"The fourth member of our debut group is—"
PD Kwon paused.
"OH JISOO!"
For a moment, Jisoo didn't react.
His portrait filled the main screen.
OH JISOO — 4TH PLACE — DEBUT CONFIRMED
The audience erupted, but he kept staring ahead. He looked at the screen, then PD Kwon, then me.
"Wait. Me?"
"Yes, you."
"Fourth?"
"Fourth."
"As in... four?"
"How many fourth places do you think there are?"
That seemed to do it. Jisoo burst into tears.
Not a graceful tear or two. Full, uncontrollable sobbing, his shoulders shaking as he covered his face.
The contestants nearest him crowded forward with congratulations. Jinwook awkwardly patted his shoulder while Taeyong offered a quiet "Well done."
I hugged him, remembering the trainee who'd spent so much time worrying about embarrassing himself.
"You earned this," I whispered.
He nodded against my shoulder.
At the microphone, Jisoo wiped his face with his sleeve, tried to speak, and began crying again.
