Chapter 172
Chapter 172
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: A Dignified Finale
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“We just got here.”
“Us… us too.”
“We were just about to say hello when you arrived, Seul-bi-seonbaenim.”
Seul-bi knew all too well that without recognition, you weren't treated as a senior—you were treated like a ghost. Still, disgust welled up inside her.
“You don't get to pick and choose who you treat with respect. Did you have an easy time getting here? We all know how hard everyone's worked, so why act like this? Let's at least show some basic courtesy.”
“…That wasn't our intention. We're sorry.”
For a moment, Seul-bi wondered if she was coming off like a preachy old-timer, trying to lecture someone. But then she thought about how much she'd changed since being with Min-jun, and a small smile escaped her lips.
“Follow me.”
“Huh?”
“Yes.”
Seul-bi turned and headed for Sundy without another word, and her juniors followed awkwardly.
Sundy felt a great deal of pressure from Seul-bi's approaching group, but she tried to ignore them and continued practicing.
“Sundy-seonbaenim, hello.”
“Hello, seonbaenim!”
As Seul-bi bowed her head in greeting, the junior idols who followed her also bowed in unison.
“Uh, yeah. Thanks?”
*Crap! I should've just said, 'Yeah, hi.' Now it sounds like I'm thanking her for greeting me!*
Sundy's face flushed at her slip of the tongue.
With her elimination all but certain and no further schedules booked, Sundy's self-esteem had already hit rock bottom.
“Your last performance was amazing. Everyone on my team thinks it's ridiculous that you lost, unni.”
“Oh, uh… Thanks. But that's just how these shows are.”
“You always work so hard, seonbaenim. I'll always respect and cheer for you! I'm sure you'll do great today!”
“Ah… I've tried, but… there are so many talented people like you, Seul-bi.”
“That's not true, seonbaenim. Honestly, I really think you should have won last time. I mean it.”
“…Thank you, Seul-bi.”
Sundy gave a smile that was a mixture of bitterness and gratitude. After all the hard times she'd been through, she could easily tell that Seul-bi's comfort wasn't empty words, but genuine sincerity.
From Sundy's perspective, Seul-bi genuinely believed that she should have won.
“Well then, seonbaenim! I'm going to go report that I've arrived.”
“…Okay. You do well on stage today too, Seul-bi.”
Seul-bi made a heartfelt two-handed heart sign at Sundy before heading toward the production staff.
*She's so talented… and kind, too.*
Watching Seul-bi's retreating back, Sundy barely held back the welling tears and threw herself back into practice.
* * *
“Daepyo-nim, how am I supposed to get back by myself?”
“What do you mean, by yourself? I told you I'd talk to Crush Girl's manager. They'll give you a ride to Baekseok Station.”
“Are you telling me to take the subway from Baekseok?”
“Yeah. It looks good for a celebrity to be seen using public transportation.”
Sundy looked down at the thin jacket she was wearing, adorned with a chaotic floral pattern in pastel tones, and the short shorts that revealed the underside of her butt if she bent over even slightly.
Even for her, a veteran of the entertainment industry, it was an outfit difficult to pull off anywhere but on a set.
“…Haaah.”
“Your schedule for today is over after this anyway. And it's not like I'm doing this on purpose. I'm going to introduce Yura. If Yura does well, your income goes up too.”
“…Aren't you being too much?”
Sundy said, her expression moving past bewilderment to sheer emptiness.
“Ha, shit. Then you should've done better. I went through all the trouble to get you on the show, and you just keep getting your ass kicked.”
“Is that my fault? It's not like I failed to complete the challenges.”
“Then what is it? Regardless of your dancing skills, they're not giving you screen time because you have no charm. If anything, I'm the one who wasted a precious spot because of you. To be blunt, even if I'd put a rookie in, it wouldn't have turned out this bad.”
Sundy was now completely speechless.
She figured there was a reason the agency's CEO, who was acting as her manager, was being so reckless. A clear picture of her team's disbandment, including herself, formed in her mind, and her face went pale.
*So he's planning to end it like this. There won't be any more promotions.*
“I'm leaving your sneakers, so pack up the shoes properly and return them.”
Seul-bi and Choi Yoo-jun heard the entire absurd conversation. The only thing separating their waiting area from them was a stack of prop boxes, just two high.
After finishing the conversation, the agency CEO hastily walked away, leaving Sundy alone.
Choi Yoo-jun, who had been quietly searching on his phone, spoke up.
“It's KGM Futures. Isn't that too much? Their image will be ruined if this gets out. A subsidiary of a major corporation.”
The faint sound of sniffling, as if Sundy was crying, could be heard, and Seul-bi's expression turned from bitter to pale.
It brought back memories of her childhood, of her parents fighting and pushing her onto each other. A nerve had been struck.
Seul-bi felt the urge to comfort the abandoned Sundy.
*Not everyone in the world can be successful, but I want to make sure her ending isn't a lonely one.*
As Seul-bi, lost in thought, was about to get up, Sundy came back into view.
Despite having clearly been crying just moments before, she had started practicing her dancing again.
Seul-bi remained standing and carefully watched Sundy practicing off to one side. Then, she began to mimic Sundy's dance with smaller, condensed movements.
“Why? Why are you copying her dance?”
Choi Yoo-jun couldn't understand why she was practicing someone else's dance when she already had one prepared.
“…That unni is going to be eliminated anyway. I don't want to see her go out so bleakly.”
Watching Sundy, Seul-bi wore a bittersweet smile.
“Ha! You've got something planned, don't you? Artist Seul-bi's grand design.”
“Ah, seriously… you can speak comfortably with me now. We're the same age.”
“Ah… Min-jun-hyung said not to. He said I have to treat artists with proper respect.”
Choi Yoo-jun said firmly, as if he had to uphold his duty.
“Aish, seriously. Whatever. I'm just going to speak casually to you.”
“As you wish.”
Choi Yoo-jun said, trying his best to roll his Rs. Seul-bi turned to him with a "What was that?" look on her face.
“Why the sudden English?”
“Hyung told me to learn.”
“Pfft! If Min-jun-oppa says so.”
“Yes, sir! He's the one who got me to where I am today. Of course, this is a position that's destined for success!”
Seul-bi shook her head and laughed.
“So many people like Min-jun-oppa.”
“Haha! He's perfect in every way. His looks, his brains, even his personality.”
“…That's not all. Min-jun-oppa has an amazing physique, too, you know?”
Seul-bi still vividly remembered the scene where an enraged Min-jun had beaten three burly men as if they were punching bags. It remained deep within her blurry vision and hearing.
“I'll give you that. Hyung has total chocolate abs.”
“E-eh? You saw them? How did you see them?”
Seul-bi asked in surprise, and Choi Yoo-jun's smiling face momentarily turned suggestive.
“Hehehe. What exactly are you imagining?”
“…Uh, eh? I wasn't imagining anything.”
Seeing Seul-bi's slightly flustered expression, Choi Yoo-jun decided to back down and explained obediently.
“Hyung didn't believe I was strong, so I was showing off my abs at the office, and he couldn't resist showing his own. But then the Isa-nim caught us.”
“Gasp! Pfft!”
It was a story completely different from Min-jun's usual serious demeanor, and Seul-bi laughed gleefully, as if she'd discovered an amusing secret.
* * *
The stage was set up, but it was a location for recording only, with no seats for a general audience.
“Please take your positions!”
The cast members moved to their respective spots.
Seul-bi, who had been assigned a spot in the front and center where she'd be clearly visible in wide shots, glanced around the stage for a moment as if looking for someone, then scurried over to a spot in the corner.
“Sundy-unni!”
“Oh, huh? Seul-bi?”
Sundy looked tense as Seul-bi suddenly approached her with a bright smile.
“I'm definitely not looking down on you, unni.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Let's have a great finale together.”
?
Leaving behind those cryptic words, Seul-bi quickly returned to her spot, leaving Sundy's face filled with confusion.
But she had to clear her thoughts as the MC's opening remarks began.
- We will now begin the competition. As you know, two of the eight remaining contestants will be eliminated today. Among the four who have the right to choose their opponent, we will start with the current highest scorer, Answer's Seul-bi. What choice will she make?
The main MC, a former idol in his twenties, hosted with smooth and energetic flair.
Following him, a judge in his thirties, also a former idol, continued.
- Yes. Answer's Seul-bi is currently upholding the pride of the idol camp. She has a record of three wins and one draw against the choreographer camp. She also holds a special advantage that can deduct a whopping 70 points from her opponent's score, or potentially from her own. I'm looking forward to seeing whether she'll make an aggressive choice or strategically opt for safety.
- Yes. I, too, am expecting a great performance, just like last week. Answer's Seul-bi, please choose your opponent!
At the MC's prompt, Seul-bi nodded and scanned the choreographers. At the thought of Seul-bi's "–70 Point Battle" advantage, the three choreographers in the elimination zone swallowed hard.
- With the single option Seul-bi possesses, even the choreographers who have maintained a safe position so far cannot be complacent. Today could be their last performance. This is truly a tense moment.
The MC added an explanation to heighten the tension.
Seul-bi walked in a circle around the choreographers for dramatic effect, and the camera didn't miss the faces of those trying to hide their nervousness with a smile.
- It reminds me of that song, "Smiling but not really smiling," doesn't it? A tense moment that can't be hidden even with a smile! Who will Seul-bi choose!
After circling behind the choreographers, Seul-bi walked over to the idol camp's side.
- Oh? Is she planning to take down a fellow idol? This is quite unexpected!
Without drawing out the tension any further, Seul-bi went straight to Sundy.
- Wait, what is this! Is she really going to eliminate a fellow idol!
Sundy's expression stiffened for a moment, but as Seul-bi linked arms with her and led her to the center of the stage, her face became calm instead.
Sundy also thought to herself that losing to a talented performer from the same camp like Seul-bi would be less damaging to her pride.
- Ah, what's happening? It seems Seul-bi has ultimately chosen a safe strategy. This is a complete departure from her previous actions. It appears Seul-bi's desire to win was strong as well.
“I will compete against Sundy-seonbaenim.”
- We respect your choice. We look forward to the wonderful performance the two of you will show us. I'm very excited to see how the dance to the same song will be expressed differently through both of you.
Sundy's expression now looked peaceful, as if she had completely let go.
*It would have been my last stage no matter who chose me. I'll just be sure to show them what I've practiced. This might be my very last performance, after all.*
A typical house dance track with a fast beat and bouncy synths began to play, and Seul-bi made the first move.
♪♬
Dung dadang dungdung darang. Kung pang kung pang.
♪♬
Matching the rhythm of the synth mixed with the beat, Seul-bi slowly swayed her body, starting to trace the basic patterns of house dance with footwork and jacking.
- YE, YE, YE! Tight footwork! That's Queen Seul-bi for you!
The MC hyped up Seul-bi's start, trying to build up the atmosphere.
But for some reason, Seul-bi's dance didn't progress, repeating the same moves for the full 15 seconds, causing a stir throughout the studio.
The production staff behind the cameras made gestures as if to hurry her along, but Seul-bi stuck to the same movements until her time was up.
- What's going on? Seul-bi, is there something wrong with her body? Or did she forget the choreography?
Worried that the broadcast would be ruined, everyone's gazes wavered anxiously. Soon enough, it was Sundy's turn.
Just as Sundy, who had warmed up with footwork and jacking like Seul-bi, was about to show off a fantastic combination of lower body moves with the Crossroad and Loose Leg, Seul-bi started to mimic her from the front, almost perfectly.
“Whoa!”
- Amazing! Sundy's dancing is incredible, and Seul-bi's mirroring of that dance, as if copying it, is even more incredible.
Sundy felt a rush of ecstasy from the cheers she received on her stage. Thanks to Seul-bi, it was the first time in her professional career she felt like she was in the spotlight.
Sundy's 15 seconds passed, and Seul-bi's 15 seconds began again.
But Seul-bi only repeated movements similar to before, looking as if she were just waiting for Sundy to come out. This time, however, no one said a word and simply watched the stage.
Sundy came out again, and this time, while performing the same Crossroad and Loose Leg moves, she extended her arms and incorporated waacking. It was the exact same waacking that her opponent had danced when Sundy was unfairly defeated in the past.
The feeling she exuded, perfectly capturing the movements in time with the beat and melody of a famous classical piece mixed into the house music, was breathtaking. It was as if she were protesting, asking, "Doesn't my waacking have more feel than a choreographer's?"
Seul-bi also mirrored Sundy's movements with a joyful expression.
“Woooow!”
- Fantastic! Truly fantastic! What is this picture they're creating? It's a competition, yet it looks like it was choreographed in advance!
Sundy was greatly surprised when Seul-bi even copied her waacking, but she was certain that the image of them in sync would look like an artistic two-shot.
To finally be given proper screen time, even if it was for the last time, was something Sundy had hoped and prayed for.