stop oogling and quickly assemble and adjust it, then blow them away with my final performance.

I made quick eye contact with the judges then bowed in the direction of the camera. I looked up to see only the male staff with his hand in the air. Where's the female staff? I thought I had it figured out...If you are told to follow the female staff, you were safe, but if you are told to follow the male staff, you were not...well, that's what it seemed. I anxiously follow him out of the audition room and down back towards reception. I don't like where this is heading...but maybe I'm just thinking too much about it.