The Unexpected 1st Place
After the accident, the filming set was in chaos.
The filming had been delayed for a long time due to the lighting equipment falling, and only after the cleanup could filming resume.
Of course, the atmosphere in the waiting room wasn't good either. The trainees weren't enjoying themselves comfortably but seemed uneasy in some way.
Even in this disorganized situation, my thoughts didn't stop. The words Won Ji-an had said earlier kept lingering in my mind.
'He said he wanted to live, right, definitely.'
It was an unstable appearance, but he said he wanted to live because of me.
Still, I thought it was okay to consider that he had improved compared to before. Before, there was a strong feeling that he had given up because he didn't want to live, but now that he had a will to survive...
'That alone should be enough.'
Just the desire to live is enough. With that, we can start over.
It was a situation that felt like I was going crazy, but I didn't want to give up.
Even if it meant doing everything I could, I was determined to give it my all.
After all the performances, the trainees gathered for the final results announcement.
Actually, I had long since let go of my feelings about the results. There was a desire to change the original novel's plot where the lowest score team would be eliminated, but since things had turned out this way, I had resigned myself to it.
In this situation, I didn't want to be obsessed with whether to get high or low scores.
'I just want to think that I got a meaningful result today by hearing Won Ji-an's answer.'
The words 'I want to live' — I had waited for that one sentence for a very long time.
We could start over. Starting with the desire to live, we could reach a future that seemed impossible.
I wanted to convey that.
"Then, let's announce the results."
The host who participated as special MC today began his first line.
The set was definitely calmer than usual. The host's voice was also much more subdued than at the opening.
"First, let's announce the ranking for 3rd place."
So began the result announcement.
Our team was waiting for the result announcement with heads lowered.
What rank would we get? Despite the situation that felt like going crazy, we had been holding on to the brink of quitting and trying hard...
'Even if not Benefit's, as long as we avoid the last place, that would be good.'
Thinking that, I still had hope for Benefit's.
If we get a good score in the on-site vote and get Benefit's, we can slightly increase our score in the next surprise ranking.
'Won Ji-an needs Benefit's.'
A precarious 10th place rank. The rank has been dropping without reason due to the misfortune handed over from me.
So, this time, if we get Benefit's, it will work to our advantage somehow.
'Please...'
It had only been a few minutes since I thought I didn't want to obsess over scores, but I was secretly praying in my heart.
As the host continued announcing, two teams remained.
Surprisingly, the remaining two teams were the team with Lee Hae-won and our team.
By the way, the team with Lee Hae-won is the team that would rank 1st in the original novel.
That is, our team, which was originally the lowest score, had risen to the 1st place candidates alongside them.
'Ah, it's changed again.'
While thinking that avoiding last place would be fortunate, becoming a 1st place candidate made me secretly hope for more.
Glancing sideways, I saw Won Ji-an staring straight ahead with a blank expression.
"Then, let's announce the 1st place."
In the tense atmosphere, all eyes were focused.
The other trainees also seemed curious about who among us would be 1st.
"The team that records the highest score in the on-site vote for this new song battle mission and takes the glory of 1st place is..."
The host's mouth opened.
"Congratulations, Clover Team!"
At the moment the team's name was called, I thought my heart was dropping.
Looking beside me, as expected, the team members also reacted similarly. They looked dumbfounded, as if they couldn't believe it.
"Wow, really?"
"Really, we're 1st?"
"Isn't it a mistake? It must be that we're really 1st?"
One member, too surprised, even stumbled over his words. The reactions were ones I hadn't expected.
Actually, there had been many bumpy days since the first practice, so the result was set aside, and the meaning was only in completing the mission.
In such a situation, getting an unexpected 1st place would warrant a moment of buffering. I was surprised too.
"Um, first..."
The leader Jeong Hui-min picked up the microphone and expressed his 1st place feelings.
"Really, thank you."
His voice had a slight tremble, as if the mental suffering had been heavy.
Seeing this side after seeing only the emotionless appearance, what to say? It was a refreshing and surprising feeling.
"I want to say thank you to our team members who worked hard for today, and above all, to Hyeon-min hyung who isn't here now. I hope he recovers soon."
As the leader, Jeong Hui-min mentioned Yoon Hyeon-min who was absent.
Currently, Yoon Hyeon-min is being taken to the hospital, leaving a spot empty in the team.
Actually, thinking about how much grief Yoon Hyeon-min's erratic actions had caused during practice, Jeong Hui-min was even more amazing.
Still, since we got a good result, it's fortunate, but if the result had been worse, I wonder what expression he would have made.
"Do Won-woo trainee. You got 1st place, how are you feeling right now?"
Then the question was tossed to me from leader Jeong Hui-min.
"Um..."
Right now, my feelings.
Actually, I'm dazed.
I had vowed to change it with my own hands, but to really get 1st place.
I experienced too many things today, so my emotions are on a rollercoaster.
The waves of emotion changed too rapidly, and it was overwhelming to follow.
Anyway, for now, just getting Benefit's gives me relief.
Not just Won Ji-an, but this Benefit's will help the relatively lower ranked Jeong Hui-min and other trainees.
"First, I want to say thank you to our team members who worked hard without any breaks."
Saying that, I looked around at the team members.
Won Ji-an was still expressionless, but he seemed better than before.
Did Won Ji-an see hope? Hope that he could overcome any misfortune and debut anytime.
"And if it weren't for Hyeon-min hyung, it would have been difficult. He contributed the most ideas for the team, and as a leader, he always had to endure a lot of hardship to lead the team."
As said, Jeong Hui-min did play a big role in the team.
In a way, the experimental concept and song might be divisive, but through many opinions and ideas, he found the right boundaries.
"Thank you, hyung."
"...No, I'm the one who should be thanking you."
Jeong Hui-min, feeling embarrassed by my words, rolled his eyes.
Jeong Hui-min also has a somewhat cute side, hiding his emotions, but he shows them straightforwardly.
'I can't believe how many people misunderstand that his first impression is scary.'
Now, he just looks like a grumpy cat...
"With this Clover Team that achieved 1st place, Benefit's will be given."
With that, the host's last line ended the filming.
After finishing filming, I dragged my tired body back to the dorm.
When I stood in front of the door, various noises came from inside the room.
'Who is it?'
As soon as I opened the door and entered, the trainees gathered in the room appeared.
Why so many? It seemed they had gathered around Na Jae-hyun to play.
Quickly scanning, the trainees sitting in a circle were throwing something and concentrating.
"What are you doing?"
"Air play!"
It was really air play.
"Suddenly doing air play?"
"Boring."
Since there was no phone, and nothing fun to do, someone was using the brought pebble to pass time.
Actually, not because they were good at it, but because there was nothing to do, they seemed to find meaning in just gathering and playing clumsily or with poor skill.
"Won-woo hyung."
At that moment, while I was watching with interest, Na Jae-hyun called me.
"Do you know how to play air?"
"Me? No."
I don't know how to play air. By the way, I haven't done it before.
I roughly know how, but no experience. So even if I try, I'll be terribly bad at it.
"Try it!"
But Na Jae-hyun forcibly pulled me and sat me among the trainees.
In the end, I had no choice but to participate in air play involuntarily.
But unfortunately, I didn't advance to the next stage even once, and only the same failure repeated.
"Wow, this hyung really sucks?"
Na Jae-hyun pointed mockingly, and the other trainees also laughed and teased.
'...Did I have this much popularity? When did I become friends with everyone like this.'
Na Jae-hyun seemed to have befriended all the trainees.
I had seen in the setting that his friendliness was amazing, but living together made me feel how special it was.
At that moment of admiration for Na Jae-hyun's so-called in-group power.
"But, is Hyeon-min hyung okay?"
A line thrown by someone made the room atmosphere quiet instantly.
"Ah, Hyeon-min hyung..."
"Um..."
The trainees looked at each other, making ambiguous expressions.
Why is there no such thing. If it's someone really hated who got hurt, it feels like trash to openly rejoice, and if not, it's not worth worrying.
'Maybe everyone is feeling that way...'
"It'll be fine."
"Yeah, they'll get good treatment at the hospital and be stable now."
The conversation topic quickly moved on, and the trainees, as if nothing had happened, focused on air play again.
I stared at the pebble jumping in front of me and fell into thought.
'Yoon Hyeon-min too, it'll be fine.'
From the staff, I heard he suffered a scalp-splitting injury.
Anyway, I also heard the news that Yoon Hyeon-min would drop out due to this incident.
Actually, from the staff's perspective, it was about time to send off Yoon Hyeon-min. They had used him for topic value, and the timing was when his usefulness was fading.
'Did he decide he couldn't perform on stage anymore and drop out? Or did he say he would drop out himself?'
I couldn't know the specific situation, but one thing was clear: the person who is no longer visible.
The feeling was strange. The person who tormented me so much had disappeared in a day.
'This will really be the end.'
At that moment.
"Waaaa!"
"The god of air has appeared!"
"No, how are you so good?"
Turning my head to the noisy voices of the trainees, I saw Lee Hae-won sweeping the pebble at an almost invisible speed.
At that time, Lee Hae-won, who met my eyes, showed a characteristically bright smile.
At the moment Lee Hae-won tried to catch the pebble on the back of his hand.
"Ah."
The pebble bounced off my fingertips and hit Han I-jae's forehead.
Han I-jae, after being hit, just blinked his eyes blankly, as if he didn't understand what was happening.
"......"
"......"
After a short time lag, the trainees burst into laughter.
In response, Han I-jae silently stood up to leave.
"No, hyung. Where are you going."
"You were supposed to play with us too."
Watching these scenes, I couldn't help but laugh.
Normally, I would be irritated by the noisy atmosphere, but today, this lively noise gave me a sense of stability.
'If this kind of days could continue...'
But everyone knows.
That the days when we can all gather and laugh like this are not far away.
Soon, it's the final. The end is approaching. And I have someone I must debut with.