Euphoria- Park Jong-Seong

CH:14

The day of the test arrived faster than anyone had anticipated. The house was unusually quiet as the contestants prepared themselves, each lost in their own thoughts. Their carefully designed outfits reflected their team's concept, but no amount of fabric could hide the tension etched on their faces.

In the living room, they sat in small groups or alone, the weight of the upcoming performance pressing down on them. Anushka was seated with Sunghoon, K, EJ, Sunoo, Taeyong, Jungwon, and Heeseung. None of them spoke much, their minds occupied with thoughts of what was to come.

Anushka clasped her hands tightly in her lap, staring at the floor but seeing nothing. Her thoughts swirled with memories of how far she had come, how much effort she had put into reaching this point.

"This is it," she thought. "Even if I don’t make it to I-LAND, I need to prove that I belong here. That I can do this. For myself, for everyone who has believed in me."

She glanced around at her teammates. Sunghoon was sitting with his eyes closed, taking deep breaths to calm himself. K was leaning back against the sofa, his face impassive but his fingers tapping rhythmically against his knee. EJ had his head bowed, murmuring something under his breath—maybe a prayer.

Sunoo, ever cheerful, was unusually quiet, his lips pressed into a thin line as he stared at the ceiling. Taeyong was fiddling with the hem of his sleeve, while Jungwon was gripping the edge of his chair so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. And then there was Heeseung, his gaze fixed ahead, his jaw clenched as if steeling himself for what lay ahead.

Anushka took a deep breath, willing herself to stay calm. She knew they had all worked hard for this moment, but the pressure was unlike anything they had faced before.

After what felt like an eternity, the announcement came: “It’s time to move to the hall.”

The contestants stood up, their movements stiff with nerves. At the lobby, they gathered in a circle, each one reaching out to hold the hands of the person beside them.

“We’ve got this,” K said firmly, his voice cutting through the silence.

“Let’s do our best,” Jungwon added.

“Yeah,” Heeseung agreed, a small smile breaking through his tense expression.

Anushka squeezed Sunoo’s hand on one side and Taeyong’s on the other. “No matter what happens, let’s give it everything we’ve got,” she said, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside her.

They hugged briefly, drawing strength from each other before stepping through the egg gate.

The stage was vast, the lights blinding as they stepped into the spotlight. The sound of their footsteps echoed in the space, but they didn’t falter. They lined up in their formation, their expressions hard and determined, their gazes sharp as they looked straight ahead.

The silence was deafening as they waited for the music to start. Anushka could feel her heart pounding in her chest, but she forced herself to focus. This is it. No turning back now.

The first notes of the song filled the hall, and they moved as one, their bodies snapping into the choreography they had practiced countless times. Their determination radiated through every step, every gesture, as they poured their hearts into the performance.

This was their moment to prove themselves. And they weren’t going to let it slip away.

While the I-LANDers stepped onto the stage with determination radiating from their expressions, the Grounders sat in their designated area, watching the performance through the large screen.

The tension in the room was palpable as they watched their counterparts take their positions. Among them, Jay’s gaze was glued to the screen, his focus unwavering on one particular person—Anushka.

She stood there, her usual calm and focused expression in place, but Jay noticed something he hadn’t paid much attention to before. Her features, which he had always thought of as simply cute, now seemed to carry a quiet strength. Her short hair, styled neatly, framed her face perfectly, giving her an air of sharpness that matched her serious demeanor.

Jay tilted his head slightly as his lips twitched upward. “She’s got that look again,” he muttered under his breath, recalling the times she’d furrowed her brows in deep thought or gotten frustrated during practice.

There was something almost intimidating about her seriousness, a stark contrast to the softer side she occasionally showed. And yet, he found himself admiring the balance. How does she pull that off?

As the music started and the I-LANDers began their performance, Jay caught himself staring too long. He quickly rubbed his forehead, looking away as if to shake off the thoughts creeping into his mind.

Instead, he shifted his gaze to the other members on stage, trying to focus on their moves. But no matter how hard he tried, his thoughts drifted back to her. What’s wrong with me? he wondered, shaking his head.

(Outfit)

(Hairstyle, except the red highlights in the photo)

Author:
SORRY FOR THE SHORT CHAPTER😭🤏
Jay's pic to make u happy