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Second ranked in the K Group from the fancam evaluation. It was a decent start, although a bit disappointing. Jiwoong calmed himself down and immediately began his assessment for selecting team members.
Considering the on-site voting in the competition, the team needed dance members who could handle an intense performance. Next, vocal members who could support and maintain the mood of the performance. Finally, rap members who could set the overall tone.
Teamwork cannot be ignored either. After all, K-pop Idols are nothing but the art of collaboration. A task that involves bringing together highly capable individuals who each contribute their fair share, resulting in explosive synergy. When they trust each other and absorb each other's energy, one person becomes more than one person. Together as a team, they become stronger than a mere total sum.
However, the participants gathered here are not ordinary trainees. They don't have time to work on teamwork while enduring the tough days together in the practice room. So the answer is simple. He has to use the teamwork that has already been established.
Jiwoong selected two trainees in a pair from the same agency, Yuehua and Redstart Entertainment. And one from Wakeone. Trying to fill the remaining one spot, he went over all 4 independent trainees who had worked with him and suddenly, Jongwoo's voice echoed in his mind.
"Backdoor, of course. It's the song I can do the best!"
Even from three lines away from the front, Jongwoo's voice was clear enough to reach his ears. No, judging by how he could still hear it, maybe it wasn't his ears but his heart that was affected.
I'll make an opportunity for you too. When I can do it.
"The final trainee that I choose is... Yoon Jongwoo."
***
When Jiwoong called his name, Jongwoo found himself looking up at the sky. A silent prayer. He couldn't even catch his breath. It was impossible to gauge how thankful he was. That phrase about feeling like his heart was being ripped out should have been saved for this moment. Even until he stood at the very back of the Backdoor K team, he couldn't believe it was real.
73rd out of 98 participants. The number felt like the sky was falling. When he thought about the self-introduction he wrote, where he put his final goal as 1st place, he couldn't even laugh bitterly. Did he leave his team only to end up like this? Starting from 3 stars and dropping to 2, then finally to 1, he felt like he was standing on the edge of a cliff, watching the ground crumble beneath his feet.
In the dark where he couldn't see what was ahead of him, only one goal shone bright like a star. Escape from the bottom ranks. If he couldn't crawl up from this cliff, it would be the end.
The Backdoor team was Jongwoo's only hope. He carefully stuck the leader sticker on Jiwoong's left chest like it was the last leaf on which his life depended.
"Congratulations, Hyungnim*."
After the team agreed on Jiwoong's taking a leader role, they began to distribute parts. Needless to say, no one wanted to be left out of being the center.
However, Jongwoo was the only ugly duckling, wearing a yellow shirt, in the All-Star Legion. Whenever Jongwoo saw that glowing but still weirdly dull yellow color on his own body, it made him shudder in surprise. The following appeal of the other trainees as "All-Stars" hurt him like stepping on fingers clinging to the cliff's edge.
When Jiwoong proposed a battle to the candidates for the killing part, Jongwoo wiped his chest in relief. He was just happy to get the opportunity instead of being beaten by popularity or the number of stars.
As he stepped forward, Jongwoo's eyes changed in an instant, just like when he was preparing for the star-level test with Jiwoong.
When Jiwoong first met Jongwoo, he was surprised several times. First, Jongwoo's sharp eyes made him worry that it might not be easy to get along with him. But the tone of voice he used to greet him was gentle, and when he found out that Jiwoong was two years older, he spoke very politely.
When Jongwoo sat down and introduced himself, he smiled gently, showing his canines.
"I may look a bit fierce, but I'm not biting."
Like a definition of a reverse charm. However, it was not until the beginning of practice that Jongwoo's true identity was revealed. The main dancer. No one objected.
Jiwoong and Jongwoo were in charge of the visual center and main dancer, respectively. Jongwoo's ideas were used for everything, including the climax where he sang in a lower octave and the fancy neck-rotating - or more like neck-breaking - choreography.
The fair dance proposal came from Jiwoong. He was not a particularly skilled player, but since his debut in 2016, seven years have passed. Jiwoong knew what people wanted to see.
"Like this, as your hand sweeps over my chest, I'll draw closer to you, my hands sliding down to rest on your waist. We'll inch towards each other, the anticipation building until our lips are almost touching. But then, just before we kiss, we'll turn around, leaving the audience wanting more."
While he explained the move, Jongwoo smiled awkwardly but when the music started and they visualized the scene, he did not hesitate at all.
The intensity and determination in Jongwoo's eyes reflected in the mirror of the practice room was familiar to Jiwoong. It was just like the way he used to look at himself in the mirror every morning when he lived as an underground Idol on the streets of Japan.
I'll never give up. No matter where I am. How far I will be pushed beyond that.
Suddenly, the billboard kiss performance from the previous shoot came to his mind, and Jiwoong chuckled. He wondered where Jongwoo learned to be so naughty and realized that he might have influenced the kid.
Even without a stage, costume, or lighting, Jongwoo was already the center of attention. After his dance ended, Jiwoong clapped enthusiastically, feeling relieved that there was no need to worry.
Seven team members, excluding the two involved parties, voted. When four out of five people pointed to Jongwoo, Jiwoong's lips twitched slightly. He couldn't show his excitement, knowing that another trainee had lost, but he was happy nonetheless.
His judgment was correct. It was both a conviction for Jongwoo and a spell for himself. Jiwoong decided to believe that every moment, including the past, was the right choice, just like Jongwoo was his right choice.
* FYI
"Hyung" in Korean is a term used to address an older male who is considered a brotherly figure. "Nim" is a respectful suffix used to address someone. The term "Hyungnim" can also be used to refer to a senior or a boss in a workplace or organization.
** Thank you for your reading, votes, and comments! Your support means more than you know. Hope you enjoy it and let's keep rolling with the JW couple.
