Chapter Text
The decision of leaving Busan to be one step closer to achieving his dreams was Donghyun's own. But that didn't mean that he felt prepared. Maybe that's the thing about chasing dreams— you're never fully ready. You just go, hoping that what’s ahead will be worth what you leave behind.
Donghyun stood near the shore, the sand under his feet way too familiar. This is the last time he'll be able to witness this view of the sea, his last visit to the beach he used to come to nearly every week. The wind was tugging at his jacket like it wanted him to stay. He looked around, he has lost count of how many times he has noticed the same several people there, the smiles on their faces, they all seem so relaxed, even Leehan was like that during his previous visit to this beach.
He starts walking back to his home, his hands in the pockets of his jacket. Everything felt smaller today, even though he had always imagined this moment as bigger. The houses, the streets, the people— Donghyun had memorized them all, knowing that he'd carry their echoes wherever he went.
The sun dipped low, casting a golden glow over the streets and parks where he had once played as a kid, where everything was simple and dreams were still whispered under the stars. He glanced back at the familiar streets, the ones he thought he'd never leave. There was his school where he learned everything except how to say goodbye, and his parents' house, the porch light always left on just in case he needed it.
It's his last night here, in Busan, his hometown. He'll leave for Seoul tomorrow, he knows his parents will shed tears at the airport, and knows the countless texts he'll get from his friends every minute, because even if they're all tsundere, they still cared enough to take pictures with Donghyun after he passed the audition, something they never do, something to serve as a memory. They prepared a cake and surprised him today, his name written in a white font over the blue, ocean themed cake. It felt like a bittersweet celebration, but he appreciates it, so much that everytime he thinks about his flight tomorrow there's a lump forming in his throat.
With one last look around his town, Donghyun smiled, soft and genuine. Tomorrow, he'd be gone. But tonight, he was home.
🎣.
Donghyun was hyper-aware about everything happening around him the entire flight. He felt like time was going too fast even though the journey itself was rather short. Just within an hour, the plane touched down with a slight jolt, and he felt his heart race as the city he had dreamed about for so long finally came into view through the small window. Seoul. He was going to become a trainee in this city, it still felt surreal.
As he stepped off the plane and into the airport, the air around him felt different, buzzing with a kind of energy he'd never felt before. Everything seemed bigger here— the crowds, the lights, the possibilities. The polished floors reflected the bright lights above, and the murmur of voices in different languages filled the space.
Donghyun walked through the terminal in a daze, trying to take it all in. It was so different from the town he'd left behind, where he knew every face and every corner. Here, he was a stranger. It was exhilarating and terrifying all at once.
As if that wasn't enough, he was startled by a hand on his shoulder, almost jumping. The man was taller, and patted Donghyun's back before showing him his ID. Donghyun sighed in relief when he realized it was a staff member from KOZ, the company he was going to start training under. He let himself be guided, and wanted to carry his own baggage but the man insisted to carry them, so he just let him, and silently followed him.
Once outside, Donghyun let out an exhale he didn't know he was holding. He was guided into a car, and respectfully greeted the driver, and someone else that was sitting in the passenger seat, presumably another staff member. The man that helped him in the airport took a seat next to him after putting all his baggage in the trunk.
Donghyun leaned back, his back against the car seat. He was in a car with unfamiliar faces, in a city he had never stepped foot before, and yet a strange calm washed over him. He didn’t know what awaited him here, but for the first time since he passed his audition, the uncertainty didn’t scare him. It felt like an open road, like the beginning of something big.
Seoul wasn't anything like home, but maybe that's exactly what Donghyun needed.
🎣.
When he entered the KOZ building, all new and unfamiliar, he wasn't handed any of his baggage and was told that all of it will be at his dorm. He was still processing the information when one of the staff members took his arm and guided him to a room, where he was surprised to see the CEO, Zico himself, and he quickly bowed 90 degrees. Their interaction was short with Donghyun introducing himself, and Zico wishing him good luck.
He was then led to another room, which consisted of a studio mirror, speakers, and a huge TV screen, he quickly figured that it was the practice room. There was only one guy, very obviously in his teens, sitting on the floor, he was wearing a beanie and his eyes were now fixated on Donghyun. He quickly bowed, "Hello! I am Kim Donghyun, a new trainee. Please treat me nicely." His voice came out in a pitch way higher than he intended, he was this nervous in front of just one trainee.
The staff member behind him walked towards the sat guy, and whispered something to him, to which he nodded. He then stood up and walked towards Donghyun. As he got closer, Donghyun realized that he's the taller one. Somehow, even though he had just met the CEO a few minutes ago, this shorter guy gave off a much more assertive aura, without even a word.
"Hello, Donghyun-ssi. I am Lee Sanghyuk." He bows, Donghyun bows back, again. After that, he extends his hand, Donghyun raises his hands to meet his almost immediately. "How old are you?" Sanghyuk asks him, their hands still together. "I am 18, I was born in 2004," he replies. Sanghyuk smiles in a way that almost seems like he's satisfied, "You're the same age as Dongmin," he remarks, "I'm 19, born in 2003," he adds. Then, he lets go of Donghyun's hands, and says, "Let's talk comfortably, yeah? You can call me hyung." Donghyun smiles and nods, "Okay, Sanghyuk hyung."
The staff member that was there with Donghyun leaves them by themselves, and Sanghyuk sits down on the floor again. Donghyun stays still, until the shorter pats the floor, gesturing at him to sit down too, so he does without hesitation.
"So," Sanghyuk starts first, "Where are you from?" It felt like he had instantly caught on the fact that Donghyun was not from here. "Busan," he replies. "Is my accent too obvious?" He asks playfully. Sanghyuk smiles, and shakes his head lightly, "Not really, you just— don't look like you're from Seoul." Donghyun nods, and his lips form a slight pout.
His mind wanders back to Busan, the smell of ocean and beaches, his friends, his parents, his sister, his fishes, he misses everything already. It's as if Sanghyuk can read his mind, because he feels a hand rubbing his back soothingly, and then, "It's gonna be okay, you're going to be okay, trust me."
Donghyun doesn't know how true those words are, but it's probably because of the ounce of hope that he so desperately wants to cling to, he somehow finds himself believing Sanghyuk, he wants to trust him.
That day, Donghyun met three other trainees; Dongmin, who is the same age as Donghyun, as mentioned by Sanghyuk before, and taller than him. Sungho, who is the oldest, and very welcoming, despite the awkwardness, and Woonhak— the youngest who was more than delighted to see a new trainee, he masked his nervousness well, already telling him all about them, their future plans, everything.
Through a round of rapid questions, they find that Donghyun specializes in dancing. All of them immediately look at Sanghyuk when he says that, who's watching them quietly. Donghyun furrows his eyebrows in confusion, Sungho notices it and says, "Sanghyuk is our performance leader, he guides us through every dance practice." Donghyun's eyes widen in surprise, and then he locks eyes with Sanghyuk, who just nods humbly and looks away.
Donghyun thinks about the way they hear about a new dancer and their first thought is Sanghyuk, I am going to train with him. There's a sudden wave of competitiveness rising through him, it hits him, he's here to debut, to achieve his dreams, and he needs to make the debut lineup. I need to be better than him.
They didn't practice that day, still focusing on Donghyun to get settled. Even if there was a sense of rivalry working inside him, he still felt immensely grateful that they were all trying to get him to be comfortable. It was about 7 PM when Sungho appeared in front of them and said that it was time to go back to their dorms. Donghyun suddenly felt nervous again, the other four trainees have spent time with each other, shared dorm rooms, but not him. He's going to be living with four complete strangers.
The same staff member that took Donghyun to the CEO earlier showed up from behind them (he found out earlier that he's actually their manager), spooking trainees might be his speciality. "Since Donghyun is new, we'll assign him a roommate," He tells them.
Perfect. I'm gonna be roommates with someone who probably hates me. He doesn't say anything, but deep down he's considering taking the next flight back to Busan. The staff takes out a few small pieces of paper, there's two of them and they're folded, Sungho lets out a scoff as though he already knows what they are. Then, Donghyun realizes—
"Sanghyuk and Sungho don't have any roommates, you'll be roommates with the one whose name you pick." The manager states while looking at Donghyun, who glances at the trainees beside him, they all have an unreadable expression on their faces, the four pairs of eyes suddenly making him nervous.
Right, he found out earlier that Dongmin and Woonhak are already roommates. It's probably the anxiety of moving to a whole new city, and living with his potential rivals that's messing with his composure because usually he wouldn't really care who he's roommates with.
After contemplating for a minute, he just says fuck it and picks one. He almost wants to laugh at the way every single head in the room, including their manager's leans towards the paper.
Woonhak lets out the loudest gasp first, "You'll be roommates with Sanghyuk hyung!"
🎣.
The car journey to their dorms is quiet. Donghyun was sitting by the window, Woonhak in the middle, and Sanghyuk on the other side, while Dongmin and Sungho were at the back. Their manager was accompanying them, sitting on the passenger seat. Donghyun assumes it's usually not this silent, just tonight. He noticed that they all have earphones in, except for Sanghyuk.
However, he tries not to let his eyes wander on the trainees in the car, although there are things he wants to ask them about, and absorbs himself in the world beyond the window glass. The loudness and liveliness of the city can be felt from inside the car. The weather is cold, so cold, yet it doesn't seem to bother a single individual here. The city’s neon lights flash through the windows as they drive through the bustling streets. The car hums softly as it navigates through traffic, yet inside, the atmosphere is tense and still.
When the car stops, the manager gets out first and opens the car door beside Sanghyuk, all of them gradually getting off. Donghyun wonders which building their dorms is in. Their manager leads the way as they start walking into the building that was right beside where their car was parked. It had a simplistic, modern exterior, and nice interior too.
All six of them shift into the elevator, and the manager clicks on the '4' button. So they live on the fourth floor. The elevator door opens, and Donghyun follows as they walk towards their apartment.
Donghyun's heart starts beating faster again when the manager unlocks their apartment door and everyone makes their way inside. Dongmin turns on the lights first and Donghyun spots his baggage almost immediately. The manager coughs before saying, "Donghyun-ssi, Sanghyuk will show you your room, everybody get rest. Practice at 7 tomorrow."
Everyone nods and the manager leaves after giving them a single nod. Sanghyuk looks at Donghyun once the door closes, before pointing towards his luggages, "Those yours?" He quickly nods before grabbing them. Sanghyuk helps him with his bag, then he turns towards the others and says, "Freshen up, I'll order dinner, text me what you want to eat," before walking towards his room.
When they walk into the room, Sanghyuk immediately turns on the lights. He takes a look around the room, it's not too big, and not too small either. There are two single beds, a cupboard, and there's a table at the corner of the room with a computer set up. Sanghyuk sits on the bed close to the computer, and says, "This is my bed, that's yours," he points at the empty bed, stating the obvious. Donghyun realizes Sanghyuk had already left his bag on the bed, and leaves the rest of his baggage on the floor.
He's still standing when he realizes, he's made it. He hasn't fully made it, but he has made it to Seoul, he is a trainee at KOZ, he is going to be training with four other trainees, he is going to live with them under the same roof, and in the same room. The world around him seems to stop again, but he just has to go on. He is one step closer to his dream— he can do this.
Donghyun's thoughts are interrupted when he finds Sanghyuk standing in front of him, waving his hands. "Are you okay?" Are the first words he hears him speak, he nods a little frantically. The shorter just slowly nods, before saying, "You should get some rest, really. Also, what do you want to eat?"
Donghyun tilts his head, he just had a few snacks at the company before with everyone else, he'd be okay with anything. "I'm okay with whatever you choose," he chooses to say. Sanghyuk furrows his brows, "Just name something, don't be shy, you need energy to practice tomorrow."
Donghyun seems to consider, and he's sure his eyes lit up when he says, "Dakgangjeong!" He notices the way the corners of Sanghyuk's lips quirk up, almost fighting back a smile, but he doesn't think too much of it. "Alright, dakgangjeong it is."
🎣.
It is still early in the morning when Donghyun realizes why the others had looked at Sanghyuk when he mentioned that his speciality was dancing. It's sort of unreal, to see a guy just a year older than him being this good at dancing, leading the practice. He had to restrain his jaw from dropping when he heard that Sanghyuk only took about 20 minutes to memorize the entire choreography, considering the way he's so attentive to every detail.
He's strict, and sharp with leading the practice, making sure everybody gets every single move right. He's like a professional idol already, and now Donghyun feels extremely nervous to practice with him. He thinks that he was right to assume this guy gave off assertive vibes yesterday.
Sanghyuk had made him sit and watch for the first few minutes, letting him get used to the environment and the way they practice, before calling him up and fixing the formation with him. Donghyun had already watched how the choreography went, so it wasn't difficult for him to catch up, that was a relief. Once they were done, Sanghyuk told them that they would have to perform this at the next evaluation, and told everyone to practice well before announcing a break.
For some reason, Sungho, Taesan, and Woonhak decided to go out during the break, even though they were all most probably tired. Now Sanghyuk and Donghyun were left alone again, and he feels nervous.
The studio was quiet, until— "Donghyun?" Just great. Donghyun looks at Sanghyuk and hums, trying his best to not look nervous, but the older's gaze wasn't helping. "Can you freestyle for me?" Sanghyuk asks him. Now this catches him off-guard, but it's okay, Donghyun has freestyled before, plenty of times, this won't be a problem.
He nods and says, "Yeah, sure." He stands up quickly, while Sanghyuk stays seated on the floor, he shuffles on his phone a little before a groovy beat blasts through the speaker. Donghyun tries not to pay attention to the pair of his eyes watching him closely, and keeps his eyes on the mirror, feeling the beat before his body automatically starts moving. And he dances like he always does, his moves smooth, fluid, and seamless.
It probably had been about two minutes when the music stopped, and so did Donghyun. He finally let out an exhale, and then turned towards Sanghyuk, who was already looking at him. Then, the shorter stands up, and starts clapping, the sound echoing through the room.
Donghyun's face breaks into a shy smile, and he bows slightly. Sanghyuk sounds impressed when he says, "You're good, like— so good! I would say you're the best at freestyling, after me, of course." He grins as he says the last sentence.
Donghyun returns his smile, "Thank you," he whispered, his voice quiet but steady, he continues, "I can't possibly be better than you, so I am honoured to be the second best." It's true, because Sanghyuk is genuinely so good at his craft that Donghyun feels like he's training with a celebrity.
They fall into a comfortable silence again, and Donghyun almost forgets about all his competitiveness.
🎣.
It's been a month. One whole month since Donghyun moved to Seoul, since he became a trainee at KOZ, since he met four other trainees that he now lives with. He feels somewhat homesick, but living with the four of them isn't that bad, in fact, it's not bad at all.
There are things he's noticed and learned— Sungho is the cleanest person he's ever met, he balanced between being social and introverted, switching moods depending on the day. Dongmin and Woonhak love spending half of their free time at the studio. Woonhak was the loud, boisterous maknae, it always honestly infectious. Dongmin on the other hand, was more grounded, he loved his quiet, but could be a menace at times.
Sanghyuk is caring, so caring. He would be lying if he said he didn't notice the older's nervousness to be roommates with him, but nevertheless, he always made sure to make him feel comfortable, to not make him feel out of place, Donghyun is grateful for that.
Sanghyuk had this warmth about him, an easy charm that wasn’t overbearing but made him feel at ease. He was gentle, always checking in on Donghyun in small ways— casually inviting him to sit in on their conversations without pressure, asking for his opinion on how to make a part of the choreography better, answering all of Donghyun's questions he asks out of pure curiosity, understanding his silence without pushing for more.
The older's calm presence soothed Donghyun in a way; whether they were sitting together in silence, playing video games (he got into playing them because of Sanghyuk, who set up their computers together), or dancing through the late hours of the night in the studio, Donghyun loved spending time with him. He admired the way Sanghyuk balanced his own life while still making time for everyone else, how he could be the center of attention one moment.
Donghyun had gone from feeling like an outsider to finding his place among the four guys. They’d become more than just trainees under the same company— they were friends, even if Donghyun still wasn’t the most vocal about it. He'll get there soon.
🎣.
It's nearly the end of November when the winter cold presses in around Donghyun like an invisible force, sharp and unrelenting. It wasn’t just the usual chill that clung to the air— it was the kind of cold that seeped through layers of clothing, settling deep in their bones. The cold found its way inside their apartment, creeping through the cracks in the windows and the seams of the doors.
Donghyun is sitting on his bed in his shared room with Sanghyuk, the latter playing on his computer. Donghyun was also playing with him, until he got a bit tired and took a break, thus ending up resting on his bed, scrolling through his phone.
Being roommates with Sanghyuk was better, much better than Donghyun had expected. The older's assertive presence was still prevalent, but Donghyun had also come to know how warm and gentle he actually was.
He always engaged in chit-chat with Donghyun, no matter how late it had been. He was patient with Donghyun beginning to play a new game with him and adjusting to it. Sanghyuk wasn't fond of eating late night snacks, but he almost always gave in to Donghyun's wishes; ordering food late at night.
There would be random packages arriving at their dorm, addressed to Donghyun, which would leave him confused until Sanghyuk told him that he got it for him. The packages would always be things Donghyun has talked about, or has thought of buying before; packs of jellies, trinkets, stickers, etcetera.
He likes this about the older, how attentive he was, how thoughtful he was, how pretty he was, he liked everything about him.
It's around 10 PM, when he has the sudden urge to visit the Han river. He goes there often, or at least when he gets the time— it reminds him of his hometown. The water flow is healing to him, in a way.
Although, there shouldn't be any water flowing there now, Winter had taken full command of the city, turning the water of every water body into a sheet of glass and dusting the grounds with a thin layer of snow.
He takes a look at Sanghyuk, who's still engrossed in his game, "Hyung," Donghyun calls out, Sanghyuk responds with a hum a few seconds later. "Do you want to take a walk to Han river?" He asks, he doesn't think the older will say no. He can't see his face, his back turned to him, so Donghyun zeroes in on his tied up hair. He always ties it before playing so that it doesn't interrupt him when he's gaming. Sanghyuk replies after a few seconds pass, "Yeah, give me five minutes."
Donghyun smiles, and gets up from his bed. He stands in front of the mirror, fixing his hair; it's harder to style his hair now, his short hair lasted for a short time after joining the company, after he was told that he'll have to grow it. So now he has long hair, it reaches his shoulders, but he doesn't hate it, he thinks it looks good, even better when it's properly styled.
What makes him happier though— coincidentally Sanghyuk was also told to grow his hair a few weeks after Donghyun was, the older wasn't a big fan of the suggestion, but complied anyways. Even now, he isn't a fan of his long hair, and always talks about cutting his hair and going back to having short hair. Though contrary to the older's opinion, Donghyun thinks he looks really cool with his long hair, he doesn't think he'll look bad in any hairstyle.
His eyes fall on Sanghyuk as he stands up from his chair. Sanghyuk stretched his arms and looked at him, smiling sweetly. He took off the hair tie from his hair, letting it fall to his neck and almost his shoulders. He's walking over to the mirror and tying his hair again, his bangs seem to have a whole mind of their own, though.
They're both already wearing thick layers of clothing, but despite the heater running, there was a persistent chill in the air. So, Donghyun wore a black coat just as a precaution. He notices Sanghyuk wearing his gloves and sweater, and taking his phone before he asks, "Ready?"
The air was crisp, biting at their cheeks and threading through their hair as Donghyun and Sanghyuk walked along the frozen path by the Han River. Their breath came out in visible puffs, swirling in the cold air before fading into the night sky.
Somehow, even though his ears and nose stung from the exposure, and cheeks reddened as the cold nipped at his skin, this was Donghyun's favourite season.
He tugged the collar of his coat a little higher, glancing over at Sanghyuk, who seemed a little more frazzled because of the cold than him. He doesn't like the Winter as much as Donghyun does.
The wind keeps teasing at their hair, lifting strands that danced around their faces. Sanghyuk laughs under his breath as he watches Donghyun push a strand behind his ear, only for it to escape seconds later.
"Maybe tying it up would have been a good idea," Sanghyuk suggests with a cheeky smile, brushing some of his own hair out of his eyes. Donghyun glances over with a slight smirk, "Where's the fun in that?"
He pushes his hands into his pockets, before looking at Sanghyuk again, "Besides, I thought you liked the whole windswept look." The older rolled his eyes but couldn't help the smile that tugged at his lips.
They reach the railings of the bridge overlooking the river, its metal coated with frost. Donghyun doesn't dare rest his hands on the railings, even if they were gloved. But they stand in front of it, just taking in the view of the stark winter landscape. For a while, they don't say anything, just watching the stillness of the frozen river, the occasional gust of wind sending ripples through their hair.
“It’s so pretty,” Sanghyuk says softly, his voice blending into the hush of the winter evening. His gaze was distant, fixed on the horizon where the water met the sky.
Donghyun nods, before turning to look at Sanghyuk, "It is."
There was something about being here with Sanghyuk, in this quiet moment, that felt different. The usual buzz of their trainee lives seemed far away; replaced by the simplicity of winter, the river, and the comfort of each other’s presence.
Sanghyuk looks at him, meeting his gaze when a gust of wind carried strands of Sanghyuk’s hair across his face, and Donghyun reaches out on instinct, brushing them away gently. His hand lingers for just a moment longer than necessary, and he studies the older's gaze before withdrawing his hand, pushing it back inside the pocket of his coat.
He lets his eyes fall on the view before him again. In that quiet, Donghyun realizes how much he liked being here— with Sanghyuk, in the stillness of winter, away from everything else. The cold didn’t seem so harsh anymore.
🎣.
Rare warmer days have been slipping through, breaking through the monotony of the cold, hinting at the end of winter. Donghyun is walking up the hill back to his dorms along with Dongmin, both of them being done with school for the day.
They were in the middle of dance practice when they were told that their dorms would be moved, although nobody expected it to be a cramped up semi-basement located up in the hill. But Donghyun's only other home is Busan— so he has to live here.
The apartment was cramped, like a maze of clutter and narrow spaces. Dongmin's shoes always seemed to be scattered near the door, his desk was often covered with a bunch of notes on which he scribbled a bunch of lyrics, his laptop, and ramen cups. Woonhak was even messier— he almost made the living room his bedroom, his stack of books constantly threatened to topple over in the corner of the table. He only went to his shared room with Sungho to sleep on his bed. He complained that Sungho always scolded him for being too messy. Donghyun couldn't lie, he agreed with the older. Sungho was still the cleanest of the bunch, always keeping his bed and side table neat, he almost looked like he lived in a different world from the other three. Donghyun might have started picking up some cleaning habits from him, too.
The four of them have been living here for nearly a month now, but Woonhak is going to leave tomorrow to live with his parents. Then it'll just be the rest of the three. Sanghyuk's house was close to the company, so he decided to stay at his own house. It was almost weird for Donghyun to not be roommates with Sanghyuk, having been roommates with him for so long, he had to admit, he missed the older, someone to share the quietness with. He missed him even though he basically saw him every single day at training.
However, despite the lack of room and near absence of privacy in the dorm, Donghyun found moments of peace in the chaos. And he enjoyed observing the others, their dynamics, he liked being a part of them too.
Sungho and Dongmin are both quiet and reserved, aside from their occasional cat-like bickering which mostly start with Dongmin poking fun at the older for no good reason. Woonhak has a way of filling the apartment with his presence, even though it already felt crowded. He was always moving— dancing to a new choreography they had learned, humming songs under his breath, or pacing back and forth as he rehearsed. Dongmin had a very obvious cuteness aggression towards him, while Sungho liked resorting to annoying him, even though he was very obviously fond of the youngest.
Donghyun was too— so, so fond of them, every single one of them.
Once they finally reach their dorms, all Donghyun wants to do is go into his bedroom and slump down on his bed. School is more tiring to him than the hours of vocal and dance practice, he'd much rather just learn about the ocean and its beautiful creatures. Not to mention, the way they have to walk so much to reach their godforsaken dorm is extra added labour.
When Donghyun does slump down on his bed, he's still in his school uniform, only having taken off his coat. His eyes are closed when Dongmin opens his door, and calls out, "Donghyun— are you sleeping?" Donghyun groans and opens his eyes to look at his direction, noticing Dongmin peek his head out through the door. He responds rather tiredly, "No, I am not."
Dongmin nods and bites his bottom lip before saying, "Woonhak wants us to eat together, 'one last meal' before he leaves— he says. The food is yet to arrive, you can rest now, I can come again—" Donghyun shakes his head and raises his hand, "I'll be there in five, let me just get changed." Dongmin nods again and mumbles an "okay" before closing the door.
Donghyun almost has to use all his strength to sit up, but he ends up smiling to himself when he remembers Dongmin's words, "'One last meal', dramatic kid." He shakes his head before standing up. He gets changed into a brown sweatshirt and grey sweatpants, before going out of his room to use the bathroom.
When he gets out, his mind feeling a bit more fresh, he immediately catches sight of the other three in the living room, presumably waiting for the food to arrive. Woonhak jumps out of the sofa when he notices Donghyun, running towards him to embrace him in a tight hug. Donghyun hugs back, smiling again, he really can't imagine anybody else being the youngest of their group.
The food arrives shortly after amidst their usual chatter, and within minutes they have bowls of rice, plates of chicken, and ramen bowls scattered on the floor between them. For the first few minutes of eating, all of them are quiet, the need to suffice their hunger bigger than any small talk. The only sounds echoing through the apartment were the soft clinks of chopsticks against ceramic.
Then, out of nowhere, Sungho broke the silence, his voice soft but tinged with a familiar humor. “You know, I think that restaurant we passed yesterday might have better kimchi than this.”
Donghyun raises an eyebrow, his chopsticks pausing mid-air. “You’re saying that because you didn’t make it this time,” he replied, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Sungho grins, his energy flickering back to life, “Hey, I’m just saying, we could do with some variety, don’t you think? Maybe we should try it this weekend.”
Woonhak chuckles under his breath, shaking his head. “You always say that, and then you never like it as much as what we have here.” Sungho puts down his bowl of rice, crossing his arms with exaggerated defeat, the tips of his ears slightly more red than before. “Alright, fine. I lose— our homemade kimchi wins every time.”
Dongmin grabbed a piece of chicken, offering it to Sungho in a gesture of playfulness. “Here, since you’re so humble tonight.” Sungho took it with a mock bow, grinning. “Thank you, thank you. I’ll remember this moment forever.”
Woonhak shook his head at their antics, before muttering something quietly under his breath, which Donghyun caught: “Forever until the next meal.”
As they finished eating, Donghyun leaned back, feeling the familiar sense of contentment that always followed these moments. Despite the cramped apartment, despite the long days, there was something comforting about the way they shared these meals. It wasn’t just the food that filled them, but the shared laughter, the teasing remarks, and the quiet togetherness that came with living together.
In the end, even when they were quiet, the meal was never just about eating. It was about being together, even in the smallest, most ordinary moments.
🎣.
July brought a relentless heat, the kind that stuck to their skin and made even breathing feel heavy. The company’s practice room, though air-conditioned, couldn’t escape the sweltering humidity outside.
Donghyun stood near the mirror, sweat trickling down his temple as he caught his breath. His shirt clung to his back, damp with effort, as he wiped his face with his sleeve.
The energy in the room was heavy, not just from the heat but from the intensity of their training. They had been practicing nonstop, the pressure mounting as the evaluation hour drew closer. Even in the blistering heat, there was no time to slow down.
This is it. Today is their last monthly evaluation— once they pass this, they'll start preparing for their debut, another step closer to their dreams.
Their group performances were close to perfection, if not perfect. So now they were focusing on their individual performances; all of them busy either singing, rapping, or dancing.
Donghyun bit his lips, and looked at himself in the mirror. This is what he is here for, this is what he left Busan for— to make the debut lineup, to achieve his dream of becoming an idol, and he will do exactly that.
Donghyun's chest is heaving up and down and he can practically hear his heartbeat when their last performance as a group is finally done, he wants to lie down on the floor but out of pure courtesy in front of the mentors, and their CEO, he doesn't. He stands up properly with everybody else and they stand next to each other, waiting for their final evaluation. Donghyun steals a quick glance at the others; all of their lips are slightly parted, they're breathing so loudly and they all have an expression on their face that's painfully readable.
The mentors whisper among themselves for a few minutes that feel too long for Donghyun's liking. Then, all of them turn their heads towards the five of them. Finally, Zico PD speaks,
"All five of you are going to prepare for debut."
Donghyun is still processing the information when he hears very familiar screaming echoing in the room. He whips his head towards the others, and he sees Dongmin practically carrying Woonhak as the younger wrapped his legs around him while they hugged, Sanghyuk and Sungho exchanged a knowing look before hugging too, and Donghyun didn't even realize, but he was smiling a little too brightly, still standing in the same position.
He sees Sanghyuk walking towards him, and opening his arms, an invitation for Donghyun to embrace him in a hug as well. And he does, so tightly. He's the first person he hugs, the first person he's physically sharing this news with. Then gradually he's hugging Sungho, Woonhak, and Dongmin, and then they all have their arms slung around each other's shoulders and they're jumping around in the room. It's almost difficult to not notice the smiles on the mentors' faces.
Donghyun feels a different kind of happy at that moment, everything he's worked so hard for, everything he left his hometown for, everything he sacrificed as a sixteen year old boy, feels worth it. This is how it feels— to know that you're a trainee who's made it to the debut lineup.
And just like that, Donghyun is another step closer to his achieving his dream.
"There will be another trainee joining you in the debut preparation."
🎣.
It's been three days since their final monthly evaluation, three days since they overcame all uncertainties surrounding them making the debut lineup, three days since they were told that another trainee would be joining them.
There had been rumors— about a new trainee specializing in rap joining the company. None of them had expected him to directly join their group, though. However, they were more than happy, specially Woonhak, since they didn't have an exceptional rapper in the group.
It's about 2 PM when the five of them are gathered in their practice room and a new face walks in.
Their heads quickly snap towards his direction, and Woonhak is the first to approach him excitedly. He holds the young guy's hands and immediately asks in a high-pitched tone, "Hyung! You're a rapper, right?"
The new trainee with a unique fashion sense, looks rather confused, and goes, "Huh? I've only been rapping for six months..."
Their manager was right behind him, it reminds him of the time Donghyun had joined. He walks up to them, and introduces the new trainee, "Everyone, this is Myung Jaehyun, he's going to be preparing for debut with you."
As if on cue, Jaehyun bows, and introduces himself again, "Hello! I am Myung Jaehyun, 20 years old. Please treat me nicely." For some reason, this guy felt hard to read, even though he is the newest addition to an already established trainee group, just like Donghyun was over a year ago. But he shrugs it off. He'll get to know him anyways.
All of them sit down on the practice room floor, and an involuntary smile tugs at Donghyun's lips, it's all too familiar to him, but he knows it's probably unfamiliar to Jaehyun.
Jaehyun seems reserved, obviously slightly overwhelmed by the new environment and the presence of new trainees whom he doesn't even know, whom he'll debut with, it has to be overwhelming.
His posture was stiff, shoulders slightly hunched, as if trying to take up as little space as possible. Donghyun remembered being that person not too long ago— the new guy, the outsider, unsure of where he fit in.
But he answers every question that he's asked, in either short or broad answers, and they try their best to make him feel comfortable.
The things that Donghyun had noted from their couple hours long questioning session:
1) Jaehyun was a YG trainee before he joined KOZ, so it makes sense that he got into the debut lineup right away.
2) He passed the audition three days ago, which means their final evaluation was on the same day as his audition.
3) He mainly trained as a vocalist in his previous company, and only started rapping recently.
4) He is fond of writing his own lyrics.
5) Taesan and Woonhak seemed particularly impressed by him.
They decide to take a break and order lunch, making sure to ask Jaehyun what he'd like to eat. He didn't express any special preferences, but it might just be because he's still new here.
But sharing meals is an effective way to get closer, or at least that's what Donghyun thinks.
That’s how they ended up sitting around in the practice room, trays of takeout sprawled across the floor— fried chicken, tteokbokki, ramen, and a few boxes of kimbap they’d ordered from a local spot nearby.
Jaehyun sat a little awkwardly at the edge of the circle, still adjusting to being part of the group. Donghyun notices Jaehyun’s hesitation, and offers him a piece of chicken. “Try this,” he says with a grin. “This place has the best fried chicken in the area.”
Jaehyun blinks, surprised, but takes the piece regardless. His lips pressed together forming a thin line, and he nods in thanks. He bites into the chicken, and his eyes widen as the spicy, crispy flavor hits him. “It’s really good,” he mumbles through a mouthful, drawing a few chuckles from the others.
"Yeah,” Sungho agrees from across the circle, biting into a piece of tteokbokki. “Don’t get used to this. It’s a rare treat.” Sanghyuk puts another piece of chicken in Jaehyun's bowl as he speaks, “It is Jaehyun’s first day. Gotta make him feel welcome.” His eyes sparkle with a familiar warmth.
The conversation later flowed easily. Even Dongmin, who's usually quiet with new people even though he's the biggest prankster, chimed in with his subtle reminders to Jaehyun about eating up for the energy they’d need for training. Donghyun watched Jaehyun’s face as the new trainee slowly relaxed, the edges of his nervousness softening.
Sanghyuk, sitting cross-legged across them, wiped his hands on a napkin and glances at Jaehyun with a knowing smile. “First day’s special. We’ve all been there,” he says, catching Donghyun’s eye for a moment. It was true.
He looks at Jaehyun again, seeing a little of himself in him. The nerves, the uncertainty, the way he was slowly finding his place. He'll fit in. Donghyun thinks to himself, smiling as Jaehyun laughed at something Woonhak said.
In the midst of it, Donghyun realizes, it's a new journey for not only Jaehyun, but the rest of them too. However, all of them shared the same dream, and they had each other to achieve it.
🎣.
How did I get here? Donghyun had thought as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.
As Donghyun leaned back against the cool studio wall, he couldn’t shake the thought that all of this felt surreal. LA. They were actually in LA. The thought settled in slowly, hitting him like a delayed realization.
The move to LA had been a whirlwind. Just a few days ago, they were crammed into their familiar apartment in the hills, walking the same streets to the company’s building. Now, they were half a world away, in a city that felt like something out of a movie.
The studios here were different— larger, sleeker, with towering windows that let in the California sun. The air was lighter, the atmosphere unfamiliar, but the pressure to perform was the same, if not more intense.
How did we even get here? Donghyun thinks again. Not just here physically, but everything— the years of hard work, the countless nights of practice, the sacrifices they’d all made. And now, they were here, training in the same city where so many of the world’s biggest stars had trained. It was crazy, in the best possible way.
Jaehyun’s voice cuts through his thoughts. “I still can’t believe we’re actually here,” he says, wide-eyed, clearly just as overwhelmed by the shift.
Donghyun glances at him and nods, feeling the weight of the moment in Jaehyun’s words. “Yeah,” he says quietly, “Crazy, isn't it? It's really fun too, though." Jaehyun nodded slowly, "Yeah… it’s— it's huge. Feels like a whole new world.” Donghyun clapped the older lightly on the shoulder, "It does," he replied. "But we'll get used to it. We always do."
He took in the others around him— Woonhak, ever so excited, already perfecting his moves as if nothing had changed; Sungho, still dramatically complaining about the LA heat, not holding back at all; Dongmin tried to be more composed than ever, attempting to adjust to the change like it was nothing; and Sanghyuk, the constant, always keeping them steady. The familiarity of their presence grounded him in this unfamiliar place.
As the day wore on, they threw themselves into the routine, trying to blend in with the familiar rhythm of practice. The LA heat crept in through the windows, but inside, the cool air of the studio and the steady beats of the music kept them moving. Each step, each movement, was a reminder that no matter where they were, the work remained the same. The goal remained the same.
By the end of the day, they were all sprawled out on the floor, sweat-soaked and exhausted. The sun was beginning to set outside, casting long shadows across the polished floor. Donghyun stretched out his legs, looking at the others with a mixture of pride and exhaustion.
"We survived the first day,” Woonhak says, his voice hoarse but filled with a hint of triumph.
Sungho groans, sitting up slowly. “Barely.” Dongmin chuckles, tossing a towel at Sungho. “You’ll live.”
Jaehyun, who had been the quietest throughout the day, managed a small, gentle smile. “I still can’t believe we’re actually here.” Sanghyuk nods, leaning back against the wall. “Neither can I. But we’ve got this.”
Donghyun smiled to himself then, the weight of the moment had sinked in fully. LA might be overwhelming, but they were here, together. And somehow, that made everything feel a little less crazy.
🎣.
When the boys start for home, the sky is dark but the city is still illuminated.
They are living together in one apartment, and it's Jaehyun's first time sharing an apartment with them as a trainee. This time, they all have roommates; Donghyun is roommates with Dongmin, Sanghyuk with Sungho, and finally, Woonhak with Jaehyun. He thinks Woonhak's outbursting energy will be enough to help Jaehyun come out of his shell even more.
It's late at night when Donghyun wakes up to the dim glow of moonlight spilling through the window. Something had stirred him awake— some faint sound, like the murmur of voices. Blinking sleep from his eyes, he sits up. When he looks at the other side of the room, he's confused to see that Dongmin was not in the bed. He still listens carefully, the the voices were coming from the living room right outside, faint but distinct.
Curiosity tugging at him, Donghyun slips out of bed, careful not to make a sound. The room is dark, but he takes a short walk to the door, and as he opens it, his eyes immediately scan the living room. The soft glow from a small lamp illuminated two figures sitting on the floor.
Dongmin and Jaehyun.
Donghyun blinks in surprise. Dongmin and Jaehyun weren’t roommates, hell, he didn't even think they were close. Yet here they are, sitting cross-legged on the floor, notebooks and laptops spread out between them.
Dongmin had his laptop on his lap, fingers busy typing on the keyboard, before looking up at Jaehyun, while the older leaned forward, scribbling something in his notebook, then nodding as if in agreement with whatever Dongmin had just typed. Then, Donghyun notices, both of them had earphones in one of their ears, so presumably the same pair.
It took a moment for Donghyun to realize what they were doing: they were sharing songs.
It wasn't an unfamiliar sight to see Dongmin up late at night scribbling on his notebook, and playing with beats on his laptop in the studio or in his room. So Donghyun recognised it. But this was new— seeing him share his art with someone he met just a few months ago, it was heartwarming to see.
He leaned against the doorframe, watching quietly. Neither of them had noticed him yet, too absorbed in their music. There was something almost intimate about the scene, the quiet exchange of melodies and lyrics in the middle of the night, like they were revealing parts of themselves they hadn’t shared with the rest of the group.
Dongmin clicks on a button, and then asks Jaehyun, “What do you think? Does it flow into the chorus, or is it too abrupt?”
Jaehyun taps his pen against his notebook, thinking for a moment. “No, it works,” he says softly, his voice low and thoughtful. “But maybe add a pause before the chorus? Give it a moment to breathe.” Dongmin nods, before working on his laptop again. A minute passes. They both look at each other at the same time, then, their faces break into bright smiles and they nod in unison, satisfied.
Donghyun felt a strange warmth settle in his chest as he watched them. They hadn’t known each other for long, but the connection between them was already there, built through this shared love for creating music.
Dongmin, who usually likes to maintain his quiet and reserved persona, seemed at ease here, with Jaehyun giving feedback, adding his own ideas, and listening intently. Jaehyun, for all his nerves about being the newest member, had already found someone who understood the way his mind worked through songs and lyrics.
After a while, Jaehyun picks up his phone and plays a short track he’d been working on. It's rough, just a simple beat with a few lines of rap, but Dongmin nods along, already hearing the potential. “That’s good,” he says, his tone soft but certain. “Really good. We should build on that.”
Donghyun smiles to himself. Ultimately, this is all it is about. These moments, the quiet collaborations, the late-night discussions that went beyond practice schedules and rehearsed routines.
Not wanting to disturb them, Donghyun quietly turns back toward his room, the faint sounds of their voices and music lingering in the air behind him. He slips back under the blankets, staring up at the ceiling, his mind still buzzing with what he’d just witnessed.
They were more than just a group training for the same goal. They were growing as artists, creating things that would last, things that mean a lot to them, and hopefully, others. In that small, quiet moment, Donghyun realizes just how much they were growing together.
🎣.
Even though it had been two months since they'd landed in LA, Donghyun still felt like he was trying to catch his breath.
LA was nothing like Seoul. It was bigger, louder, more chaotic, and despite the sun and the palm trees, it didn’t feel any less daunting than their training back home.
Every day brought something new— a new street to walk down, a new studio to train in. Moving from studio to studio to dance at had become routine for them.
It wasn’t just one space they were confined to anymore; the company had them rotating through different studios across the city, from Millennium to Snowglobe, each with its own vibe, its own energy. Some days they’d be in a sleek, modern space downtown, all glass and steel, with state-of-the-art equipment. Other days, they’d find themselves in an older, more intimate studio tucked away in a quieter part of town.
The constant back-and-forth took a toll on their bodies. Long days turned into even longer nights, with practice sessions stretching far past midnight. Sometimes they’d collapse into their apartment, barely saying a word to each other as they shuffled off to bed, too tired to even eat. But other times, they’d find themselves sitting around the living room floor, eating takeout in comfortable silence, too wired from the adrenaline of the day to sleep just yet.
Jaehyun, even if he was the newest member, was settling in surprisingly well. Donghyun expected him to be overwhelmed by the intensity of it all, but instead, Jaehyun had thrown himself into the training with a quiet determination. His mood had drastically changed from the time they first met at their company building; he was happier, constantly partaking in the conversations they had, momentarily teasing Sungho and Woonhak which Donghyun reckons he had learned from Dongmin.
Donghyun felt happy, and admired his dedication towards everything. He wasn't wrong, he did fit in. He belonged, and the group felt complete with him there.
They'd made a promise among themselves that even though they were here for dance classes, they'd make the best out of the time they spend here.
That somehow included Jaehyun frustratedly teaching Woonhak how to swim and almost drowning him in the process, and Woonhak complaining about developing aquaphobia. All of them visiting different restaurants and cafes, and sneakily taking pictures of each other. Donghyun going from shop to shop to buy and try new gummies, and Jaehyun joining him. They're lucky that they didn't get scolded by the company for spending $700 alone on gummies.
It had been just two months since they’d moved, but it felt like a lifetime’s worth of experiences crammed into such a short time. There was no telling what the future would bring, but Donghyun felt ready for it.
Because even though they were far from home, even though every day felt like a new challenge, they were in this together. And somehow, that made everything— every new studio, every exhausting practice, every late-night meal— worth it.