NOVEL NEXT Chapter 75
“Alright, that wraps up the audience voting! And now, let’s welcome the protagonists who just finished their amazing performances! Team 1 and Team 2, come on out!”
Wowwwww!!
After the audience voting ended, we stepped onto the stage for the results and interviews.
Since we watched the results from the waiting room during the first team competition, this was the first time we faced the audience after our performance.
Is that why?
Eeeeeeeek!
Wowwwwwww!
Witnessing the fans’ enthusiastic cries directed at us, I couldn’t help but feel a bit stiff with nervousness.
“First up, let Team 1 greet the fans!”
So, with Han Si-woo leading, I awkwardly bowed my head towards the fans.
“…Hello, I’m Ha Ye-rin, the leader of Team 1.”
It was a greeting too stiff and lacking in charm for an idol.
But….
Wowwwwwww!!
You’re so pretty—!!!!
I love you, Ha Ye-rin—!!!!
The roar of fans calling my name was truly overwhelming.
Had that many people ever called my name all at once?
…Definitely not.
Maybe that’s why.
I stood there with a dazed expression until all the other teammates finished their greetings and shifted to personal interviews.
“Ye-rin.”
“Ah, yes.”
“Your performance today, reinterpreting the ‘Magical Love☆’ by Strawberry Filter with a dark image, was quite impressive. It must have been challenging to create such a high-quality stage in a short time; was it tough?”
“Ah…”
I paused for a moment at Han Si-woo’s question before grabbing the microphone.
“…Honestly, it was super tough. Even if you give me an hour, I wouldn’t be able to explain all the hardships I went through.”
“…Huh?”
“I barely had time to eat or sleep… I honestly thought I was going to die.”
At my answer, Han Si-woo’s expression turned blank for a moment.
Right now… I was being completely honest about my feelings.
“Ah, haha. Ye-rin seems to have had a really hard time.”
“Yes, it was tough. Just a little while ago, I was on the brink of collapsing. But…”
I spoke with my usual expressionless and dazed face the whole time.
But then, the next moment…
“…Seeing all the fans here.”
“…”
“…I don’t feel tired at all. Thanks to you guys. I’m truly grateful.”
I felt my smile widen, practically feeling my lips lift.
As I put the microphone down with my smile…
Eeeeeeeek!
Ha Ye-rin—!!
Huh, I’m even more thankful—!!!
I love you, Ha Ye-rin!
Wowwwwwwww!
Ughhhh…!!
Suddenly, a thunderous cheer erupted as if it had all been a joke until now.
Ha Ye-rin—!! Ha Ye-rin—!!
Ha Ye-rin!!!!
The chanting for me made it nearly impossible for Han Si-woo to continue hosting.
Seizing the moment, I waved back at the fans calling me, nearly screaming.
That triggered an even greater eruption of cheers.
Just then, Na Han-na slipped over to me and whispered in my ear, just loud enough for me to hear.
“…Unnie, you sure know how to charm the fans.”
“Charm? What are you talking about?”
“Ahh… You didn’t even realize it. You’re a natural at this.”
After shaking her head, Na Han-na returned to her spot.
About 30 seconds after she left, things calmed down just enough for Han Si-woo’s voice to be heard.
He chuckled as if the situation was familiar and continued smoothly.
“Haha, it seems like Ye-rin’s love for the fans really stood out. Now then, let’s continue with the next participant interview!”
Having successfully finished the stage, the remaining team members wrapped up their interviews with a warm atmosphere like I did.
“So that was Team 1! Good job, everyone!”
“Thank you!”
And then….
“Alright, let’s start the interview for Team 2 now!”
The highly anticipated Team 2 interview began.
“First, Team 2, please greet the fans!”
Team 2… did they mess up the stage overall?
Every individual greeting drew less cheering than Team 1.
But…
“Hello, fans! I’m Yoo Seol from Team 2!”
Wowwwwwww!!
Eeeeeeeek—!!
Yoo Seol—!!!
When Yoo Seol greeted, cheers erupted almost comparable to mine.
And the expression on Seo Yoo-jin watching Yoo Seol was….
Jolt.
…Clearly not good.
‘…Yoo-jin.’
Each time I saw Seo Yoo-jin’s expression, I couldn’t help but feel anxious.
This place was on another level from when we were just filming together.
Though the production team had been friendly toward Seo Yoo-jin, allowing her to dodge countless crises, now there were hundreds of ordinary people around.
‘…If she slips up, she could tank right here.’
I hoped desperately she could manage her expressions a bit better.
Fortunately, it seemed like Seo Yoo-jin was aware of the crowd and held back her anger, wearing a calm face instead.
‘…That’s better.’
Though it looks like she had some discontent, it was better than openly showing she was angry.
Seeing it all felt like walking a tightrope, and then Team 2’s individual interviews commenced.
The interview began not with the leader and center, Seo Yoo-jin, but with Yoo Seol.
“Yoo Seol, participant. You seemed unwell during the second team competition; how are you feeling now?”
Ahhh….
As Han Si-woo asked about Yoo Seol’s condition, a sigh arose from the audience who hadn’t been aware.
After giving a weak smile to the fans who cared about her, Yoo Seol answered.
“…I had a slight fever. I’m sorry for worrying you all. More than anything…”
Swoosh-.
Yoo Seol’s gaze turned to her fellow team members.
“I feel really sorry for my team members who seemed to suffer because of me…”
“No, it’s okay—!!”
“It’s fine—!!!”
As Yoo Seol apologized with a sorrowful voice towards her teammates, voices assuring her it was okay echoed from the stands once more.
Honestly, from a third-party perspective, Yoo Seol didn’t seem at fault.
In fact, it looked more admirable that she managed a quality performance despite being sick, while the other Team 2 members could be seen lacking skill compared to someone who was unwell.
Yoo Seol then gazed at Seo Yoo-jin, who was the leader and center.
“Especially, my teammate and center, Yoo-jin worked really hard. I want to say I’m most sorry to her. And…”
After a brief apology to Seo Yoo-jin, Yoo Seol’s gaze shifted back to the fans.
With a face full of emotion, she bowed her head.
“Thank you, dear fans, for all the support despite our lacking performance on stage.”
Ahhhhhh—!!
The singer bows to the fans, while they shout back it’s okay.
It was undoubtedly a heartwarming sight.
‘Truly a pro.’
To create such a warm atmosphere even after that disaster of a stage is impressive.
As a third party, I could only admire the interview.
But it seemed there was someone who wasn’t pleased with this interview.
“Alright, let’s move on to the next participant for the interview. Seo Yoo-jin.”
“…Yes.”
“As the leader and center, what are your thoughts after the second team competition?”
…Phew.
The moment Seo Yoo-jin grabbed the microphone, she let out a long sigh.
Whisper whisper.
The sudden sigh in the previously warm atmosphere cast a chill over both the participants and the audience.
Maybe because they had seen each other’s faces quite a bit by now.
I could clearly tell Seo Yoo-jin was really angry.
‘No way…’
It was a ridiculous thought, but… surely she wouldn’t do something outrageous by getting angry here, would she?
And Seo Yoo-jin was the type who did what she set her mind to.
“…Honestly, it was a stage I personally found very disappointing.”
“…”
From the moment she spoke that, the atmosphere turned tense, but it was still bearable.
Saying the stage was disappointing wasn’t something too outrageous; it was an easily manageable comment.
But the problem was what came next.
“I think the responsibility lies with Seol unni!”
“…Seo Yoo-jin.”
“We could have done so well, yet Seol unni used being sick as an excuse and didn’t participate in practice…! I’m sure she did it on purpose just to stand out in the competition!”
“….”
Despite begging her not to say it over a hundred times, Seo Yoo-jin finally let all her feelings out.
Of course, she must have felt unjust inside.
She probably wanted to clarify the truth.
In this moment, always living in her bubble, Seo Yoo-jin expressed the most victimized feelings at the most glaringly inappropriate time.
Like usual, she must have been confident that everyone around would focus on her words again.
But this was a place where many sided more with someone other than Seo Yoo-jin…
…
…
Immediately after Seo Yoo-jin finished speaking, an unbelievable silence filled the set amidst the crowd of hundreds.
…Huh?
When Seo Yoo-jin noticed the chill in the air, her face went blank in confusion.
‘…Ah.’
Her expression, almost like an innocent fool… it couldn’t have been more pitiful.
Having lived without ever worrying about others’ opinions, she would certainly regret this moment for the rest of her life.