NOVEL NEXT Chapter 94
A week of short vacation was given to the confirmed members of SAVEN for their debut.
During this time, the members attended a common schedule: signing contracts with their respective entertainment agencies.
These members would be active under SAVEN for the next one and a half years.
First, each agency finalized contracts with LE, the parent company of Mwave.
LE would take 25% of the net profit.
The management company Shock Enter, established to support girl group SAVEN’s activities, would also take 25%.
And the remaining 50% would be taken by the member’s respective agencies as per the contract.
Here, the agencies and individual members would settle according to the agreed ratio.
As far as I know, each member probably signed a 7-year contract with their agency at a 5:5 or 6:4 ratio.
It was the standard entertainment contract, after all.
However, my contract was a 7-year deal at a 7:3 ratio.
This was because my agency honored the clause stating they would give me the best treatment in the industry upon debut.
Of course, even with an ordinary contract, there were some happenings.
Some agencies suggested I switch agencies by offering me a penalty fee and a huge signing bonus.
I don’t know how they knew, but it seemed they realized there were no toxic clauses in my trainee contract with Topist.
Of course, I had no intention of switching.
If I changed agencies right after my debut, it would damage my image, among other things.
There was also the bond and loyalty with my agency.
Most importantly, I promised Woo-ah, Chiyo, and Kim Na-eun Unni that we would debut together until the very end.
The problem was.
“Why does the agency keep their promises, but Mom doesn’t?”
Mom wasn’t even looking at me; she was folding clothes as she said that.
“What did I do?”
Mom had been giving me short answers since earlier.
“No, you said you’d let me drop out if I debut!”
“Did I?”
Such a petty mom.
After teasing her while live broadcasting, she had been sulking for days like this.
“Ah, you made a promise!”
“How would a mom who isn’t even first place know~”
Even though Mom was short-chested and narrow-minded, the decision to take the GED was practically confirmed.
That’s because the agency also encouraged me to take the GED.
The agency would handle persuading Mom for me.
Team Leader So-hyun regretted my grades, feeling it was a waste, but with the busy schedule after debut, fulfilling my middle school attendance days would just drain my energy, so it was inevitable.
Instead, I guess they were planning to send me to an arts high school when I turned 17.
As for high school, I thought I’d take the GED, too. What even is school?
Anyway, having completed the biggest issues of dropping out and contracts during the vacation, I started doing some minor personal organization.
First up were school friends, Su-jin and So-hee.
[Me: I’m quitting school now bbye]
As I sent the message in the group chat about quitting school.
“Let’s post a message.”
[Yu So-hee: ???]
[Yu So-hee: Mom, don’t abandon me ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
[Jeong Su-jin: ㅠㅠㅠ Mom, don’t go! I’ll do better from now on ㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
The two of them flooded the chat with crying emojis and messages begging not to be abandoned.
‘It’s not like we can’t meet,’ I soothed and comforted them until they finally settled down.
And then I got a text from Baek-hwi.
It was… quite a lot.
[Baek-hwi: Do-ah, congratulations on being first!]
…
…
…
[Baek-hwi: Should I become a celebrity too?]
It sounded like he was cheering me on, so I sent back an ‘Okay’ emoji.
Still, I didn’t like him much.
Born with a silver spoon, looking like a character from “Goblin.”
But of course, he likes me.
The real winner must be me, right?
Sigh… Why am I so pretty?
Finally, the debut team.
Honestly, this was more about collecting memories than tidying up.
It was a hassle, but I could endure this much for the unnie who would be busy for the year and a half ahead.
So, I played happily along with my unnie’s pace.
When it was time to part, Na-eun unnie’s words to definitely all be together later had turned into a sea of tears.
But of course, I didn’t cry.
“Do-ah, let’s stop crying? Unnie is totally happy with 8th place!”
I didn’t cry.
*
“Wow…! It’s super spacious!”
An excited Ye-eun unnie was spinning around the living room.
“Yay~ This is my room!”
Kim Seo-yoon was already shouting that the biggest room was hers.
“This is insane, insane!”
“Ha-rang unnie, watch your words! There’s a camera here!”
“Oh, right? Sorry~”
Excited Ha-rang unnie swore even after seeing the camera.
Chae-rin unnie was the one trying to rein her in.
Chae-rin unnie is hope…
“This is the best!”
The oldest and the only adult, Hana unnie, had also joined the excitement, running around the dorm.
“Ha-ah…”
I was also feeling high-spirited seeing the large dorm.
But seeing the ruckus on the very first day was tiring me mentally.
I miss Do-ah.
Does Do-ah miss her unnie?
There’s not much time left until Do-ah’s baby days are over.
If it were up to me, I’d want to hold her forever…
“By the way, aren’t you going to check out the place?”
Instead of Do-ah, Sara unnie was linking her arm with mine.
“Let’s go together…”
…Ha.
Cameras were densely set up inside the dorm.
The reality show [SAVEN's HAVEN] started filming from the first day of the dorm stay.
*
One big room and two reasonably big rooms.
Right now, we haven’t unpacked our stuff since we couldn’t decide on the rooms yet.
The PD in charge of the reality show gathered the members, who were running around the accommodation.
“Congratulations on being confirmed as the debut group!”
“Wow~~”
“Now! You have a mission!”
Hearing about the mission, everyone flinched as if PTSD had kicked in.
“I don’t want a mission…”
“Me neither…”
The PD chuckled at our reaction and handed over a cue card.
Naturally, Hana Unni, acting like the leader, took the cue card and read it.
“SAVEN’s HAVEN, Seven’s haven. Choose your rooms!”
The content sounded pretty underwhelming for something called a mission.
‘Please let it be with a quiet person…’
Once a room was chosen, it was likely to stay fixed.
Since moving luggage would be a hassle.
Even though I’m an extrovert, I needed to recharge at least in the dorm after exhausting myself outside.
Next, the PD handed out a lottery box.
They seemed to be skipping the competitive vibe for the viewers who were tired of thrilling outcomes.
“Then I’ll go first!”
Confidently rising from the sofa, Ha-rang Unni immediately picked a slip.
“I’m in… room 2!”
Next was my turn. I picked a slip hoping it wouldn’t be Ha-rang Unni’s noisy room 2.
-1.
“Ah.”
The biggest room.
It had three beds.
I wanted a room with two people…
I desperately prayed that at least Hana Unni and Kim Seo-yoon would be placed in different rooms.
Thank goodness my prayers seemed to have worked.
“Do-hee, let’s do our best!”
“Okay!”
With the calmest Chae-rin Unni.
“Do-hee, me too~”
“Yeah…”
Um… and Sara Unni.
At this point, I was genuinely relieved.
“Ye-eun, I’m counting on you~”
“Yes…!”
In the remaining room 3, Seo-yoon Unni and Ye-eun Unni were assigned.
“Please let us choose our rooms again…”
“Okay, Ha-rang~ let’s unpack~”
Room 2…
Ha-rang Unni, grabbed by the neck by Hana Unni, was dragged off crying to the room.
We started picking beds and unpacking in our respective rooms.
Chae-rin Unni looked at the endless clothes spilling from my suitcase and said,
“Do-hee, why do you have so many clothes?”
Clothes in monochrome shades hung on one side of my wardrobe—jeans, white tees, cropped tops, and sweatpants.
On the other side, the vibrant colored clothes were the women’s outfits my mom insisted on packing, claiming there would come a day I’d need them.
The clothes that the women insisted on using until the end had to be worn someday.
Especially that pink frilly dress—what on earth…
“Well, it just happened…”
But I don’t think I’ll need to wear it…
“Do-hee’s taste is cute…”
Ignoring Sara Unni’s comment, I continued speaking.
“By the way, do I have to put on underwear in front of the camera?”
“You can just hide it.”
Looking at the underwear, it felt like my chest was starting to tingle.
I guess I should get measured by the stylist teacher who will come soon.
*
After finishing our packing, our second mission was to choose a leader.
These days, leaders often end up being ambiguous, but in most cases, the one who connects and communicates between the company and the members, guiding the practice, plays a surprisingly significant role.
That’s why it’s common for the oldest member to be the leader of the idol group.
21-year-old Hana Unni.
19-year-old Ha-rang Unni.
18-year-olds Sara, Chae-rin, and Seo-yoon.
16-year-old Ye-eun Unni.
And me, 15 years old… why…?
“Okay, shall we recommend a leader?”
It seemed like Hana Unni would naturally become the leader.
Maybe she knew it too, as she was crossing her arms and waiting for the recommendations.
I couldn’t hold back.
“Yes, Do-hee, please speak.”
The PD pointed at me with his hand.
“I oppose Hana Unni. She absolutely cannot be the leader.”
Ha-rang Unni passionately agreed with my words.
“I agree!!”
Sara Unni also tentatively raised her hand, glancing at Hana Unni.
“Um… me too…”
Hana Unni shouted, seemingly wronged by our consecutive agreements.
“Why me!”
Come on, do you really not know?
People could die.
The members would work themselves to death…
“Who else is doing it!”
Of course, there was a very good alternative.
“I’ll do it.”
Brilliant mind.
Flawless appearance.
Outstanding skills.
Plus, a diligent and sincere character when it comes to practice.
Leadership and charisma that revived Ye-eun Unni.
But then Chae-rin Unni hesitated and said,
“Um… I don’t think Do-hee can do it…”
Chae-rin Unni…
I handled the leadership excellently during the first round…
“Yeah~ the youngest can’t be the leader~”
“Do-hee as the leader? Hey! I’d rather do it!”
“Um… I… I oppose Do-hee… she’s too scary…”
“Leader Do-hee… so cute…”
“See? I told you it’s right for me to be the leader!”
In the end, Hana Unni became the leader.
Everyone will regret it…