CHAPTER SIX
.
.
.
The moment I knew I was going to I-LAND was enough of a shock for me. It was neither exciting nor a great thing. It was just too scary. Being away from home for a long time is a rare opportunity.
But I was too depressed from being away from my trainee mates and my mum. But I still stepped forward, and Jake kept stopping me.
“Y/N,” he said, “I really can’t let you go! Your dream was to be an idol. You can’t let it all go just yet. Please! Let’s do this together!”
Jake wanted me to debut along with him. He wanted me to live my dreams and melt his dreams together. As if he wanted to be my boyfriend. But I can’t date anyone when I am a trainee. It’s not fair, though.
But as I stepped away from the screen and stood next to Jake, I then saw the boys looking greatly concerned and afraid.
“Why are they so concerned?” I asked.
“The capacity has to be no less or more than 20 people in I-LAND. Where are we going to find more I-LANDers that are qualified?”
I faked a shrug. Surely, I knew that my girl groups the Galway Londoners and A03 would be the right ones for this unknown project.
“Well then,” I said, “I guess we are going to have to work together. You know, in order to receive our praise for this whole competition.”
We got straight to work, there was a practise room right next to us. But there was one guy that stopped me.
“Letting you tag along was enough, but letting you dance is considered too much for us boys.”
That’s weird, I thought, I’m not always kicked out of these kinds of things…so why am I kicked out already, when I haven't started anything.
Comparing from the other guys, I was the only female I-LANDer there. Yes, it was sort of a bad thing, but this was my one chance to finally become an idol. A real idol!
However, the guys still treated me like a little princess. All, except the guy that wouldn’t let me in the practise room with them.
In a few moments, We were introduced to our dorms. And trust me, it was way more luxurious than my apartment back in Ireland and in Korea.
“This is our room?” I asked Jake.
“Yup, it is,” said Jake, “Only…you’re the only girl here…so it’s going to be quite tough when you’re here.”
I stood there frozen and set my stuff down without saying anything.
I sat on a bed. But one of the boys stood right in front of me. He seemed confused as well as me.
“This is my bed,” said the boy, “May I have this bed, please?”
I didn’t answer in reply and stood up so the guy could take the bed. Deeply, I was saddened. I wanted to have at least something to myself. Of course, it couldn’t be just a bed…but something more important to me.
I sat down on the couch next to the bed and laid down. I was already tired from the audition to get there. But it was in the afternoon. You know me…I do like a quick kip (nap in Irish english).
But almost thirty minutes later, another guy tapped on my shoulder. But I didn’t like it when I was disturbed. You know that feeling you get when someone is bound to wake you up? This is what I was talking about. People just don’t have enough compassion for one another!
“Ach! Get out of this room, shall you?! I want to take a kip here!”
The guy ran away and closed the door.
Finally I could have a bit of peace, I thought.
But in a couple of seconds, Jake came in and woke me up more gently than the previous guy.
“Y/N,” he said, “We have to wake up now, it’s time for the introduction!”
I yawned and I stood up. I did not understand Jake’s words. Once I was fully awake, my vision was unblurred and I saw Jake’s pretty face again.
“Introduction for what?” I asked.
“We are going to meet our new training teachers while we are here. And trust me, they’ll be surprised when they meet you for the first time!”
.
.
.
We met at the training/practise room. I could not see who we were meeting. I then quickly ran to the front, since my size was not a very proud one (I was petite; for me, too short to be sixteen).
Out came Bang Si-Hyuk. He fastened his adorned black blazer. I blushed.
I’m a huge fan of that guy! And so are my friends! But what brings him here?
“Greetings to our 20 or more trainees!” he announced with cheer, “We are more than happy to present you…not only a chance to improve your skill socially and mentally, we also present you a chance to debut!”
Applause, applause!
Meanwhile, I was wandering off, doing my own thing, and not caring about anything else. I went upstairs and saw the canteen, tidy and neat. I took a snapshot of it and sent it to my group of friends…and then my mum.
Next was, of course, the dorms. I even took a few shots of those and sent them to my friends and mum.
I went back to the main entrance and the queue spot. I took a boomerang and posted it on Instagram, with the little caption saying: In I-LAND now!!! :D
Quietly, I snuck back in the practise room while Bang Si-Hyuk was still reciting the introduction. Right when he ended his speech, I took a quick selca (K-Pop slang for a selfie).
Si-Hyuk chuckled. The rest of the boys looked back with a stare. I didn’t notice at first until I looked back. I was overcome with embarrassment. Severe embarrassment.
When it was time to get back to our dorms for the evening, I stayed behind and sat on the couch of the living room. But I stood up and noticed how huge it was.
Again I took another snapshot and sent it to everyone. But this time, I got a reply from everyone, who hoped that I was doing well and that they hoped to visit me too. And I wanted that to happen too.
However, Jake entered and said, “Time for bed! We have a lot to do tomorrow! Let’s get some rest. Come on!”
He thought I spoke Korean…and also, the hidden cameras were rolling, and he wanted this show to be relevant.
So I said, “Neo Ceapoisco. (I don’t understand) Boidé sibroíché despoìearean (Please speak slowly).”
But Jake looked at me with his adorable bulging eyes. I nuzzled his nose and walked my way back to our dorm.
He was probably thinking, Why do these things happen to me?
Right when I was getting comfortable in bed, another guy entered the scene. But he seemed a lot softer than the other guy that told me to get off the bed.
“Excuse me,” he said, “Jongseong and I are sharing this bed. I think you are sharing one with Jake Shim.”
I looked on the left side of the bed. Jake was sleeping already with another teammate. Reluctantly, I moved to the other side.
For some reason, I felt a cramp in my stomach. I had already thought the worst when I looked down on the sheets: I was on that day! That one little red stain said it all. Eventually, I managed to hold it in until it was the early hours of the morning.
.
.
.
It was a quarter to seven. I was the first to wake up. Luckily, there were sanitary pads. I was sure this little cycle of mine was not going to take long. However, I did feel a bit nauseous.
I tried to wipe off the stain as hard as I could. But it only helped a little. Thankfully, I got it to where it wasn’t terribly noticeable.
After a few minutes of more sleep, I felt Jake putting his arm around me. I tried to prevent him from where the wet spot was. But he moved anyway.
Oh, no! Too late!
“Why is it so wet right here?” he asked, “Y/N, was there something wrong last night, you got up and went to the bathroom and remained in there for quite some time.”
“I-I spilt some water and I tried to find something to wipe it off. I’m sorry.”
After laying a little bit more, some guy decided to make a pact with the underworld and wake us up as if there was no tomorrow.
“Ach! Shut up, you bleedin’ eejit!” I screamed, covering myself with the blankets.
Huh…do you get this upset on your red day?
Jake joined me under the blankets.
“It’s only Jay,” he said, “Yeah, he is annoying and such, but we still love him, even if he is cold on the shell. Understood?”
I nodded.
.
.
.
For some reason, I didn’t feel as bad as I did in the morning. Before everyone got the chance to make a line in the canteen, I went first and ate breakfast. But first…
“Morning dance!” I said to myself.
At that time, I was both a MOA (TXT) and a Stay (SKZ) (but mostly MOA). And I couldn’t get one of their songs out of my head.
I kept singing “meolie a crown sos-a, but I love it”, whenever it came on. And you know me…I do like dancing to K-Pop…a lot.
But what I didn’t know was, people were going to actually notice what I’m capable of. I am the only girl in I-LAND. I wasn’t sure where to begin or where to end. However, I did know that making a friend or two was a good place to start. I just…didn’t know how to do it.
.
.
.
CHAPTER EPILOGUE: ACCEPTANCE
Once the rest of the boys of I-LAND entered the canteen, they found Y/N dancing to her heart’s content near the living room.
Jake smiled. Jongseong Park, however, rolled his eyes.
“Why is there a girl here? I-LAND is for boys only.”
“Yeah,” said Jake, “But what if the staff and our teachers like her and ask her to stay? This might be her chance at becoming an idol.”
“But I did not hear her speaking any Korean at all.”
“It’s because she prefers not to. She said something about preventing her becoming like those women wives of Korean guys that always try to take over their YouTube channels or whatnot.”
“Wow,” said Nicholas, “She’s a great dancer!”
“You think?” asked Daniel, “I wonder if she could teach us a thing or two!”
“Rikki!” said Taki, “Isn’t she one of Jake’s girlfriends?”
“Not sure,” said Rikki, “Although, they were pretty touch and close last night.”
The song finished and Y/N finished breakfast. She then proceeded to the practice room, where she continued to dance some more.
Jake joined in with her.
“You know,” he said, “With those dance moves, you could easily be scouted by other agencies.”
“But I’m not fluent in Korean, Jake,” said Y/N, “If I can not speak it, then I would not be able to debut.”
“There are ones that accept non-Korean speakers.”
“Are you asking me to get out of here?”
Jake frowned and pulled Y/N in his arms.
“I don’t want you to leave. I was only saying this for when you don’t debut. I want to try and find another big and famous company for you to train at.”
“Thanks,” Y/N smiled, “But I’m fine where I am right now. In fact, I think there is a pretty good chance for me to do this!”