2001

Yumi has always wanted to go to school like everyone at her age and laughed and played with her friends. But she can’t. She had quit school on the first year of her middle school because of financial problems. Blame it to her selfish father who left her when she was three. Just the thought of her father boiled her blood.

She shook her head and went to pass flyers to passers-by when she saw a group of boys dancing on streets. Since then, she has always come there to watch them dancing, pretending to give away the flyers while her eyes were on them.

“Oi!” one of the boys called to her. Taken aback by the sudden call, she ran away quickly but still, the next day she returned to watch them dancing.

“Can you dance?” A boy asked her making her jumped. He has a dimple on his left cheek and a cute eye-smile.

“Me?” She asked and the boy nodded.

“You look young. How old are you?” he asked. Another boy came to them.

“I’m 13.” Yumi said.

“Then, do you want to dance with oppa?” The second boy asked making Yumi flustered.

“I-I-I don’t know how to-to d-d-dance,” she stuttered.

“Come on,” the boys offered their hands. Yumi was flustered as she didn’t know what to do.

“Kwiyeo,” one of the boys said and the two just grabbed her hands and pulled her to their friends.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Eh? Since when do you like watching this music program?” Yumi’s mother asked.

“Wah! This one is so cool!” Yumi said in excitement when BoA sang. Her mother shook her head but left her alone. The meeting with the four boys had brought a new change in her life. She had found a great interest in dancing and had been able to smile and laugh whenever she was with them.

One day, a man in suit had come up to them and Yumi glanced warily at her friends. Did they get into trouble?

“Hello, I’m from SM Entertainment. I saw you dancing just now.” The man said.

“Daebak!” Minwoo exclaimed and bowed to the man.

“Annyeong haseyo, Jung Minwoo imnida. Please take care of me!” he said. His friends laughed but bowed to the man and told him their names. The man turned at Yumi.

“Aren’t you a little too young, haksaeng?” he asked. “You don’t go to school?”

“It’s none of your business!” Yumi snapped. Why in the Earth he would ask the question that she disliked the most? The man didn’t seem to mind her manners and chuckled softly.

“Well, I suggest you to audition with our company. If you’re accepted, we will pay for your school expenses.” He said.

“What about us?” Myungjun asked. The man nodded.

“If you’re accepted.” He said. “Then I’ll take my leave first.” He said.

“Ne, please be careful on your way!” Minwoo shouted. Myungjun chuckled.

“So, who’s trying out this audition?” Jungjin asked.

“I’m trying out for sure!” Minwoo said and high fived with Myungjun.

“What about you?” Jungjin asked Daejung.

“I don’t think my mom would be please.” He said.

“Aigoo, you mummy boy~” Myungjun cooed

“Yumi?” Minwoo asked.

“Ne?” Yumi asked as she snapped back into reality.

“I think you should try this out.” Jungjin said.

“I don’t know…” Yumi mumbled. It was a good chance for her to resume her education. But she was not sure if her mother will be okay with this.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Being a singer doesn’t guarantee you a good money.” Her mother said when she told her about the audition.

“Then what do you want me to do? I can’t even study!” she snapped.

“I’m working on it…so you’ll just wait.” Her mother said.

“Umma, let me help you.” Yumi said.

“I’ll think about it.” Her mother said and Yumi sighed.

The next day, Yumi was dumbfounded when her mother said she can’t go to the audition.

“But why?”

“Why don’t you listen to me? You have always listened to me well.” Her mother said as she pinched the bridge of her nose.

“See? I have always listened to you. I just ask you this one time. Please let me audition.” Yumi begged.

“Give me one good reason.”

“I can list you many.” Yumi said eagerly. “They’ll pay for my school.”

“Is that your reason?” Her mother asked and Yumi nodded slowly.

“No.” Her mother said.

“Umma, I want to do this. I really want to do this. This is my passion.” Yumi said suddenly.

Her mother looked at her and sighed. “Fine, I’ll give you my blessing but don’t say that I never warned you. You don’t know what’s happening behind the closed door.” Her mother said and Yumi just smiled.

Sure, she never knew.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Finally, I updated! Been busy with mid-year exams! =='