Euphoria- Park Jong-Seong

CH:16

"Taki will be eliminated."

The hall remained silent, shocked and startled at the sudden announcement. Anushka froze in her seat, her eyes filling with tears as she looked at Taki's face on the screen. He had received six votes, just like the other three eliminated candidates who received more than him: Sunoo, Yoonwon, and Taeyoung. Her heart clenched at the unfairness of it all. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she thought about how cruel this process was. Taki and Sunoo didn't deserve this.

Before this, Jungwon had been the one selected for elimination after receiving six votes, but K, as the top ranker, had used his exemption card to save him. No one had anticipated that this would lead to Taki being voted out instead. K fell into his seat, his head in his hands, his body trembling with quiet sobs.

"Those who are eliminated should turn off your nameplates and head to the GROUND now."

The words echoed in the room, heavy with finality. Slowly, the eliminated candidates removed their nameplates from the chairs they had been sitting in and placed them on the platform. Jungwon shut his eyes, feeling a deep sadness settle over him. He had been saved, but at the cost of Taki's place in I-LAND.

Anushka stood up as she saw Taki walking towards the platform. Without a second thought, she pulled him into a tight embrace. Taki burst into tears, his body shaking against hers.

"I don't deserve to be here, Noona," he choked out between sobs.

"Yah—don't say that," she snapped softly, glaring at him with a mixture of sadness and warmth. "You deserve to be here."

"No."

"Shut up."

Taki hiccupped, nodding slightly as he cried again. Anushka sighed and held him tighter, rubbing his back gently. Nearby, K watched them silently, his expression filled with regret. Sunoo walked up to them with a small smile, and Anushka scoffed playfully before pulling him into the hug as well.

"I will work harder," Sunoo promised as they pulled away.

"You've already worked hard," Anushka said firmly. "The ones who voted you out are just jealous of you. You two deserve to be here more than them—even more than me. So don't think like that, hm?"

Sunoo pouted, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You're much better than us, Noona."

Anushka sighed, hugging him again. As she looked around, she noticed that while others were hugging Taki, K stood apart from the group. Anushka pulled away from Sunoo, walked over to K, and took his hand. Without a word, she dragged him toward Taki. K hesitated before lifting his hand, and after a second, Taki grasped it firmly. K pulled him into a tight hug, his own tears slipping down his cheeks.

"I'll miss you, Noona," Sunoo mumbled, his lower lip trembling.

Anushka smiled at him, cupping his face in her hands. "I'll miss you more," she whispered, patting his head gently. Then she smirked. "Don't cry, you look like an alien."

Sunoo gasped and playfully hit her arm. Anushka chuckled, ruffling his hair before hugging him one last time.

"Eat a lot," she told both Taki and Sunoo as they hugged her again before stepping back. The entire group watched as the eliminated members walked toward the entrance. The ones remaining in I-LAND waved at them, their eyes filled with sadness, while the departing members waved back with bittersweet smiles. Anushka forced herself to smile through her tears as the egg-shaped exit rotated, taking them to the other side.

As soon as they disappeared, Anushka sat down heavily in her seat. Memories of her time with Taki and Sunoo flashed through her mind. They had made her laugh so much, and she had done the same for them. They were genuinely some of the nicest people here.