ONE – Decisions & Heartbreaks

My name is Jung Jesse. Age 20, plain guy, yet I have 8 years as a trainee on the SM Agency. My dream is to debut as a famous singer along with my friends to make a band. I know I failed several times already, but I don’t lose hope. I know that someday, someone will see my talents and---

“Number 00414, your turn!”

My self-presentation was interrupted when a thunderous voice called my number. Hurriedly, I walked to the stage where three judges were staring at me seriously. Suddenly, one of them frowned, asking into his deep and scaring voice:

“Jung Jesse?” 

Unable to reply due my nervousness and his intimidating aura, I quickly nodded as he cocked his head forward and crossed his arms, speaking coldly:

“Impress us.”

I gulped hard at his tone and no kidding, I was intimidated, but I have to try, that’s why I am here. Taking a deep breath, I started my performance. The song was “Brand New” by ShinHwa. I like their song since I dislike the new boybands, most part of them are really annoying and cocky. Anyway, I danced and sang along to my presentation was finished, I did the best I could. I stood up, panting due the performance, so I stared at the judged anxiously. However, the intimidating judge spoke up while making his notes:

“We will keep you in touch…” “But… can I at least know how I –“ “NEXT!”

I jolted in surprise when he called another contestant. Sighing heavily, I stumbled my shoulders to forward and mumbled:

“Geez, thanks…”

Yet, no one listens to me, so I got my things and left the auditorium. While walking by the agency long corridor, I was lost in my thoughts; actually I was kinda down since I heard that statement many times before… But I must go on and prove them that I can be talented. However, a familiar voice caught my attention:

“Hyung! Are you there too? So, how it go?!”

I turned around and saw a tall guy running in my direction. Oh, that is my annoying and deer dongsaeng, Im Yoong. The latter stared at me with those round and child's eyes as he asked curiously:

“Tell me, hyung! I just made the test too, but I didn’t know that to be a rapper was so hard. They told me that I should be more appealing, aish…”

He looked down and pouted, I couldn’t help to feel pity. At least, I wasn’t the only one failed on the audition. Chuckling a bit, I ruffled his hair and spoke softly:

“Ya, relax, Yoong. My audition wasn’t very successful too… I had an executioner as my judge, great isn’t?”

“Really?” He asked me slowly. I replied with a nod and sighed heavily. Yet, I must say that I feel more relaxed when he told me:

“That’s all right, hyung. I know that someday, everyone we will see our talent!”

“Oh! You guys are here too?!” “Sunny?!”

Our danshin friend run to us, surprised to see us around. For her semblance, I could tell that she was in the same situation. Oh, this brown haired and short girl is mine and Yoong’s best friend, Lee Sunkyu (but she hates her Korean name). I tapped her head in comprehension and asked, already knowing the answer:

“Unlucky too?” She replied with a sad nod, and I must admit that it’s pretty saddening to see my cheerful friend so gloomy. Then, we spoke about our presentations; actually our dream was to make a group together, but we know that the chances are REALLY small. So, we decided to take the audition simultaneously, and then we could raise our chances of staying together.

We kept rambling and end up joking, teasing ourselves to raise our mood and it worked as we reached the SM building entrance. Nevertheless, our conversation was halted when we heard sound like flashes and some people screaming, like crazy fans. We turned our heads to the sound and soon, we got surprised to see the “TaeTiSeo” group entering by the building’s entrance. We couldn’t see them clearly since a crowd were surrounding them; press, fans and the security.

I was about to leave, but I got stuck on the floor when my stare was locked on the red head girl known as the “Ti” from the TaeTiSeo, Tiffany Hwang. I was mesmerized with her twinkling eyes and it only lasted a second, but I never felt my heart beating so loud due the stare. However, to my unhappiness, the crowd moved to another room.

I kept staring at their spot longingly as a group of 6 guys passed by us. For their looks, I recognized them; they were that annoying boy band called 2P… something. I would like them if they weren’t so full of themselves. However, 3 of them ignored us as they kept walking, normal. But the other 3 stopped and mocked at us: a squinter thay, a gorilla and the worst of them… Jerk Wooyoung. Annoyed by his mocking laugh, I refrained myself when he scoffed and spoke with disdain:

“Oh, poor amateurs… let me give you an advice… give up already; this life isn’t for you okay? As long we are here… you don’t stand a chance. Hahaha~~~! Bye, losers!”

“Hyung, don’t!” I almost jumped on his neck in anger if Yoong didn’t hold me. The annoying trio kept laughing at us and finally left, but not without that jerkJang look around and mock a laugh at me again. My blood was boiling in anger, yet I hastily removed my arms from Yoong’s grip as I spoke to them, stomping to the exit:

“See you guys later…”

I didn’t look behind, but I know they were staring at me worriedly. I know I can’t unload onto my friends, but that Jang really piss me off, not only for his awful personality, but for other reasons too. Curling my hand into fists, I walked down to the street and vowed to myself in determining (and anger remark):

“I will be a famous singer and then… I will make you swallow your words… Wooyoung…”

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Later in the afternoon, I was leaning on the shop counter and… Oh! I forgot to tell you, I work at ShiDae’s Gallery, actually is an average cd shop localized into SoNyuh’s Mall and it belongs to my uncle. I work part time here so I can help home and pay my expenses with my auditions. I am studying hard for a scholarship at the SNSD Music Academy. I don’t want to be pessimistic, but even if everything goes wrong, at least, I want to be in the music industry, plus, I always liked to compose.

Nevertheless, I was cleaning the counter lazily and raised my head to see that the shop was empty. However, my eyes landed in a big poster of “TaeTiSeo” again. I could only stare at the redhead one, man… she is beautiful. Whenever I look into those eyes, I get lost. Then, I sighed and seated, placing my head and my folded arms on the counter, remembering the moment when our eyes met… such amazing eyes. When I was about to drift to dreamland, I jolted in surprise when the shop’s door was abruptly opened. I glared in the direction when I saw no one than my crazy friends, Yoong and Sunny. Annoyed, I glared at the deer one and scolded sulkily:

“Yoong, don’t you know how to open a door? What is all this rush?!”

“Yo, hyung! I explain later! Wow, how come you are not watching the tv now?!”

Confused, I frowned and asked nonchalantly: “Nope, why should I?”

He shook his head and the tv while a hyper Sunny explained rapidly:

“Jess, remember when we were leaving the SM Building and we saw TaeTiSeo there?!”

I nodded slowly, not understanding where this conversation was leading: “Yeah, why?”

She breathed deeply and explained very fast, making me shocked:

“Because they were going to a conference; and it's going to be on the air right now! Oh gosh! They will talk about their new album and the press might confirm those rumors! Please, tell me that my Taeengo is single!”

I stared at Sunny quizzically as she kept praying and crossing her fingers. Confused with this whole situation, I couldn’t help to ask:

“But why you guys are putting me this?! I don’t understand!”

“Oh come on, hyung. We all know that you have a major crush on Tiffany noona!”

Shocked with Yoong’s remark, I crossed my arms and huffed back loudly: “I do not!”

And then, he and Sunny stared at me with that sly smirk as she spoke teasingly:

“Really? Then why you have her poster in your wardrobe? Or why every time we enter your store, you are listening her single all the time? If you want, I can list more things, you kn---!”

“Ok ok ok, I got it! All right! But I do not have a crush on her… I – I just like her voice and h-her talent. That’s all!”

“Yeah, right…” Sunny replied while staring at me slyly, aish I hate that cocky smile. I am nervous. When I was about to shoot another answer, Yoong’s voice stopped us:

“Ya, stop you two! It’s starting! Oh, here they are!”

He said in awe as he quickly raised the volume. I looked to the tv as well and there was them. I approached from the display and couldn’t help to chuckle at Yoong’s dumb face as he looked to SeoHyun and spoke in a dreamy tone:

“Omo… SeoHyunnie… she is beautiful…”

“Taengoo… why are you so cute?!”

I laughed at Sunny’s aegyo as she gawked on the blonde guy aka TaeYeon. Then, it was my turn to gulp in surprise when I saw her, Tiffany. She looked beautiful like always. I kept staring her on tv and couldn’t help to remember the moment our stare met, it was amazing. I was ready to go to the dreamland when the press started what they are the best… to gossip. TaeYeon was the first victim as the press asked:

“Kim TaeYeon, is true that you were flirting with the dancers of your crew?”

“Haha, no. I was just being kind, plus I have other preferences for my ideal girl. She must be cute and cheerful. But now, let’s just say that I am y, free and single!”

Good one, Tae. I must admit that this dorky boy had a great answer, everyone in the press laughed at his answer and still, he managed to dodge their questions. Aish sometimes, the press doesn’t know when to stop. I almost laughed when I saw Sunny breathing in relief and raising her hands to the heavens. The press even asked to SeoHyun if someone who picked her interest, but for Yoong’s happiness, she said no. He wiped the invisible sweat from his forehead and sighed in relief:

“Phew… thank God… SeoHyunnie still is mine haha!”

I laughed along with them, yet my action was stopped when the press called the red head girl name and asked dangerously:

“So… Tiffany… all we know that due your beauty and personality… you already won most part of the male celebrity’s heart. But is true that even before your debut… you have two boyfriends in America while you were here, in South Korea?”

My jaw dropped in shock, how can be so bold and ask something so personal to her?! Even indignant, I couldn’t help to feel curious. It was when she smiled politely and answered against the microphone:

“Yes, that is true, but this is in on the past. I am not like this anymore.”

There was a small rustling in the conference room and I sighed in relief with her answer. I was about to turn off the tv since TaeTiSeo was getting ready to leave the conference, but then, I realized someone in the press stood up and with a sly smile asked to Tiffany again:

“One last question… Tiffany-shi… could you tell us if those rumors between you and the 2PM singer, Jang WooYoung are true? Are you two... dating?”

My heart squeezed at the question I most feared. I held my breath in anticipation as I stared the display in agony. After a moment in silence, she took a deep breath and answered with a smile forming on her lips:

“Well, the truth it’s that we know each other for some time and we got closer. And answering your question… Yes, we are going out … together.”

That moment, my heart broke into millions of pieces as I looked down, don’t know where to look. I could catch a glimpse of my friends’ worried look, but I assure them that I was fine:

“Jesse?” “Hyung?”
 

“I – I am all right, w-why would I be sad with something like that? Is her life not mines… I – I am just a fan… Guys, I must close the shop now, I guess I met you guys tomorrow okay?”

They looked at me worriedly and after a while, nodded as they tapped my back in comfort. I observed them leave as I turn around and finally turn the tv off weakly. Not wasting time, I removed my apron and glasses, tired physically and mentally. I closed the shop and walked to home until finding my way to my room. I was thinking of her words all the time and her sentence only made my heart ache. I looked up and saw dozens of her faces scattered in my room like posters, CDs and everything.

I seated on my bed and sighed heavily, unconsciously I felt something warm rolling from my eyes. It was when I touched the liquid and laughed bitterly at myself. Here am me totally broken because of a celebrity who doesn’t even know that I exist. Stupid isn’t? I feel stupid because I am just a fan and she deserve to have a romantic life… but why WooYoung? That guy is a major jerk and Heartbreaker; it will only make her suffer… Aish, why am I bothering about this?

Jess, snap it! That jerk has the looks, the fame and the money, and who are you?! A failure and broken guy who can’t have success in one single audition, Gosh, I am hopeless… I burrowed my face in my palms to recall every event and I realized that this won’t take me to anywhere. Wake up! Yeah, it’s time to end with this whole cr@p! Reminding his cocky attitude and his mocking laugh made my blood boil again. So I made a decision.

Roughly, I stood up from my bed, grabbed an empty box and started to remove every single object in the room which would remind me of her. I discarded everything and throw in the box madly. After I ended, my bedroom looked kinda empty, but it was better than all those useless things. I sighed and placed the box under my bed, I will throw all this garbage away tomorrow. Tired, I lazily lay on my bed and stared the crescent moon from my window. God… even the moon reminds me those eyes… I don’t want to suffer anymore… I will sleep and tomorrow, will be a new day without… Tiffany Hwang in my life. After affirm this in my head, slowly, the slumber reached my body and everything was a blackout as I fell asleep.

*************************************************************************************************************************

My sleep was interrupted when I heard an irritating sound lingering on my room. I frowned since it couldn’t be my alarm clock since today was Saturday and I don’t work. Even sleepy, I opened my eyes slowly and reached my phone on the nightstand. Once my vision got normal, I saw a message from an unknown number on the screen. Curious and more awake, I pressed the ‘read’ button to see the content:

From: Unknown number

“Do you want to be famous? This is a life opportunity. Meet me at SoNyuh’s Mall at the Food Square 9 AM.”

I frowned in confusion, who could be this person? However, even tempted by this offer, I shook my head in denial, this must be a prank. Then, I laid back into my bed again and my phone rang once more. Thinking that it could be another message, I was surprised to see that both my friends, Yoong and Sunny were calling me. I answered the phone and putted the call in the group. My eardrum almost exploded with Yoong’s storming voice:

“Hyung! I got a message from an unknown number and I think we should go!”

“Wait! You got the message as well? But Yoong, don’t you think it’s a little odd and-“

My voice was interrupted when Sunny snapped quickly:

“Come on, guys! We will be together, so this can’t be bad, isn’t? Maybe, this might be a chance we were waiting for. Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Jess?”

“Yeah! Come on, hyung! Pretty please!” Yoong used his despicable aegyo along with Sunny. Sighing in defeat, I knew that I didn’t have a choice. So breathing heavily, I replied before close my phone:

“All right, I will meet you at the mall in one hour. See ya!” “Bye! Bye!”

They answered happily since they knew they won and quickly, I adjusted myself. I couldn’t help to feel excited, who knows that this might be our chance?

Instantaneously, as soon I reached the food court, my friends already were there and waving at me. I won’t lie; I thought a lot about this on the way. Part of me was so disappointed with years of training and no success, but another part of me wanted to believe that this was our chance and finally… I would take the events from yesterday from my head. I took a deep breath and marched to my fellows, when I was about to greet them, a presence approached from us and smiled, saying warmly:

“Oh, so you do come! I am happy that you attended to my message!”
 

When I looked around, I saw a tall and tanned guy with a formal suit and wearing sunglasses. I couldn’t lie to you, but this guy got the looks. We looked at him in suspicious, but he smiled and removed his glasses as he motioned to us:

“Come on, let’s take a seat.” We followed his actions carefully as we seated at a round table. Then, he chuckled at our faces and spoke playfully:

“I didn’t introduce myself yet, how indelicate. I am Choi SooYoung, but you call me Soo or hyung from now on. I own the Choi Agency, here is my card.”

He gave us his professional card and kept smiling to our shocked faces. Bothered with this situation, I asked slowly:

“Hmm… can we know why you called us, three total strangers?” It was when he gave a heartily laugh and added in a loud tone:

“You aren’t strangers to me, Jesse. Right, Sunny and Yoong?”

We gasped in surprise and sudden, Yoong blurted in shock: “H-how did you know our names?!”

“Good! I thought you wouldn’t ask me that!” He said with determination as he pulled a briefcase from his side and opened. Soon, he removed his tablet and pressed a few buttons as we watched his actions attentively. However, when he showed the screen to us, we saw videos of our auditions replaying on the whole display. We kept agape and he smirked in victory as he spoke seriously:

“I promise I’ll be brief. I used to work for SM Agency, but I realized that their groups were getting worse, just a few of them had success. Yet, it was when I decided to open the Choi Agency by my own. Of course, I still have my contacts and I was at a reunion with the SM Agency since I still work as their consultant. When I watched your videos, something clicked and honestly, I don’t understand why they didn’t call you with your great talent. So I worked on this project on my own for months and studied you there. However, yesterday, I saw all of you interacting with the SM building, so things got much better after I discovered that you were good friends. My plan is to prove them that your different style can make a huge success in such monotony music industry… So, I think I talked too much, what do you think?”

After his ‘brief’ explanation and proposal, I looked to my friends and we stared ourselves in concern. It was when I had to ask, carefully:

“But why us? Why do you think we can be different? Isn’t very risky?”

He seemed surprised by my question as he raised his eyebrows, realizing our hesitation. Then, he sighed and started to keep his stuffs on his briefcase and spoke seriously:

“Is it? I am sorry, I thought you three wanted a chance to be famous. If this is your final answer, then I will---“

“Wait!” We yelled in unison (or more in despair) when he was about to stand and leave. Then, his wide smirk returned as he reached a pile of fine papers along with an expensive pen, he seated again. We were shocked when he spoke with excitement:

“So… lets sign the contract?”

...

TBC

REPLIES:

@KalakiMae: I'm glad that you liked ^^ JeTi all the way ;) Thanks for comment!