New Bonds

The days passed, and Yeji found herself growing more comfortable around Ryujin, despite the awkward moments they'd shared. One afternoon, as they were hanging out in the common room, they bumped into Lia, Yuna, and Chaeryeong, who were engrossed in a heated game of cards. Ryujin, being the social butterfly that she was, quickly bridged the gap, introducing Yeji to the group and suggesting they all grab dinner together. As they sat down at a cozy table, the conversation flowed effortlessly. They talked about their favorite foods, music, and movies, but soon, the discussion turned to more serious topics – debuting, evaluations, and dieting. "I'm so tired of these constant evaluations," Yuna said, rolling her eyes. "It's like they're trying to suck the life out of us." "Tell me about it," Chaeryeong chimed in. "I've been stressing about my weight for weeks. I feel like I'm not good enough." Ryujin and Yuna exchanged a knowing glance, and Yeji sensed that there was more to their conversation than met the eye. "I've been there too," Ryujin said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've struggled with...eating disorders, I guess you could say." Yuna nodded in agreement. "Me too. It's hard to keep up with the industry's standards." Yeji's eyes widened in surprise, but as she looked at Ryujin, she felt a pang of concern. She couldn't help but wonder what Ryujin had gone through. As they finished dinner, Yeji had an idea. She suggested they all walk back to their dorms together, but she veered off, heading to the Korean restaurant down the street. She ordered a bucket of fried chicken and made her way to Ryujin's dorm, determined to make sure she was eating. When she arrived, Ryujin looked up from her phone, a hint of surprise on her face. "Hey, Yeji. What's that?" Yeji smiled, holding out the fried chicken. "I brought you some food. I wanted to make sure you were eating." Ryujin's eyes softened, and she took a piece of chicken from Yeji's hand. As Yeji fed her, their fingers touched, and for a moment, the air was charged with tension. But Yeji quickly brushed it off, focusing on making sure Ryujin was okay. As they ate, Yeji cleaned Ryujin's mouth, making sure she was taking small bites. The next day, the five girls gathered for a practice session, and Yeji was surprised to find that they had been assigned to practice together. They ran through a demo of "Mafia" in the morning, and Yeji couldn't help but be mesmerized by Ryujin's popping dance moves. As they took a water break, Lia spoke up. "You know, I was thinking...we don't really know each other that well, do we?" The others nodded in agreement, and Yeji realized that it was true – aside from her and Ryujin, they were all strangers. As they got to know each other, the conversation flowed easily. They talked about their favorite songs, their childhood memories, and their dreams. "I'm so glad we're all in this together," Yuna said, smiling. As it turned out, the dorm arrangements had been changed, and everyone was now living in apartments. Yuna, Ryujin, and Yeji were rooming together, while Chaeryeong and Lia had their own apartment. Yuna had a single bed, while Ryujin and Yeji would be bunking. Other trainees, like Sungmin, Jisung, and Haechan, had also been rearranged, with some rooming together and others living solo. As Yeji settled into her new routine, she felt a sense of excitement and nervousness. She knew that the road ahead would be tough, but with her new friends by her side, she felt more confident than ever. The five girls – Lia, Yuna, Chaeryeong, Ryujin, and Yeji – had formed an unbreakable bond, one that would see them through the highs and lows of their training journey. And as they practiced together, laughing and supporting each other every step of the way, Yeji knew that she had found something special – a friendship that would last a lifetime.