Chapter Two

THE FATEFUL ENCOUNTER

I faced a difficult obstacle before I headed to South Korea to become a trainee.

Since I was a minor, I needed my parents’ permission to go.

‘I got kicked out of my family. And grandmother probably removed me from the family registry already. How am I supposed to get consent?’

Luckily, I saw Chen after the audition and told him of my predicament. He was watching me do the audition. He was such a supportive brother.

“And let me guess, you want me to have father sign this consent form?” he asked in which I nodded.

“Please? Pretty please with cherries on top?”

“You do realize grandmother kicked you out right? Did you know she’s planning to have you removed from the family registry?”

“I thought she already did.” I commented.

“Ge! (Chinese endearment for older brother) Are you being stupid? Or are you just really stupid?”

“Aren’t they just the same?”

“That’s not the point!” he huffed, but then he sighed. “Fine! I’ll find a way to trick dad in signing this. You owe me.”

I gave him a smile and a thumb up then gave him the consent form.

The consent form stated that as long as I am a trainee of MM Entertainment, I will be their responsibility and any decisions concerning me and the company will be decided by the company. Or something with the likes of that.

‘The only problem now is where do I sleep?’

“Hello Lei.” I heard a familiar voice.

“Grandpa Xue Fe!”

“Has the pendant brought you luck yet?”

“Maybe.” he asked me why. “I passed the audition, but I got kicked out from my family.”

“I told you even luck has its consequences.”

I just stayed silent.

“Do you need a place to sleep?” I gave him a ‘how-did-you-know?’ look. “You just said you got kicked out of your family. You can sleep at my house if you want.”

“Really?” he nodded. “Grandpa Xue Fe! You’re such a godsend! Thank you very much! I’ll take that offer!”

Grandpa Xue Fe was a really good host. Even though he lived alone, his house was clean and his cooking was really delicious.

“Grandpa Xue Fe, I wish you were my grandfather. You’re cool.”

“Why thank you, Xiao Lei.”

“By the way grandpa, don’t you have a family?”

“Hmm… My wife died a long time ago, and my children went to their chosen paths and are already living their own lives.”

“Aren’t you lonely?” he shook his head.

“I have my store, and it lets me meet interesting people. Like you.”

“Wow. Thank you grandpa.”

“My pleasure.”

“When I get to South Korea, I’ll always contact you and when I become famous, I will never forget you.” I gave him a smile.

“I won’t forget that. It’s best to be humble and kind even if you’ve already achieved great things, okay? Those will be your greatest virtues.”

That night, I slept soundly.

The next day, Chen contacted me and said he already had the waiver signed. We met in Grandpa Xue Fe’s store and gave me the documents, along with my passport and savings.

“How did you trick dad?” I asked.

“Well, dad was sleep deprived, and he had stacks of paperwork to sign. I just slipped it there.” he answered with a smile.

“Thank you!” I hugged him. “You won’t forget me right?”

“How can I forget my own brother? I should be the one saying that, once you become famous and all. By the way, here…”

He gave me a plane ticket to South Korea.

“Go pursue your dreams brother. You deserve it.” he gave me a sad yet knowing smile. Like he knew something I didn’t and I was not supposed to know.

***

The moment I arrived at MM Entertainment, surprises kept coming. The first one was my four dorm mates.

When I arrived at MM Entertainment, I signed a bunch of papers and was oriented. After that, I was brought to the dorm where I would live together with eleven other people. They said we would train together and would debut together in the future.

“Guys, this is Zhang Lei. He will be your new dorm mate.” one of the staffs introduced in Korean.

At the back of my mind, I was thankful that I studied many languages. Korean included.

“Hello! I’m Zhang Lei, from the Philippines.” I bowed as a sign of the Korean greeting.

When I stood up, I froze. My four new dorm mates looked exactly like my friends from my past life.

“Hey, my name is Lee Shin Woo, but you can call me Seven.”

Seven was sporting light brown hair and a pale skin. It was like he grew up in the cold mountains. He also had dark brown eyes that could easily be mistaken as black. He was a little shorter than me, but his facial expression was very well guarded.

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“I’m Tsuchimikado Kazuki, but you can call me Coby.”

Coby had dark red hair. He had hazel colored eyes, fair skin and slightly pointed ears. Not as long and pointed as elves back in my previous world, but it definitely looked peculiar. He was also tall, taller than me.

“Byun Kang Woo, but call me Blake.”

Blake, like Seven, had light brown hair. He also had light brown eyes that went really well with his fair skin and thin lips. In terms of height, we would probably be the same.

“I’m Tachibana Mikihiko, but my English name is Alexander, so call me Xander.”

Xander was shorter than me (what? I have a thing for heights!). He had hair as black as coal and his piercing jade-green eyes looked like it could see through you. And with the way his name sounded and the color of his eyes, I immediately deduced that he was half-Japanese.

As they did their introductions, I was frozen on the spot. I could only swallow the non-existent lump on my throat.

‘Not only do they have almost the same faces, but they have the same names too, or at least nicknames.’

“I’ll leave you guys to get acquainted.” said the staff and left.

“You said you were from the Philippines?” asked Seven in which I nodded. “But your name sounds Chinese.”

“Oh, I am Chinese. It’s just that, my family had been staying in the Philippines for the last few years.”

“Is that so? By the way, how old are you?” he asked again.

“Err… Sixteen?”

“Birthdate?”

“July thirty-first?”

“Hmm… I’m older than you then. It’s nice to meet you.” he said and went inside his room.

That guy felt exactly like the Seven I knew. He was cold and calculating to the people he meets for the first time.

“Don’t mind Seven-aniki. Oh aniki means older brother in Japanese by the way.” said Coby.

“I know. But it’s only used for formality.”

“So Lei-aniki, don’t mind Seven-aniki. He’s just like that to people he meets for the first time.”

“Took the words right out of my mouth.” I mumbled. “And I see you’re still as hyper as ever.”

“Huh?” he gave me a confused look.

“Anyway, Lei-hyung,” Blake scooted closer to me. ‘Hyung’ was the Korean term for males to refer to their older brothers. “Welcome! Since you’re sixteen and I’m still fifteen, so is Coby by the way, you’re older than us. So please don’t mind us referring to you as an older brother.”

“I don’t mind.”

“Are you not even curious why Lee Shin Woo is Seven, Tsuchimikado Kazuki is Coby and Byun Kang Woo is Blake?” inquired Xander. “Again, I’m Xander. I’m seventeen.”

“They decided to call themselves that, should I even ask why?”

Xander just nodded and patted my shoulder. “Good. I think we’ll get along.”

I gave him my thanks in Mandarin and he answered me in the same language.

A few months later Kyle, Leo and Seth arrived which caused me more surprise. The next year, Dean and Kai came and a year after that, Calvin and Tim.

When I saw Tim, tears involuntarily fell from my eyes. Everyone asked me what was wrong but I replied,

“Nothing. Something just got into my eyes.”

I wasn’t the best of liars, but they seemed to believe me or they were pretending to.

Throughout our training days, the twelve of us became really close.

Ever since I was born in this world, I had never felt so happy. The twelve of us were together again. Although with a different purpose, but we still ended up with each other.

Three years later, my father contacted me for the first time. I was very happy when he did, but when he told me why, I immediately regretted it.

“It’s been a long time son.” he said, we were on video call.

Yeah, my father was rather, tech savvy.

“Father.”

“How are you? Are finally going to debut?”

“I’m fine. The company’s CEO is planning to have us debut next year.” I explained.

“How about your studies? Are you not going to college?”

“I took a special exam to accelerate father. I’m already on my second year in S University.”

“And your course?” he seemed unsurprised by it.

“Something to do with archaeology.”

“Archaeology? Nothing different with our family business.”

“It is different. Way different. What do you really want father?” I inquired.

“About your engagement with my friend’s daughter.”

I froze. ‘How can I forget about that?’

When I was nine, I got engaged to the daughter of my father’s friend. It was an arranged engagement and I neither knew her name nor what she looked like.

“Not now dad. I’m not allowed to date, much less get engaged or worse married.” I replied as I stared into his eyes.

“We will be in Seoul in three days. Chen will contact you about the rest of the details. Goodbye.”

The call ended before I could even retort. I let out a frustrated scream and muffled it with my pillow. The door suddenly opened and Leo appeared.

“What happened to you?” he asked.

I stared at him for a second then replied a negative.

‘His ears are as sharp as the one I know. And he changed his hair color again.’

“I thought something happened. I heard you scream.”

“I muffled it with a pillow.” I answered sarcastically.

“You still screamed.”

“Your hair’s pink this time.” I said to change the topic.

“Oh, the stylist did that. I found it cool, so I didn’t complain.” was his cool answer.

Leo entered the room and sat on the bed across mine. Had I mentioned Leo was my roommate?

Leo Chen or Chen Rong Yi is half-Chinese and half-American. He was scouted in China because of his good looks, but he had the skills to be an idol. Like my past life, the two of us became the closest among everyone in the dorm. There was Tim, but he was more like the childish younger brother than a friend.

“So what happened?” he asked and started rummaging his bedside cabinet.

“Oh, so that didn’t divert your attention.”

“Haha.” he laughed monotonously. “Spill.”

“My father wants me to go with my engagement.” I answered in Mandarin.

Whenever I was with the Chinese co-members, Leo Kyle and Tim, I always spoke in Mandarin. It became a habit, but I was okay with it, so were the rest.

“Eh? I thought you got kicked out from your family?” I shrugged at his statement. “I have always heard my father saying that the Zhang Clan in Guanzhong is strict about their rules and teachings.”

“True. I don’t even know why my father is still after me when I already cut our connection three years ago. But he was quite insistent about the engagement, when he still has Chen.”

“Your younger brother?” I nodded. “Hmm… Maybe you should see them and tell them your decision.”

“It’s rare for you to give out an advice.” I said and gave him a smile.

“Just giving my younger brother a piece of my wisdom, you looked like you needed it. Now come on, Dean cooked salted fish and Kai brought kimchi from his sister’s.”

“Kimchi?” I bolted out of the door.

Even with my past life’s memories intact in my head, there were times that I just couldn’t do anything. I was mentally older than anyone in our group, but there are lots of times when I really rely on them. It made me remember a line from a book I once read.

“’Once is a coincidence. Twice is already suspicious. Third is just fate.’”

Maybe it was fate that brought us together.

Three days later, I made my way to downtown Seoul. Chen emailed me the previous night and told me about the meeting place.

I took the bus and got off on the nearest bus stop. I spent the rest of the time walking towards the restaurant, the meeting place.

Ever since I became a trainee and came to South Korea, I could hardly walk around for sightseeing. I had never toured Seoul and there was a 10% chance I could get lost, but that time I didn’t mind it at all and just marvelled around.

As my attention drifted to different scenes, I suddenly felt someone collide on me. I looked in front and saw a girl with long wavy honey-colored hair crouched on the ground. She was picking up the scattered papers which probably belonged to her.

“I’m so sorry about that.” I said and started helping her.

Once done, I handed her the papers I gathered. When she looked up, I froze.

Familiar piercing silver-grey eyes which seemed to glow under the light stared at me. Pale skin, a small forehead, prominent pinkish cheeks, pointed nose, curly eyelashes and thin pink lips. Just like hers…

I couldn’t help but stare at the young woman in front of me. She looked exactly like the girl I loved in my past life.

‘At this point, I won’t be surprised if she has the same name.’

“Thank you.” she took the papers and bowed.

She started to walk away. I wanted to follow her, but I noticed a shiny thing on the ground. I picked it up and saw it was an ID.

It read; Artemis Hunter. Hyun Jin University Medical Center. General Surgery Resident.

My eyes widened for a moment, but then I calmed myself down.

‘Snap out of it. They’re not the same.’

I called her out.

“How did you know my name?” she asked, so I gave her the ID. “Oh. Thanks.”

“Since I know your name, I think it’s good manners for you to know mine. I’m Lei Zhang.”