Y/N
6/20/2018
Y/N sat on the couch, the TV flickering in front of him as the latest episode of Produce 48 played. Yunjin's little sister, Rachel, sat next to him, legs tucked beneath her, and her younger brother sprawled out on the floor, glued to the screen. Despite the cozy atmosphere, Y/N couldn't shake the growing frustration gnawing at him as the episode unfolded.
They had been watching for a while now, eagerly waiting for Yunjin's re-evaluation. Rachel was fidgeting with excitement, nudging Y/N every time a familiar face appeared on screen. "Do you think she did well? I bet she moved up!" Rachel said, her eyes wide with hope. Y/N smiled at her enthusiasm, but his stomach tightened. He wanted so badly for Yunjin to succeed, to feel the validation she deserved after working herself to exhaustion.
But as the episode continued, scene after scene passed without any sign of Yunjin. Instead of showing her evaluation, the screen quickly cut to a chart. Y/N's breath hitched as he scanned the names, looking for Yunjin's. His heart sank when he saw it: Yunjin, Class F.
"That's it?" Y/N muttered under his breath, his irritation rising. "They didn't even show her performance?"
Rachel leaned over, eyes widening as she spotted the chart. "What?! Why is she in Class F?!" she exclaimed, clearly upset.
Y/N clenched his fists, trying to keep his voice calm for the sake of Yunjin's siblings. "They didn't even show her re-evaluation," he muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. "Just this stupid chart." His annoyance simmered beneath the surface, his jaw tightening in frustration. It didn't make sense. Yunjin had worked so hard, stayed up late practicing, pushed herself to the limit—and for what? For it to be brushed aside with a few lines of text on a screen?
The little brother, who had been silent until now, glanced up from the floor with confusion. "Why didn't they show Noona? She worked really hard..."
Y/N sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know, bud. I really don't." It wasn't fair. Not to her. Not to any of them. Y/N couldn't help but feel a wave of anger, not just at the show but at the way Yunjin's efforts were being minimized. She deserved more than a passing glance on a chart.
Rachel frowned, crossing her arms in frustration. "They should've shown her. She's way better than that," she said defiantly, as if willing the show to change its decision.
Y/N smiled softly at her words, his heart warmed by how much Rachel cared about her sister. "Yeah," he said quietly, his eyes still fixed on the screen. "She is."
As the episode continued to play in the background, Y/N's frustration lingered. But sitting there with Yunjin's siblings, he realized he wasn't the only one who believed in her. Rachel's unwavering confidence and the quiet concern in her brother's eyes reminded Y/N that no matter what a screen or a ranking said, Yunjin's worth went far beyond a letter grade.
The episode just ended, leaving Y/N feeling somewhat annoyed by how little they had shown of Yunjin. Rachel and her little brother were still frowning in disappointment, but Y/N didn't want them to dwell on it. With Mr. and Mrs. Huh still out for their date night, he decided to stay a little longer to cheer them up.
"Hey," he said, nudging Rachel gently. "How about we make some cookies? I think we all need something sweet."
Rachel's eyes lit up at the idea, her earlier frustration momentarily forgotten. "Really? You know how to bake, Y/N?"
Y/N laughed, getting up from the couch. "I know how to follow a recipe. That counts, right?"
Her younger brother perked up too, hopping off the floor. "Can I help? I wanna crack the eggs!"
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Blessing in Disguise
FanfictionTwo high school freshmen dream of going beyond their small-town high school and making a name for themselves. Slice-of-life story with some fluff, and angst