Blessing in Disguise

Chapter Twenty-One

Yunjin

9/1/2018

Yunjin walked down the quiet, dim hallway of the Pledis building, the weight of the last few months still clinging to her. The final episode of Produce 48 had aired, and she had watched it alone in her dorm. She had tried to hold back the tears when she saw Gaeun, her friend and mentor, also being eliminated in the final round. The sting of not hearing her own name was still fresh, but seeing Gaeun's name not called either felt like salt in the wound. It was as if all their hard work had unraveled in the blink of an eye, and yet, here they were, walking together toward a meeting that could change everything.

Gaeun, walking beside her, was silent, her expression unreadable, though Yunjin could see the slight tension in her brow. Neither of them knew what to expect from this meeting. Both were mentally preparing themselves for whatever news awaited them. Yunjin clutched the promise ring on her finger, running her thumb over the cool metal, grounding herself in the present. She had made a promise to herself, to Y/N, that she would keep chasing this dream, but after everything that had happened, her resolve was beginning to crack.

They reached the conference room door and hesitated for a moment. Kaeun glanced at Yunjin, her lips pressed into a thin line. "Let's see what they have to say," Gaeun said softly, though her voice held an edge of weariness.

Yunjin nodded, her heart racing as she pushed open the door. Inside, the room was sleek and professional, with a long table at the center. Seated at the far end were the CEO of Pledis and the PR manager, their expressions serious but not unkind.

"Please, have a seat," the CEO said, gesturing to the chairs opposite him. Yunjin and Gaeun sat down, the tension in the air thick enough to cut through. Yunjin could feel her pulse in her ears, her mind swirling with possibilities, hopes, and fears all at once.

The CEO leaned forward, folding his hands on the table. "We understand that the outcome of the show wasn't what anyone had hoped for, but we want you both to know that we still believe in your potential."

Yunjin blinked, her heart skipping a beat. Still believe? Her fingers instinctively tightened around the promise ring.

Gaeun remained quiet, her eyes narrowing slightly, but Yunjin could sense the curiosity hidden behind her guarded expression.

"We've been discussing internally," the CEO continued, his voice steady. "And we believe that both of you still have a bright future ahead. We're planning to debut a new girl group, and we'd like the two of you to be part of it."

Yunjin's breath hitched in her throat. A debut. After everything that had happened, after the disappointment, the hate, the self-doubt—it felt like the smallest glimmer of hope, something to cling to. She glanced at Gaeun, who was sitting still, her face betraying nothing, though her hands had folded tightly in her lap.

"We want to give you time to think about it," the CEO added, his tone shifting to something more thoughtful. "We understand this is a big decision, and we want you to feel comfortable moving forward. During this time, you'll be given a break. You can visit your families, take some time to rest, and reflect on your next steps."

Gaeun's eyes flickered with something—relief, maybe—but there was also hesitation. She nodded slowly, her expression unreadable, though Yunjin could see the wheels turning in her mind. The idea of a break, of time to reflect, seemed to sit well with her, but there was something else, a weight behind her gaze that Yunjin couldn't quite place.

As they left the conference room, the door closing softly behind them, Yunjin could feel the tension still lingering between them. She walked beside Gaeun in silence, her mind racing with the possibilities ahead, but she couldn't ignore the uncertainty that hung in the air.