"Kim Chang-Min. We actually met a couple of times in the past." The manager replied to her.
Elena went into her memories but didn't find anything about him, although she had a vague impression that both of them knew each other.
The manager explained, "I joined the company as an intern manager five years ago." The manager replied. "For AOE."
"Ah! I see…" Elena had a realization, but still wasn't able to remember him. "I'm sorry…"
"It's alright. I heard from your mother that you woke up recently from a coma. Are you completely recovered, right now?"
"Vegetative state, actually. Not coma." Elena clarified and then nodded, "Yeah. Both my voice and my body are fine…"
Just then, their conversation was interrupted by a low-pitched voice. "Noona, you haven't told me the details yet."
As soon as her sister was free, Dajun abandoned her group mates and sat beside her. "Noona, so, you are really going to treasure campus? Everyone is talking about it. The camp is for three months, right? You get to be coached by three top producers in the nation."
"If I make it to the top 50…" Elena replied with a sigh. "Former trainees will have it hard in this survival show."
*
At a certain apartment located in the Seongdong district of Seoul, five people are playing a game that's similar to the Strawberry game.
The difference is that everyone will choose a dish to represent themselves.
The game started with eight of them. Six boys, their manager, and finally, Elena. Now, only five of them are left.
Meanwhile, her mother is busy in the kitchen with Ye-jun and Si-woo, who are actually helping out with the cutting as if they were making themselves at home, while her own daughter is playing a game here in the living room.
A cameraman is shooting them.
"Let's eat yum yum…" "Let's eat yum yum…" "1, 2, 3, 4…"
*Tap* *Clap* "Kimchi, five." Elena started the game.
"Kimchi, Kimchi, Kimchi, Kimchi, Kimchi…" *Tap* *Clap* "Samgyetang, eight…" Ye-chan, who chose Kimchi as the representative word, finished his turn perfectly and threw the ball into Elena's court in return.
"Samgyetang, Samgyetang, Samgyetang, Samgyetang, Samgyetang, Samgyetang, Samgyetang, Samgyetang…" *Tap* *Clap* "Bibimbap, two." Elena finished the eight beats and then, pointed her finger at Dajun.
"Bibim…" "Bibimbap…" At the same time, Dajun and Soo-hyun spoke at the same time and froze.
"Yah! That's mine…" Soo-hyun complained while Dajun shut his mouth.
As the rest of them laughed, Elena spoke, "You are out, tofu…"
"Dajun-ssi, you are out." The producer's voice can be heard from behind.
Four of them left.
"Let's eat yum yum…" "Let's eat yum yum…" "1, 2, 3, 4…"
*Tap* *Clap* "Patbingsu, six…" Being the one who eliminated Dajun from the game, she started again by pointing it at Soo-hyun.
"Patbingsu, Patbingsu, Patbingsu, Patbingsu, Patbingsu, Patbingsu…" *Tap* *Clap* "Bulgogi, seven…" Soo-hyun pointed at Elena.
"Bulgogi, Bulgogi, Bulgogi, Bulgogi, Bulgogi, Bulgogi, Bulgogi…" *Tap* *Clap* "Samgyetang, three…" Na-joon pointed at Elena.
.
.
.
"Samgyetang, Samgyetang, Samgyetang, Samgyetang, Samgyetang…" *Tap* *Clap*, "Kimchi, four…" Elena showed three fingers, looking at Ye-chan.
But, he wasn't fooled and successfully continued…
Eventually, Na-joon and Soo-hyun got eliminated. Soo-hyun sat on the couch to play with his phone. The rest of them just sat on the side, watching the shoot.
Only Ye-chan and Elena remained in the game.
"Okay, final round…" In the background, the Producer's voice was heard while the cameraman focused on both of them.
*Brrring*
Suddenly, someone pressed the calling bell. Elena stopped and glanced towards the door to see who came around at this time, since they were also not expecting any guests.
"Elena-ssi…" The producer called her out, reminding her they are still in the shoot. While the manager went and opened the door, Elena continued with the game.
"Let's eat yum yum…" "Let's eat yum yum…" "1, 2, 3, 4…"
*Tap* *Clap* "Samgyetang, three…" Ye-chan started this round.
"Samgyetang, Samgyetang, Samgyetang…" *Tap* *Clap* "Kimchi, seven…"
"Kimchi, Kimchi, Kimchi, Kimchi, Kimchi, Kimchi, Kimchi…" *Tap* *Clap* "Samgyetang, six…" Ye-chan perfectly recounted the word seven times nonstop, increasing the pace.
Just then, Dajun suddenly stood up and greeted the guest, "So-woo-Hyung…"
"Samgyetang, Samgyetang, Samgyetang, eh?" Upon hearing So-woo's name, Elena's concentration was lost at a critical timing and she tightly shut her eyes and lowered her head, "You win…"
Ye-chan raised his arms with a wide smile like a kid, "Yay…" And the producer handed him a Hanwoo beef set as a present.
Elena couldn't care less about losing a game. She stood up and turned around to see that her possible ex-boyfriend was at home, but not at a good time.
"Sunbae…" Elena greeted with a light bow, while he did the same in return, glancing at everyone.
Before Elena asks for the reason, So-woo spoke as he pointed his index finger to the ceiling, "My friend lives at 401. She asked me a favor to take a look at her grandmother… Since I'm here, I thought of dropping by to say hello. Didn't expect you to be busy…"
"It's alright. I think I'm finished with the shooting," Elena replied politely before looking at the producer, "right?"
The producer nodded, "Ah! Yes. Thank you for your cooperation with today's shooting."
"Sorry for interrupting," She lightly bowed to the guys and the crew. Then, he looked at Elena, "5 minutes? I'll be downstairs."
After saying that, So-woo bowed to them again and left the apartment.
Elena also bowed to them and walked towards the exit.
Na-joon, who was sitting beside Dajun, whispered, "Who is that guy?"
Dajun whispered in his ear, "My sister's senior when she's in middle school and her ex-boyfriend. He's a doctor, by the way."
"Doctor? Seriously? Man, he is so tall, and she went out with him…" Na-joon couldn't help but enviously complain. "I'm no match at all…"
"What do you mean by that?" Dajun suddenly frowned, narrowing her eyes.
"Uhh…" Na-joon closed his mouth and hurriedly said. "Nothing. He has an enviable physique."
Meanwhile, Elena came downstairs and saw So-woo waiting for her.
"Sorry." Before Elena opens her mouth, So-woo quickly apologized to her first before continuing, "I heard from Dajun. I didn't know that some of your memories were missing. I thought I was too rude to reply like that."
"Say… Uhh… Sunbae…" Elena's heart started to beat fast all of a sudden as she was about to ask a question to confirm whether they were really a couple before she met with an accident.
Elena can't help but curse herself. 'Damn. C'mon, Elena, you aren't past Elena. You can't get excited by this guy of all people, no matter what… but he is just…'
As she looked at him again, his face, his tall figure, his charming smile… her heartbeat rose again…
"Hmm? What is it?" So-woo asked, looking at her curiously as Elena suddenly stopped speaking.
"Ah! It's nothing. I'm wondering whether we are closer in the past…" Elena finally got out with the sentence she was holding out for a while. "Are we just friends? Or is there more..."
"Well…"