(Waiting Room)
All the members of SEVENTEEN are currently in the waiting room, waiting for the tally of the voting.
While they waited, Minyoung couldn't help but feel anxious and worried about the outcome of their performance. If she were asked, her answer would be that she wasn't confident at all. The cheers and shouts during their performance had felt weak, and she was afraid that, out of the 250 people they had invited, only a few had actually shown up.
"I'm so nervous about the results," Nayeon said, rubbing her hands together. She couldn't wait to find out how many votes they received. She wasn't confident they would get first place, but, not to brag, at least for her, they could surely land in second place.
"I'm also excited to see the results. I can't wait anymore," Jihyo lightly commented.
"You've got the nerve to say that just because a lot of the people you invited showed up." Jeongyeon's lips twitched as she watched Jihyo brag. She glanced at the Major A Team, who looked calm and confident in their seats, as if they carried no problems at all and were completely relaxed.
Their supporters nearly filled the entire left side. How could they not feel proud?
"No, we're not."
Jihyo laughed out loud, denying the claim, though her actions suggested otherwise.
"I'm sure 80 percent of them came because of Llana," Minyoung added, letting out a light laugh.
Jihyo also laughed at her comment but didn't say anything. She just leaned back in her seat and stayed silent. Minyoung was right. The majority of the audience they invited came because of Llana, but hearing it directly from someone, especially Minyoung, her friend, just hit harder.
Llana raised an eyebrow slightly as she stare at Minyoung.
Minyoung might have said it jokingly and didn't truly mean it, but the comment was clearly a low blow, unnecessary and out of line.
It wasn't a good joke. It made it seem like all of this was solely her doing.
And Llana disagreed with that.
While her popularity did play a part, everyone had worked hard. They ran through train stations, swallowed their embarrassment as they invited people inside quiet train carriages, endured the heat while promoting, and pushed through exhaustion.
She wasn't the only one.
Everyone who showed up was theirs, and each person had put in the effort.
"What 80 percent?" Llana spoke up, her tone calm but firm. "Don't say that, Minyoung-unnie. Inviting people wasn't just my responsibility. Jihyo-unnie, Momo-unnie, and Chaeyoung-unnie all worked hard too. We did everything we could together. So saying that 80 percent of them came because of me isn't true."
She noticed the awkward smiles on her teammates' faces, polite, restrained, but clearly affected.
The comment, even if meant as a joke, had struck a nerve. Llana couldn't just let it pass.
It wasn't right to leave it uncorrected, not when it undermined everyone else's efforts.
"You know I'm very introverted," she continued, a faint, self-aware smile tugging at her lips. "Do you really think someone like me would just walk up to people and start conversations?... No."
She wasn't trying to be humble. Everything she said was the truth.
Without Jihyo, she doubted she would have even found the courage to raise her voice in a quiet train, let alone approach strangers so confidently. She was the type to hesitate, to observe first before acting -the kind of person who would meet someone's gaze, hold it for a second, maybe two, and only then decide whether to speak.
Llana exhaled softly, her expression steady as she looked at Minyoung. There was no hostility in her eyes, only quiet resolve.
"This wasn't something I did alone," she added more gently. "We all worked for it. So please… don't reduce it to just me."
"Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean it like that." Minyoung rubbed her hands together, bowing slightly to Llana.
"Don't worry, unnie. I'm just saying it so my members' efforts won't be undermined. It's unfair to look at it that way. I'm sorry if I made you feel bad," Llana said, standing up and returning the bow.
"Hahaha… it's nothing," Minyoung replied with an awkward laugh.
The others watched the two in silence, letting out quiet sighs of relief as the tension eased.
"I can relate to what Llana said," Mina started. "As an introvert myself, I really struggled during promotions. It's hard to talk and start conversations with strangers. But since it was necessary, I just swallowed my fears and did it." She laughed, covering her mouth.
The other introverts nodded in agreement.
"Right. You have to throw away your shyness," Dahyun said, miming tossing something aside with a bright smile, "and make extra effort to invite people."
"But seriously, am I the only one who noticed this?" Somi raised her hand. "Why does it feel like anyone teamed up with Llana suddenly improves? Like their level just rises?"
"Yah! What do you mean? Are you saying we're not good?" Chaeyoung protested.
"Yeah!! What do you mean?" Jihyo added, raising her voice slightly.
"How could you say that? You're hurting our feelings," Momo chimed in.
"Yeah, unnie, please explain yourself," Tzuyu added.
Everyone burst into laughter as those who had teamed up with Llana bombarded Somi with protests. The latter could only raise her hands in surrender, laughing as she tried to defend herself. But others didn't let her.
Llana simply giggled from the side.
It probably had something to do with her Leader's Authority ability.
It boosted her team's morale and efficiency, especially under pressure, making them more confident and perform better than usual.
"Somi, explain yourself." Jeongyeon shook her head, clicking her tongue playfully.
"Ne, Somi, justify yourself. This is your only chance to save yourself," Nayeon added with a teasing smile as Somi looked completely cornered.
While everyone else was laughing and joking around, one person felt the complete opposite.
Her gaze lingered on Llana—who, as always, had everyone's attention.
Llana sat composed in her seat, back straight, legs crossed with effortless elegance, as if being the center of attention was the most natural thing in the world.
Why does Llana have so many supporters?
Why do they like her so much?
Why is it always her?
Yes, she's pretty. She's tall. She's talented.
But why does it always have to be "Llana this, Llana that"? It's exhausting… its irritating.
Do they really have nothing else to talk about?
They act like she's flawless. Like she's perfect.
She's probably just faking it.
All she wants is attention.
Tsk. Attention seeker.
The thought lingered—until something from two months ago resurfaced in her mind.
It had been after practice, during a quick bathroom break. She hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but the voices of two JYPE staff members carried clearly through the quiet.
"Have you heard the news everyone's been whispering about?"
"Huh? What news?" the other asked.
"They say VP Byun personally brought in a new trainee. A girl. Apparently, she's really beautiful… and tall."
"Oh… do you think the VP is keeping her?"
"Hey! Watch your mouth. What if someone hears you? Let's go before your mouth gets us in trouble."
At the time, she hadn't thought much of it.
But later… the pieces seemed to fall into place.
They were talking about Llana.
That was why, when the opportunity came, she casually used Nayeon as a tool to ask Llana who had scouted her.
But Llana had remained tight-lipped, offering nothing more.
Now, thinking back on it, she scoffed inwardly.
Of course she wouldn't say.
She'd want to keep something like that hidden.
Her thoughts were cut short as a staff member spoke up, breaking the atmosphere.
"Everyone, please head back to the stage. Line up per group and wait for JYP-nim to appear."
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Who could she be?🤔
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