Coming down from the stage with the girls, I feel the adrenaline slowly subsiding. My heartbeat returns to a normal rhythm, and fatigue gradually invades every part of my body. An incredible sense of relief washes over me, I feel as though an immense weight has just been lifted. I turn toward the girls to hug them. We pull into a group hug. Despite our artistic differences, the exhaustion, and the arguments, we made it.
_We did it. You saw the crowd screaming. It was incredible. I exclaim excitedly.
_Yeah, I loved it!! Nathalie shouts.
_And especially when we were in total synchronization, I felt like our movements were connected. Yuki continues, taking my hands.
_We really did better than at practice. Good job, everyone. JiHo smiles.
_The end was incredible! I felt like we were at our own concert.
Because of this performance, the tension within the group had been enormous. Whether in the rehearsal rooms or the dormitory, JiHo and I were always intensely focused. We trained to death to integrate this choreography into our very bones. There was even a moment when Nathalie was on the verge of a nervous breakdown because the pressure was so high. So, it is a joy for me to see them relax and enjoy the moment. We take our places in the back of the stage area. The next group is the boy group performing the same song as us. They didn't change the song much from the original, but their performance was very good. Due to muscle memory, despite our exhaustion, we danced along during their performance. The rest of the groups were good too; everyone gave it their all. I screamed the loudest when Isidora's and Cat's groups went on.
The performances end on a happy note. I had a lot of fun watching the other groups' stages. Once the audience has cleared the room, just like in Phase 1, the judges deliberate and the hosts announce the qualified groups. The tension is so strong and the stress so great that Seol and JiHo even hold hands. Fortunately, our group survived the elimination, but it's not joy that fills us, just relief. Those groups that were eliminated were full of talented people, but a single wrong move knocked them out of the competition. It's truly frightening to realize that we are all just one step away from elimination at any moment. This industry is brutal.
"I will give everything so I have no regrets. I must debut and fulfill my sister's dream," I tell myself once more. My conviction must remain firm. The hosts close the evening and tell us to meet the next day at 7:00 AM for the intermediate trial. We quickly do interviews with the production team members. Then, buses transport us back to the show's production site, and we all head to our dorms to rest. This long day is finally over.
The next morning, I wake up at 5:30 AM. As usual, I take three deep breaths, squeeze the pendant in my hand, and then get out of bed. I start the day with a prayer and then go for my workout session. Afterwards, JiHo, who also woke up, and I go for a run and do Pilates together. Later, we meet in the cafeteria. Upon entering, I run into Isidora; she greets me but says she's eating with her roommate today. I smile and signal to her that it's okay. I head toward the food and grab a tray to eat. I serve myself from the section for meals prepared for our allergies. However, I still check three times to be sure there are no ingredients I am allergic to inside, specifically, coconut and milk. I don't want to have a reaction here.
_You're good? Got everything? JiHo asks me.
_Mm-hmm, they have a lot of meal options here. JYPE really put the budget into the food.
JiHo nods in agreement, looking at the vast selection of breakfasts offered. There was enough to satisfy everyone's dietary habits. European food? They had it. Asian? All you could want. African? Of course. Not to mention American and Latino classics, along with a well-stocked vegetarian and vegan selection. One section was even dedicated to food for the people on the show with allergies. We had sent in our allergy lists before the start of the show, and the catering team takes care of verifying them. To avoid contamination, every precaution was taken. It's as if they were telling us to eat well because we have to train until we die.
After serving ourselves, we turn to the tables, looking for a free spot. I quickly see Cat waving at me aggressively to come to his table. Because we were all in intense practice mode, we had rarely seen each other these past two weeks. He is sitting with the giant I had noticed at the audition. Now that I see him up close, he really looks like Murasakibara. His broad, strong build was a stark contrast to his lazy air. He was half-slumped in his chair, but he had an intimidating look. JiHo and I greet them and take our seats at the table. All excited, Cat begins the introductions in Thai.
_This is Nam JunHo, he's my roommate.
Then he switches to Japanese and presumably introduces me to JunHo, who, by the way, has the same name as the show's male host.
_Nice to meet you. I say in English. This is my friend and roommate Nam JiHo. JiHo, this is my friend Cat. What a coincidence that you all have the same last name! I exclaim.
_We're twins. They say in unison in English.
_Really? That's incredible! Why are you never together?!
_What? What's happening? Cat asks, lost because he is still learning English.
_They are twins. / We are twins. JunHo and I inform him at the same time in Thai and Japanese.
I am truly surprised to learn that JiHo and JunHo are twins. They are never together and they don't seem to be the closest. It's really interesting to see a dynamic completely different from the one Oceane and I had. My sister and I were very close. Although we always had different interests, we were very inseparable. We told each other everything and discussed our interests every day. Despite the fact that I was very involved in Océane's career, she was also intensely interested in all my activities. She came to my competitions and got excited about my victories. She always wanted to know everything about my interests. She wore the dresses I sewed for her with pride. And she was always there for me. The more I think about it, the more my heart aches. I miss her so much. I sigh. This isn't the time to think about those kinds of things. We are being filmed constantly in this program, I have to be careful.
_Get it together, Anael. I mutter to myself.
I refocus on the conversation. Despite minor communication issues due to always having to translate conversations for Cat, we had a fun time and everyone was able to relax a bit. At 7:30 AM, we have a meeting in the main hall for the intermediate trial. Everyone took a seat, and the hosts began to announce the program.
_First of all, hello everyone. Mina begins.
_Congratulations to all of you for passing Phase 2 of the program. Lee JunHo continues.
_Now, it's time for intermediate trial number two.
_The Last Dancer Standing.
_The rules are simple, you just have to dance the correct choreography to the different songs we are going to play.
_They are mostly K-pop, J-pop, C-pop, and T-pop group choreographies. But popular choreographies from elsewhere might also be introduced.
_You must dance until only one winner remains.
_This is an intermediate trial, so participation is not mandatory.
Even though participation isn't mandatory, all the contestants are going to do it. It's both an opportunity to show off your dancing skills and a chance to get more screen time on the show. With 85 candidates remaining, every opportunity to get noticed is good. The trial starts easily with very well-known K-pop songs, Bang Bang Bang by Big Bang, What is Love by Twice, and S-Class by Stray Kids. Coaches Kyle and Kany join us in the middle of the song S-Class, and all the candidates go wild. There is a little interlude where Kany and Kyle enter a dance battle, and the candidates stop for a moment to cheer them on.
_Go Kany, Go Kany, Go Kany!!
_Go Kyle, Go Kyle, Go Kyle!!!
They dance with us for two more songs before leaving. Kany pretends her back is in shambles because she danced too much. Kyle supports her toward the exit, and they wish us luck before heading out. It was hilarious the way they were first like, "Yeah, we're gonna crush it," and then a few minutes later, "Leave this to the young ones, we're too old for this." I can only imagine the edits on this sequence. The comedy potential was immense. This little break in the competition really relaxed the atmosphere, and everyone was now having fun in the trial. After a few rounds, T-pop songs like Sadistic by Jasper, Slay by Felizz, or Charm by Lykn are introduced. A good portion of the competitors are eliminated from the game, but they stay offstage to support their comrades. Shouts of support in every language and applause can be heard from the eliminated candidates.
Personally, I am knocked out when J-pop songs are introduced. I know the music, but I don't know the choreographies. I step back and start encouraging those still on the dance floor, namely Cat, JunHo, JiHo, and Isidora, along with about ten other participants whose ranks are also more or less high. Isidora and JiHo are eliminated when C-pop music is introduced. There are only five participants left, Cat, Nam JunHo, Lovro Kosir, the current Rank 1 from Slovenia, Sao, a Chinese participant, and Julietta, an Italian participant.
Honestly, I am pleasantly surprised by Nam JunHo. I knew he was a good dancer, but I didn't know he was this good. And his musical repertoire is really extensive. Is he just passionate about dance or addicted to social media? Either way, it's a pleasant surprise. For Cat, I expected it a bit, but for JunHo, not at all. After another 30 minutes of dancing, Sao and Julietta are eliminated because they are caught off guard by random songs added to the list, like Jerusalema or Sapé comme jamais. Cat gives up 20 minutes later due to a lack of endurance. We're going to have to work on that. And only JunHo and Lovro remain. They've been dancing for nearly two hours, but it looks like they've just started. Neither of them misses a beat. They breathe the music, are in perfect synchronization, and dance with a charm of their own. Whether it's girl group or boy group songs, they succeed. Their body movements are elegant and attractive. I can't help but scream to encourage them, especially JunHo. We find ourselves in a repeat of the previous battle.
_Go JunHo, Go JunHo, Go JunHo!!!
_Go Lovro, Go Lovro, Go Lovro!!!
Finally, it came down to the song Rizz by a recent K-pop group, XLOV. Seeing a giant of nearly two meters looking cute and dancing to this song was not on my to-do list for today. Nam JunHo finally wins to the applause of the crowd when he reproduces the original choreography. The way he went down into that smooth split at the beginning of the choreo, really, hats off. I didn't know he was so flexible.
_Truly an incredible battle. I still have chills. Mina begins.
_Nam JunHo, I didn't know you had that in you. Where were you hiding, my namesake? Lee JunHo asks, smiling.
Nam JunHo smiles timidly in response. It's quite incredible, a giant like that, shy as a lamb. Is it weird if I want to hug him? I pinch the back of my hand to stay serious. Once again, these people are my competitors first before becoming my colleagues.
_ Lovro, also an incredible performance. What went wrong at the end? Lee JunHo asks. I saw you glitch.
_I knew the song, but I couldn't remember the choreo at that moment. I froze for a few seconds and it was too late.
_In any case, you both gave an incredible performance. Right, everyone?
Screams and applause could be heard from all the candidates present. I felt like Nam JunHo was going to explode, his ears looked so red.
_Let's get back to serious business. It's time to announce Phase 3. Mina begins.
_Get ready, because it's going to be hard. This is the Fusion Phase.
_From now on, it's no longer girls against boys. Phase 3 consists of five weeks of intensive training to create mixed-gender performances designed by our incredible coaches.
_At the end of each week, divided into groups, you will participate in guerrilla performances in the city of Seoul. After these guerrillas, you will return to the set, and seven people will be eliminated each week.
_The winner of today's individual trial will be entitled to an individual lesson with the coach of their choice every week.
Hearing those last words, the crowd grows more agitated. A private session with the coaches during the trial? That was practically a cheat code. It seems that for the next intermediate trial, I must win at all costs. The further the competition progresses, the better the advantages get.
___
References
_Song Bang Bang Bang par le groupe Big Bang,
_Song What is love par le groupe Twice
_Song S-Classe par le groupe Stray Kids
_ Murasakibara est un personnage de l'anime Kuroko's basket
_Song Sadistic par le groupe Jasper,
_Song Slay par le groupe Felizz
_Song Charm par le groupe Lykn
_Song Jerusalema de Master KG
_ Song Sape comme jamais de Maitre Gims
_Song Rizz du groupe XLOV
_ Chapter partially inspired by the song Stay Gold of BTS.
Thanks for reading and have a good day.