He knew of her. Knowing of a person isn’t the same as knowing them and he never lets that last for long. Little by little, he tries to get to know her. She seemed different from the other girls. It was what he noticed about her first. The vibe around her was completely different and he liked it. Greetings were brief, short-lived until he could think about what to talk to her about until watching a movie with his youngest cousin gave him an idea.
It was lunchtime, apparently his new favorite time to approach people. He’d done it time and time again and today was no exception. “Hey,” and habit had to stop him from adding on “pretty girl.” Old habits die hard and he’d be lying if he said the nova cafeteria didn’t make him think of his high school cafeteria back home. “I just wanna know, do you like disney?”
What was your first impression of all the NOVA trainees? Talk about them individually.
“All of ‘em, huh? Damn, don’t you think I talk enough without being asked to do that?” He’s joking but half of him is serious. A chatterbox since birth, he doesn’t know if he can get started on this topic and keep it brief but he’ll try. Speaking of first impressions makes him want to go in depth on how he feels now but then he’d really never stop running his mouth off.
“Yerin-ssi is a cutie. First time I saw ‘er, I overheard her singing and, damn, she’s got them vocals. She’s got that whole ‘big things come in small packages’ vibe to her, you know what I mean? Ah— Sunny noona is like that too but I’ll get to that or I’l forget what I’m tryna say.” Clearing his throat, he angles his head, gives a short laugh because damn did he really forget in the span of two seconds? “If I had to choose a word, sweet. She’s that sweet, little sister of Korea or first love type.”
“Snake hyung is the most badass guy I know. You know, Huidong hyung.” Speaking of the older male trainee eases him into a grin and it’s genuine at the very least. He respects the guy, looks up to him. It’s hard not to with such amazing dancing skills under his belt. “He moves in ways some of my old crew and I could only dream of. Now, don’t go thinking impurely or anything, I just mean hyung can dance in a way that you don’t question why Nova wanted him. My first impression of him is a little biased, if you’re wondering why I say this. ‘Cause I was a fan of his before meeting ‘im and he hasn’t let me down since.”
He shrugs at the next person he thinks of, “we haven’t spoken much but I’ve seen him dance a few times. Guy’s got this great aura to him. I really admire it. I’d like to talk to him but, you know, schedules and all. Sometimes paths don’t cross in the company depending on what we’re told to do. But, yeah, Jung Hoseok-ssi; he seems like a damn cool guy.”
Trying to hide a smile at the next person doesn’t work out so well for him and he gives in, chuckles as he shakes his head. “Girl’s a fighter — that was my first thought about Kim Hyuna. Things like ‘damn, why is she only wearing a sports bra around all these guys?’ and ‘damn, Rome, don’t look any lower, ya fucking idiot’ crossed my mind too but the way I was joking with her, I know she knows it. If ya ask her though, she’ll say I was flirting and I’ma hafta admit I would flirt with her then. But it’s how I talk too. If flirting is the only way to compliment a girl and make her laugh or smile without rolling her eyes and thinking it’s insincere instead, then so be it. I ain’t the type to fight things like that. But yeah, that’s my first impression of her. Things have changed since then.”
“Seokjin-ssi … guy’s cool too. Pretty boy type, so, you know, I think I could get along with him on any worries he’s got ‘bout that. I don’t think he’s the strongest dancer from what I remember ‘bout one of the first times I saw him around but Nova isn’t all dancers. I think he proves that whether he wants to or not. Can’t say much else.”
Rome tries not to smile again, laughing under his breath because he doesn’t know how to go about this. “If I’ve known Min for years, does anything count as my first impression since joining Nova? She’s … I dunno. She says we’re basically related because she’s cousins with my cousin but I dunno how that works. Second cousins, third cousins, cousins twice removed, that kind of shit, I don’t get. Uh … When I first ran into her in Nova, I didn’t know she was there. I’m not that up to date on everything but I was glad to see her there because I know she wanted Nova from what Joey hyung’s told me before.”
“As for first impression of Sunny noona, I saw her video for the Lotte Valentine’s Day contest so you know, I thought she was talented from the start. Like I said earlier, ‘big things in small packages’ and she’s got this ‘old soul’ vibe. Not callin’ her old or nothing but she gives you this feeling that she’s been through a lot and that she has more experience than you would think because her name is Sunny and you’d expect her to be all sunshine.”
“I haven’t spoken a lot to Taecyeon-ssi but I know he’s a friendly guy. Looking at ‘im, I could see why people would feel intimidated. He’s a tall ass guy but I think he looks nice, like the goofy type. I’d like to get to know him more but I think I tend to more serious during training.”
He shrugs, wets his lips and shrugs, oddly running out of things to say since the question only asks for first impressions and he already feels like he’s been rambling for a long time.
“Everyone is different once the day ends, right? Honestly, I’d like to see all of the trainees like that and last but not least, there’s Ricky. First impression? Ah, not tryna be cruel but he looks like a kid so you underestimate him but I think that’s his charm. You want to underestimate him. Oh, right. The word is underdog, yeah? Anyway, you wanna do that because you wanna see him prove you wrong. That kind of feel,” he nods, sure of how he’s describing it now. “I wanna see him grow, as rude as it sounds because he was in the company before me. I have a lot of growing to do too.”
What do you think people think when they see you walking down the streets, with your strawberry blonde hair? Do you think they notice that you have lived abroad when they see you? If so what do you think are dead giveaways of your years abroad?
“hmm, i think other people would see me as someone with an outlandish style? someone who likes trying out new things because that’s also what i think of myself. maybe from the way i don’t act or speak the way native koreans do is a dead giveaway that i didn’t grow up here.”
b. at what age did you first have a favourite musician and who were they? do you still like that genre of music? do you still listen to them?
1b : at what age did you first have a favourite musician and who were they? do you still like that genre of music? do you still listen to them?
“I think my first favorite was Corinne Bailey Rae.. I’ve liked her music since I was a kid, really. As far as genre goes.. I would say I don’t listen to it as much as I used to but yeah, definitely still do. The artist as well.”
