𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵/ 𝗜-𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗

'INTO THE I-LAND' 5

''you're here,'' Haruto said, sitting next to me on the sand.

The view of the sea, the music of the water splashing, the cold of the wind, and the storm from afar are very soothing.

I hugged my knees as I stare at my brother. He was smiling the sweetest smile that I missed the most. I started to cry when I felt his arms around me, he always does this, and it's been a long time since he hugged me. I wish we could stay like this and never let go, and I can still smell him.

''I'm sorry'', I sniffed ''please go back, I missed you so much...please.....'' I continued to cry

I heard him chuckled and ruffled my hair. I can no longer see his sad face, he was so happy, and I can't understand why he is happy when I'm begging him not to go. 

''you're the most precious thing that I had,'' he told me. His eyes were teary, but he was still smiling.

He was my closest friend. He was always there to wipe my tears. Whenever I'm upset, he always tries his best to make me laugh, he treats me preciously, and I never expect it to become memories.  

''I wanted to tell you that I'm very proud of you because you are so brave to stand for yourself, you deserve the at I-LAND, always smile and let be this path for your next step on climbing, ''he said.

''No... No-'' I quickly said and grasped his hands. I can't help but break down in front of him. ''I joined because of you, I wanted to restore your spot at I-LAND, you always tell me how much you wanted to debut, but I betrayed you, and I joined instead, I am sorry, I won't continue this if you still want to debut, just please tell me.''

''shush'', he cut me off with his reassuring smile.

''did you know that you're ugly when you cry'' he laughed, making me hit him in the arm. ''I want you to know that I am rooting for you. I am not mad at you,'' he continued.

He held my hand tight, placing them in his pockets, and gazed in afar, ''Please be happy when I'm not here anymore, take care of mom and Dad,'' he finally said before he disappeared.

Did he already leave?

''please.....''

''please Wake up'', Daniel worriedly repeated, waking her up, but there was no response.

''wake up''

Yuji opened her eyes to the sight of heesung and Daniel on her right while Jay and sunghoon on her left side. 

Yuji found herself crying. She wiped her tears and covered her face preventing them from staring at her face.

''tell me what happened'' Heesung asked with a top concern on his face, ''why are you crying?'' he added. Yuji hugged heesung tightly for a moment. Then she let go of the hug and smiled at them as nothing happens. They all look at each other, mentally asking each other.

As she walks toward the door, she noticed that they were still there. So she turned to them with a confused face, ''come on, let's go, we have to do well for the first test, right?''

The other I-Landers went on changing their clothes and preparing for rehearsals and warm-up for the final test, and they can't mess up this chance. They see this performance as their last chance.

The stylist made her wear skirts, but she refused and told them that the dance moves had too many bents and preferably wore cargo pants. She barely wore any makeup, but because her face was a bit puffy from crying, she agreed to put some. the stylist did not struggle because her hair was already ready as soon as she changed. Her overall look was cool yet made her charms showy.

As they were all set up, the thirteen of them made their way towards the main stage.

''you okay?'' Nicholas asked her, patting her shoulder. She turned to nodded smiling.

The microphone was slightly moved connected to an earpiece, she never had this before, but she already learned how those things work.

''I-LANDERS STANDBY.''

her eyes widened when the alarms with a red light began flashing, already started. However, she still kept on fixing her microphone because she has to hear her voice and count, but unfortunately, her microphone is not working.  

''LET THE TEST OF MUTUAL DESTINY BEGIN''

the song started playing. She kept her face friendly because the theme was friendly even though she cannot hear anything. She only hears the original sound that the audience will listen to. She practiced her expressions many times in a mirror and ended up frustrated. Still, as she performs, she seems to carry everything she learned from the beginning. She worked hard to save herself with her team. 

The performance ended smoothly and left the producers thinking for a response.

'Haruto is proud of me.'