"Do you know what high school girls find most attractive in a boy?" Chae-rin repeated, staring me down.
I scratched the back of my neck, thinking hard.
"A good face?" I ventured. "Or maybe... a six-pack? I've seen the way girls look at the PE majors."
Chae-rin sighed, rubbing her temples as if I had just failed a kindergarten math test.
"Don't think too deep, San. You'll hurt yourself. And no, it's not just looks."
"Then what? A cold personality? The 'bad boy' vibe?" I asked, striking a pose. "Like Myung-dae?"
Chae-rin actually face-palmed. The slap echoed in the empty studio.
"No, you idiot. It's musicianship. Specifically..." She pointed at the instrument in my hands. "...band guys. Guitarists."
She crossed her arms, tilting her head.
"For some reason, when a guy holds a guitar and actually knows how to play it, his attractiveness multiplier goes up by ten. Even with... that look of yours."
I blinked. I felt the heat rush up my neck. My cheeks burned.
"Did..." I stammered. "Did you just say I'm attractive? Multiplied by ten?"
Chae-rin's eyes widened slightly, then she burst into a rare, genuine laugh.
"Did you just blush?" She pointed at my face. "Oh my god. You're turning into a tomato. Don't get too excited, Commoner. It's a general rule of physics, not a specific compliment to you."
"That's the second nice thing you've said to me in weeks," I muttered, looking down at my fretboard to hide my face.
"Don't get used to it," she smirked, composing herself. "And speaking of 'that look,' keep your schedule clear for Sunday evening. We need to fix... everything."
"Fix what? My face?"
"Your styling. We're going shopping. If you're going to stand next to me on stage, you can't look like you got dressed in the dark."
She tapped her tablet.
"Anyway, back to the guitar. It's not just a prop to make girls scream. G-Dragon-sunbaenim suggested we add a guitar solo in the bridge. An acoustic solo."
"Ah," I nodded, the musician brain taking over. "That makes sense. It bridges the gap between the ballad start and the rock finish."
"Exactly. So, play."
For the next hour, we drilled the song. Chae-rin was a relentless perfectionist, channeling every bit of Teacher Kang's earlier lecture.
"Breath support!" she snapped when I wavered on a high note. "Teacher Kang told you to sing not from your nose! Or else you'll pass out before the second chorus."
"I'm trying!"
"And watch the rasp," she critiqued. "You're overusing it. It's like chili powder. A little bit adds heat. Too much ruins the dish."
"But it feels emotional," I argued.
"It feels messy," she countered. "Save the grit for the climax. The verses need to be tender. Myung-dae might hate it, but believe it or not, even rocker boys appreciate dynamics. That deep, emotional control? He'd definitely like that kind of singing."
"Myung-dae?" I raised an eyebrow. "Does the Prince of Darkness actually like emotional ballads? I thought he only listened to death metal and silence."
"Everyone has a soft spot," Chae-rin said vaguely.
We switched roles for a moment. Chae-rin wanted to add a slight edge to her own harmony, but her voice was naturally pure and crystal clear.
"It's not in the throat," I explained, tapping my chest. "It's the friction. You have to let the air break a little. Like you're frustrated. Try to growl, but quietly."
She tried, making a cute, strangled noise. I laughed, correcting her, and for a moment, we weren't the "Ice Princess" and the "Foreigner." We were just two students jamming.
Suddenly, the door handle turned. It was already 8 PM
"Oh! Sorry! We thought Room C was empty!"
A group of four girls tumbled into the room, laughing and holding bubble tea. They were dressed in training gear—stylish, coordinated sweatpants and crop tops. They radiated an aura that was terrifyingly cool for people who looked younger than me.
Chae-rin's phone started ringing at that exact moment. She glanced at the screen. "Father," she whispered. She held up a finger to me and stepped away to answer it.
I stood there, holding my guitar, facing the intruders.
"Oh? Who's this?" one of the girls—a brunette with a distinct aura—asked, looking me up and down.
"Annyeonghaseyo," I bowed awkwardly. "I'm... uh... San."
"Are you Chae-rin-ssi's friend?" another girl asked. She had bangs and a smile that lit up the room.
"Sort of?" I scratched my head. "It's... complicated. Partners. Classmates."
The girls giggled.
"Take care of our Ice Princess," the girl with the bangs laughed, winking. "She bites, but she means well."
Chae-rin hung up the phone and marched back over. She didn't look annoyed. She looked respectful.
She shoved my guitar case into my chest. "Pack up. Now."
She turned to the four girls and bowed politely.
"Good evening. Sorry for occupying the space. Have a good practice."
"Bye! Bye Guitar Guy!" they waved.
Chae-rin grabbed my sleeve and practically dragged me out of the room.
"My father is waiting," she said briskly as we walked down the hallway. "He said he'd give us a ride since we live in the same neighborhood. It's on his way."
"Your father?" I gulped. The Chairman? "Great. No pressure."
I glanced back at the door of Hall C.
"By the way," I asked, trying to keep up with her power-walking. "Who were those girls? Trainees?"
Chae-rin glanced at me sideways. "Why are you interested? Did you like one of them?"
She let out a dry chuckle.
"Don't even think about it. Only in your dreams, San."
"I was just asking!"
"They are," Chae-rin said, pushing the elevator button. "The company has been planning a new girl group debut for years. The rumors are all over the press. You must have seen the discussions on the Kirin's Secret forum."
"I saw something about 'BABYMONSTER'?" I recalled.
"That was the working title," Chae-rin said as the elevator doors opened. "But they finalized the name recently."
She stepped inside and pressed the button for the lobby.
"BLACKPINK," she said. "But It's a secret, so be quiet."