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nabi had just finished the practice performance with her team, consisting of hyunjin, chan, and seungmin.
chan had suggested that each group showcase what they had accomplished so far in front of the others. they stood side by side, waiting for the remaining members who were seated on the floor, their reaction and opinions in the air.
as her fingers intertwined behind her back, nabi nervously fidgeted, feeling the weight of being the new addition to the group. the compliments from the other members about her team's neat performance brought a moment of relief.
but, the subsequent critique left her anxiety lingering.
jisung cleared his throat and spoke up, "i heard hyunjin's words very clearly during this run."
nabi's worry intensified as the moment approached for her to be evaluated. she knew she had to do better; all she could do was pray for improvement. but the harsh comments from jyp about her progress haunted her, making hope feel distant.
"nabi, you are at risk, right?" jisung asked.
nabi nodded, confirming her precarious position.
"from this performance, you did well, but if i'm being honest," he paused, locking eyes with her, "i think you could work on being more confident with your voice."
nabi nodded again, this time understanding the weight of his words. her gaze shifted from her reflection in the mirror to the practice studio floor, overwhelmed by self-doubt.
"shall we move on to the next team?" chan suggested, prompting minho, changbin, and felix to rise.
"i could have done better," nabi admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "like jisung said, every time i sang, i thought i started strong, but then i worried i was doing it wrong and held back. i believe that's why it seemed like i lacked confidence."
she felt a knot in her stomach, knowing she had helpful suggestions but hesitant to speak up when she felt like she was failing.
as the last team prepared to perform, nabi noticed chan's growing sensitivity; he was worried about his members. by the time their performance ended, chan offered nothing but constructive criticism.
on the day of the mission, sitting in the dressing, nabi had no intention of interacting with the others. she felt more comfortable alone, practicing quietly.
her eyes scanned the room as she sang her verses, landing on the members who were laughing and chatting comfortably. feeling like an intruder, she kept her distance.
