Chapter 8 - Concept
The atmosphere in the meeting room was charged with anticipation as the CEO and staff members of Le Sserafim prepared to impart a crucial message to the group. The staff manager, with a serious yet passionate aura, began, “Today, we're here to talk about the core concept of Le Sserafim: Fearlessness. As a group, you must embrace this concept wholeheartedly.”
Kazuha, Sakura, Chaewon, Yunjin, Y/N, and Eunchae listened intently, their expressions reflecting a mixture of curiosity and determination.
“Our concept is simple yet profound: to not be afraid of the past and to not let anything hinder your progress. Be fearless,” the staff continued, his voice commanding attention. “Each one of you embodies this concept in your own unique way.”
Turning to Kazuha, the staff member remarked, “Kazuha, you could have chosen to become a professional ballerina, yet, you chose to step into the unknown world of K-pop. Why? Because you want to challenge yourself to achieve what you truly want.” Kazuha met the manager's gaze with unwavering determination, mixed with her default sense of irritation due to the language barrier.
Sakura nodded in agreement. “Sakura, you could have stayed in Japan, where you already had a successful career. But you wanted to come back to Korea.”
Then he turned to Chaewon, his voice firm. “You Chaewon, you wanted to lose your past image, striving for even greater achievements.” She took a deep breath.
“Just like Yunjin gave up her studies in the US to try to pursue her idol dream one last time.” Yunjin stared at the floor for a second before she met his eyes again.
The manager then turned his attention to Y/N and Eunchae, addressing them directly. “And we know Y/N, you had plans to study abroad, yet you decided to put them on hold for Kpop. And Eunchae, you could have trained longer, but we selected you because of your skills and potential. You’re not scared of this journey.”
The CEO nodded, his eyes filled with pride and determination. “Your dedication and fearlessness are what make Le Sserafim unstoppable. Let's continue to embody this concept as we forge ahead together.”
“I can’t believe they put our words into the concept, the songs, all of it,” Sakura said staring at no point in particular.
“It’s crazy to think this is what we’re gonna stand for. That’s so cool… but…,” Y/N hesitated.
“…scary,” Kazuha said as she looked up from the floor. The girls all fell silent for a moment.
“I guess we really have to do it now… embodying it, you know? Being fearless and not shying away from any hardships,” Yunjin said thoughtfully.
“You know, now that I think about the implications of “fearless”… I hope they don’t put us into some insane bungee jumping or… idk spider variety shows,” Y/N said and started laughing. The other girls chimed in.
“I think this is exactly who we are,” Chaewon said, making the girls turn her way. She looked at her members for a second before she smiled at them. Fearless.
*A few days later*
During a long practice session, tension filled the air as Yunjin, Sakura, and Chaewon faced their instructor for some rigorous critique. The room echoed with the sound of their footsteps and heavy breathing as they tried to catch their breath between runs. Today’s practice contained a powerful Whacking choreography. The girls tried to teach each other as the instructor returned to the floor.
“What’s that? What were you doing the past 20 minutes?” the instructor asked.
“We taught each other,” Chaewon timidly said.
“For 20 minutes? That’s all you did? Then let’s see,” the girls could already hear the annoyance in their instructor’s voice.
Chaewon went first. Her movements weren’t as firm as they should be. Chaewon knew that too, but she just couldn’t do better.
The instructor's voice was stern as they addressed Chaewon, “Chaewon, what were you thinking about during the choreography?”
Chaewon hesitated before answering, “I was thinking about adding more power.”
The instructor's expression hardened. “There was no power in it. To be honest, this looked like marking to me. Chaewon how do you expect me to give you feedback if you're dancing like this?”
Feeling the weight of the instructor's words, Chaewon lifted her arms to hide her face, trying to contain her emotions. Her eyes welled up with tears as she struggled to maintain her composure.
“It's okay to have a bad day,” the instructor continued, her tone softening slightly. “But you need to try your hardest for me. I'm only being hard on you because I know you can do better.”
Unable to hold back any longer, Chaewon began to cry harder, her shoulders shaking with emotion.
Seeing Chaewon's distress, the instructor quickly added, “Don't cry. Go wash up, and then we'll continue. Next up.”
As Chaewon hurriedly left the practice room to wash her face, Yunjin and Sakura exchanged concerned glances. They knew that the instructor's tough love was meant to push them to their limits, but criticism is never easy.
As Yunjin went next, Sakura quietly followed Chaewon into the bathroom, the sound of their footsteps echoing softly against the tiled floors. She found Chaewon at the sink, her eyes red-rimmed from crying. Taking a deep breath, Sakura approached her former and current member, “Chaewonnie, can we talk?”
Chaewon looked up, surprised but welcoming. She was still trying to hide her emotions. “Sure, unnie."
As they stood facing each other, Sakura suddenly didn't know how exactly she wanted to build the younger girl up again, so she began with the first thing that came to her mind, “You know, it's strange. During our time in Iz*one, we were always cordial, but never really close. It feels different now, being in Le Sserafim together.”
Chaewon nodded, wiping away her tears. She stared at Sakura in the mirror before turning around to face her. “I feel the same way. There's this… new? … connection between us, and I’m so glad I'm not alone.”
Sakura smiled softly, “You know ... we were destined to be together in another girl group for a reason.” Chaewon smiled, tears still lingering in her eyes.
“Maybe it's a sign that we're meant to lift each other up,” the younger girl concluded.
Now the tears welled up in both their eyes as the realization sank in. They were not just members of the same group; they were destined to be friends, confidantes, and supporters of each other's dreams. Out of all twelve members, it was them together again. It’s like having another chance to be great together. How beautiful is that?
Sakura then remembered her initial concerns, “Chaewon … your dancing has always been amazing. But I've noticed how much you've improved these past few months. You're growing, and it's inspiring to see. You have to be more lenient with yourself. Please.”
Chaewon smiled and took a few deep breaths, her eyes shimmering with gratitude. “Thank you, unnie. Your words mean a lot to me.”
Sakura took both of her hands, “Let's use our experience to boost our group and support each other, both mentally and as friends.”
With that, they embraced tightly, feeling a warmth and connection they had never felt before. It was a moment of realization and affirmation, a moment where they both knew they had truly gained a friend in one another this time around.
As they pulled away from the embrace, their smiles were genuine and bright, a testament to the bond that was forming between them. They knew this friendship was special, and they were determined to cherish and nurture it, not just for themselves but for the sake of their group.