The Second Chance of A Suicidal Idol

Fire (15)

Teams had been gathered and set up the way they had been the day before. On the same stage with the same cameras blinking, with the two same trainers looking at each contestant, each team with expressions too calm. Like they were used to this, sending home contestants with teary faces.

"Team Leaders, please step forward." Misa instructed.

Mi Yong shifted a little, before stepping up with the rest of the team leaders.

"Your face, the bruise, it's healed?" Mi Yong asked, fists clenching.

"It was never as bad as it was made out to be, Hyung." Joon-woo replied, lying, as the bruise was visible but covered in concealer.

Mi Yong had to pick three people to eliminate from Team One. And the anxiety was clear on his expression as Mi Yong held his hands behind his back, shifting as if to fidget.

"Mi Yong." Misa started, "Who have you eliminated from Team One?"

Joon-woo eyed Mi Yong sadly. Joon-woo knew Mi Yong hadn't even thought of Joon-woo's name, hell everyone on Team One mentally knew who was going home. Still, having to say it out loud was possibly the scariest thing Joon-woo had ever seen.

"I chose..." Mi Yong began, looking down at his feet and sighing, "Contestant 49 and 50." The reveal of ⅔ contestants shook the stage dead.

Mi Yong looked at Joon-woo curiously.

"I hope you know that I was at fault for getting hit. I stepped in front of you." Joon-woo said, watching as Mi Yong removed his hand from his own neck and wiped held-back tears from his face.

Joon-woo saw a line of hickeys decorating Mi Yong's neck. He gulped.

"Oh– this–" Mi Yong panicked to cover the hickeys, but Joon-woo had already seen.

He gestured to the concealer in Mi Yong's hands, "Hyung, Do you need help covering those up?" Joon-woo asked with a small smile.

Mi Yong looked away and nodded.

The two stepped forward per the staff's request. In front of everyone. They looked at each other, ashamed. "And Contestant 27." Mi Yong finished.

Everyone expected 27th to leave, everyone watched as the once so confident 27th stepped forward and stood next to 49th and 50th. Joon-woo hid his satisfaction.

Misa nodded, "Contestant 27, 49, and 50, your journey with Producer10 has come to an end."
Joon-woo frowned at the words, as 49th squated in despair, burying his head in his hands in tears.

Joon-woo, who had his eyes fixated on Mi Yong, began to look away, but was reeled in as Mi Yong returned the stare. He looked relieved and it was the least tense Joon-woo had ever seen him.

–+–

Joon-woo's face was pale white as he stood at the doorframe of his supposed dorm for the next week. It wasn't Reggie or Mi Yong that he was roomed with, much to his dismay, but it was Ryeo Hyun and Bo Jaesang.

Of course, Joon-woo didn't hate the two perse, it was just they were already known to be as close as friends could be. They were both longtime trainees at Xe Entertainment, and were always ranked near each other. Hell– they were even on the same team. And knowing his luck, the last roommate in the 4-person bedroom would probably be the devil themselves.

"Hello Hyung..." Joon-woo quietly greeted.

The two turned to him, almost in sync. Ryeo Hyun's familiar blank look analyzed Joon-woo's anxious figure. It was the same look Joon-woo had seen as he had left Ryeo Hyun in the practice room, after their almost-argument. The same look Ryeo Hyun had used when he admitted to overworking himself.