A K-pop Idol 53

The following days were exhausting for "Sweet Dolls". They had to record the final version of the group's first single, "Sumer Love", besides the other songs that would be part of their EP. Also, they spent many hours rehearsing the choreography of song and, after a few days, they started singing and dancing at the same time, because they would need do this in the group presentations. Finally, they had more training on how to pose for photo shoots, and how to behave in the presence of fans and journalists.

Alex was the most demanded during this kind of training since he would need to assume a completely new identity. As a public person, he couldn't make any mistakes, no matter how small, or some journalist might suspect something, which could end in a disaster. The record label's staff seemed determined to take from him any trace of his former identity as an American person and, without them knowing that, they were also removing the last vestiges of his manhood.

One of his instructors always said: "You have to think like Kim Hana. You have to act like Kim Hana. You have to be Kim Hana. This isn't an act. You are a twenty years old Korean girl. You've always been Kim Hana and, for all intents and purposes, you will always be. Do you understand me, young lady?"

"Yes, ma’am" Alex always replied, feeling distressed. "I'm Kim Hana, and I’m delighted for the opportunity to become a K-Pop Idol! I’ve dreamed about this all my life!"

He also had to tell Kim Hana's life story, or better, his life story, countless times. In addition to the basic information he already knew, his instructor created some passages of life that he had to memorize and repeat comprehensively. These stories were varied and detailed, covering from the time that Kim Hana was just a little girl, when she liked to play with her dolls, until the recent months, and even included the first time she was kissed by a boy, and how much she had loved it.

After a while, some of these stories, especially the mundane ones, began to mix with his true memories, and he was having a hard time to differentiate what was real or not.

With so much going on, he barely had time to rest. That was a strenuous routine, sure, but at least it had a good side: feeling so tired all the time, he didn't even have strength to think about his situation, which made his life easier.

Another good thing was that Alex wasn't living with Park Hara anymore. After their discussion, he said to his other bandmates that living with Park Hara was being a bit tough, and that he needed a change of scenery. He didn't want to make the girls worried, which could spoil their joy, so he repeated many times that nothing serious had happened – just a few problems of coexistence.

"Yes, we know she's a difficult person” Song Yeon said. “Being her roommate isn't an easy task, and you are in this situation for a long time."

"Yeah, I mean..." Alex started, not knowing how to continue. "I love her, just like I love you all, but sometimes she can so obsessive… This is a bit tiring.”

After a brief discussion, Jun Sunhwa volunteered to be the new Park Hara's roommate, so Alex could live with Song Yeon and Choi Hyun. Obviously, Park Hara wasn't satisfied when she heard about that, but there wasn't much she could do – Alex had started to avoid her, and only talked to her when the other girls were around.

However, the feminized man would soon realize that sharing an apartment with Song Yeon and Choi Hyun wasn't as great as he had imagined...