Chapter Text
Chapter One
Jaebeom certainly had no idea what the future was going to hold for him when he auditioned for JYP Entertainment. All he knew was that he enjoyed music, and he certainly enjoyed dancing, b-boying most especially. When he met Jinyoung, they just happened to click immediately. There was just an instant connection and chemistry between the two. They ended up tying for first place out of 10,000 applicants, and one could say that was where the two became inseparable. They trained together for a few years, before making their acting debut in 2012 with Dream High 2 and then their idol debut with their duo called JJ Project. Around the time of the release of Dream High 2, Jaebeom reached his 18th birthday meaning that he had his presentation. He--to the surprise of virtually no one--presented as an alpha. Pretty much everything about Jaebeom screamed stereotypical alpha. He was clearly a natural born leader. He had a very strong protective streak for the ones that he loved. He was very traditional and by the book, and he most certainly could make his presence intimidating, when he wanted to.
Jinyoung followed in September of 2012, reaching his own 18th birthday. He presented as a beta, once more to the shock of very few--certainly not Jaebeom. Jaebeom had always found Jinyoung’s presence comforting. While Jaebeom’s scent was the strong smell of bergamot, Jinyoung was a much lighter scent of peaches. This was much to the chagrin of the boy who knew that he had quite a large backside, often compared to a peach. The two of them certainly weren’t enough people to be in a pack--it was rare for packs to be smaller than 5 people, although not entirely unheard of. However, that really wasn’t on either of their minds yet. They were just so thrilled to be able to debut and start to follow their dreams. They were very much aware of how few people were ever able to even debut as an idol, let alone make it in the industry. They were going to do everything in their power to focus on work, so that they could succeed.
“We are pulling the plug on JJ Project,” producer Park Jinyoung said one afternoon in mid-2013, after calling the two boys into his office.
Jinyoung stared at his company CEO in shock, while Jaebeom, who was sat next to him, sat with his jaw dropped open.
“I’m sorry, sir,” Jaebeom finally managed to choke out. “Did we do something wrong that I wasn’t aware of?”
“No, it’s not something that either of you are entirely responsible for I’m afraid,” producer Jinyoung replied. “It’s just that there is something...missing. You guys are good, but I’m afraid not good enough. You just don’t have that same intrigue that say Wonder Girls, 2AM, 2PM, or Miss A has. There needs to be something more.”
“Are you kicking us out?” Jinyoung asked, trying to rapidly make sense of the words that were coming out of the producer’s mouth.
“Not at all!” producer Jinyoung replied, aghast at the thought. “You two are insanely talented. I would be an idiot to throw that away.”
“So what are you saying then?” Jaebeom asked, trying to keep his voice even and show as little emotion as possible. “I’m not sure that I follow.”
“I want you guys in a group,” producer Jinyoung replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “You two will go back to being trainees for a little bit while we put together a new team. I’m thinking there will be around 6 of you.”
“And do you already know who some of these other members are going to be?” Jinyoung asked.
“A few of them, yes,” producer Jinyoung replied. “Do you know Jackson?”
Jaebeom and Jinyoung made eye contact for a moment at that. Did they know Jackson? The more appropriate question was if anyone in the building DIDN’T know Jackson. The boy could literally socialize with a telephone pole if he wanted. He was loud, and exuberant, and a lot to handle at times.
“From Hong Kong?” Jaebeom asked politely, receiving a nod in reply. “Yes, I’m fairly certain the entire city of Seoul might know Jackson at this point.”
“Yes--he does like to socialize,” producer Jinyoung replied with a chuckle. “That’s why he will be a perfect addition to you two. Now what about Mark Tuan?”
“Erm--quiet? Hangs out with Jackson...or well puts up with Jackson’s endless chatter?” Jinyoung asked.
“That sounds about right,” producer Jinyoung replied. “He is from Los Angeles so he speaks fluent English, which will be insanely beneficial for your team. Then we have Yugyeom. I assume you know him as well?”
“Yeah, we’ve gotten fairly close with Yugyeom,” Jaebeom admitted. “He calls me when things get...well when trainees get mean sometimes.”
Park Jinyoung nodded in understanding. He would never endorse trainees bullying each other, but he was well aware that there were bound to be things that happened while his back was turned. He wasn’t stupid. It’s a very competitive industry, especially as a trainee. He was happy to hear that Yugyeom had found someone to turn to, and he was sure that Jaebeom was doing his best to protect the boy while not fully coddling him.
“Your close relationship with him will be even more of an asset then,” producer Jinyoung added with a satisfied nod.
“So who is the 6th member then?” Jinyoung asked.
“His name is Choi Youngjae,” producer Jinyoung replied. “He is from Mokpo and he just started here less than a week ago.”
Jinyoung and Jaebeom looked at the CEO in shock once more. He had just started and was already good enough to be placed in a debuting group? This boy had to be incredibly talented---or happened to know the right people.
“Three of the boys that will be in your group are preparing for a show that YG is hosting,” producer Jinyoung continued. “They will be appearing on it later this afternoon, which I actually have to be leaving shortly to go do as well. You two need to go back to your dorm and get packing. You will be moving together into a new dorm tomorrow where you will be joined by those other boys.”
Jinyoung and Jaebeom knew that they ultimately had no say in the matter, so they nodded and thanked the man for his time. If Park Jinyoung said that they were going to be in a group, well then they were going to be in a group. It was either that or leave the company and may the odds ever be in their favor.
“This is going to be a big change ‘Nyongie,” Jaebeom said, plopping down on his bed while shoving some more of his clothes into his bag. “Do you think I’m even still going to be the leader?”
“They would be insane to put anyone else as the leader,” Jinyoung replied. “Hyung, you are so clearly meant to fill that role. Anyone who thinks otherwise is crazy.”
“But how am I going to deal with them?” Jaebeom asked. “What if they don’t listen to me? You have always been so easy. We get on like white on rice. And isn’t Mark an alpha, as well? What if he wants to fight me for the position of leader?”
“I have hardly heard Mark string 15 words together,” Jinyoung pointed out. “I really don’t think he is going to fight you for the position of leader. Besides, I think he is still very much learning Korean. It wouldn’t make sense for him to take the place.”
“But what if--” Jaebeom began to fret again.
“Stop!” Jinyoung cried out, jumping on top of his hyung and crushing him on the bed. “You are letting your thoughts go crazy, silly alpha. What if the sky turns into cotton candy? What if we wake up tomorrow and everything is upside down?”
“Now you are being ridiculous. My questions at least had merit,” Jaebeom argued.
“But they can be answered about as well as mine can,” Jinyoung shot back. “Stop worrying about the what ifs, and start focusing on the present. You are always going to be my leader, and I promise those boys are going to look up to you as well. We can’t know what is going to happen in the future, so stop trying to figure it out.”
“I don’t know what I did to deserve you, Jinyoung-ah,” Jaebeom said with a laugh.
“I know, I’m the gift that keeps on giving,” Jinyoung said in reply, sticking his tongue out in reply before jumping up off the bed to avoid the playful swat Jaebeom was swinging at him. “Now let’s get back to packing! Manager-nim is going to be here at 8am tomorrow morning.”
--
Jinyoung and Jaebeom walked into the practice studio right at 8:15 the next morning. Their manager had gathered the team that was going to move their stuff to the new dorm, and had taken the boys to the company so that they could officially meet the new members of their group. When they walked into the studio they saw that they were actually the last to arrive. The boys who were sat on the floor scrambled to stand, giving a deep bow and confidently saying their greeting of “안녕하세요!” (An-nyeong-ha-se-yo!).
“I will leave you boys to get to know each other for a bit. PD-nim wants to speak with you in a bit, so he will be here shortly,” the manager said before walking back out of the practice room.
Jinyoung looked at Jaebeom in askance--hinting that the boy should lead the conversation. Jaebeom saw that the other four were staring at him wide-eyed and in awe, watching him closely.
“Why don’t we all sit down,” Jaebeom suggested, gesturing to the floor.
All of the boys immediately did as asked of them, and Jinyoung gave him a smile of reassurance.
“Right...erm my name is Im Jaebeom,” Jaebeom began. “I’m not sure if I’m going to be the leader of this team as well. I was the leader and one half of JJ Project. I’m 19 years old and I’m an alpha.”
“I’m the other half,” Jinyoung spoke up. “I’m Park Jinyoung. I will be turning 19 this September and I’m a beta.”
“It’s so nice to be joining the team with you guys!” Jackson added in, practically looking like he was vibrating in excitement. “I’m Wang Ka-Yee, or Wang Jia-Er, but really you can just call me Jackson! I’m from Hong Kong. I’m also 19 years old and I’m an omega, although some people don’t believe me when I say that because I have lots of muscles. But those people are just idiots. Omegas can be as strong as they want I say! Right B-Boy King?”
Jaebeom just stared at Jackson in shock for a few moments before coming to his senses and nodding and gesturing towards Mark to give his introduction.
“Mark. I’m from LA,” Mark informed, playing with the sleeve of his long-sleeved t-shirt. “I turn 20 in September and I’m an alpha.”
“My alpha!” Jackson exclaimed, pulling Mark tightly into his arms--who just chuckled and rolled his eyes.
“I’m Kim Yugyeom,” Yugyeom introduced. “Erm...I actually know all but one of you so this is awkward, but I’m 15 and I turn 16 in November. I’m from Gyeonggi-do, and clearly I haven’t presented yet, so I have nothing else to add.”
“Our little pup!” Jackson exclaimed, letting go of Mark to pull Yugyeom into his arms. “And now for our last member? Do you know you look like an otter? Like in the best way!”
The last member blushed at those words, as well as realizing the attention of the entire room was on him.
“Erm I’m Choi Youngjae,” Youngjae introduced himself. “I’m turning 17 in September so I still haven’t presented yet either. I’m from Mokpo and I will work hard and do my best!”
“We have two pups on our team!” Jackson exclaimed, very much looking like a little kid in a candy store. “You two are so cute and little, especially our new maknae Yugyeomie!”
Yugyeom looked at his hyung in confusion. He was very tall for his age and was about as opposite as you could get from the term ‘little’.
Before anyone could say anything more on the matter, the door to the practice room opened once more. Producer Park Jinyoung walked through the door with another trainee following behind him. This trainee looked so young that Jaebeom was almost in shock. The boy had to be like 10? 11 maybe?
“Bambam!” Jackson exclaimed, clearly knowing the boy who smiled at him in reply, and nodded towards Mark and Yugyeom before stopping and blushing at the site of Youngjae who also looked a little uncomfortable.
Jaebeom made a mental note of that one, deciding he would ask about it later.
“After some further review of performances from yesterday’s YG filming,” producer Jinyoung began. “We have decided that you will be a seven member team with Bambam as your final member.”
Bambam looked up at the producer in shock. He truly didn’t know why he had been called there this morning. This was beyond his wildest dreams! He thought for sure that he would have to wait a while to debut along with his other trainee friend Bang Chan.
“A choreographer will be here in about 30 minutes to assess your dance level,” producer Jinyoung continued. “And then later this afternoon you will hear and start to practice your debut song called Girls, Girls, Girls. Now I have to be off to a meeting, but congratulations and please work hard to make me proud. Just because I say you can debut now, doesn’t mean I can’t change my mind over the next few months--remember that.”
With that worrying warning, Park Jinyoung was out the doors just as quickly as he had entered them.
“Bambam, is it?” Jaebeom asked, to which he got a nod in reply. “Interesting name.”
“My name is Kunpimook Bhuwakul but we don’t go by that name in Thailand, we go by a different name that we are given. I was given Bambam,” Bambam explained. “I’m from Bangkok.”
“Nice to meet you Bambam,” Jinyoung piped in. “You seem to know everyone else here, but I’m Jinyoung and this is Jaebeom hyung. You surely must be our new maknae?”
Bambam looked around and shifted awkwardly.
“Erm...actually no,” Bambam replied. “I’m older than Yugyeom by around 6 months.”
Jinyoung and Jaebeom both did a double take at that. This tiny boy, who looked to be about 11, was older than the boy who was already on track to being taller than their entire group???
“I know I’m small, but I promise I’m already 16!” Bambam added on.
“Also I can’t help but ask, how do you know Youngjae-ssi?” Jaebeom asked.
Bambam blushed even more red at that, refusing to make eye contact and instead finding the floor in front of him very interesting.
“I lived in the same trainee dorm with him,” Youngjae explained, clearly seeing that Bambam didn’t want to answer their hyung’s question. “When I first walked in he thought I was someone else and was waiting by the door...with no clothes on.”
Jackson and Mark immediately started cracking up at the story, which was contagious and was quickly followed by the rest of the members joining in. Jaebeom mentally noted that Bambam might end up being quite the hand-full as well. Jinyoung PD-nim had certainly put an interesting group of people together.
Yesterday hearing the news of JJ Project’s end had felt like the closing of a story, but now Jaebeom could see that this was just the beginning.