“Now, let’s announce the first and second place winners. The rankings chosen directly by the fans. Who will be the protagonists of the first and second places? First, let’s reveal the two final candidates through the screen!”
The MC, full of enthusiasm, shouted once again.
“Please reveal it!”
The faces of the two contestants that everyone expected appeared on the big screen.
“Topist Do-hee Lee and JS Eun Se-ra, please come to the center of the stage!”
When my name was announced, I received congratulations from the older sisters.
Especially, Na-eun Unni held my hand tightly.
“Do-hee, congratulations!”
The older sister was sincerely expressing her congratulations.
I was pulled towards Na-eun Unni and we hugged passionately.
And now, standing at the center of the stage, what I couldn’t shake from my head was Na-eun Unni’s excited congratulatory shout.
Rather than wondering, ‘Can I really be first?’, I was thinking, ‘Can Na-eun Unni, who just hugged me, debut together with me?’
Having spent three years together, I had witnessed how hard Na-eun Unni had worked.
If our debut hadn’t fallen through, Na-eun Unni, who always scored well at the monthly evaluations, would definitely have debuted alongside me.
– Here are the two finalists who made it to the final 1st place candidate!
While the MC’s voice flowed in one ear and out the other, I noticed Se-ra Unni’s hand appearing in front of my eyes.
It was a request to hold hands.
Se-ra Unni’s clasped hand was trembling slightly.
I realized, ‘Even Se-ra Unni, who always seems so composed, is nervous.’
“Who will sit in the glorious seat of first place? Let’s reveal it now! But before that~”
The MC’s playful tone drew gasps and jeers from the audience.
“Haha, first, Eun Se-ra! How are you feeling right now?”
“Uh…”
Se-ra Unni’s fingers wiggled.
“Thanks to the fans… I was selected as a final candidate for first place. I’m really grateful. Honestly, I can be a bit shy and often hear that I’m a bit dull when I’m lost in my thoughts… Maybe that’s why I struggle to express myself, but… I feel really happy and grateful right now. Thank you.”
“Ah~ you often hear that you’re dull! From whom?”
Se-ra Unni looked at me.
I vigorously shook my head.
“I just hear it often…”
It was a muttering, but when did I hear that…?
“Haha, I see. Now, let’s ask Do-hee Lee how she’s feeling. How about you?”
Honestly, I had no thoughts running through me.
It felt like I was floating.
I just pieced together random words in my head and spoke vaguely.
“Looking at Se-ra Unni next to me, she’s really amazing, and just being in the same finalist position with someone like her makes me truly grateful.”
“Thank you!”
“Is that it? Great! So, Do-hee Lee, do you think you can beat Eun Se-ra and come in first?”
“I don’t really get why I should say I’ll beat Sara Unni, but…”
“Honestly, I have no idea. But even being second is something I’m really grateful for and I think it’s a high rank.”
“I’ve only ever come first in this life.”
“If I were to come in first, I would be really happy, though.”
In fact, I really wanted to make sure I could be the ultimate number one.
“Alright, I won’t drag this out any longer and will immediately announce the first place winner!”
But the MC just kept stalling again.
The MC brought up various topics like the perks of being first (the center for the debut song), the buzz surrounding Dojin3, and the impact it will have, etc.
At this point, I could imagine the viewer’s board lighting up with complaints about the MC, and suggestions to announce the 7th place instead since 1st and 2nd are already debuting.
Finally, the MC yelled out with a booming voice.
“Thank you for your patience. The final 1st place of Dojin Season 3, the one who holds the glory is…!”
– Do-hee Lee from Topist Entertainment!
When I heard it, both of my ears felt like they were ringing and I thought I might be getting tinnitus.
-Beeeee!
It felt like my name being called was echoing from behind a wall.
They say that the hormone released from happiness is dopamine.
But this felt like some higher level, adrenaline or endorphins spreading throughout my body.
“Do-hee, congratulations on coming first.”
Sara Unni was hugging me and saying that, but the sensations from outside and inside felt detached from each other.
Maybe my pupils were dilated, as the faces of the audience appeared sharper.
Then, in my view, I could see my family who had come to cheer me on.
Mother was crying.
Seeing my mother cry made me feel like I resembled her.
And the expressions of the staff filming from below the stage were like, “You should be crying right now.”
But I had no intention of crying.
Since I promised not to cry, a man should cherish his promises the most.
Instead, my lips were curling up towards the sky.
Maybe they’d think I was getting lucky or something.
For now, I hid my face with my palm.
“Do-hee Lee! Please share your remarks!”
“Do-hee Lee?!”
Ah, the speech.
I hurriedly brought the microphone close to my mouth.
And the sound that came out of my throat was a weird pitch problem.
“Ehh.”
I felt embarrassed, but I cleared my throat and opened my mouth again.
I looked at my mom and said,
“First of all… mom, don’t cry.”
The big screen captured my mother crying.
My mom waved her hand towards the camera.
“It feels like I’m the one who came in first.”
Laughter spread throughout the concert hall.
“First of all, I’m really grateful to everyone who placed me in this honorable and undeserved first place. Honestly, I think I was able to come in first because the teachers who have always supported me and the Unnis who practiced with me helped me out. And to the Topist family who are watching this on TV, thank you for cheering for me always.”
“I am truly grateful to the Chusers for placing me in such an overwhelming and undeserved position. Honestly, I believe I was able to take first place thanks to the teachers who always helped and taught me, as well as the older sisters who practiced with me. And to the Topist family who will be watching this scene on TV, thank you for your constant support.”
“I feel like it’s the first time I’m saying this to Woo-ah Unni, Chiyo Unni, Na-eun Unni, and Seo-yoon Unni… Thank you so much! Though I often quibble, it truly has been a tremendous source of strength.”
“And our family. Mom, are you still not crying? Dad, I really love you both. As for my beloved Do-ah, since your older sister came in first, you owe me 10 kisses on the cheek as promised, okay?”
“In conclusion, I will strive to be Lee Do-hee, always doing my best to repay the Chusers. Thank you!”
Worried that I might have said something foolish without thinking, I felt this was still how I expressed my true feelings.
Hearing the applause and cheers made my heart ache.
As I tried to cool my heated head, Sara Unni’s remarks began.
“I’ve always thought that having the opportunity to be loved by many is a very rare and precious chance… Thank you. Oh, I heard that the Chusers who support me are called the Sara-dan… Thank you for doing your best more than I did. I feel like I’ve received much more than I’ve given. And… Mom told me not to come out here. She was afraid I’d get hurt. But Mom, I won’t get hurt. Instead, I’ve met so many wonderful people… Thank you to all the participants. Thank you to the production staff. Chusers, I’m really grateful. I will work hard…!”
Sara Unni spoke so calmly and maturely, which made me think if she had won first place, she would have rambled just like me. I accepted the production team’s sign and headed to the first-place podium.
“Alright. Now only the last 7th place trainee remains.”
With the MC’s words, the tense background music started again.
“I will now reveal the two candidates for the 7th place trainee based on the combined pre-broadcast online and text votes!”
As every trainee had taken too long giving their remarks, the MC quickly proceeded without hesitation.
“The Topist trainee, Kim Na-eun.”
“And AlF trainee, Park Ye-eun, are the two candidates!”
A mix of disheartened screams and cheers echoed throughout the audience.
And I too let out a hopeful scream.
I hope Na-eun Unni makes it, but… I hope Ye-eun Unni does too.
“Among these, one will be the final debut member at 7th place. Before the announcement, let’s have a brief chat. Topist’s Kim Na-eun, you’ve worked very hard until now; do you have any last words you’d like to say?”
“If you have something to say.”
“Um… first of all, I really want to debut, but… even if I can’t, I just want to say I’ve been really happy being with everyone until now.”
“Understood. Now, Park Ye-eun trainee.”
“Um… I initially received harsh criticism from the trainer teachers in Tier 5, but… thanks to so many unnis and Do-hee… I think I’ve made it this far because of the trainers. Even just being a candidate is a huge improvement, so really… thank you.”
The MC brushed it off with a “That’s good,” and repeated what had been said so far.
As my heart raced, the MC finally called out a name.
“ALF Park Ye-eun trainee!”
‘Well, here we are.’
Na-eun unni hugged and patted down Ye-eun unni, who had fallen to her knees on the floor.
I closed my eyes and pressed my fingers against my eyelids.
My eyes were stinging.
Following the MC’s words.
“Can we hear Park Ye-eun trainee’s remarks?”
I could hear Ye-eun unni’s quivering voice.
“Um… thank you to everyone who supported me until the very end today… Tu… the voting Chewsers, I’m so grateful. Um, I saw a sign that said ‘Ye-eun, let’s debut’ over there earlier, and I felt really sorry thinking I might not be able to keep that promise… I’ll work hard to show a good side in the future. And the unnis in front of me… my teammates who’ve worked harder than anyone else… I want to be together… Thank you. I will work hard.”
Next, Na-eun unni, who placed 8th, spoke up.
Her clear voice was trembling.
“I wasn’t able to debut, which is disappointing, but… my dream is still to debut! I’ll work hard at the company to show a great side…”
Swallowing her tears and smiling sounds.
Na-eun unni continued her remarks.
“I’ll strive to meet you on stage again. Thank you!”
The finale’s background music and the MC’s hosting continued.
“Yes, many Chewsers will surely remember Na-eun’s wonderful side. I encourage her to realize her dream of debuting in the future.”
“With this, the members of the girl group SAVEN created by the Chewsers are confirmed.”
“Thank you so much to the Chewsers who have shown overwhelming interest and passion!”
“Thank you for spending this hot summer with our trainees.”
“Although this season three ends here, please look forward to the beginning of the group SAVEN. Chewsers, we look forward to your support!”
Fireworks for stage effects burst brilliantly overhead, and colored paper flew everywhere.
Rushing down from the stage, I ran to Na-eun unni with Seo-yoon unni.
Is my heart heavy or fragile?
Or can I finally let the tears show now?
Tears soaked my collar.
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