Blessing in Disguise

Chapter Nine

Y/N

6/15/2018

The living room was buzzing with a mixture of excitement and nerves as both Y/N's family and Yunjin's family gathered together for the premiere of Produce 48. Y/N sat on the couch, sandwiched between his mom and his sister, while the Huh family—Mr. and Mrs. Huh, Rachel, and Yunjin's little brother—occupied the rest of the room. A sense of anticipation filled the air.They had heard snippets about Yunjin's time on the show, but now, they were about to witness it unfold on screen.

The opening sequence played, introducing the contestants one by one, and soon enough, Yunjin's face appeared on the screen, smiling brightly as she waved to the camera. Y/N felt his chest swell with pride. It felt surreal seeing her there, on Korean television, after everything she had gone through. He exchanged a quick glance with Rachel, who was practically bouncing in her seat with excitement.

"Look, look! It's Yunjin!" Rachel shouted, her eyes wide with excitement.

The whole room leaned in closer as Yunjin and Gaeun's names flashed on the screen, and the show cut to their performance of Havana. Y/N's heart started to race, and he could feel the tension build in the room as the two girls took the stage. Yunjin looked stunning in her performance outfit, her movements sharp and controlled, but Y/N could sense the nervous energy behind her smile. The familiar strains of Havana began, and the two girls launched into the routine, their voices harmonizing as they moved in sync.

At first, everything seemed to be going perfectly. Gaeun's stage presence was undeniable, her years of experience shining through every note and every step. Y/N knew she was a standout performer, and it wasn't surprising when the camera zoomed in on her several times, highlighting her effortless control and charisma. But Yunjin's moments—though powerful—felt more strained. Her nerves were visible, especially in her vocal performance. Y/N could see the tiny hesitation in her movements, the slight falter in her voice.

His heart clenched.

He'd spoken to her about this performance. He knew how much pressure she'd felt going into it, how much she had wanted to do well. Now, watching it unfold, Y/N couldn't shake the feeling of helplessness that washed over him. He wished he could have been there, standing offstage, cheering her on.

When the performance ended, there was a moment of silence as the judges deliberated. The room felt still, the air thick with anticipation. The camera zoomed in on the judges' faces, their expressions unreadable as they prepared to give their rankings.

"Gaeun," one of the judges announced, "A."

The room clapped, and Y/N's mom murmured, "She's really talented," to no one in particular.

But Y/N's eyes stayed glued to the screen, waiting for Yunjin's evaluation. Her face appeared, and Y/N held his breath.

"Yunjin," the judge began, "C."

The word hit him like a punch to the gut. He saw Yunjin's expression shift, her smile faltering slightly before she quickly regained her composure. But Y/N knew her too well—behind that smile, she was disappointed. He could almost feel the weight of her emotions through the screen.

Mrs. Huh let out a quiet sigh, her eyes focused on her daughter's face. "She did her best," she whispered softly, as if trying to comfort herself more than anyone else in the room.

Rachel, who had been so animated just minutes before, sat quietly now, her face scrunched up in confusion. "Why didn't Yunjin get an A? She was so good!"

Y/N's mom reached over and gently patted Rachel's shoulder. "She'll do better next time. It's just the beginning."

But Y/N couldn't shake the knot in his stomach. He had been there with Yunjin through every step of her journey, from the long hours of practice to the endless self-doubt. He knew how much this C would affect her, how hard she was on herself. He could already picture her in her dorm, replaying the performance in her mind, picking apart every mistake, every moment she could have done better.