Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: The First Evaluation
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Gasping for breath, I stopped in my tracks.
My heart was still pounding furiously, as if it had malfunctioned.
While the music was playing, I hadn't paid any mind to the judges' expressions, but now I could.
I could clearly see the eyes of those watching Lee Ho-jun and me.
My lips grew dry with tension, not knowing what the judges would say.
“We enjoyed your performance. Your synergy was better than any other pair we've seen so far.”
At the judge's words, I exchanged a joyful glance with Lee Ho-jun.
A promising start.
“However, Yoon-seul, there's something I'd like to ask you.”
“Yes.”
“During the slow turn, you put your weight on the balls of your feet. From what I saw, it seemed like you could have easily balanced on your toes before turning.”
An astute question.
For a moment, I could see why he was chosen as a judge for this program.
“Your fundamentals seemed more solid than any other contestant I've seen so far. Your choreography memorization is perfect, too. But in that one part, it felt like you were suddenly holding back, so to speak?”
The judge's eyes glinted sharply.
“I remembered how you mentioned in a previous evaluation that synergy was important. Since we practiced together, we knew which parts were difficult for each other. Besides, it had been a long time since I'd synchronized with someone else. Unexpectedly, I found it incredibly enjoyable. This performance was a reminder of how joyful it is to stand on stage, perfectly in sync with someone.”
The judge nodded as if he had nothing more to say and put down the microphone.
“We enjoyed your performance.”
Next, the female judge picked up her microphone.
“It was a very polished performance. Your synergy was great, too. But if there's one thing I found lacking…”
I expected that we wouldn't only receive good feedback.
So, I didn't feel my heart drop or anything like that.
“I think because you focused so much on the fundamentals, your individual charms didn't really come through. You're both contestants with a magnetic appeal, but I couldn't see it.”
Honestly, that's the hardest criticism to hear.
You have to show your charm without standing out too much.
On a typical idol stage, you have your own parts where you can show off your charm, but this mission is different.
There are no separate parts; you sing and dance together from start to finish. One wrong move, and we would surely be criticized for a lack of synergy, just like the other contestants before us.
‘I guess this is the problem I'll have to solve during this mission.’
Strictly speaking, this is just a preliminary mission.
The main mission is something else.
‘The main mission was to film videos for each grade and compare the view counts.’
[You may now return to your seats.]
A white sketchbook was held up.
Lee Ho-jun and I bowed and returned to our seats.
As the next pair quickly came out to set up their stage, I was lost in thought.
‘Which grade took first place again?’
I don't remember exactly, but Grade A took first, and Grade F was next.
I remember Grade B being last.
[Now I see why Grade A is Grade A. They're so good. I started watching the Grade F video expecting a comedy show since I thought they'd be bad, but I was so moved. Why are they so good? I couldn't believe they were Grade F. In contrast, what's up with Grade B? How much of a train wreck was it for them to air something like that?]
↳I know, right? It was absurd. For a second, I thought the production team made a mistake and mislabeled the grade.
↳LMAO, Grade B was the real comedy. Like... what are you guys doing?
↳The Grade B guys were hilarious. I laughed so hard I spat out my water. The most ridiculous part is that they all did well during their two-person evaluations.
There were a lot of posts like that on social media.
‘But why did Grade B turn out like that?’
No matter how hard I wracked my brain, I couldn't remember, and it was frustrating.
‘Why can't I remember that one specific thing?’
If my grade were to drop and I had to go to Grade B, I'd know there was a problem but have no way to solve it.
So I desperately wished and prayed.
That I could stay in Grade A.
* * *
Before long, every contestant had finished their mission.
But no one had received their new grade.
The staff moved us to a practice room and just told us to wait.
“You'll stay in Grade A. Even if you drop, B will be the lowest you go, so don't worry.”
As I sat leaning against the wall, lost in thought, Lee Ho-jun came over and offered me some comfort.
Completely unaware that I was secretly praying not to drop to Grade B.
‘I'd rather drop to C. B is the path to ridicule.’
I'd received countless mocking and critical comments, but they were about my personality, not my skills.
It was very rare for even them to say anything about my skills.
[Seo Yoon-seul is crazy good. Is this what they call a devil's talent?]
↳Devil's talent is the perfect description.
↳Isn't his singing insane? The harmony is crazy. And how are his high notes so effortless?
↳He seems so tenacious; his skills keep improving. At first, he was a decent singer who could just keep up with the dancing without standing out, but did he do nothing but practice...?
Because of that, I was confident in my skills.
‘If I were to be ridiculed for my skills, I don't think I could bear it.’
The grades were already decided, and worrying wouldn't change anything. I calmed myself down and pushed the thoughts away.
“Anyway, you don't have to be so formal with me.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course.”
After getting confirmation one more time, Lee Ho-jun gave a faint smile and sat down next to me.
“Thanks for saying you had fun earlier.”
“Huh?”
It wasn't something that warranted thanks, so I couldn't hide my bewildered expression.
“To be honest, I was on really bad terms with the members of my last group. If we had been popular, there would have been major discord rumors.”
Lee Ho-jun's candid story continued.
“It wasn't bad at first. But when we saw no hope no matter how hard we tried, things started to fall apart. We'd get sensitive over the smallest things, and eventually, our feelings festered, and we fought every day. The dorm was never quiet.”
I know that situation all too well.
I've been through it twice, after all.
“It's a miracle we were never reported for noise complaints.”
His voice was calm, but his words were laced with a bit of humor.
“After the group failed, I swore I'd never be an idol again, but when I got the casting call, my heart started racing. That's when I knew. I still had lingering attachments. But I was worried, too. I kept thinking about all the hurt from the past.”
Everyone participating in this program probably feels the same.
Having hoped once and failed, they tried to pretend they were over it and turned their backs, but when given another chance, they must have felt both fear and desperation.
“But when you said you had fun, it made me think maybe I was worrying for nothing. It brought back old memories, too. So, thank you.”
Lee Ho-jun gave me a slight shrug.
Just as I parted my lips to say something, the production crew came in.
“Thank you for waiting.”
The contestants, who had been sitting and resting comfortably, all tensed up.
“We will now reveal the new grades.”
A heavy tension filled the air.
‘It seems like this atmosphere will continue until the filming for RED CUBE is over.’
“I'll hand out the results one by one, so please come forward when your name is called.”
“Yes.”
The staff member deliberately dragged it out, moving incredibly slowly. As if in slow motion.
“First, Choi Jung-woon.”
At last, names began to be called.
“Don't check it right away. Just hold on to it.”
“Yes.”
Before Choi Jung-woon could even return to his seat, the staff member called another name.
“Seo Yoon-seul.”
And just like that, my name was called not long after.
I got up from my seat and received a card-like object.
Lee Ho-jun gently tapped my knee with his hand, as if to tell me not to worry.
“Lee Ho-jun.”
Immediately after, Lee Ho-jun's name was called.
Lee Ho-jun shot up from his seat and went to get his grade card.
I gave him a slight nod, also meaning that it would be okay.
And so, ten contestants now held the same kind of card in their hands.
“You may open them now.”
It's just opening a card. Why is it this nerve-wracking?
[Overall Grade: A]
The moment I saw my grade, a smile spread across my face.
“See? What did I tell you?”
“What about you?”
At my question, Lee Ho-jun proudly showed me his card.
[Overall Grade: A]
I saw the exact same letters as on mine.
“That's great.”
“It's all thanks to your help.”
In that moment, I remembered that Lee Ho-jun was one of the members who successfully re-debuted through RED CUBE.
‘Why did I forget that?’
I must have missed it because I had too much on my mind.
A total of five members ended up debuting in RE-V.
Haru, Lee Ho-jun, Jung Eun-woo, Park Ji-ham, and Kang Ju-hyeok.
‘But what if, by some chance, I succeed in re-debuting because I know the future? What happens to one of the others?’
At first, I was so envious of those words telling me to just walk a flower path.
I thought that if I heard that kind of encouragement, I could give up on this path with a peaceful heart.
But that wasn't it.
It hasn't even been a full day since I came here, yet all I've been thinking about is climbing higher.
Isn't that why I deliberately set things up for the malicious editing?
The desire to stand on stage again, the desire to be loved this time—it had crept up on me without my realizing.
‘If that happens, am I stealing someone's spot?’
RE-V becomes the most beloved male idol group.
The kind of group whose songs play everywhere you go, who are the number one booking for university festivals, and who win first place every time they release a song.
If I were to steal that successful future using the advantage of knowing what's to come, I felt like it would weigh on my conscience forever.
“What's wrong? Are you sick or something?”
“No. I just have a lot on my mind.”
Fortunately, Lee Ho-jun didn't press me further.
And so, with a complicated heart, I began practicing in earnest for the main mission.