The Final Day
The long-awaited final day.
Just before leaving the training camp, I looked around the empty room one more time.
At first, I hadn't thought the end would ever arrive. But now it feels strange. A bit queasy, almost.
“Do Won-woo.”
I turned at the voice calling my name. Won Ji-an looked unusually calm today.
I wanted to say we should debut together, but swallowed the words. I didn't want to utter such vague, meaningless things.
“Let's go.”
His face looked anxious no matter who saw it. I reached out my hand toward Won Ji-an.
All I could do was stay by Won Ji-an's side.
“...Yeah.”
A tremor was felt in the clasped hands.
What was clear was that at the end of this journey, we both felt the same emotions.
The final was being broadcast live.
Because it was live, there was tension different from usual.
Although rehearsals were done, choreography and singing memorized, there was still trembling in the body. It was unavoidable that multiple emotions mixed and coexisted.
Someone might think I had no reason to be anxious or tense because my rank was high and debut was confirmed.
From the outside, it would seem so.
But the moment the saying that what you see isn't everything hits bone-deep.
“If Won Ji-an doesn't debut, he'll disappear from this world forever. And if I don't get final 1st, the chance to save Won Ji-an will vanish like bubbles.”
I bit my lip.
Everything today would be decided.
While getting makeup in the waiting room, Lee Hae-won spoke from beside me.
“Finally the final.”
Lee Hae-won looked brightly smiling without knowing anything.
“Yeah, that's right.”
It wasn't that I didn't understand that cheerfulness. Because he was in the safe zone. He probably thought nothing would drop.
Actually, the trainees in the safe zone would be full of excitement. Today they would finally debut.
Someone might think he's arrogant, but at this point, thinking he might not be confirmed for debut itself would seem like deception.
“Yeah, I get the excitement. I know you can be like that because you don't know my position.”
But I couldn't help but feel resentful toward Lee Hae-won who was so cheerfully bright.
It was inevitable. Lee Hae-won was like that from the beginning.
“Are you okay?”
Meanwhile, Kwon Hak-jin approached and asked if I was okay.
“Me?”
“Yeah.”
“Just, I'm fine. I guess I'm a bit tense because it's the final.”
I was managing my expression so well he wouldn't notice.
It seemed he noticed my subtly dark expression. I knew he was the type with good intuition, but every time he asked like this, I was occasionally surprised.
I don't know. Wanting him not to notice my intuition but hoping he does, it feels strangely self-contradictory.
“Hyung is fine too, right?”
Kwon Hak-jin had received a precarious rank in the last ranking announcement.
“Same 9th place as the 2nd ranking announcement.”
Originally, his fate should have risen to top ranks in the latter half, but with the world's freedom increasing, Kwon Hak-jin's fate was becoming unpredictable.
Other trainees were the same. Who would be in the debut group and who would drop was unknown.
“I feel like I'm going crazy.”
But in this situation, there was no luxury to worry about other trainees.
“Still……”
Even in this situation, hoping that the people I cherish don't drop is greed, right?
Knowing that for Won Ji-an to debut, one of them had to drop.
“Hyung really is fine, right?”
“Um, I'm fine.”
Kwon Hak-jin smiled as if it was nothing. The same smile as mine.
“Right. This side is also a person who excels at expression management.”
Looking at such Kwon Hak-jin, I felt like my insides were burning.
If 9th place Kwon Hak-jin drops, Won Ji-an can be in the debut group. But is that really okay?
“No, I can't rule out the possibility of picking one more at the end.”
But it's unknown.
If they pick one more, the program side might have given a hint through news in advance, but they reported that the final members are nine, so it seems confirmed.
“I don't know, right. I know nothing.”
While biting my nails anxiously, Kwon Hak-jin tilted his head.
Before the live broadcast started.
The huge crowd gathered in the concert hall was already felt.
To be honest, waiting for the ranking announcement felt like waiting for a death sentence. In such a situation, with live broadcast, it was even more nerve-wracking.
“Won-woo.”
Before going on stage, Won Ji-an said while looking at me.
“Won-woo. You know? The words I said back then. Remember them well.”
That words about not to blame yourself too much even if you do something wrong.
If it were as easy as the words say, it would be the best, but if Won Ji-an does wrong, what happens to me?
“...Definitely.”
Too vague and meaningless, the words I didn't want to say.
That was the moment the words "let's debut together" lingered in my mouth.
“Please prepare to go up!”
With the staff's words, that word was pushed away like the tide.
When I stood on stage, the audience spread out in front of me came into view. I had performed in front of the field evaluation team while doing missions, but this was the first time performing on stage in front of so many people.
― ♩♪♫~
The lights turned on, and the familiar yet tiresome intro flowed out.
― In the world hidden away
Darkness covers the light
Can't see even an inch ahead
Like being trapped in a long tunnel
With the stage starting, the people's cheering voices tore my ears.
― The mysterious door opens
A new world is here in front of me
Now it's time to get to know me
Now say my name
Although it was a situation where my mind was going to explode, I still gave my best.
Because I was the center, and position was position, if I made a mistake, it would definitely stand out more than others.
― Endless waiting
A game I've never won once
Beyond the limits set by the world
Like a new one that breaks through after struggle
With the group choreography continuing, flames rose with the stage effects.
― I fly up, up, up,
Another burst of cheers. And I met eyes with Han I-jae standing beside me.
His face slightly smiling toward me. At the moment our eyes met, I also smiled nonchalantly and continued dancing.
With the last flame bursting, the opening stage ended with the ending cut.
While the vote guide and VCR came out, I quickly moved to the waiting room to change clothes for the next stage.
Because it was the final and live, everything flowed quickly.
After opening, the main final mission stage unfolded. The first stage was team, and we were second in order.
“I hope it ends safely without any accidents.”
Thinking that, I met Hyeon Si-woo who came out after changing clothes.
“Fighting.”
At my words, Hyeon Si-woo nodded his head and waved his hand as he passed.
Won Ji-an coming behind also showed. He was smiling as if okay.
“There is no way he's okay.”
Won Ji-an probably felt the same as waiting for a death sentence, but he seemed not to show it outwardly.
“Do well and come back. Without regrets.”
That was all the words I could say.
The standing seats were boiling with people who came to watch the final performance.
And with lights turning on, the performance started. As soon as I saw the trainees standing on stage before the intro, cheers erupted.
― ♩♪♫~
Soon, a refreshing yet lyrical intro flowed.
And with the heartbeat sound, the arms of the trainees standing on stage moved, creating a wave-like flow.
― I don't want to believe
Now it's time for us to part
With the verse part starting, the explosive cheers subsided once, and the atmosphere became focused on the stage for a moment.
― Remember my name in the ending credits
So that this time remains as eternal memory
Hyeon Si-woo standing at the center of the stage did the choreography with a circle.
Compared to the first time where he couldn't dance properly right after rehab, it was a huge growth. It was to the point where I couldn't remember the first appearance.
― It was like a movie
Not like a protagonist
Time is colorless like falling cherry blossoms
My spring becomes ashes in the burning summer
Next, Lee Hae-won and Jeong Hui-min sequentially handled the parts.
With clear and clean tones combined, it created a beautiful feeling.
― Is it a sad ending
My heart is still beating
The time to say goodbye
I disappear like fireworks
The stage screen with cherry blossoms flying was dyed with fireworks.
Before the screen where fireworks were unfolding, Won Ji-an danced with a curve.
― Our last is
It will be a shining happy ending
The screen was filled with Won Ji-an's smiling face.
Like announcing the last was approaching, colorful flower petals flew.
― Thank you
For dyeing my blue heart red
The faintly embedded heartbeat sound behind the music grew louder.
― Thank you
For being with me
In the last part, the heartbeat sound slowed. And the trainees standing on stage collapsed overlapping each other's bodies.
The lights turned off, and one last flame burst and disappeared on the screen.
The next team's VCR showing the practice process came out, and the teams that finished the previous stage returned to the waiting room.
Coming out of the corridor, I met Won Ji-an. His face looked refreshingly happy.
“No regrets.”
“Then that's good.”
With that, other trainees who came after Won Ji-an extended their hands to me.
They did high-five in order and moved their feet for the next stage.
There were trainees crying. Probably thinking this might be the last.
But I didn't want to cry. I didn't want to act like everything was already over. So I tried to hold back my heart.
“If I get 1st place, even if Won Ji-an doesn't debut, I can save him.”
My mind was full of thoughts.
“And even if I ranked 10th in the ranking announcement, Won Ji-an might debut in the debut group like a miracle at the end. I don't know that.”
It was cruel hope torture.
But no one knows how the plot of this novel will change.
I clenched my fist and went up to the stage.