Repeating mistakes.
Jin-hyung keeps getting distorted.
“Eun-hee, please concentrate a little. Your movements keep overlapping.”
The younger sister tried to point it out.
“Yes.”
Gu Eun-hee responded with a lackluster reply.
It wasn’t just a one-day or two-day thing.
The younger sister seemed to try changing the mood by talking.
“Okay, it seems like Eun-hee is really tired. Let’s take a short break. Everyone, drink some water and go to the bathroom.”
Ha-ah…
“Let’s go to the bathroom, Ye-eun Unni.”
“Uh…? Me? Why? I’m doing well…”
Ye-eun Unni, flustered, pointed at herself with a scared expression.
“No, I just meant let’s go.”
I really just wanted to go to the bathroom.
“I’ll go alone…!”
Eun-hee, avoiding me, ran out of the practice room.
“No, I just meant let’s go.”
Ye-eun Unni had clearly improved her details and skills from the day before, so I had no intention of teasing her any longer.
Anyone would think I was always bullying her.
Reluctantly, as I entered the bathroom alone, the moment the break started, Kim Seo-yoon dashed out, splashing water on her face repeatedly.
“What are you doing, Seo-yoon?”
Kim Seo-yoon looked up.
Her eyes were all red.
“Did you cry, Unni?”
“What are you saying? I didn’t cry, okay?”
Kim Seo-yoon spat out her words curtly, as if trying to hide it.
But anyone could hear her voice was hoarse.
“Oh dear, why is Kim Seo-yoon crying?”
As I pinched Seo-yoon’s chubby cheeks, her nose started to run.
“Hmph, I’m not crying…”
Trying to talk while sniffling—what was the point?
She probably felt wronged and sad, thinking the stage would flop because of Gu Eun-hee.
“It’s okay, we’re going to debut, right?”
“I’m not crying, I said!”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Still, this situation can’t continue like this.
I need to figure out how to persuade Gu Eun-hee somehow.
*
After dinner.
I went to the back lot, where there were no people or cameras.
“So, why?”
Gu Eun-hee, who followed me, leaned on her long legs, seeming displeased with the situation.
It was already annoying, but I didn’t want to become like her.
“Unni, could you please work hard for our sake? I’m begging you.”
At this point, I thought she’d understand, but contrary to my expectations, Gu Eun-hee answered sharply.
“Sorry, but no.”
Is she really insane?
“Do you know why I applied to be the center? To stand out even a little. Seven people debuting?”
Gu Eun-hee snorted and continued speaking.
Eun-hee let out a snort and continued, “You think those kids from the top four entertainment companies are going to debut? Do you really think I can make it into that final seven? I don’t think so.”
Honestly, her chances of debuting were incredibly slim. Still, most trainees gave their all in every practice for a reason.
It wasn’t some dreamy nonsense like “Trying my best is beautiful” or “I want to enjoy the stage to the fullest.” No, most participants aimed for recognition. Even if they couldn’t debut in the project girl group, they wanted to increase their chances of debuting when they returned to their original agency after getting eliminated. It was purely practical.
“Hey, you could just go back to your agency and debut, right? You’re in the top 24, so why not?” Eun-hee shot back sarcastically.
“Do-hee, lucky you. You’ll probably debut when you go back anyway. But me? If I don’t debut here, I’m getting dropped from my agency, got it?”
Thinking back, I recalled hearing from other participants from her agency that Eun-hee had been somewhat of an outcast, struggling with her personality issues even among her peers. So, yeah, moving agencies after being dropped might be an option, but she’d probably be known for her character flaws, making that tough too.
“But you want me to break through and get into the final seven out of a hundred contestants? The only way is if I take center, and who knows if I can even do that?”
To sum up Eun-hee’s words in the end: She believed that since she couldn’t take center, there was no point in trying hard, so she would just coast along. Trying to encourage her would be pointless—it was clear she had already given up on debuting as an idol.
‘Well, there is one option.’
Giving up the center position.
But giving the center spot to Eun-hee?
Only four days remained until the main stage performance. The chance that Eun-hee, who was already lacking in skill, could make a significant improvement in such a short time was approximately zero.
Either way, it was bound to end in disaster.
“Fine, but you don’t want to look bad in front of the camera either, so at least put on a show for the sake of appearances,” I said, turning away from her.
However, Eun-hee began to lash out like she was possessed.
“Do you know what? The camera only captures the ones it wants! Unless you’re one of the few trainees they actually care about, good luck! It’s all rigged! Just because the voting is done correctly doesn’t mean it’s not manipulated! They cut the footage however they like!”
I knew that.
Some trainees clearly got way more screen time than others. I was no exception. But that was just how it was. I had worked hard since I was young and, let’s be real, I had the visuals to back it up.
“Whatever, let’s put aside the screen time for now. Do you think they ask me anything relevant when there’s an interview? No, they just ask about these random girls who have nothing to do with me. You know? You’ve gotten those perks too. It’s not your fault, but if you’re as talented and pretty as you are, of course they’re going to hype you up. Don’t come at me saying I’m slacking off while you’re reaping the benefits. Got it?”
“If you looked capable, outstandingly delicate, and pretty, of course, you’d get all the attention. But don’t start lecturing me about practicing just because you’re enjoying those benefits. Got it?”
No matter how hard Gu Eun-hee argued, being an idol was just that kind of job.
Only those who were exceptional or had unique personalities shone in the spotlight.
What’s the difference from saying you can’t study but you want to be a doctor?
As Gu Eun-hee kept throwing a tantrum, tears started to well up in her eyes until she finally burst into a sob.
“I know it’s a survival game! But do you think I haven’t tried at all!? I’ve put in the effort! But my skills just aren’t improving!”
At this point, all I felt was sympathy.
Ha-ah…
“Alright, unnie. Come in when you’ve calmed down. I won’t say anything more now.”
Gu Eun-hee was crying like the protagonist of a tragic tale.
Not wanting to hear that voice anymore, I headed toward the main building where the dance practice room was.
It hadn’t been long since we finished dinner.
All the trainees in the main building were continuing their individual practices.
There was no one among them who worked less hard than Gu Eun-hee.
Even including those who had already been eliminated, I’d say there weren’t any.
*
In the early morning, when all the practice had ended.
Everyone was supposed to be asleep.
Having finished my shower, I returned to the practice room with the production staff’s permission.
And waiting for me outside the practice room, on the couch behind the glass wall, was a member of the production staff.
The overnight staff looked extremely tired, but it couldn’t be helped.
Practice was necessary.
I felt there was still a lack of detail in the center part I had been assigned.
Even if it wasn’t perfect, I needed to strive for perfection.
After comparing my dance video with the choreographer’s on my tablet for a while.
In the dark, I saw a silhouette illuminated by the light.
And the sound of footsteps approaching.
I recoiled, startled by the sudden noise in the middle of the night.
The production staff was slumped over on the couch, sound asleep.
Peeking my neck out to see who it was, there stood Kim Seo-yoon.
‘Why in the world is she walking around at this hour?’
Upon spotting me, Kim Seo-yoon smiled playfully and hugged me.
“Our youngest~ Were you lonely alone? Unnie’s here to give you a hug~”
What the heck is going on?
I pushed Kim Seo-yoon away.
“Ugh… Our youngest rejected me, and now I’m sad…”
Kim Seo-yoon pretended to cry, but it was just creepy.
What is she doing for real?
“Did you cut your tongue or something? Why are you here?”
“Why do you think? I came to practice.”
“There’s been no change in the parts, so why bother?”
“Not that…! It’s not like I came here because I was worried about you…! I just wanted to practice…!”
“Oh, seriously, what’s wrong with you?”
“Hmph…! You don’t understand my feelings, you jerk!”
“Raju, you’re so annoying!”
“This is insane.”
“I guess I’m here because they’re worried about me practicing alone late into the night.”
“But seriously, I can’t stand this.”
“Really.”
*
A gym in Incheon.
6:30 AM, early morning.
“I’m opening it!”
With the shout from the security guard, he opened the iron gate.
And there were over 200 people pushing and running to avoid being left behind, lining up behind the gate that the guards had set up in advance.
And this woman was one of them.
Like she did it every time, she naturally set up a ladder and climbed up to find the perfect angle.
What she was holding was an expensive camera with its lens sticking out.
“Phew… Nice, I got a good spot. I didn’t expect it to be this intense for a music show. It’s clear that Jodol3 is really the trend.”
She was what’s called a “Sik-deok,” a fan who uploads photos and videos of celebrities online.
Or she was also called “Home Mama,” a blend of “home page” and “mama,” referring to people who take unique photos of celebrities on their way to schedules, at airports, etc., and sell those photos as goods or photo cards to fans of that celebrity.
Also, each “Home Mama,” or “Sik-deok,” typically had a specific celebrity they cheered for, known as their “main.”
And this “Home Mama” or “Sik-deok” was a fan of Do-hee Lee.
She hadn’t always been a fan of Do-hee.
Originally, she was a fan of the girl group “Minty.”
However, when “Minty” got involved in a school bullying controversy and it turned out to be true, she lost interest and heard the news that the four major entertainment companies were participating in the big event called Jodol3, so she rushed to attend the press conference.
She thought about taking photos of the popular members and selling the goods.
In other words, that day she intended to take photos not just of Do-hee, the center of the theme song “Fallen,” but all the trainees from the four major entertainment companies.
However, completely smitten by Do-hee’s looks that perfectly matched her taste, she ended up only taking pictures of Do-hee that day.
The photos she posted on her Twitter received countless retweets, naturally establishing her as Do-hee’s Home Mama.
And today was the day of the third round competition.
She was lucky enough to win tickets to the audience, but it wasn’t just because of that that she was there.
The third round competition’s arrival.
For the first and second rounds, the trainees had already been practicing behind the stage without an arrival ceremony, but the third round was different.
It was the first chance to see them showcase their individuality through their casual fashion.
“What kind of clothes will Do-hee wear…! A white tennis skirt? A dress? No, she might wear something like overalls!?”
As the vans from each agency started to arrive one by one, the arrival of the Jodol3 third round participants began.
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