TW - Mentions of EDs, body image

The afternoon sun shone through the windows of the JYP headquarters, lighting up the hallways. I walked with Ae-cha arm and arm towards the cafeteria of the training centre.

Today was the day JYP would announce who was going to debut in the new girl group. But before we did, we needed food.

Ae-Cha and I decided we were going to treat ourselves to whatever the cafeteria has to offer, despite strict dieting and weekly weigh-ins.

I didn't care. As the only black trainee, getting accepted into JYP was rare. Debuting would be a miracle.

"Lia," Ae-cha stops in her tracks at one of the see through dance studio rooms, clutching my arm. "Look"

I focus my attention and turn my head to see Balam training in a studio alone. She wasn't just "training" however. Balam looked like she was about to pass out and her shirt was drenched in sweat.

Her body moved left and right to the beat, getting down on the floor and contorting her body when the choreography called for it.

Ae-Cha quickly walked in, opening the glass door and stopping the music from the speakers.

Balam stopped in her tracks before folding her arms over her chest. "Can I help you?"

I put my hands by my sides, standing awkwardly outside of the studio. "We-"

"Yes, you can actually.." Ae-Cha mirrored Balam, folding her arms too. She looked around the studio, twisting her expensive high-heeled foot against the tan hardwood floor.

"We were going out for an afternoon.. meal. Come with?" Ae-Cha wore a charming expensive smile, flashing Balam with her pearly whites.

Balam paused, looking at her reflection in the huge mirror wall before looking back at Ae-Cha up and down and spotting me standing awkwardly outside the studio. "Sure." She flashed the same smile sarcastically before grabbing her hoodie, water, and phone and joining us.

Ae-cha waited for Balam to gather her things and started on her expensive strut, taking up the hallway with her perfume.

"So.. Balam. How's um, how was today?" I asked awkwardly, struggling to keep up with Ae-Cha's fast-paced strut.

Balam gave me a look before returning to her fixed gaze to her phone. "Fine."

"Just fine?" I slowed down, falling out of sync with Ae-Cha to walk closer to Balam.

She looked up from her phone and stared me right in the eyes. "Well, better now that you're here. " Balam winked playfully.

I blushed before focusing on the posters and pictures that lined the walls. Photos of famous groups that previously debuted from JYP. NMIXX, Stray Kids, Twice, and ITZY, and other famous groups all posing next to JYP himself.

As we approached the cafeteria, the voices and murmurs of the trainees and staff grew louder with every step, and the usual butterflies in my stomach grew stronger and stronger.

I hated places with lots of people, they always made me nervous. Especially when you were the only black girl, let alone a foreigner.

Ae-Cha always had my back though. Ever since I first arrived as a shy middle schooler who spoke little to no Korean, she always defended me against uncomfortable questions and teasing.

People feared Ae-Cha.

Her family was one of the richest in the country, owning one of the top businesses. Some say the whole reason why she got into JYP was because of her rich status, bribing JYP into allowing her to become a trainee.

You did not want to be on the Cha family's shitlist.

Ae-Cha didn't boast about the fact that she had money, her wardrobe spoke for her. She danced around the halls with her high heels, her hair always in a high ponytail wearing the fanciest luxury brands.

Not while she was training though.

Ae-Cha was fire when she was on the dance floor. She never missed a beat.

Having money definitely didn't mean she didn't have talent. She was the IT girl among the trainees.

"Chicken or beef?" Ae-Cha looked me in the eye, hovered over the food bar, tapping her pink nail on the steamy glass.

"Go chicken." I say, pilling side dishes on my plate like there was no tomorrow.

I spotted Balam leaving our side, skipping food to go hangout with her usual group at their usual table.

"Mm." Ae-Cha made a noise before using her chopsticks to add chicken noodles to her plate. For a millionaire, she definitely didn't eat like one.

"You know.. all of that grease is going to add another 10 pounds to you. Im sure you're tired of hearing Ms. Hana yell at you for gaining. You shouldn't be eating at all."

A familiar high pitched voice came from behind me. I turn around to see Ari, the only other Spanish speaking foreigner training with me. She wore her hair in a low, lose pony with her arms crossed.

"Oh hardy har har. You're lucky we're friends." Ae-Cha said in a playful warning tone.

I winced at the remark. Ari could be harsh sometimes without knowing it.

She didn't really fit into the circle of Ae-Cha, Balam and I, but she still was our friend.

"Ari! Que tal?" I greet her and throw an arm over her shoulder, balancing the other tray of food with my other hand while we shuffled over to our usual table.

"Nothing.. just busy being iconic." She smiled up at me and I giggled.

"Iconic and short."

~~

When we arrived to our table and sat down, Balam left her table of tomboys and joined us. Our small square table by the window.

"Why do you even hang out with them anyway? They're bad news." I said, not looking away from my plate.

Balam sat next to Ari across from Ae-Cha and I, throwing an arm around her. "What, I'm not bad enough for them?" She slouched in her chair, manspeading, pushing her hips forward and folding her free arm around her chest.

Ae-Cha gave Balam a look.

"No.. it's just. You're better than that. I mean, all they do is smoke. They don't even show up for classes. It's a miracle they're contract hasn't been terminated yet." Ari finished my sentence, turning her head to face Balam.

The table went silent. We all knew sooner or later our debut age was passing.

Ae-Cha shifted awkwardly in her seat, itching to break the silence. "Well, there's still hope for us at least," She leaned forward in her seat placing her elbows on the table. "I mean, the new girl group members are being announced after this period."

The butterflies in my stomach returned.

A familiar sound of high heels approached our table.

"Ae-Cha, Kim Balam, Lianna Mintz, Ariana Gonzales?" A woman with a high ponytail dressed in a black suit stood with a questioning but serious look on her face.

"Uh.. yes, that's us." Balam quickly stop's man spreading, her manners kicking in.

I quickly looked up and instantly recognised the woman as a staff member.

Ae-Cha gave me a concerned look. Ari shifted in her seat.

"Please come with me, there's a mandatory meeting about to begin regarding your future here."

The tall woman turned around and started walking, expecting us to follow her.

The four of us instantly got up from our seat, following the swinging black ponytail infront of us.

I felt eyes on the back of my neck as the cafeteria went silent, all eyes on us.

As we approached a staircase, I took this opportunity to ask Ae-Cha what might be going on.

"What's this about?" I whispered to her, keeping my eyes on the stairs.

Ae-Cha shrugged, my heart thumped louder.

~~

We entered the conference room. I'd never seen the inside of it, only glimpses of it when the blinds were slightly cracked, or the door left agape.

Inside lay an oval shaped wooden table, some waters sitting in front of each wooden chair. The walls were painted industrial white, with a large painting of a beach on the left side.

Some men dressed in casual wear sat at some of the chairs, one bald with hair on either side, and one who wore ponytail with a t-shirt who looked no where passed his near 30's.

A black cushioned office chair sat at the head of the table.

Sitting at it was none other than JYP.

I felt beads of sweat trickle down my forehead, and I pushed my braids to one side of my shoulder shyly.

All four of us bowed front of the doorway, showing our respects to elders as we entered and awkwardly sat down at the chairs.

The secretary walked to stand by JYP's chair.

A silence fell over the confre room except for the door closing.

"Girls, please, have a seat."

to be continued <3