Stay - Yang Jungwon 양 정원

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐄𝐍

It was finally D-Day.  After the midpoint evaluation, we've just been practicing and practicing with some newfound motivation.  We had no idea when the I-Land test would start or if we would even be able to perform.  As mean as it sounded, I hoped at least someone was going to get eliminated, that way we'd have a chance to perform.

As I was helping Hanbin with his facial expressions, I heard a very recognizable alarm.  All of us immediately turned towards the monitor that had turned on, "I-Land test will be starting soon."

The screen switched to a camera view of the I-Land practice room, doing a team cheer before going on stage. None of us spoke as we were all so immersed in watching the I-Landers move onto the stage.  Was this what the Grounders saw last test?

When the music started, I quickly took notice of who was standing in the center. "Wah! Heeseung's center!" I said, turning to Jay.

Jay shook his head, "Ah, we're in trouble then... I wonder how they've been practicing."

"Who's part two then?" I wondered.

"K?" Jake guessed, "Maybe Geonu?" Turns out Jake was right, K was part two.  But I wasn't even watching K.  I couldn't help but smile when I saw Jungwon perform right after.

Jay and I watched closely when Heeseung and K did their dance break.  We both looked at each other anxiously, "We have to top that," Jay reminded me.

I nodded, "And we will," Jay and I spent hours practicing this not even ten-second sequence.  They transitioned into the other stunts.  I was excited seeing Jungwon move to the back. He was going to do the stunt.

But I quickly saw how his expression faltered. "Jungwonie was the one who just did Daniel's part right?" Nicholas asked. 

Daniel nodded, "He was, yeah,"

I sighed, "Ah... Jungwon..." I prayed the judges would miss this mistake or glaze over it.  I doubt it since Rain spent half an hour having Daniel do that same stunt on repeat.  I just hoped it wasn't a big enough mistake to get Jungwon eliminated.

Despite that, the rest of the stunts went pretty smoothly.  I was starting to get worried.  They've all really improved since Into the I-Land.  I wondered if anyone was going to get eliminated at all.  "On a scale of one to ten, how screwed are we?" I asked Jay right after the performance ended.  The camera focused on Heeseung's expression, as he glared at the camera.  And I was starting to get personally scared.

Jay sucked in a breath, "Solid... eleven." He said half-jokingly making me laugh. 

The monitor instructed us to wait as the judges decided everyone's score.  After that, they'd announce how many people would be eliminated and whether or not we'd be able to perform.  However long that took, we all stayed in front of the monitor, ready to hear whatever the judges had announced.

"I-Land's Teamwork test results," I was shocked that it only took about ten minutes, last time it took about twenty for the judges to decide for us. 

"There has to be some dropouts," Youngbin said.

I nodded, "They weren't perfect," There was still a good shot of us performing.  To get an average of 96 minimum, everyone would need 96 points each minimum.  Which I was pretty sure was very unlikely.

"The test result is... someone will be eliminated from I-Land." I'm sure all of us felt a little mean, being happy that someone was being eliminated, but at least it meant the last week of non-stop practicing wouldn't go to waste. "Now, let the Ground performance begin."

Honestly... I felt more determined than anxious.  There was no go further down from here.  Our skills could only go up and either way, someone was going to be chosen to go up to I-Land.  And I was determined to make one of them me.