Glancing at the Cue Sheet
Glancing at the cue sheet, Joo Seong-hwan cleared his throat and bellowed with all his might.
"Alright, now for the moment we've all been waiting for! Between Rockwon and Black Label, it's time to announce who advances to the quarterfinals!"
Joo Seong-hwan shot a quick glance at Rockwon. They exchanged knowing looks, as if they'd rehearsed it. Rockwon flashed a sly grin and subtly raised a thumbs-up behind his back. Joo Seong-hwan gave a slight nod and made the announcement.
"The winner of this matchup is Rooooockwoooon! Congratulations!"
Boom! Confetti exploded from the studio ceiling like a bomb. Petals rained down. Won Ji-min held out her palm. A few flakes drifted onto it.
No feeling at all.
"...What?"
Just moments ago, it had been clear. Clear as day—we had the edge. Why?
She scanned the judges' table. They were all smirking. From Jay-Q, who'd showered them with praise, to Bitboy. Every one of them looked down at Seo Hyun-woo and Black Label with that same sleazy smile.
"And now..."
Joo Seong-hwan delivered the final blow.
"The winner advances to the quarterfinals. But what awaits the losers?"
Victor Rockwon calmly stepped off the stage. The moment he was clear, iron bars shot up in a flash. Startled, Seo Hyun-woo grabbed the towering bars and screamed.
"What the—h-hey, let us out!!"
Joo Seong-hwan didn't bat an eye. No one in the studio did. They all stared at them impassively—or worse, snickered.
His words cold as ice despite the hype: "Only the fiercest hellfire imaginable."
Creeeak. The stage beneath their feet began to rise. Positioned like a bizarre aquarium tank, it gave the audience a perfect view of the spectacle.
Clang. A earth-shaking vibration hit, and the floor split open. The platform cracked precisely in half, revealing the hatch. Blazing heat surged up from the furnace below. Seo Hyun-woo and the Black Label members plunged in with a splash.
Forms indistinguishable in the flames. Seo Hyun-woo sank, thumbs-up the only thing visible.
Bitboy grabbed the mic.
"Black Label cannot join us."
With those words, even Won Ji-min—hanging from the pillar—dropped into the inferno.
Hot...?
No, cold. The hellfire she'd expected burned colder than ice.
"Uwaaaah!"
Won Ji-min bolted upright.
"See? Told you it'd work. This one's a surefire hit for you, Ji-min unnie."
Won Ji-min whipped around, taking in her surroundings. Not the roaring flames. Hye-soo held a cup of water, swirling it playfully.
"N-not hell?"
"Unnie, what are you talking about? Hell? What kinda dream was that?"
Open suitcases littered the floor, single beds crammed into the cramped room. She glanced at her palms, still white from clenching.
"...Just a dream."
Back to the familiar reality. Hye-soo turned to Ray.
"It is hell, though. I couldn't sleep a wink 'cause of your snoring."
"M-me? Snore? I slept like a princess in the woods—dead quiet."
"You slept deep, sure. Just not quiet."
Hye-soo flailed her arms wildly, mimicking Ray's sleep habits and fake-slashing her own throat.
"Guh. Waking up to a neck slice mid-sleep? Brutal."
"I did that?"
"We share a bed, and it wasn't me. Was it you?"
Ray blinked her big round eyes.
"Coulda been you."
"Huh...? Me choking myself?"
Ray nodded solemnly. Words failed her. Arguing further would just tire her out. Shaking her head, Hye-soo turned to Won Ji-min.
"Unnie, get up already."
Hye-soo shone her phone screen. It was already noon—not the time she was pointing at.
"Oppa’s been blowing up my phone. Says come down quick."
"Huh?"
Hye-soo thumbed toward the window.
"Gotta head to the company."
"Company?"
Hye-soo nodded.
"Yeah. Vacation week started today, right?"
The break kicked off, and G&X Entertainment summoned Black Label like ghosts. "Vacation" in name only. With ample footage banked, the production team was buying editing time. Agencies with breakout stars rushed back for the ad deluge. The "vacation" label? Just sweet talk to soothe restless souls like theirs.
G&X was tame compared to others.
"Pop in at the company, show face. Oppa's asking if we're heading home or back to the dorm."
Dorm? Home? Leaving...?
Us...?
"That dream I had... it wasn't a dream?"
Won Ji-min rubbed her face furiously, then slapped her cheeks to snap out of it.
"We got eliminated?"
"Eliminated? From what? Heaven's Assembly?"
Hye-soo shook her head.
"Unnie, what're you on about? Why would we get cut? We'd be bawling, not cracking up."
Ray piled on.
"This a smile? Looks like a face begging for a smack."
"Wanna test that?"
Topic shift. Ray scratched her chin, then shot her hand up.
"Home for me! Mom's homemade Godzilla chicken nuggets sound bomb. Nah... or just flop at the dorm. Mom's nuggets vs. no-nag bliss. Tough call."
After agonizing, Ray picked home. Won Ji-min decided quick.
"Dorm for me."
Hye-soo tallied votes and fired off a group chat message. Manager replied instantly; she shot Ray a warning.
"Hey, maknae. This ain't just manager oppa—it's me too. No spoilers at home about passing or failing next round. Family or not."
Ray zipped her lips with two fingers.
"Don't worry, unnie. I'm Ichon-dong padlock. Lips sealed tight."
"Oh yeah? Heavy lock, huh? Never seen a lighter one. More like a megaphone."
Ray turned to Won Ji-min.
"Unnie, Hye-soo unnie's bullying me. Scold her."
Won Ji-min stroked Ray's hair.
"No fighting. Play nice."
Outside the window Hye-soo had gestured to, droves of eliminated contestants waited for rides, bags and suitcases in tow. Black Label's cases? Wide open. No packing needed.
They hadn't dropped out.
Despite her plea for peace, the two still bickered. Won Ji-min mulled over the dream.
"Right. That was just a dream."
Dragging her slippers, hands jammed in her training pants pockets, she sauntered along. I side-eyed the dorm building. Suitcases already piled up by doors. Tons of luggage. Not just one or two rooms. Every other door. From 16 to 8 finalists—half the contestants out meant over half the stuff cleared out. Some rooms so packed with gear, the hallway was blocked.
The longer it went, the weirder the vibe. Rooms emptied, people filed out with varied reactions. Some raged and cursed, barred from more airtime. Others grinned like this guy.
"Falcon? Or Seo Hyun-woo now?"
I turned. Rockwon shut his door, greeting me.
"Rough night?"
I followed his gaze upward. Bedhead. I yanked my hood over it late.
"Slept fine. Great, even—hence the hair. You look like you crashed hard too."
From head to toe, perfectly tousled. Rockwon chuckled.
"Slept like a baby. Free at last."
"Pardon?"
Surprised by my reaction, he tilted his head.
"What? Wasn't the pressure killing you? I was suffocating."
Rockwon laughed. Had he never aimed to win from the start?
He shot that down.
"Wanted to win, sure. Keep hitting stages. But off-stage, back here?"
He tapped the door he'd just closed.
"Dunno why, but it kills the fun."
He pouted.
"Not my usual self in there. Feels like I shrink. So I pondered. How to shake this funk?"
He set down his suitcase, propped his chin.
"Gotta drop out. Quick elimination means afternoon stage time."
He smacked his head.
"That's what hit me."
Clap. Rockwon stretched like loosening up, rubbing his hands and shaking his head.
"But as you know, I couldn't lose. Kept winning. So I waited. For someone to crush me."
"That was us?"
"Well... sorta."
He trailed off, raising a finger.
"Dunno for sure. But one thing: I didn't throw it. Gave my all."
Good enough. The ego scratch? Not a scratch—just dust. Brushed it off.
"You seem unfazed."
"Like you said—I'm the composer."
Not the onstage player. Still felt the thrill, stage or not.
Rockwon clapped.
"Right! Composer's a composer. My bad."
He offered a handshake.
"Congrats on quarters anyway. Great match. Sincere."
Rockwon grabbed his suitcase and turned.
"Take care. Catch you later. Wanna see you shine outside too."