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nabi sat backstage with the rest of her group, her heart racing with anticipation.
the atmosphere was charged with a mixture of excitement and nerves as they prepared for the final performance of the survival show, a performance that would determine whether they would debut as a full nine-member group or face the heart-wrenching possibility of losing some of their own.
she fiddled with her in-ears, adjusting them for the hundredth time, as if the act could somehow quell the anxiety bubbling inside of her.
as the seven members of stray kids prepared to take the stage first, nabi felt a rush of pride and admiration for them. they had worked so hard and she hoped they would shine in this pivotal moment.
"fighting!" nabi murmured, holding her fist up in encouragement as the seven members filed out of the room, determination on their faces.
she watched the screen, which displayed jeongin and jisung performing effortlessly, their energy infectious. it was impressive how well the seven members executed their song, their synergy evident in every move.
the anticipation grew as jyp, their producer, began to critique the performance. he was known for his keen eye, always noting the nuances of each performances and providing feedback that could either build them or tear them down.
"great teamwork, everyone," he said, gesturing to the seven on stage. "i see how you all have grown individually and as a group."
nabi's attention flickered back to the screen, her heart pounding. the host then turned to the audience, announcing that they would now watch a video highlighting the stories of the members who had been eliminated earlier in the compeitition.
nabi's heart dropped as she realized her backstory would be featured. clips of her studying korean language books, grammar, and spelling. . .
rosey at a wooden desk, papers scattered around her like leaves in autumn. a highlighter in hand, she diligently annotated grammar exercises, the pink ink standing out against the black text.
she paused occasionally, leaning back in her chair, exhaling deeply as she pondered over tricky grammar rules. the camera captured her frustration as she sighed and ran her fingers through her hair, but it also showcased her resilience. she picked up the pen again, ready to tackle the next challenge.
the camera catching her dancing alone in the studio mirrors late at night, lost in her own world, and singing to herself.
the floor was illuminated by soft lights. nabi was captured dancing alone, her silhouette reflected in the large mirrors. she was focused, swaying gracefully, her movements fluid and expressive. the camera circled around her, catching the joy on her face as she sang softly to herself, blending her voice with the rhythm of the music playing in the background.
as the music played, the camera focused on nabi's concentrated gaze in the mirror. she paused mid-dance, assessing her reflection, critiquing her posture and timing. the scene slowed down, allowing viewers to see the flicker of disappointment on her face as she executed a move that didn't feel quite right.
after a few tries, she smiled at her progress, nodding to herself as she finally executed the movement flawlessly.
when the montage finally ended, nabi took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. the three of them, nabi, felix, and minho, walked on stage to introduce themselves. she could feel the weight of the moment bearing down on her as she took her place among them.
"jyp, what was the reason that you gave them another chance?" the host asked, breaking the tension in the air.
"initially, i felt nabi just wasn't the right fit for the female team, so i placed her with the boys," jyp explained, "but once the three left, the impact of the 7-member group was diminished. to restore that energy, all nine members needed to be present."
nabi felt a surge of gratitude. jyp believed in them and that belief fueled her determination.
the host nodded and chan took a moment to introduce the song they had prepared. as he spoke, nabi could feel the adrenaline coursing through her veins. she took her position alongside the others, ready to pour everything into her performance.
when the music began, they launched into the song with fervor, singing, rapping, and dancing in perfect harmony. every move felt liberating, a culmination of their hard work and passion.
the stage was alive with energy, and nabi felt herself losing control in the moment, every worry fading away.
after the final note, they stood together, a united front, side by side. jyp approached them, his expression once of pride.
"great job, everyone," he complimented, "your dancing was impressive and i can notice the improvements you all have made."
he specifically highlighted the three who had returned from elimination, noting how they had corrected their previous shortcomings.
"nabi, your dancing has improved immensely. you're no longer as wobbly as you used to be. keep it up!"
"thanks, hyunjin," she thought, a smile tugging at her lips as she remembered her training sessions with him.
the atmosphere shifted as the host announced the results of the audience's votes, each moment felt like an eternity as nabi sat backstage, her heart pounding in her chest. she bit her bottom lip nervously, unable to shake the fear that loomed over her.
would they really be able to debut as nine?
"ladies and gentlemen, the results are in!" the host exclaimed, drawing everyone's attention.
nabi's breath hitched as the host revealed the vote: a resounding 94% in favor of debuting as a nine-member group. relief washed over her as joy erupted in the room.
"congratulations! stray kids will continue as nine members!" jyp announced, his voice filled with pride.
cheers erupted backstage and nabi felt her heart swell with happiness. she glanced over at minho and felix, their expressions reflecting the same disbelief and joy she felt. then, in a moment of pure instinct, she ran over to jisung, who was gazing up at the ceiling, relief evident in his features.
surprised, jisung instinctively wrapped his arms around her as she latched onto him, both of them laughing through their tears of joy.
"we did it! we really did it!" nabi exclaimed, her voice filled with exhilaration.
as the reality of their success settled in, nabi looked around at her fellow members, each of them buzzing with excitement. they had fought hard to be here, to stay together, and now they were on the brink of something incredible.
a debut as nine friends, nine teammates, nine artists united.
