Chapter 107
‘I didn’t think cuteness would suit her.’
Among the small children, Seunghye ran busily here and there, pulling off the choreography, and there was a sense of liveliness and cuteness in her movements.
It felt like a large dog cheerfully running around among little puppies.
Because of that, the stage atmosphere, which could have easily become overly uniform, felt alive.
After finishing her impressions of the mid-term evaluation until the very end, Jihyun waited until all the participants had caught their breath.
And when they lined up in formation again, she gave a bright smile toward Seunghye, who stood at the front.
“Good work. I watched it well—the stage. It was really nice.”
“Ah, yes! Thank you!”
“Thank you—!”
Starting with the greeting from the leader, Ayoung, everyone bowed.
Their cute 모습 was like kindergarten children, and Jihyun unconsciously let out a small laugh before continuing.
“To be honest, at first I couldn’t understand why Ayoung picked Seunghye. I thought she didn’t suit the team color.”
Honestly, even now that thought hadn’t changed.
If they wanted to play it safe, not having Seunghye would probably give them a higher chance of scoring better in the main competition, where unpredictable variables could arise.
But if they did that, they would just remain a so-so cute team.
“I think the reason Seunghye was able to blend into this team’s color with that physique is because she used her facial expressions well. You must have practiced that part a lot.”
Her unique cheerfulness. The energy of revealing that fully on her face and continuing the choreography throughout the stage brought out the team’s color.
As the only tall member on the team, she had many standout parts and had quite a lot of distance to move, yet she didn’t show even a hint of exhaustion—that was also praiseworthy.
With her actions and expressions, she added a new color to the team.
“Especially at the final ending, when everyone gathered around Seunghye and danced while smiling together—the atmosphere was nice. From a viewer’s perspective at least, it was a very pleasant stage.”
If they kept this 분위기, it seemed like they would hold their own even in the finals.
“However… it’s good that you’re trying to mix into the cuteness with your expressions and dancing. But you mustn’t lose your own original color.”
Still, there were points of regret. As always.
Moreover, wasn’t what Ayoung had planned this time a somewhat experimental stage?
“And the other members too—I see a tendency for the team itself to rely on Seunghye. Of course, each of you coexists well by drawing out reversals in each other’s images, but since the choreography revolves around Seunghye, it felt too much like Seunghye alone was the main character.”
Seunghye blended well into the cuteness, but conversely, that meant she captured both the cuteness and the unique contrast, while the other members, compared to Seunghye, became overshadowed.
“Height isn’t something you can fix, so you’ll need to revise the choreography or come up with a way for each of you to appeal more with your own charms.”
Otherwise, this stage would feel like Seunghye’s solo performance, where she alone showcases her cuteness and appeal.
“The choreography itself was tightly structured, but with a light atmosphere like an elementary school talent show, you can never captivate the public.”
Of course, the judges as well.
“Rather than just showing a cute side, I think you need to show a more professional 모습 that can appeal to the public. All of you.”
“Yes…!”
“And Ayoung.”
“Yes… Ah, yes!?”
Perhaps she hadn’t expected her name to be called; thinking the evaluation was over and about to exit, Ayoung flinched and looked toward Jihyun.
Her eyes had grown slightly downcast. Having watched Ayoung longer than anyone, Jihyun could tell with just a glance.
So as not to hurt her feelings, she spoke as gently as possible.
“Your image feels like it’s right in the middle, so the choreography needs to be centered around you. After all, you’re the one leading this team.”
“Yes…!”
Would that be enough for her to understand?
Honestly, Jihyun knew why the stage had become one led by Seunghye.
More than anyone, Jihyun liked Ayoung, and at times, knew Ayoung better than Ayoung herself.
She was probably imagining a stage together with the judge.
‘From the moment I first heard that story, Ayoung’s eyes didn’t look ordinary.’
Even when she suddenly chose Seunghye at the beginning, somewhere deep inside, Jihyun had thought maybe.
Seunghye was tall, and her image somehow resembled Jihyun’s.
To Ayoung, Jihyun was someone she admired, someone she truly wanted to make her idol.
If the stage concept and formations were entirely planned under Ayoung’s direction, there was a high possibility she had unconsciously kept Jihyun in mind.
But the problem was that Seunghye was not Jihyun. Objectively speaking, even if she pushed Seunghye forward to be that noticeable, it wouldn’t bring the same effect as Jihyun.
That was why Jihyun wanted to convey this clearly to Ayoung. She understood the heart that admired and cherished, but because of that, she mustn’t lose sight of the essence and let the roles become reversed.
‘My thoughts are complicated.’
She even wondered if she shouldn’t have written the letter. In any case, it was something she had to convey, so she had given it before coming out—
‘If she reads my letter in a situation like this, she might rely on me even more.’
That could truly become an action that ruins the team.
“Huh?”
Was it coincidence that, while walking down the hallway toward the waiting room with those thoughts, she happened to run into Sehee on her way to the restroom?
No, not a coincidence—a chance.
Just moments ago, she had been subconsciously thinking of Sehee as someone who could help in this situation.
No one was around. After quickly scanning the surroundings, Jihyun suddenly grabbed Sehee’s arm as she bowed slightly and tried to pass by.
Caught off guard, Sehee staggered slightly and frowned.
“What are you doing all of a sudden?”
If you were me. If, just as Ahn Jihyun’s emotions remain in me, the feelings of cherishing Sung Ayoung so desperately remain inside you.
“I need your help.”
“What kind of help.”
Sehee shook off her arm irritably and stepped back.
Even so, she didn’t just leave or cut her off immediately—it seemed she was at least willing to listen.
Grateful for that, Jihyun explained the situation to Sehee.
As she listened, Sehee’s expression twisted in real time, yet today it didn’t look unpleasant—rather, it seemed somehow reliable.
Because she seemed like someone who could give Ayoung cool-headed advice about the current situation more than anyone.
“She’s still that immature, huh. I’ve told her countless times that in the end, no one stays by your side.”
“Exactly.”
Honestly, she couldn’t fully agree with that statement, but it would be better to take Sehee’s side here.
That way, she could say something more effective to Ayoung.
“But do I have any particular reason to say that to Sung Ayoung?”
Sehee crossed her arms and shot Jihyun a look.
“Honestly, you know just as well as I do how big the risk is to tear apart and redo something after the stage composition is already set.”
“That’s true. Probably.”
“And it could end up being entirely my fault. I’m not sure there’s any reason I should bear that kind of mental stress.”
And one more thing.
“Right now, I’m busy enough just handling my own immediate situation.”
“Then…”
“People should take care of their own responsibilities. Well, if I feel like it, I’ll say a word or two.”
“Really…?”
“Yes. Just, well.”
Sehee ground her teeth.
“Because I don’t like it.”
