OPEN YOUR EYES (BLIND I) - MUSIQ SERIES PART 2

42. FRIENDSHIPS

After Axel's departure from the program, they had to pretend nothing was wrong, even though everything was. The girls continued practicing on their own and trying to stay as positive as they could but among them one stood out very obviously, and that was Heejin. She did not talk to anyone unless spoken to although she did everything she was told, which worried the rest although at the same time made them feel relieved that she was not giving up on the program.

Since practicing the same things repeatedly was not as productive, they had decided to learn a new dance together, so they ended up learning «Hobgoblin» by Key To Atlantis, hoping that they could get some feedback from A.Jin once the mentors were back.

"You were slightly off beat there, Heejin," Nari called her out as they monitored their rehearsal.

"Yes, sorry," Heejin said, immediately standing up to try to practice it.

"You are sweating, Heejin, sit down with us. She didn't tell you just so you start working now," Zia quickly told her.

"Oh, yes, sorry." She sat back down. 

She had almost become like a robot but none of them could blame her. She was still trying to process everything and they were sure that she would be back to how she used to be at some point, so they just tried to be by her side and check on her from time to time so she knew she was not alone.

"I want to be in Heejin's team for the next evaluation!" Iku said hugging her arm once they finished watching their video.

"Mine? Why?" Heejin asked her confused.

"You are an amazing songwriter and an even better leader. Why would I not?"

"Hey! I wrote the song and was the leader for the other evaluation!" Zia told her.

"I know, but let's admit you aren't meant to be a leader," Iku said with a bright smile, making it impossible to get mad at her.

"Okay, fine. I was really lost while trying to be one, that is true. I may be the oldest, but I really don't know how to be a leader."

"I don't know if I want to be the leader or the songwriter for the next evaluation, though," Heejin admitted, shocking everyone since they knew that she liked doing both things as they came naturally to her. "Xia is an amazing leader and Minako has always had a lot of potential, so maybe they could be the leaders."

"I don't want to be a leader," Minako quickly told her. "Although I'm a bit stubborn and I like to come up with ideas, I'm not suited to be a leader."

"There is no such thing as a natural-born leader. You can train yourself to be a good leader," Heejin told them. "And you already have more than the basics. I think you could be a good one."

"Why are you talking as if you weren't going to be able to be one?" Juiyu asked her, sensing that was happening.

"We don't know exactly if there is going to be people eliminated as the program continues, so we should be able to look for all of the possible combinations," she confessed.

While Minako was at that moment the one at the bottom of the ranks, they all understood that she had far more supporters that Heejin at that moment so, although no one said anything, it was almost a given that she would be at least at the bottom half of the ranks for that first evaluation. They had not yet been told if anyone was going to be eliminated, but the tenth position was not promising regardless.

"Heejin, let's work hard together and not worry about those things already, okay?" Eunae held her hand.

"Yes, sorry," she quickly apologised, seeing how she had ruined the mood.