#doc:sph

[rkmyung-blog]

*red

         Who in their right minds would spend an early morning sacrificing sleep just to learn the science of kimchi-making?

         Under the right conditions, Myungsoo would.

        He wakes up to a bad morning that day, feeling as if his stomach has transformed into a monster overnight. The food offered during breakfast had not been enough to satiate his hunger, and so the prospect of getting to eat free food (one of his favorites, no less) afterwards is enough to lure him into signing up for the morning activity. Anyway, what could go wrong with kimchi?

         The trainee shows up several minutes late for the session but he’s warmly welcomed by the instructor already wearing red pepper paste-stained gloves. Quietly occupying one of the vacant tables, he looks at the other people in the room and feels a twinge of embarrassment upon seeing a fellow trainee. No words nor waves are given as a greeting -- just a smirk as an attempt of dispelling the awkwardness rooting from the idea that he’s actually here with the intention to learn more about kimchi.

         It’s very uncharacteristic, but in the end, it should be the food that matters.

[rkmyung-blog]

● stranger danger

          “What’s a pretty girl like you doing here alone?”

          Myungsoo hears the question cutting through the faint background noise of speeding vehicles and night breeze. “Are you waiting for someone?” More slurred words spill into the air; the owner of the voice is a gangling man around his twenties as the trainee can see from several feet away. In the vicinity was only him, the stranger, and a girl whom Myungsoo barely talked to, but recognized enough for her name to be remembered. Circumstances can be seen from many a perspective other than his own, but to Myungsoo, this scenario he’s witnessing doesn’t spell safety at all. (Especially when the female is evidently avoiding her pursuer’s incessant prodding.)

          His steps further approach the bus stop with suppressed urgency. Eyebrows deepen into a scowl as Myungsoo announces his presence with the scuffle of his sneakers against the pavement, rough and heavy. He takes more steps forward to his fellow trainee, interrupting the other man’s drunk soliloquy without so much as a warning.

          “Yah.” He calls out to Suji in an intimidating tone, “I’ve been looking for you.” Obviously a lie; Suji would have to be an A-class idiot if she doesn’t understand what he’s trying to do.

[rkmyung-blog]

● oil and water

          Training in Sphere reminds him of school in more ways than one: there are strict schedules, demanding classes and different kinds of students he’d rather not stay in a room with for more than five minutes. One of the most notable things about the company, however, is its notorious line-up of teachers that exercise their authority in the best (worst) way. While it might be true that horrible teachers exist in every learning institution (even in entertainment companies like this), Myungsoo wishes there were a way he could live without them.

          He’s only a few levels away from seething as he finds himself standing outside the music room with another trainee, their vocal coach giving them a condescending look that makes the young male’s jaw clench in barely-concealed resentment. “I don’t need five-year-olds in my class. You two will be happily welcomed back once you pipe down and resolve that argument of yours, but until then, learn how to act your age.”

          Silence eats Myungsoo and Jinri when the door clicks to a close. The male takes the opportunity to say something first – out of indignation and anger that he can’t direct to the trainer – walking to the opposite wall and leaning on it. “Well, this is fun too,” he mutters in a voice that sounds anything but fun.

[rkmyung-blog]

● pest control 101

rkluna:

luna spotted myungsoo in the hallway after independent study let out as the herd of sphere trainees gradually channeled towards the diner for dinner. if asked, she would blame being able to recognize him by the back of his head on being on the same season of the mgas as him and watching his performances from backstage, although it was probably myungsoo’s signature aura that gave him away– something like a natural, silent state of misanthropy. of course, that didn’t dissuade luna. she practically skipped over to his side, then swung an arm around his shoulders like it wasn’t a complete invasion of personal space.

“so, sphere’s grumpy cat kim myungsoo, have you thought of a nickname for yourself for the upcoming evaluation yet?” truthfully, luna never knew what to expect from myungsoo, so any of his ideas could’ve been genius or flatter than his typical tone of voice when speaking. “if you had to give me a nickname what would you call me?” obnoxious, luna answered the question herself in her mind with her best internal myungsoo impression.

          Apparently, half a day of contemplation isn’t enough to think of a short, simple line that would showcase his prime identity as a budding artist. The evaluation task makes Myungsoo realize that he isn’t aware and certain of himself as much as he thinks, for every idea that pops in his mind is rather tacky or unbecoming, and other people’s (other people being Joonyoung) suggestions don’t quite make it past tolerable level. The quandary continues to occupy him even as he makes his way to the cafeteria for food, not noticing another trainee prancing towards him until he’s slightly shaken from the impact of her throwing an arm over him.

          His reaction is instantaneous (and he knows Luna is already expecting it). Myungsoo takes a grip of the female’s wrist and pries her away from him, with a groan following to further emphasize his dislike. “Geez,” he says instead of a proper answer to Luna’s initial query and takes a big step to increase the distance between them. She doesn’t need to know that he’s having a hard time figuring out a decent nickname, but he’s more than willing to offer her some help as soon as she asks for it. “House fly.” It doesn’t even need further thinking. “Tiny and persistent. Not to mention I hate house flies getting near me.”

[rkmyung-blog]

● わかりません

          The tears won’t stop... In the end...

          This world without you...

          Everything... is a dream...

          Myungsoo’s eyes fall shut, palms meeting a face painted with frustration. Japanese, apparently, isn’t as easy as he used to think it was. Having learned the basics back in his first year of high school and picked up a handful of things through the years from different kinds of media, he had quite the confidence about choosing his next performance for April’s evaluations, but the paper in front of him tells otherwise. 

          The translations that he obtained online just won’t cut it. There they were, Japanese words directly converted into their Korean equivalents as conveniently as modern technology could provide -- still, it doesn’t mean that merely memorizing a song and singing it in front of important audiences would do the work. It violates his personal standards, not to mention his coaches’. Being a fan of the artist who sang the song, he already knows by heart every pause and drag of the lyrics; however, he’s greedy for something else: a deeper, more heartfelt understanding of the song that would open doors for a better, more emotional performance.

          If only he were fluent in Japanese.

          Heaving out a sigh, he rises from his seat and heads out of the small room he’s conveniently settled to. He needs a little break, a distraction -- be it fresh air, or food, or a drink. The door to the practice room is left open with his belongings, but he can’t care less when language makes him feel a little too dumb and damned.

[rkmyung-blog]

rkbaekho:

( /he’s been keeping a cold distance to Myungsoo ever since the trainee signed to the company, a hint of bitterness on his tongue whenever he looked at him, if only because of the circumstances of the other’s contract signing and with some influence from Jonghyun as well, but Baekho has never liked being distant or cold to anyone, even if he does kind of agree with Jonghyun’s logic, so when he approaches Myungsoo during their lunch break, it’s with an apologetic smile and a kind tone. ) Myungsoo, right? ( /he knows it’s right, of course he does, but he still says it anyway. ) I don’t think I ever properly introduced myself… In fact, I’m sure I didn’t. I’ve been colder to you than I should have. ( /he gives a sheepish laugh, a hint of guilt in there as well, before giving a bow. ) I’m Kang Dongho, but pretty much everyone around here just calls me Baekho. I know you’ve been handling yourself pretty well around here but I… just wanted to let you know… if you need any help with anything, just come and see me, okay? I’ve been around here the longest, so I know most of the tricks. ( /he smiles, a little brighter now. ) I’ll be happy to help any way I can.

{ /it comes as a surprise to Myungsoo how one (or any, if he were to be more honest with himself) of the senior trainees in the company has spared time to approach him without any productive intentions, especially when he’s aware that he isn’t exactly their favorite face around. he doesn’t really know a lot about the rest of the trainees in the company other than their faces labeled with the right names, and he doesn’t mind so much that he knows nothing past that. all he does when the other trainee speaks is to stare at him blankly, trying to figure if this is some kind of a dare or Baekho just likes approaching people and confessing his bad blood out of nowhere to cure boredom. there’s not much about his words that interests Myungsoo, but he blinks hearing that he’s the oldest among the pool of trainees in terms of seniority. it piques his curiosity, making him wonder if there really ever is a significant advantage to being a few notches higher in their hierarchy. } Okay. { /he says after a beat or two, not really knowing what he’s supposed to say to his kind offer — it might be handy one of these days, but he’s not very used yet having to do anything with his fellow trainees more than passing by them in the hallways or sharing the same practice room. } Well, I don’t need much help other than effective ways to bail out on dance workshops.

[rkmyung-blog]

rkhongjonghyun:

[/ he’s been approaching every single employee since the memo was sent out, every single employee no matter if they’re a staff member, coach, senior or junior trainee — he’s going up to every single one of them, laying his pride entirely aside to do what he feels is right] Kim Myungsoo-ssi … [/ he stops before him, his eyes downcast, unable to look him in the eyes or even lift his head, and he dips into a full 90 degree bow, a very strange and sudden act of strong respect and apology. this doesn’t look like the normal, charismatic hong jonghyun, and rightly so, especially after what his actions have cost everyone at sphere] I’m sorry for my actions and how they’ve affected you and everyone else. I didn’t think and acted immaturely and I can understand if you’re upset or pissed off at me and I will accept full responsibility for my actions. I’m sorry.

{ /the approach of the other trainee is much too sudden that it takes a few more seconds than normal for Myungsoo to process whatever he’s talking about. his demeanor remains devoid of anything when it dawns on him, finding that he isn’t drawn to any significant reaction necessary for the news and announcement that have spread like wildfire in the company. still, he thinks that the whole apology is amusing to see, that much he can’t deny. he knows that Jonghyun hasn’t tried to maintain any remote hint of camaraderie between them during training, something about him being so blindly defensive against Myungsoo’s rejection of the contract for the first time, which is kind of funny even if he couldn’t care enough to defend himself and his own choices. when the taller male mutters his last few words, Myungsoo hums in dismissal as he adjusts the straps of his backpack over his shoulders. } Sure. { /it’s tasteless when he speaks, because he probably cares more about his lunch later on than the SNS accounts he barely uses in the first place. } You’ll probably experience more of it soon enough, at least you got a headstart.

[rkmyung-blog]

accidents happen ✘ chanmi & myungsoo

          The last thing he expects to happen while he gets distracted with the vibration of his phone during an hour-long gym session is for his elbow to nudge the unfortunately uncapped water bottle by his side. It’s only a moment of distraction, the briefest seconds of carelessness; yet he manages to create a little accident — the bottle tips on the surface of the yoga mat he’s currently slumped on and spills its contents, leaving Myungsoo with only a murmur when his eyes fall upon the sight.

          “Shit.” The curse escapes him in a whisper (thankfully), reaching out by reflex to put the bottle upright. The damage has been done, however; more than half of the liquid had already spilled on the mat in waste. “Aish…” is all Myungsoo can only sigh out at the aftermath before rising from the floor and walking off to find something to clean the mess up.

          It takes a minute or so for him to come back with a mop and a rag, and by the time he’s back the water has already spread a little farther from the yoga mat. He only notices a backpack lying nearby when he dries the floor, a sight that only adds to the frustration. The bottom is already damp with water when he lifts it up so he places it on a nearby bench and makes an attempt to wipe the excess water away from it with the spare cloth, hoping that someone comes soon to retrieve it. He’d apologize, perhaps, even if he finds so little responsibility for it — is it still his fault that the owner claimed the liberty to throw their bags wherever they want?