══════════════
Best! [Was I the only one uncomfortable today? - Subject: ON SH]
I wasn't focusing on any particular contestant, just watching everyone in general, but On SH was acting so venomous.
They cut out the leader selection process, but I bet he got the leader position just because he's from ON.
And the way he pushed Nexus's song despite being a debut group member? Fucking hell, ugh.
[229 Comments]
Seriously... I've never seen a trainee recommend a song in a team battle just because they were in the debut group before. ㅋㅋㅋ
└ Makes you think ON was right to cut him off, haha
└ Whoa, that's going too far... Why would Hyun Sion be friends with him then?
└ It's just for the cameras, pretending to be friends. Why are you even asking the obvious?
I don't know, but the other members are all mid-to-lower-ranked, so they probably just went along with On Seha's bullshit. I feel bad for them. ㅠㅠ
└ Is a leader someone who leads the team unilaterally, just because they think they're so great?
└ Maybe that's why On Seha seemed a bit out of place.
So, did they perform well on stage? I haven't watched episode 3 yet.
└ Yeah... they were actually pretty good...
└ (Anon) If you haven't seen it, watch it first. I heard On Seha even came up with the zombie apocalypse concept. It's pretty intense...
└ Ugh... I'll go watch it now.
══════════════
[Episode 3, kick out that bastard after watching]
Anyway, can you guys recommend some other members?
The voting's closed now, but when it reopens after next week's elimination, I'll vote for the ones you suggest.
The fixed picks are OnSamz and Cha Dohun.
I won't take recommendations for Seid though ㅠ Their members aren't my type.
[31 comments]
Get rid of On Seha and vote for Im Juha instead! Pretty please
└ Im Juha? Okay.
└ But he's in the elimination zone right now... Watch the elimination round first. If he survives, then vote for him ㅠㅠ
If it were up to me, I'd vote for everyone on his team except On Seha, lol. They were ranked so low; they probably got eliminated in the first elimination round already...
└ If they did get eliminated, I bet they were fuming when they watched episode 3 at home.
══════════════
Those who were already skeptical of Seha and those who only saw episode 3 collided, creating a flood of negative sentiment.
Even Seha's fans, unaware that he had been forced into the leader role and made to cover Nexus's song against his will, couldn't hide their disappointment. Some were so disillusioned that they defected to support other trainees.
The remaining fans could only desperately search for evidence of editing manipulation, trying to defend him against the malicious narrative. But little did they know, an even greater controversy was yet to come.
─────────
With vacation over, preparations for the second performance began, tailored to the broadcast's pacing. This round focused purely on showcasing raw talent, prohibiting tricks like rearrangements or concept changes.
As a result, the vocalists' practice consisted entirely of singing all day and managing their vocal health. Of course, that was still exhausting.
"Let's give it our all! Let's do this!"
"We can do this!"
Even after singing their throats raw, Seha's teammates showed no signs of fatigue, constantly warming up their voices and shouting encouragement.
The team atmosphere was markedly different from the first performance. Back then, he had been dragged along unwillingly, only seizing control in the final stretch and barely pulling it off. This time, everything flowed smoothly without needing to take charge. The team members even went out of their way to look after Seha, the youngest member.
'Though I did give the main vocalist position to someone else.'
The vocal position, particularly for "Frosty Ballad," was more challenging than "Still Us" by Team A. As a result, the "Frosty Ballad" team was filled with seasoned veterans.
Seha, who had initially planned to be the main vocalist, ultimately relinquished the role to another independent contestant from a prestigious practical music program. He also declined to be the leader this time.
'Still, at least I'm guaranteed a part.'
The five members, each with distinct vocal tones, were assigned parts that suited them best. Unlike the first competition, where candidates sang pre-assigned sections, this round adopted a more democratic approach. The one who fit the part best was selected.
Since everyone was pulling their weight, Seha felt relatively at ease. It almost felt like he was being rewarded for his previous sleep-deprived, all-in mode.
The only problem was...
"Did he pick a fight with you again today?"
"Yes..."
Hyun Sion had joined the wrong team. To put it bluntly, it was like being stuck with six Yoon Youngjaes as teammates.
"Things are a bit... complicated."
Sion had chosen the dance position, specifically Team A, which consisted of seven members. As the top-ranked contestant, he had the privilege of selecting his team first. By the time he made his choice, Team A was already full, and the contestant Sion had displaced was reassigned to the producing position.
The misfortune began when it became clear that this displaced contestant was very close to four members of Dance A Team.
Two of them were friends from previous agency, while the other two were trainees from their current agency.
'They're completely ostracizing him.'
Subtle sabotage and outright bullying, all aimed at keeping Sion from claiming the top spot. Sion wasn't oblivious to it, but having never attended high school, he was utterly lost on how to navigate such group dynamics.
Sion had always been treated like a crown prince among the trainees at ON, so the psychological impact of this situation must have been particularly devastating for him.
As a result, Sion couldn't properly participate in Dance A Team's practice sessions and often sought out Seha and Jei. This trio, known as the "Introvert Alliance," had formed a group because they weren't particularly close to the other participants.
Today was no different. Overwhelmed by stress, Sion grabbed Seha and began to complain.
"Hyung, how did you manage to endure it last time?"
"Well, I..." Seha trailed off. Recalling the initial actions of his previous teammates, including Yun Youngjae, made his head throb. He remembered how they had banded together and dragged him along against his will.
"I just endured it. Honestly, it was incredibly tough at first, but later I just wanted to survive, so I held on. Complaining here would only lead to more negative editing, right?"
"But even then..."
Sion trailed off, as if he wanted to ask why he still got negatively edited in the third episode.
"That's just how it is. I just need to do better and recover."
As an independent trainee, he couldn't control the production team's editing. All he could do was keep working hard, perform well, and give his all, trusting that someone would eventually recognize his efforts.
Seha smiled maturely and ruffled Sion's hair. Only then did he smile brightly, his large frame hunched into a shape perfect for petting.
─────────
It was common knowledge among everyone at the dormitory that Hyun Sion and On Seha have been spending an unusual amount of time together. Even Dohyuk heard the news long ago. Perhaps because of this, Dohyuk's expression was colder than usual.
Just then, Seha appeared on Dohyuk's radar. Their eyes met, but Seha quickly turned away and hurried his pace, clearly avoiding Dohyuk. Irritated, Dohyuk closed the distance between them.
"Mr. On Seha."
"......"
Seha turned around with a caught-red-handed expression. Dohyuk felt a strange satisfaction at Seha's discomfort and smirked, pulling up one corner of his mouth. He had a lot to say to On Seha.
"Don't you think you chose the wrong song?"
Seha quietly observed Dohyuk's expression and carefully considered the meaning behind his words.
The song Seha had chosen, "Frosty Ballad," was the OST from a drama where Dohyuk had played the lead child actor—a song deeply connected to his former lover. Dohyuk seemed to be pointing this out. Seha calmly shook his head from side to side.
"...I heard you gave up the center position again."
"Yes, that's right."
Lowering his voice, likely to prevent any passing trainees from overhearing. Dohyuk's eyes widened momentarily in surprise, but he quickly noticed the surrounding glances. He led Seha to an empty practice room.
"Can you really keep giving everything away like that? I'm genuinely curious. It's not like your skills are lacking. Ah, are you just being a hypocrite again?"
He snapped the moment the door closed. Seha genuinely couldn't understand why he cared so much about something that wasn't even his business. He wasn't always like this. Hearing the accusation of hypocrisy, Seha recalled their previous argument and replied curtly.
"Thanks for recognizing my skills, but this is my choice too. I passed it on because I'm fine with it."
"It's ridiculous," Dohyuk scoffed. "You used to whine about wanting to debut and cut everything off, and now you're looking the other way?"
"...Ryu Dohyuk."
Seha glared at Dohyuk, his usually gentle features hardening into a rare, rigid expression. He was growing weary of Dohyuk's meddling and his habit of venting his resentment under the guise of concern.
Despite Seha's fierce glare, Dohyuk merely smirked, his lips curving into a wider grin. He exuded the relaxed confidence of a predator cornering its prey.
"Look at this. The hyung who's so generous to everyone else—see how he treats me?"
"That's because you're..."
Because you're my ex-boyfriend. Seha swallowed the words at the last moment. There was no point in bringing it up here; it would only provoke Dohyuk further.
"I'm what?"
"Nothing."
"Because I'm your ex?"
Seha flinched at the direct hit. As Do-hyuk's gaze turned fierce, Seha's eyes, which had been glaring at him, drooped instead. To be honest, his younger ex-boyfriend's aura was way too intimidating.
"Hyun Sion... does that guy know? Does he know about our relationship? Or are you hanging around him just to mess with me?"
"He's just a former agency colleague... Why are you suddenly bringing up Sion? Do I really have to explain this to you?"
The argument escalated. Just as Seha lowered his voice, fearing the sound might leak outside, the door opened. Sion, his expression visibly darkened, leaned into the practice room.
"Um..."
Seha's face paled, fearing Sion had overheard. But something worse than being caught arguing was about to hit him.
"Seha-hyung, you should check the internet..."
A terrible premonition sent shivers down his spine.
Comments
Post a Comment