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Subin quietly walked next to NCT Dream's manager, MC Ari, through the backstage area of the music show the Dreamies were attending. The young girl was in thoughts. She did have an interesting chat with the SM Manager and knew that he was right.

Her CEO Ok Taecyeon never made Subin signed a four-year contract, nor did he force her and Yoobin to sign any slavery contracts like SM did. But Subin was aware of the fact that Blue Soda was small, and did not have the time or the teachers to train her into becoming a producer.

In the short time at SM she had learned more about producing than in her whole time at Blue Soda. Subin sighed when she heard someone call her name. She looked up and saw her Sunbae Ahn Mari stand opposite of her in the hallway. Ari and NCT Dream stopped in their tracks and watched Mari bow to her Sunbae.

Ari smiled. "Just head to our dressing room after you're done, Subin." The man spoke and Subin bowed before turning to Mari who was dressed in silver shorts, a bright red crop top with straps around her stomach and a transparent varsity-themed jacket. Her hair was half-up-half-down and the ends were curled.

"Sunbae! You look stunning!" Subin bounced over to Mari who opened her arms to hug the younger girl. Her manager, Sora,  smiled at the two of them. "I haven't seen you in a long time, Subin" Sora said and Mari nodded. "Juyeon sent her to SM as a punishment." Mari pouted and softly stroked Mari's head. "I hope they treat you well", she said with a look towards NCT Dream that were disappearing in the distance. 

"They treat me nice. I am learning a lot." Subin said with flushed cheeks. She was a fan of Mari and looked up to her. Mari produced and wrote her own music — while being in Blue Soda — and it was something Subin was jealous of. But she knew Mari had worked hard to be where she was now and she only debuted four months ago! Her popularity was rising steadily.

"I heard from Yoobin that you're in Dream's credits!" Mari said and Subin nodded. "My name is listed in the list of producers of the song 'Drippin'!" Subin said and smiled. "I'm proud of you, Subinnie!" Mari said and ruffled Subin's short brown hair. "I can't wait for you to produce a song with me once you're back," Mari said and Subin's heart jumped a little. "I'll work hard so I won't disappoint you!" Subin promised and lifted her fists in the air.

Mari laughed when one of the staff walked up to her and asked her to come to the rehearsal. Subin bowed politely and watched Mari disappear in the hallway of the music show. Talking with her Sunbae had given her new strength and she ran back to the dressing room of NCT Dream.

When she entered the room, Jisung bombarded her with questions about Mari. Subin answered them politely, seeing how happy Jisung got after hearing all these words, made her smile even bigger. The two teenagers talked about Ahn Mari until NCT Dream had to go and perform their songs — Subin and MC Ari standing on the side of the stage watching the performance.

And while watching the performance, a thought struck Subin's mind: maybe it wasn't bad being a Trainee and not a producer-only. "When you stand on the stage, you can make a lot of people happy", she said out loud without realizing it and Ari turned towards her. 

The manager didn't say a word. He only watched the teenager watch the stage with glittering eyes.

― 💌 ―

"It's been so long since we went to the company together." Seo Yoobin said and linked her arms with her best friend and fellow Trainee Han Subin. The last warm September days were slowly coming to an end, and the girls were already wearing their winter school uniform.

"Juyeon said I have to come back to the training rooms for a while. I haven't been training ever since he threw this internship on me." Subin said and sighed. "I did have to work a lot for SM." - "But you learned SO many new things!" Yoobin added. "You have even been backstage at a music show!" The vocal whispered and Subin sighed. 

"The experiences were great, but I can't wait to get back to my regular schedule. Being a student, an intern AND a trainee is so hard." Subin cried out when they reached their company. They scanned their ID cards — well Yoobin scanned her ID card and entered the house, Subin was standing in front of the door with a pink card in her hand. "No way..." she mumbled and realized she held SM Entertainments ID card in her hand.

Yoobin came back outside and saw her best friend rummaging through her backpack; her school books, her notebooks, and her pencil case were splattered all over the front door area of Blue Soda Entertainment. 

"What are you doing?!" Yoobin asked, disturbed by the mess her fellow Trainee was doing. "I can't find my ID..." the teenager mumbled and held up her SM ID. "I only have this with me!" She said and sighed. "Where is your Blue Soda ID then?" Yoobin asked and Subin shook her shoulders.

"I don't know if it's at home or at my locker in SM Entertainment!" 

The two girls looked at each other and Subin sighed. "I guess I have to head to SM to see if it's there somewhere." Subin said and Yoobin pursed her lips. "Can I tag along?" She asked and Subin opened her eyes. "But then you need to train even longer because of me!" - "I don't mind! I really want to see behind the scenes at SM!"

Subin sighed. She didn't know if it was a good idea bringing Yoobin with her, but she definitely had to see where her ID was. Otherwise Go Juyeon would punish her once again...