TV Talent

Part One: The Ad

'Ladies and gentlemen welcome to TV Talent, a variety series showcasing celebrities hidden talents!  
Next week is New Years Eve and the finale of our fifth season. To celebrate the special event and thank our loyal viewers, we have invited the hottest and most legendary guests. In a mindblowing battle of talents and an edge-of-the-seat treasure hunt, our mystery guests will go head-to-head in a contest where only the wittiest survive! Who will emerge victorious and be crowned the Talent King? Make sure to tune in to find out!'

The advertisement faded out with the sound of upbeat music. Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa and Rosé slowly glanced at each other and sighed collectively. 

Rosé sighed again. 'I can't believe we're actually doing it.'

'I can't believe it either,' Jisoo said, ripping open a packet of dog treats for Dalgom, who was curled up in her lap. 'I thought promotions were over?' 

Jennie shrugged. 'Apparently not.' 

It had been six weeks since their comeback. They'd released a single named GUCCI GIRLS in collaboration with Kimara, an American artist and producer, and a full album titled Black Roses in early December. Since it was award show season, they were allowed to attend a few shows and festivals (no Mnet though), but because of that they weren't able to promote properly on TV and variety shows. They thought they weren't going on any shows after all, until they were informed they were slotted for one last promotion before their break. None of them expected it. 

'Filming's going to be tough,' Lisa mused. 

Rosé took a bite of cereal. 'I'm not so worried about that. What I'm worried about is who we're doing it with.'

Lisa nodded. 'BTS.'

The one and only. 

Rosé pointed her spoon at her. 'Precisely.' 

'As long as we just do like we always do, it'll be over quickly. We shouldn't worry too much about that.' 

'I know that, but it's going to attract a lot of weird attention. ARMY's are known to be one of the craziest fandoms.' 

'Yeah, cause you're a part of it,' Lisa teased. 'Besides, any publicity is good publicity.'

'I'm not so sure about that,' Rosé muttered. 

'And there will always be negative reactions to us,' Jisoo chimed in, 'we're celebrities after all. But we can move past it and do a good job. Isn't that what we did with our comeback this year?'

'You're right. Let's show the public that we can put on a good show without any drama,' Jennie said confidently.

'Well, it is the Drama Queen talking, so who knows?' Jisoo teased.

Just then the doorbell rang. Lisa checked her phone. 'That's probably Linda, she said she'd get here around this time.' 

Rosé jumped up to check. 'Linda's here!' she announced as she waltzed back into the room. A tall girl weighed down with plastic bags with a tightly stuffed rucksack slung over her shoulder followed her. Her eyes and cheekbones were dark and angled, contrasting with the roundness of her nose and chin. Her skin was evenly browned, and she wore a bomber jacket over a graphic tee and sweatpants, and her dark, shoulder-length hair was pulled into a mini ponytail. Linda, or Kimara, as the public knew her, was the artist/producer who'd helped with their comeback, and a fast friend of the four girls. She deposited her bags onto the dining table and peeked into the living room. 

'Lindaaaa,' Jennie called, stretching and waving at her friend. 

'Hey guys, what are you doing?' 

'Watching a cartoon.' 

'Come sit with me!' Lisa cried. Linda dropped next to her and rested her head on her shoulder. 

'I brought my pajamas and got some snacks on the way here, so we're all set for tonight.' 

'Good, good,' Jisoo approved. 

What time are we leaving tomorrow?' she asked. 

'Around ten.' 

'Nervous?' 

Jisoo sighed. 'What's new?' 

Linda laughed and leaned over the sofa arm to rub her shoulders. 

'We need to concentrate and formulate a plan on how we're supposed to win this thing.' 

'Yes, of course,' Jennie agreed as she changed the channel. 

'Hey wait, I was watching the cartoon!' Lisa protested. 

'Watch this instead.' 

'But the cartoon was nice.'

'Cartoons are for kids.'

'We are kids.'

'No, we are grown women.'

'You are a grown woman.'

Rosé changed the TV to a food channel before the argument could grow.

'Seriously, Chaeyoung?' Lisa groaned. 'I'm starving now.'

'You're always starving. You just ate noodles.' Rosé shoved the remote control under her leg, defending it from Lisa's attempt to grab it from her. 

'Chae, please! I want to watch the cartoon.'

'You never call me unnie,' she mock-complained.

'No, you are not unnie, you are grandmother. Grandma Rosé.' Lisa said, struggling to pull the remote out from under her.

'Grandma Lisa,' Jisoo laughed.

Lisa managed to grab the remote from Rosé, and Rosé scrabbled to get it back. Lisa rolled onto Rosé and Linda saw her opportunity and jumped on top of them, squishing and turning them into a yelling, screaming pile.

Jennie watched them, laughing. 'Oh dear, we're such a mess right now. How are we going to appear on that show?'

Jennie sighed. 'We're going to need a miracle.'