AERIN’S POV

« Good job everyone » Mr. Kang, the choreographer, says

« Thank you » we all answer

« You were great today girls » Soohyun compliments to us

« Thank you » we smile happily. We are, no they are, the backup dancer of UKISS. Me, I’m just a replacement for a girl who is sick now. But I really want to be an official backup dancer, and I really love UKISS, that’s why I’m giving my best even if it is just for a week.

I’m going out when the choreographer stops me: « I talked to the boss. He said he can give you an opportunity to become officially part of this team »

« Really? What should I do? » I ask surprised

« Yes, really. He said you have to perform UkKISS’s ‘Alone’ and Afterschool’s ‘First love’, both dancing and singing, without mistakes, until the end of your week »

« That is in four days!! » I complain, then I sigh « Which members dance? »

« Hoon for ‘Alone’ and Nana for ‘First love’. But you have to sing all the song »

« Ok, then is there a room where I can practice alone and whenever I want? »

« A room like that exist but no one is supposed to know… » Mr. Kang says, then he shows me something « But these are the keys » he smiles « I hope the boss accepts you ‘cause you’re very talented and willing. So work hard, but be careful to not overpracticing »

« Thank you very much. I’ll do my best » I say cheerfully

« Then follow me, I’ll show you the room »

I do as he says and I find myself in a big practice room full of stuff. Yes, there are also pole! I think.

« I’ll leave now. I suggest you to bring your clothes here, so when the guardian closes the doors he won’t see you. Don’t worry, here there are my keys so you can get out whenever you want » Mr. Kang says and leaves.

I go and get my clothes from the changing room and then start practicing ‘Alone’. After a while I hear the phone ringing: it’s a text from the choreographer. He says I have to do both dances with heels!

« Is he stupid? That f-----g boss » I curse the boss.

« Ok, never mind. You can do that » I cheer up myself. For once I’m happy I put my training heels in the bag.

I keep practicing ‘Alone’ barefoot for two hours, then I decide to try with heels.

It’s not so difficult I think while dancing the first part. But when it comes the time of the jump, I miserably fail. It seemed too easy I think. But of curse I can’t stop. Instead I turn on my Ipod and make it play the song, so that I can also start practicing with lyrics.

SOOHYUN’S POV

Today’s practice is finished and I’m out waiting for her. She’s new but she’s very talented and I want to compliment to her. But all the girls come out, but she’s not with them. I don’t dare to ask them where she is

« Hyung what are you doing here? » Dongho asks

« Who are you waiting for, eh? » Kevin teases me, laughing. I’m glad to see his smile: because he got rejected, he’s always depressed, even if he tries to hide it to everyone.

« Oh, no one, I feel like something is missing so I was thinking about what could that be » I lie

« Then go in and look for it, it’s faster » Eli suggests

« Mmm, ok, I’ll go » I answer and go in again. I look for her. Finally I see a light in a room. How can she be there? No one is supposed to be there… I think. Mr. Kang told us that practice room is off limits for everyone. Anyway I go next to the door and peek: she’s there and she’s practicing! How can she still have strength? I wonder. I look at her for a few minutes, then I leave. I don’t want to interrupt her. As I’m going down I wonder in my head AeRin when would I be able to talk to you in private?

AERIN’S POV

I don’t know how long I stay there, I only know that the guardian has already left and now my phone is ringing

« Hello? » I answer

« AeRin are you ok? » I hear Dongwoon’s worried voice say

« Yes, sorry I forgot to text you. I’m still practicing »

« Practicing?! But I’m in front of the building and it’s all closed! » he yells

« I know. But I have keys… »

« Come here! Now! I’ll take you home! » he orders

« Ok, ok, let me the time to change and I come down » I say ending the call. I take off the heels and go to the changing room to wash up and change. Meanwhile I curse myself in my mind You should have told him. He always worries about you. I think. When I’m ready I get out from the back door and go toward my Oppa

« Sorry » I whisper

« It’s ok. Why were my little sister still here? » he asks. Yes, I’m Beast’s Dongwoon’s little sister. And that’s why the boss hates me: he says I should be a trainee under the same company as my brother. But I don’t want to be known as “Dongwoon’s sister”, but as “AeRin”. That’s why only the boss, Dongwoon, me and Beast knows about it.

« The boss said that I can become an official backup dancer if I perform without mistakes UKISS’ ‘Alone’ and Afterschool’s ‘First love’ until the end of the week »

« But it’s only in four days! » he says astonished while starting the car and driving to the dorm

« That’s why I was practicing » I smile to him

Ten minutes later, we’re entering in the dorm

« Hi everyone! » I yell. I know it’s late, it’s 11pm, but I know they’re all up.

« Welcome back » Doojoon, Hyunseung, Junhyung and Gikwang yells back

« Hi » Yoseob yells hugging me

« Ehi, ehi, you’re hurting me » I laugh

« Sorry » he apologizes letting me go

« You haven’t eaten yet, have you? » Gikwang asks

« I haven’t » and my stomach growls, as he wants to stress my answer

The guys all laugh « Then go up and shower. When you’re done dinner will be ready » Hyunseung adds

I rush upstairs and take a shower. I really need it. I’m so tired. I dry myself and then look at my legs: I fell so many times that my kneels are all black-violet because of bruises. And I can see the first bruises also in my feet because of heels. I get the first aid box and curse while applying medicaments. Then I wear long trousers, socks and slippers and go downstairs

« Here you are! » Junhyung smiles « Let’s eat, I’m hungry! »

So we start eating our bowls of ramen and we keep joking, laughing and teasing each other. It feels so good here. When we finish I wash the dishes then everyone goes to bed. Except me. I pick my laptop and go out in the garden. I start playing ‘First love’ MV trying to memorize the lyrics and the parts that are not pole dancing. It’s 3am when I decide to go in and sleep. I walk making the less noise as possible. I’m about to enter my room when Yoseob gets out of his

« Where were you? » he asks still sleepy

« I went to the bathroom »

« You’re not wearing your pajamas »

« I’ve fallen asleep before even changing »

« And what about the laptop? You can’t fool me » he states serious « Just because I’m always playful and I act like a child it doesn’t mean that I don’t understand »

« Never thought that. I just hoped that you were too sleepy to see my laptop. Anyway I were practicing » I smile

« Don’t practice too much. Dongwoon it’s not the only one who cares about you, I was also really worried » he says and goes back to his room.

« I know Yoseob, sorry » I whisper and then go in my room to get some rest.

At six the alarm rings. I growl but get up. I wash, get ready and wake up the guys.

« Oppa, wake up » I say to Domgwoon shaking him a little

« Hyunseung, Doojoon, it’s time » I say opening the curtains of their room

« Junghyun, hurry and wake up » I say opening the door, but I don’t go in. He doesn’t like when people gets in his room without permission

« Gikwang! Get up! » I shout knocking at his door. It’s not because he doesn’t want me to enter but because he usually sleeps and, even if it’s not a bad sight, I can’t see him like that everyday.

« Yoseob, wake up » I say to him touching his arm

« A little more mum » he murmurs

I sit next to him on the bed and I whisper in his ear « Get up baby, or you won’t eat breakfast » then I get up and leave laughing because I can hear him getting up and running to the bathroom.

Then I go downstairs to cook breakfast for everyone.

As we finish eating, we get in Dongwoon’s car and Oppa firstly drives me to my practicing room and then heads towards theirs.

« Annyeonghaseyo » I smile to the guardian

« Hi. Why so early? » he asks. Actually it’s very early: it’s 7am and UKISS and girls are coming only in two hours

« I have to practice a lot » I answer him.

« Don’t work too much » he says and then leaves.

Why does everyone keep telling me that? I must work hard if I want that place I think. Then I change into shorts and a sleeves-less top and start practicing the pole dance. After one hour and a half, my legs and hands are already full of bruises. So I stop and go to the changing room to apply medicaments and cover them: I put on leader gloves and long trousers. I’ve finished it when the girls get in.

« Hi! » I greet

« Hi! » they smile « Already here? »

« Yeah, today it took me less time to get here » I lie.

A few minutes later we start practicing with UKISS.