CHAPTER 14
Mr. Zhang sat on the sofa then Yuna went to the kitchen and started to prepare their dinner, but Gee was asked by Mr. Zhang to talk to him for a while.
Mr. Zhang: I just came here to tell you that im so happy of your performance earlier, your group sounded so well I was keeping myself to tell you this that is why I just came here to tell you how proud I am (he was smiling to his ears)
Gee: (puzzled) You were there Mr. Zhang?
Mr.Zhang: (snapped) oh yeah I was listening on the other room along with the board members
Gee: ah I see, thank you Mr. Zhang (she bowed)
Mr. Zhang: by the way, this coming Saturday is your individual evaluation and all the board members along with the other trainers are present.
Gee: (got excited) including senior Yibo??
Mr.Zhang: Of course he will, and that would also mean your judgement day.
Gee just smiled with excitement and a little bit nervous the same time. Mr. Zhang stood up and handed something to her. It was the musical sheets and a book on how to play the piano.
Gee: (accepted it with two hands and bowed her head) thank you Mr. Zhang
Mr.Zhang: I'll try my best to teach you in the morning. (he stood up and went to the door)
Gee followed him to the door but Yuna went out from the kitchen.
Yuna: hey Sean
Mr. Zhang turned to her and Gee was puzzled.
Gee: senior Sean?
Mr. Zhang: (snapped) who? Me what are you saying? Im not Sean, Yuna is always mistaking me of him I got used to it that is why I turned when she called me, why would Sean be here, he lives in his own house.
Gee: ah I see, are you twins by the way? You two looked alike and have the same height and voice. I thought you were the same person. When I had a closer encounter with him today.
Mr. Zhang: oh yeah yes we are twins.
Gee: ah I see
Yuna: come and eat with us tonight before you leave.
Mr. Zhang smiled and they went to the kitchen.
It was their training with Yibo. Gee was so excited to see him. Leo, Yuna and Gee were eating at the cafeteria. Yibo was riding his skateboard going to their table when he saw Leo was putting some of his vegetable to Gee's plate and Gee did the same thing. Yibo turned his back and headed out. Yuna noticed it and she told Gee pointing at Yibo on the doorway but he was already out. Gee smiled upon seeing him. Yuna was keeping her smile.
Gee was excited when they entered the dance room. Then after a few moment Yibo arrived. Gee waved gave him a wide smile but Yibo just gave him a look. Gee was puzzled. Yuna and Leo looked at her asking what happened through their looks and she shrugged her shoulder in response.
The training went on but Yibo was still ignoring her. Kite tasked them to find a partner for their activity.
Leo and Gee paired up and Maya went to Yuna smiling at each other. Yibo gave Gee and Leo a sharp look but turned his look away. Yuna noticed it that made her think of something.
Kite and Yibo taught them a body conditioning routine that can be done with a partner.
While the trainees are following them. Yibo was keeping his eye on Gee and Leo. When Leo slipped, Yibo ran so fast to them and he was able to cover Gee from being topped over by Leo because Gee was laying on the floor. It turns out he was kneeling over Gee with his hands on the floor but Leo was able to balance himself and avoided landing on them. Everyone turned their eyes on them, some were smiling but some of the boys were shaking their head. But the most happy about it but was trying to keep it was Yuna but she was smiling, Maya was not happy about it. Leo was puzzled looking at the two. Gee and Yibo's face were so close they were looking at each other. Yibo got up immediately. He helped Gee up. He looked at Leo.
Yibo: be careful next time, you almost fell on him.
Leo: ah but I was –
Yibo walked away from them.
Gee was puzzled by Yibo's action she followed him with a look.
The training was over. Yibo said his goodbye to everyone but he was still ignoring Gee. Gee immediately ran to follow him outside when Kite dismissed them after the reminders about the evaluation.
Gee ran fast as she could when she saw Yibo was on his way to the elevator.
Gee: senior Yibo!
But she was too late because it was already closed.
Gee released a deep breath feeling confused because of how Yibo treat her that day.
She was thinking of following him or not but she immediately ran to the stairs, she ran fast as she could.
When she reached the seventh floor, Yibo was already at his door opening it. She ran even faster, when Yibo was about to close his door she was able to block it with her hands.
Gee: Senior Yibo! (running out of breath)
Yibo: (surprised)
Gee: sen- senior Yibo (catching her breath) c-can I have some w-water?
Yibo closed the door. Gee was ao shocked. Then the door opened again and Yibo handed out the bottled water then he closed the door.
Gee: (was shocked) hey senior Yibo, can I talk to you?
Yibo: I have a flight tomorrow morning. I need to rest.
Gee: huh? Ah okey im sorry. I just want to ask if why are you ignoring me again, or are you mad at me?
Yibo was not answering.
Gee: I – Im sorry if I was bothering you or if I did something wrong to make you mad. I -I just want to ask… what should I do to -
Yibo opened the door and he saw her facing down. It was the first time he saw her that sad and he felt guilty.
Yibo: You didn't do anything wrong, its my fault.
Gee lifted her face to see
Yibo: I was over acting,
Gee: ah? What do you mean senior Yibo?
Yibo let out a sigh and handed her 3 energy bars from his body small body bag. Gee was happy and accepted it with a wide smile.
Gee: thank you senior Yibo
Yibo: can you listen to me?
Gee nodded with a smile like a child.
Yibo: even if you are a guy as they know, don't forget that you are still a woman you- (he cut himself and sighed)
Gee: oh yeah I remembered what you said before, (she smiled) okey I'll be more careful next time senior Yibo, thank you for your concern.
Yibo sighed and was about to touch her in her head but he combed his hair instead.
Yibo: you should go now, I cannot defend you anymore if someone reported you for coming here.
Gee: oh yeah, and you should take a rest too, and thank you for these.
Yibo nodded then Gee walk her way to the elevator.
Yibo was about to say something but he sighed and closed the door.
Inside the elevator…
Gee: hm I didn't know that senior Yibo was that concerned for me (she smiled)
Meanwhile in Yibo's room, he was laying on his bed with his eyes closed.
Yibo remembering the scene he saw at the cafeteria. He threw his bag on the floor and lay on his face.
Gee was happy looking at the energy bars she received from Yibo. She put it inside the refrigerator and she was startled to see Yuna she held on to her chest.
Yuna: what happened?
Gee: oh
Yuna: Why is he ignoring you?
Gee: oh that? Ah (she was scratching her hair) he gave me energy bars again (she smiled and turned her look away and went to her room) ah I'll change first okey?
Yuna: hmmm…
Gee: (bit her lips) im sorry Yuna
Everyone was practicing hard for their first individual evaluation. Gee was practicing on the rooftop that morning. Yibo was standing at the door watching her, he smiled to see that she was doing well. Gee was feeling excited and nervous.
Before she went to her room Gee received a call from Moru. She was very excited.
Gee: hey Moruuuuuu, (she was very happy she was almost crying)
Moru: hey, I heard its your evaluation today.
Gee: yeaaah!! A-are you coming???
Moru: I want to but viewers are not allowed.
Gee: oh yeah, oh by the way I'll be coming home this Sunday okey?
Moru: oh really??? That's good! I'll cook you your favorite then, whether you passes or not.
Gee: of course I will passed the evaluation haha
Moru: ts, your confident huh?
Gee: of course I should passed it so I can make you proud hahahaha
Moru: yey
Gee: oy what kind of reaction is that?
Moru: I know your doing it for Yibo not me
Gee: hahaha are you jealous?
Moru: yeah
Gee: hahahaha don't worry even if I meet some new friends, your still my brother and my mother, you can never be replaced.
Moru: (he smiled and was speechless)
Gee: hey dude, are you okey? Are you still there?
She heard a sniff on the other line and that made her laugh.
Gee: ahahahaha Moru, are you crying?
Moru: N-no im not! B-baka!
Gee: ahahahahaha, oh I have to go now Moru-chi.
Moru: okey, goodluck on your performance today.
Gee: yeah hahaha thank you (she was smiling to her ears)
Moru was smiling when he received a selfie from Gee with Yuna.
After their vocalization, they had their lunch and they were given another 10 minutes to rest while the dance room was being prepared. When the trainees were doing their body conditioning, Gee asked Yuna to be her partner when they have to do the routine when the other have to hold the other one in the waist.
While they were on it, the trainers including Yibo walking with Kite has entered the room.Yibo noticed them and he smiled.
Yuna: (thoughts) so that was the reason huh?
Then the board members were also there except including Mr. Zhang.
Ms.Kim: Were very sorry that Sean was not here because of his photoshoot at London was not yet finished but he will be watching your performance through a video link.
Then the evaluation starts.
Some performances were not that good as can be seen in the faces of the trainers and board members, but there were some whom was able to satisfy the trainers and the board members including Yuna and Maya and the braided girl.
When it was Gee's turn one of the board members whispered something to Mr. Zhang and he nodded.
Yibo was all eyes to Gee when the music starts. Mr.Zhang and Yuna looked very proud watching her. Gee was full of energy, she was not just dancing along with the music but she was also lip syncing along with it like it was her song. It looked like he was not just performing for the sake of the evaluation but she looked like she was performing in front of the audience. The trainers were nodding their heads. Yibo was tapping his feet and was smiling and was lip syncing along with it because it was his song. He was smiling with pride when Gee was able to do the step he taught him at the rooftop. Everyone was impressed. She was smiling very brightly she remembered how it felt when she was performing before in front of so many people she was smiling to Jake. When her performance was finished one of the board members stood up and asked.
BM: did you entered a training before you auditioned to us?
Gee: (smiling) no sir, I was rejected from the batch of agencies I auditioned before.
BM: how long have you been performing?
Gee: I (breath) I was performing since I was in elementary and was a member of our local dance troupe performing for more than 10 years sir.
BM: boys group?
Gee: Yes sir
BM: I see, so you had prior experience then.
Then the board member sat again and was really impressed talking to Mr. Zhang.
Gee received a high five from Leo, Yuna and Maya, then when she turned her look to Yibo, Yibo was smiling wide at her like he did when they danced together for the first time before. He looked so proud and impressed. She smiled even wider. Yibo was about to give her a thumbs up but Kite stopped him and was gesturing with his eyes to keep it. So he just smiled at Gee. They were smiling at each other when Ms. Kim announced the next trainee, Leo .Gee gestured to him "fighting" and they smiled at each other.
Leo's performance was also good, they were all impressed and the other five male trainees.
After the performances. They trainees were asked to wait on the other room. The trainers together with the board members were discussing for the ranking.
Gee was so happy. She took out her phone and asked Yuna, Leo and Maya to take a picture she will send to Moru.
Moru was so happy when he received the photo, Gee was so happy. He was almost crying.
Moru: Jake, auntie… look at Gee now… (he was crying when he remembered how Gee was suffering before how she was always looking at nowhere when he first brought her to China)
When the trainers and the board members were done discussing they were called back inside but there were 3 females and 7 makes left on the room they came from. There were only 20 of them who were inside the room.
Ms. Kim: congratulations to all of you. You passed the first individual evaluation.
Everyone was clapping, Gee was leaning around and was counting. She was puzzled when there were 10 missing.
Gee: ah Ms. Kim we are only 20 here? Where are the others?
Yibo and Mr. Zhang looked at her.
Ms. Kim: im sorry to inform you but they didn't passed the evaluation, they are currently being oriented by Ms. Nana and Ms. Geronimo
Gee: what will happen to them?
Braided girl: of course they will go back to their normal life outside, what purpose do they still have to stay here.
Gee: (glared at her loosing her patience)
Yibo, Yuna, Leo and Maya were all surprised to see Gee get mad. When Gee was about to say something back, Leo and Yuna was able to stop her by grabbing her in her shoulders.
Yibo: Looks like you didn't know AMPM Ent that well (stood up)
Gee seemed to snapped back when he heard Yibo.
Ms. Kim: They will undergo a different training from you. You will advance to the next phase while they will go back from the basics.
Gee and the others were relieved. Gee turned her look at Yibo and she smiled at her. Yibo smiled back a little.
Braided girl was pissed and was glaring at Gee and to her group.
Ms. Kim: so are you ready to hear your ranking?
Everyone got excited and nervous.
The first set was the female trainees. Braided girl was the top 1. She was so confident everyone was ignoring her but they gave her an applause. Second was Yuna and the Maya was 7th. Gee noticed that Maya became sad so she cheered her up that made Maya smile. Yibo turned his look but he was keeping his reaction. Then next was the male trainees. Leo was the top 1 and Gee was 2nd they gave each other high five and bro hug. Yibo's eyes widened but he turned away his look. Yuna notices it.
When the announcement of their ranking, Ms. Kim stood again I front and gestures everyone to settle down. The board members were taking their leave along with Mr. Zhang. They waved bye and some gave them thumbs up they bowed in return. The board members were composed of chinese, korean and japanese middle aged men only Mr. Zhang and a Korean were the young ones among the six board members present.
The trainees who failed entered the room. Some of them cried even the boys. Gee, Yuna and Maya felt sad for them. Gee gave them a smile and gestured "fighting" to the girls who gave her bottled water. Yibo was looking at her.
Ms. Kim: So starting Monday, you will be training separately during your vocal training and choreography training but you will all take the language training and the others together. It was a long week for all of you so you may take your leave and rest and relax for tomorrow. So you will all be refreshed for the next phase.
Some of the trainees passed the evaluation went to the trainees who failed including Gee, they were cheering them up but braided girl and her friends went ahead.
Yibo was waiting outside the building. He was sitting at the plant box with his earphone and he was tapping. on his phone.
Yuna, Gee and Leo were complimenting each other while walking their way out of the training building when Yuna noticed that Yibo seemed waiting for someone so she tapped Gee's shoulder and pointed at Yibo's direction. Gee was surprised that made her smile.
Leo: hmmm… (he was holding his chin) why do I have the feeling that he seems like he was your boyfriend waiting for you after you two had a fight the other day.
Yuna was smiling.
Gee: (looked at Leo with a disgust expression) what are you saying?
Yuna: you should go to him, he really was waiting for you.
Gee turned to look and their eyes met.
Leo and Yuna were smiling at each other. Then they went to the elevator and waved at her.
Gee waved at them then she started to walk towards Yibo. She was feeling something weird from her insides. She felt her heart was beating so fast she couldn't walk. Yibo noticed it so he removed his earphones. She was just staring at him smiling awkwardly, Yibo smirked at her expression so he took a picture of her that seemed to wake her up.
Gee: hey senior Yibo? (she smiled) are you waiting for me?
Yibo turned his back and walked away but Gee followed him.
Gee: ahahaha sorry senior Yibo, I thought you were waiting for me.
Yibo turned his away his look and started to walk again.
Gee: hey wait senior Yibo hahahaha are you going to congratulate me (she was smiling proudly)
Yibo gave her a look then he grabbed her on her shoulder and he shoved her from his path.
Gee: aish hey senior Yibo! Wait
Yibo was ignoring her and he was shaking his head feeling confused why did he wait for her.
Gee: aish, I can't really understand him, he is acting nice then all of a sudden he will ignore me, he is enjoying at bullying me then when I tease him he will get mad and ignore me and now, I thought he was waiting for me but he just left haish. (she was shaking her head following him to the elevator)
Yibo closed the door without letting her in.
Gee: ha not even letting me in?? (she was kicking in the air and sat while waiting for the elevator to reach the 7th floor)
She stood up repeatedly pressing the button feeling a little pissed. When the door opened she went inside with heavy steps then she sat on the corner when she noticed 3 energy bars on the floor. It made her smile up to her ears she took it and was smiling looking at the energy bars on her hands while sitting at the corner.
Meanwhile in Yibo's bedroom, he was laying there on his side staring at his phone then he smirked.