Chapter 46

December 31st, just one day before the new year of 2022.

Since becoming a debut group, the training intensity has increased.

Other practices are tough, but the physical training is just insane.

100 jumping jacks

20 burpee tests, 5 sets

3 sets of up-down planks

3 sets of side hip raises

3 sets of bunny hops

Of course, the list changes every time, but the basic structure was like this.

And after finishing this, we would start dance practice.

In fact, dance practice happens once in the morning and once in the afternoon, so that’s a total of two times…

I’m really gonna die.

Today, we collapsed exhausted in the practice room before even starting dance practice after finishing our physical training.

Chiyo Unni said.

” It’s so hard. I’m dying. I just want to rest. ”

That Unni seems to have a bit of a Korean patch issue.

Hearing Chiyo Unni, Na-eun Unni voiced her discontent.

” Ha-ah… Chiyo, didn’t you say ‘dog’ is a bad word? ”

” Huh? No way… Do-hee said it’s good. Is it bad, Do-hee? ”

Is it bad, Do-hee?

That seemed a bit intentional.

” Do-hee, why did you tell her something weird? ”

” Sigh, Lee Do-hee. ”

” When will our youngest grow up? ”

Na-eun, Seo-yoon, and Woo-ah Unni said one after another.

I feel a bit wronged too.

” No, I just explained to Chiyo Unni that ‘dog’ means to emphasize, like in Japanese ‘chokawaii’, that’s all. And if you get technical, ‘dog’ is even recognized by the National Institute of Korean Language, okay? I’m gentle, I don’t use slang. ”

Seo-yoon Unni laughed at me.

” Gentle? ”

” What? ”

I mean, sure, there are times when I can’t hold back some curse words, but even then, I only think them in my head.

Seriously.

” Yes, that’s right. Do-hee said ‘dog’ is emphasis. Dog-hee. ”

” …? ”

” Oh come on, Dog-hee. ”

” …? Dog-Seo-yoon. ”

” Okay, guys, stop it. ”

” Dog-hee. ”

” Dog-Seo-yoon. ”

Na-eun Unni gave up on stopping us and sighed.

” So, are we going back to the dorm today? ”

Na-eun Unni looked at Woo-ah Unni, relieved that at least one of us is normal, and replied.

” I think so? ”

” Ah, I miss Mother. ”

” Pfft. Dog-Seo-yoon, you’re still a baby. ”

” Well, you live nearby, so it’s fine for you. I haven’t seen my family in Busan for almost half a year now. ”

” Chiyo Unni is in Japan, though? ”

” Oh right? ”

” I also really want to see them. ”

Just as the vibe was about to go downhill, Na-eun Unni said.

” Now that everyone’s had enough rest, let’s get up. Teacher Ye-rim will be here soon. We need to practice the dance. ”

Everyone groaned and got up.

Still, when it’s time to practice, everyone gives it their all.
Under Na-eun Unni’s leadership, we were practicing our choreography again when the Team Leader came in and called us over.

“Hey guys, it’s tough now that you’ve become the debut team, right?”

“Uh… yeah…”

It’s not just tough; it’s super tough.

“I bet it was hard practicing even during Christmas, and the company must have been frustrating, right?”

“Chiyo and Seo-yoon have lived in the dorm before, but Do-hee, Woo-ah, and Na-eun are suddenly living in the dorm, so it must feel strange.”

“So I’m giving you all a three-day vacation starting tomorrow. Spend some time with your families.”

“Chiyo, call your parents and rest hard in the dorm.”

Just a moment ago, everyone was making dying faces, but now their expressions lit up.

After practice, we went back to the dorm to pack our things to take home.

“Ah, I just want to sleep. I’m exhausted.”

“Sleep on the way. It’s going to take a while to get to Busan anyway.”

Chiyo Unni, whose hometown is in Japan and is spending her vacation in the dorm, ran into her room and flopped onto her bed.

Is she not even going to wash up?

Na-eun Unni, my roommate, said loudly.

“Chiyo! Wash up and then lie down! Wash up!”

“I don’t care. I’m super tired.”

Woo-ah Unni asked us.

“Are you all going to wash up before going home?”

“Well, I’ve been sweating all day, so I definitely need to wash up.”

Seo-yoon Unni slipped into the bathroom in the meantime.

“I’m going to wash up first~”

“Ah, let’s play rock-paper-scissors!”

Woo-ah Unni sneaked into the bathroom too.

I knocked on the bathroom door and shouted.

“Ah, hurry up! Rock-paper-scissors is the rule!”

Na-eun Unni was sprawled on the sofa and said.

“Ugh, my head hurts…”

*

– Knock knock knock click –

I came home as a surprise without any notice.

The first to come out when the front door opened was Do-ah.

“Sister!!!”

Do-ah ran up and hugged me.

Ah, our Do-ah.

“My Do-ah, did you miss me?”

“Yeah…”

It seems she was lonely since I hadn’t met her in two months because of living in the dorm.

Hearing Do-ah’s voice, Mom and Dad also came out to greet me at the entrance.

“How come you suddenly came without contacting us?”

“Our daughter’s on vacation?”

“Yup~ First, let me unpack my stuff and then we can talk~”

I went inside the house, unpacked my things in my room, and then we all sat together in the living room to chat.

While Mom was peeling fruit in the kitchen, she asked.

“So until when is your vacation?”

“Until January 3rd. It’s not long.”

“Oh, that’s too short.”

“That’s how it is for the debut team. But at least we can celebrate the New Year together.”

Ah, right.

I temporarily set Do-ah down who was sitting in my lap and went into my room.

I came back out holding a wrapped box.

“Do-ah~ what do you think this is?”
“What is this?”

Do-ah’s eyes turned red.

“Birthday present…?”

“That’s right. Our Do-ah had her birthday yesterday, and I’m sorry I couldn’t congratulate you, sis~”

As I handed Do-ah her gift, she seemed sad and wrapped herself around me again, crying.

I thought she had become grumpy lately, like she was going through puberty, but she’s still a baby.

*

There’s almost no vacation left until the debut.

After becoming part of the debut group, Sundays aren’t even days off anymore.

If there’s a holiday, it might be for Lunar New Year or Chuseok.

But since it’s right before the debut during Chuseok, I might not get a break then either.

Anyway, since there’s almost no vacation left, I decided to stay home on January 1st, the first day of this break, and relax as much as I could.

I was lying in bed, hugging Do-ah and trying to heal.

“Do-ah, are you having fun?”

“Yep.”

“Let’s play together, sis~”

“…”

Do-ah was so focused on the Nintendo I got her for her birthday that she wouldn’t even look at me.

What a waste to buy it.

Yesterday, she was talking like she’d only have eyes for me forever.

Then came January 2nd.

Today, I had to catch up on all the things I had been putting off due to lack of time.

There was something very important to do today.

It was a time I would never get up during if it were a normal day off.

9 AM.

I got up from bed and went to the kitchen.

I hugged Mom from behind while she was cooking.

“Mom?”

Mom smiled warmly when I hugged her.

“What’s with the formal tone all of a sudden? Missing me from living in the dorm?”

“Of course~”

“Oh my, my princess hugging me makes me so happy.”

“Hehe…”

Mom beamed as she spoke.

“Is there anything you want to eat?”

“No, not that.”

“Then what is it? Tell me.”

“Can you feel it?”

Mom stopped smiling as if she sensed something.

“What?”

“My feelings towards you, Mom.”

“What are you talking about so early in the morning?”

“My heart. This pressure.”

Instantly, Mom’s expression turned like she’d bitten into something sour.

Haha, I’ve been waiting for today.

How much sorrow have I lived through this past year?

I was criticized by my heart no matter what I did.

But from today, I will be reborn.

“Listen. Today, I’m challenging you to a rematch, so follow me to the underwear store.”

Mom, after a long time, smacked my head playfully and said, “What’s with the ‘follow me’? I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up for this.”

“Hmph… How could you not celebrate your daughter’s growth?”

“Get ready to eat breakfast already.”

“Hmph… But I really need to buy a bra. A sports bra is fine for a day or two, but it gets tight and uncomfortable every time I dance.”

“Go by yourself.”

“Mom, are you scared?”

“…”

“You felt it too, right? My pressure.”
” I’m still growing. ”

Mother confessed the truth.

” So, does that mean I admit that I’ll grow bigger later? ”

“Sigh… Let’s eat and maybe buy some clothes.”

“Yeah~”

*

The clerk and I entered the fitting room together.

I was too old to go in with Mother.

“Let’s start measuring the lower bust~”

I held my breath to make my lower bust measurement come out smaller.

Gotta make that size look big.

“Customer, if you hold your breath now, the lower bust measurement might be inaccurate and could cause discomfort in daily life.”

Ah, caught me.

I relaxed and took a breath while the clerk began measuring the length of my bust with a tape measure.

The clerk read the tape and said,

“68.1 centimeters.”

Hmm… Just saying the number doesn’t help me gauge what that means.

“Is that good?”

The clerk said with a hint of jealousy,

“Of course! Your bust is really small.”

“Oh… so small is good?”

“Most women prefer a smaller bust. Because the smaller the bust, the more pronounced it is, and it makes the body look slimmer and the shape prettier.”

“Oh, I see… Thank you~”

Last year when I measured, I was probably 165 cm tall and a bust size of 67, right?

Now I’m 167.5 cm and 68.1, so I must have grown both taller and bustier.

“Now, let’s measure the upper bust~”

“Sure.”

I raised my arms for the clerk to measure easily.

After checking my upper size, the clerk said,

“79… uh, 78.9.”

So, what is that? The upper bust minus the lower bust is 10.8, so it’s a B?

“Is it B then?”

“Yes, you can wear a 70B. Since your lower bust is 68, you could fit a 65 size, but with a bust of 68, the 70B will suit you better.”

“Oh…”

My chest feels majestic.

“Huh?”

“Ah, no, thank you.”

After completing the measurements, I stepped out of the fitting room.

Mother was standing right outside.

“Mom?”

“What.”

“You heard me, right?”

“No.”

Mother’s pupils were shaking.

Clearly, she heard.

“Hehe… I’m a 70B, and you’re a 70B too, so now we’re the same size.”

“What? I did the math, and I’m bigger.”

As expected.

I knew she’d heard me.

“Yeah~ Enjoy it while it lasts. You know you only grow until you’re 19? Hehe.”

“Oh.”

Let’s aim for a C cup!

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