Chapter 6
Dear Diary,
I've never been so exhausted. We haven't even been given our official debut album yet and they've worked us to the bone.
Okay, let me explain. Apparently, they're still deciding some details for the album and so they haven't given us a set tracklist or anything yet. However, they knew that Jieun and I both write songs so they have been asking us for song we've written. Last week, they gave me back a song I wrote with a backing track and asked for my thoughts on it. I liked it, so they did that with the rest of my songs. Apparently, they did the same thing with Jieun's.
Then they asked me to choreograph some dances to a mix of songs both me and her wrote. After talking with Jieun, we realized that she had been asked to compose instrumentals for some songs as well. So we're guessing that they're going to be using these songs in either the debut album or later albums, which would be so cool! I didn't think I would get to write my own songs this early on, but it's amazing that I get to!
Two days ago, they asked me to record all my choreographies and send them into the execs. I did. Then today, when we went into our dance lessons, guess which choreography we started to learn?
One for a song that I choreographed the dance to.
If this doesn't end up being our title track, I am going to scream because I am absolutely in love with this song. It's called "Change". Written by some famous songwriter or whatever, I don't actually know who she is. But the song itself is amazing and it was so fun to choreograph! I already have music video ideas for it, if they'll actually take my adviceโฆ
I'm just so excited for this! Debut is coming up so quickly! Although we don't have all the information yet, I really believe that this album will make people talk about us for years to come. There's no way it won't.
Anyways, I have to go now. Duty calls! I've got songs to choreograph and a debut to prepare for.
~Rosy
Rosy tucked her diary into her bag before standing up and stretching. She had been working for hours to choreograph a new song she had been given, entitled "Puzzle". There was one advanced move that she had been hoping to master so she could throw it into the choreography, because she thought it fit well. But no matter how many times she did it, she just couldn't seem to master it. Eventually, she had become so annoyed that she forced herself into a thirty minute break. After writing for that time, she felt ready to begin again.
She started up the song again, wanting to listen to it as she practiced the dance move. That way, she would know it really well and be able to think of more choreography ideas as she focused on the one part. She closed her eyes and crouched down. The idea was simple: lower yourself onto the ground, lay down, then pop back up onto your feet. But for some reason, Rosy always ended up losing her balance at the last second and falling back down onto her butt.
Rosy got into position for her next attempt, lowering herself down. Then she brought her legs in and propelled herself up using only the strength of her legs. It almost seemed that she had gotten it until she lost her balance and toppled back down onto the floor.
"Oof, you were so close that time!" came a voice from the doorway. Rosy looked over to see a tall frame in the doorway. With a bun of black curls placed precariously on top of her head and wearing worn out sweats, Zara still managed to look like a runway model who was about to walk.
"How long were you watching?" Rosy asked. Zara chuckled and stepped inside the room.
"I've been walking up and down the hallway for a while and spotted you through the window about an hour ago. I must admit, you've impressed me. I would've given up hours ago. How long have you been going at this?"
Rosy glanced at the clock before looking back at Zara.
"Four hours."
Zara's eyes widened in amazement. "Girl, you missed dinner. How do you still have the energy for this?"
Rosy shrugged. "Whenever I find a movement that I can't do, I work for hours until I can master it. I usually only remember my needs once I've perfected the movement."
Zara was quiet for a moment, her sharp eyes studying Rosy. Finally, she spoke again. "I guess I now understand why they put a 13-year-old on the team. At first, I was a bit confused when they announced you and Miko as part of the group."
The younger girl opened her mouth to say something, but Zara held up a hand for silence.
"It's not because of a lack of talent that I was hesitant. You and Miko are both very talented. But the idol industry is hard. You have the be resiliant, as resiliant as stone to survive it. I wasn't sure you had what it took, butโฆ"
She looked around the room, at Rosy's bag in the corner, contents dumped out around it. Then she looked at Rosy, whose hair was a mess and clothes were dirty from all the time spent on the floor. Then she finished her thought.
"It's obvious I was wrong. I think you spend the most time training out of anyone in the group."
"There's a reason I'm the best trainee who specializes in dance," grinned Rosy.
"Tell you what: Once you perfect your move, I'll treat you to dinner. Anywhere you want. This company loves me too much to tell me no."
Rosy snickered, then nodded.
"Deal."
***
It took another hour, but Rosy had finally managed to land the move successfuly a few times. Then she had tried again, but her limbs were so tired that they couldn't even lift her up anymore.
So she packed up her stuff and hurried to find Zara, which wasn't that difficult. She was sitting in the lobby, reading a magazine while sipping on a cappuccino.
"Finally, you're here!" she stood up and threw the magazine onto the end table next to her. "Where to for dinner? Minseong is waiting in the car outside."
Minseong was the girl's official driver. Rosy and Zara walked out and immediately spotted his dark black car parked on the side of the road. Minseong stepped out of the driver's seat to open the passenger door for the girls. Rosy got in first, then scooted over so Zara could follow. Once Minseong was back in his seat, Rosy told them her choice of restaurant.
"Anywhere that serves hamburgers. I haven't had American food in so long and it's been the one thing I've been craving lately."
Zara laughed, then turned to Minseong. "You heard her. Let's go find some burgers."
Minseong nodded, then started off.
"You do realize that the managers will kill you if they learn about this, right?" Zara asked Rosy.
"You said it could be anything! And I think I deserve it after doing nothing but dancing all day."
Zara shrugged. "Fair enough."
The car went silent again, until Rosy spoke up. "Hey, Zara-unnie?"
"Please, no honorifics. It makes me feel old."
Rosy smiled slightly at that. "Well, um, Zara?"
"Yes, Rosy?"
"Could I ask you a question?"
"Anything."
"What happened to IT GIRLZ? I mean, uh, if you don't mind me askingโฆ"
Zara shook her head. "No, it's okay. I figure plenty of people are curious. Do you wish to know what truly happened to the group?"
Rosy nodded, so Zara took a breath and began her story.
"It wasn't a good situation. No one in the group was at a good place, and I think deep down we all knew that we weren't ready to debut. Xinyi and I were the oldest, so we were the most mature. We were the first to realize that the group wasn't going to work out. After two releases, no one knew our name. There was a lot of in fighting between members, which even got so bad that two girls stopped talking to each other. So we quit. That was the wake up call to our company, so they disbanded the project. The other girls will never forgive us, but I hope eventually they'll realize that we saved them."
Rosy sat there in silence for a few moments before speaking again. "Wow, Zaraโฆ That must have taken a lot of bravery. If I were in that position, I don't think I could leave. I wouldn't want to give up everything I'd worked for."
"And it was hard," Zara agreed. "But there comes a time where you know you have to do something, and you also know that if you don't do it then it will be bad."
"I hope NextGen doesn't end up like that," Rosy said.
"Me, too," Zara agreed. "But I have faith in us. We will succeed where IT GIRLZ failed."
"Do you really believe so?" Rosy asked her.
Zara nodded. "I really do."
