Chapter 26

            Pouring in through Choa and Ellin’s hotel room, the fully risen sun’s glow appeared more orange than usual.  Choa lay in her bed fully awake as she did for the past four hours.  It was nearly eight ‘o’ clock now, and she couldn’t take any more cold, agonizing silence.  She quietly rose from her bed, dressed herself, and left the room.

            As she slowly closed the door behind her, she was alarmed to see Dohyun a few feet down the hall.  He spoke on his phone in a low tone before noticing Choa and giving a warm grin.  Before Choa could rush away, he was walking toward her.

            “Good morning, Choa-yah,” he smiled, putting his phone in his pocket.  “Do you have plans?”  

            “I was just going to…go for a walk.”  She didn’t actually have anything in mind.  All she wanted was to get as far away from Ellin as she could and escape from her swirling thoughts.

            “I was just about to get some breakfast.  Would you like to come with me?”

            “Oh…um…”  Ellin’s irrational words from earlier this morning gave Choa a hint of spite, and she felt an urge to spend time with Dohyun just to make her angry.  “I…I’d better not, actually.”

            “Really?” he asked, confusion filling his eyes.  He opened his mouth as if he wanted to pry into details, but he finally smiled and nodded his head.  “I understand if you want to be alone.  Today is your first public performance.  You must be a little nervous.”

            Choa hadn’t been able to think about the performance all night, but she grinned in agreement.  “Thanks for understanding.”

            “But, hey, if you’re out and you want something to eat, here’s some money,” he said suddenly, taking his wallet out of his pocket and looking through it.  “I just went to the currency exchange this morning.”

            “Ah, that’s okay,” she replied, reluctantly taking the Chinese bills.  “Well, thank you.  If I get hungry, I’ll find something in the city.”

            “I think Serang mentioned a meeting time on the bus ride yesterday,” he began as if rummaging his mind for memories.  “Did she say…ten ‘o’ clock?”

            “Yes, we need to be ready to practice by ten,” Choa confirmed.  “And we’re leaving for the studio at noon, correct?”

            “Yep!”

            “I’ll be back by then.  Thanks, Dohyun-ssi.”

            “No problem!  Have a good walk!”

            As Choa sped away, she could feel Dohyun’s vibrant morning attitude behind her.  Breakfast with him would have been far too bright compared to breakfasts at the Comet Academy.

            Choa took the elevator down to the lobby and walked out onto the rather empty Hangzhou streets.  A few people scurried along the sidewalks and cars zipped by every few seconds.  But this large, romantic city was quiet and pleasant. 

            The hotel was right beside the Yangtze River, and Choa began to stroll along the sidewalk, admiring the glistening water.  As she walked, her thoughts started to drift back to the Academy.  She ignored the many horrific memories and specifically recalled the seldom pleasant ones.  A humorous smile formed on her lips as she remembered the times she and Minseon would perform extravagant ballads for Youngbin and Soomin in their room.

            As she entered a small café with a pleasant view of the river, she hummed one of the songs they used to sing.  When the two of them could escape their troubles with music, they were able to discover a hope for a world beyond the Academy.

            The café imitated some Western style, perhaps a classic French café.  Even the menu consisted of flaky pastries and crêpes.  She decided to try a strawberry crêpe, but balanced it out with some traditional herbal tea.  After she ordered, she sat by the window and peered out at the sun reflecting on the beautiful river.

            With the memories of the Academy still fresh in her mind, she decided to check up on Minseon.  She didn’t receive phone service in China, but the café had wifi, so she swiftly connected and made a video call to Minseon.  When Minseon appeared on the screen with a bright, cheery face, Choa was somewhat alarmed.

            “Minseon-ah,” Choa greeted slowly, looking at the well-decorated dining room in which Minseon was.  “Where are you?”

            “Good morning to you, too, unnie,” Minseon sighed, rolling her eyes.  Her face disappeared as the camera caught her taking a bite of cereal.  “I’m at Soomin’s apartment.  I’ve been spending the past couple of weeks here.”

            “Really?” Choa asked in amazement.  “I didn’t know that.  You’re not playing with your band then?”

            “No, I’m still doing that,” Minseon admitted with a smirk.  “But Soomin doesn’t let me drink at my shows anymore.  I woke up hangover-free.”

            “But you’re still eating the breakfast of an alcoholic,” Choa suggested slyly.  “Is that even nutritious?  Didn’t Soomin make you anything?”

            “She had to leave really early for work today.  Besides, I usually wake up much later than this, so I don’t blame her for not preparing anything.  What about you?  Have you eaten anything yet?  Didn’t your plane arrive in China just a few hours ago?”

            “Yeah, I just ordered something at this café,” Choa assured.  “Have some tea with that stuff, Minseon-ah.  It’s not good for you.”

            “Yeah, yeah.”  Minseon took a large bite of cereal and chewed it spitefully.  Choa simply laughed in amusement.

            “Minseon-ah, isn’t that stuff too basic for your palate?  I thought you’d be pickier than that.”

            “You’re right, it’s not worthy,” Minseon agreed.  “But…I think it’s the same brand that Youngbin would bring us for midnight snacks sometimes.  I find it…comforting somehow.”

            “Ah, I was just thinking of oppa.  Do you know how he’s doing?”

            Minseon stirred her cereal slowly and looked down at the table.  “Soomin says he’s the same.  She asked me to visit him when I have the chance.  I think I will.”

            “That would be good for you, Minseon-ah,” Choa smiled happily.  “Minseon-ah…I’m really happy you’re not drinking.  You’re a lot more alert.  And, somehow, you seem prettier.”

            “Aw, thank you, unnie,” Minseon replied with a confident smirk.  “I’m not sure if that’s a real compliment though…Are you ready for your first performance today?”

            “Yeah…Well, I don’t know,” Choa sighed.  “I really wish you were here with us, Minseon-ah.”

            “Yeah, well, you know that’s not my scene, unnie.”

            “I think we really need you,” Choa insisted pleadingly.  “I need you.  Everything is really overwhelming right now.”

            “You’re going to do great, unnie,” Minseon promised after taking another bite of her cereal.

            A waitress suddenly interrupted their conversation to deliver Choa’s tea and pastry.  She thanked her and turned back to Minseon.  “Doesn’t this pastry look delicious?”

            “Ah, that looks phenomenal,” Minseon admitted eagerly as Choa focused on the pastry with her phone camera.  “See, that will sustain you through your performance.  I couldn’t do more than that pastry.”

            “Was that a glimpse of humility from Heo Minseon?” Choa asked in amazement.

            “I humble myself only in the presence of food,” Minseon remarked cleverly.  She gave a yawn and leaned back in her dining chair.  “I should probably get ready for work, unnie.”

            “Okay, Minseon-ah,” Choa frowned, wishing their time together could have been longer.  “Have a good day, then.  Be sure to eat well.”

            Minseon smirked mischievously.  “You know I will.”

            As Choa put down her phone, she wished she could tell Minseon about her fight with Ellin.  She wished she could tell her about Dohyun and all the feelings he had caused.  All the memories of the Comet Project swirled about in her head, and she wished she could reminisce with Minseon for just a little while about them, just to allow a bit more healing.  But Minseon was sober and doing well, and if she was eager to be a responsible adult and go to work, Choa supported her completely.

            The pastry was filled with fresh fruit that gave such a refreshing taste.  It was nearly nine ‘o’ clock by now, and she wondered if her members had even woken up yet.  Geummi was always eager to make the members have breakfast with her, even if they wanted to skip it to cut calories.  She took care of their health in the midst of diets and body-shaping.  Choa hoped that Geummi took such an initiative this morning.  With how lowly Ellin thought of herself this morning, Choa knew she wouldn’t want to eat anything today.

            After finishing her breakfast, Choa hurried back to the hotel and reluctantly stepped into her room.  She could hear Ellin getting ready in the bathroom, so she silently moved to her bag to get her own toiletries out.  Without announcing her presence to Ellin, Choa left the room and knocked on Serang and Geummi’s door.

            “Ah, Choa-yah,” Geummi greeted after she opened the door.  “Good morning!  Do you need something?”

            “I was just wondering if I could get ready in here this morning,” Choa said quietly.

            “Sure!”  As Geummi led Choa into the room, she gave a long sigh.  “Hey, is Ellin still being grumpy?  Is that why you want to get ready in here?”

            “I mean…maybe just a little bit,” Choa replied, taking her toothbrush from her toiletries bag.

            “She still can’t get over that picture?  Aish.”

            “Ellin is being difficult?” Serang asked, coming out of the bathroom.  “This is the day of our debut performance.  We can’t have that.”

            “I think she’s irritable because she’s nervous,” Choa suggested with a forced smile.

            “I’d better go talk with her,” Serang continued sternly, quickly leaving the room.

            Choa stepped into the bathroom and brushed her teeth tensely.  She didn’t need Ellin to be even angrier with her this morning.  If Serang spoke too bluntly, Ellin’s hopelessness might increase instead.

            All of the members prepared for their exciting day.  Chrome Entertainment couldn’t afford fancy stage outfits, but the girls had put together their own trademark styles.  Fortunately, the television company filming them today had hired makeup artists and hair stylists for each of the artists performing.  The girls packed up their outfits before running through their song.

            Though space was limited in the hotel room, the girls practiced their performance over and over again.  Sometimes their movements were nervous and robotic.  But they had smoothed most of it out with charm and charisma from each member.  Jina sat on Geummi’s bed, making suggestions on how they could improve their performance.

            Ellin seldom locked eyes with Choa, which Choa didn’t necessarily mind.  If they could get through this day solely as performers, they could fix their friendship problems later.  Each of them gave their best during their parts, and that’s all they could ask for in the midst of turmoil.

            Dohyun waited for them outside in the hallway.  When they finally came out from their practice, he swiftly led them out of the hotel and to a couple of taxis on the street.  Serang ushered Ellin and Geummi to join here while she assigned Choa to join Soyul, Jina, and Dohyun.  Though she was a member, Serang was definitely a manager as well.

            “Aish, I’m so tired,” Soyul sighed, leaning her head on Jina’s shoulder.  “We just have to perform Bing Bing and those random solo songs, right?”

            “Yes,” Dohyun answered from the front seat.  “You’ll also be performing at a small showcase after filming.”

            “Really?”

            “It was meant solely for the Chinese group filming with us today, but the Captain has managed to get you in as well.”

            Today was going to be exceptionally busy.  Hurricane Pop’s first public performance was going to be in a television studio as part of a Chinese drama.  The drama starred a rookie Chinese pop group that stumbles upon Hurricane Pop at a night club.  Geummi had been assigned to dance to a Sistar song, and Soyul had practiced an upbeat trot song.  Choa was to sing a classic Korean ballad.  Finally, they would perform Bing Bing together for a special scene in the show.  The Captain had chosen a truly strange way to debut his new pop group, but the girls weren’t complaining.  At least they were able to travel and sing in front of people.

             The driver asked a question in Mandarin, and Choa swiftly answered him.  Dohyun slunk in his chair and sighed.

            “What did he say, Choa-ssi?” Dohyun questioned.

            “He just asked where we were going,” Choa told.

            “Aish, I’m really failing you as a manager,” Dohyun said sadly.  “I’ll have to improve for Hong Kong.”

            “Don’t be so hard on yourself, Dohyun oppa,” Soyul said with a flirty grin.  “You’re doing your absolute best, that’s all that matters.”

            After a few minutes, they arrived at the studio and everyone was reunited.  When they entered the building, a receptionist at the front desk greeted them, and Dohyun was able to introduce himself and Hurricane Pop with his awkward Mandarin.  The receptionist led them down a long hallway and finally into a large, dark room.  It was a set dressed to look like a popular nightclub.  A small glowing stage stood on one end with a bridge toward a circular stage in the center of the room.  Crewmembers scurried about the room, adjusting lights and preparing sound equipment.  Choa’s heart beat faster and faster as she anticipated their first step into the music industry.

            A well-dressed man approached them and explained to a confused Dohyun that he was the director of the show.  It was obvious that Dohyun struggled to understand any of what the director was saying.  Choa quickly moved to his side and whispered to him as the director spoke.

            “This is Director Zhao,” Choa explained, attempting to stay as inconspicuous as possible.  “He says that the set is almost finished.  Our dressing room is right outside that door to the right.  He’s grateful that we can be a part of this drama to help jumpstart Fruit Tea’s career.  Are they the other group?  Hmm…I’m pretty sure the Captain exaggerated our popularity in Korea…”

            “Ah…谢谢 (Thank you),” Dohyun grinned nervously after the director stopped speaking.  “我们 (We)…去 (Go)…如今 (Nowadays).”

            Director Zhao appeared quite perplexed as Dohyun led the girls away.  Choa laughed to herself and hit Dohyun on the arm.

            “Dohyun-ssi, I think you meant to say现在 (now),” she chuckled.

            “I don’t even know what you’re saying, Choa,” he sighed, giving her a playful push.  Choa could hear Ellin scoffing behind them, but she was too irritated with her to care.

            When they reached the door to their dressing room, they noticed the room next door was open.  Inside, a few stylists applied the finishing touches to five young, excited pop stars.  As soon as they saw them, Boram, Ellin, Choa, and Soyul felt an incredible connection that only rookies could experience together.

            “这是水果茶 (Is this Fruit Tea)?” Choa asked shyly, peeking her head into the room.

            “这是 (It is)!” one of the tiny members exclaimed, rushing over to them.  Soon enough, all five of the members stepped out of their dressing room to greet Hurricane Pop. 

            During their preparation for the trip, the Hurricane Pop members learned how to introduce themselves in Chinese.  As the Fruit Tea members gave their signature greeting, there was no need for Choa’s translations.  Geummi stopped each member afterwards, asking them to repeat their names a few times so she could pronounce them correctly.  Even with the coaching from each member, Soyul excitedly exclaimed each of their names in garbled Mandarin, causing Fruit Tea to both laugh and cringe.

            “One member’s name translates to ‘Peaches’,” Choa told her members happily.  “They’re really adorable.”

            A Fruit Tea member eagerly asked if Choa was a Chinese member of Hurricane Pop, but she had to sadly disappoint her.  As they praised her Mandarin knowledge, Dohyun began to usher Hurricane Pop into their dressing room.

            “Bye bye!” Soyul called in her cute English.  “They probably know a little English, right?”

            “Yeah, probably more than you,” Ellin laughed.  “Anyway, everyone knows the phrase ‘bye bye’.”

            Hurricane Pop swiftly greeted their stylists and makeup artists that waited for them in the dressing room.  They put the costume cases they brought with them on a table in the room, but were pleasantly surprised to see that the television company had ordered some outfits for them as well.  The stylists went to work right away, and soon the Hurricane Pop members were dressed in chic, dark outfits more fit for an underground rock group.  With new hairstyles and makeup, the Hurricane Pop members almost looked like totally different people. 

            While waiting for Dohyun to find a director and receive instructions, the girls relaxed in their new attire.  After the stylists left the room, Geummi squealed in glee as she played with Soyul’s bouncy pigtails.  Serang made a phone call most likely to the Captain.  In an isolated corner of the room, Ellin sat down and practiced her Mandarin, fumbling over her pronunciation and tones.  Choa reluctantly made her way over to her and sat beside her.

            “You look really beautiful, you know?” Choa said quietly with a small smile.

            Ellin snickered and gave a long sigh as she stared at the ground.  “I think they went a little crazy on the bronzer.  Do you think they were trying to make me look more foreign?”

            “Don’t worry about the bronzer.  You look great.”

            Finally, Ellin looked up at Choa and grinned.  “Thanks, Choa-yah.  Hey…I’m sorry I’ve been so difficult.  Can we just pretend I haven’t been such an idiot?”

            “Ah, really, you ask so much of me,” Choa said with mock hopelessness.  She couldn’t contain a smirk, though, and soon both of them were laughing together.  “Unnie, don’t even worry.  Let’s just move forward.  This is the beginning.  It should be full of hope and excitement.”

            “You’re right, Choa-yah,” Ellin assured contentedly.  “This is our debut.  Who even knows where this road will take us.”

Author's Note: I studied really hard to try to make this chapter as accurate as possible according to Crayon Pop's actual debut in Hangzhou. Unfortunately, I just couldn't find enough details online telling exactly what they did during their time in Hangzhou, so I ended the chapter here and I've decided not to write one about all their activities in Hangzhou.  In the next chapter, they'll be moving on to Hong Kong already. Also, I've edited Chapter 23: The New Manager and the details of the mission so it will coincide better with Girls' Generation's actual Hong Kong tour date on January 15, 2012. Crayon Pop's debut in Hangzhou was on January 11, 2012. If you want to learn more about their debut, Crayonpop.me has a really great timeline for Crayon Pop's history! Thank you all so much for waiting!