Roomies (14)

"Noona, you're so pretty (I keep thinkin' 'bout you)

Noona, you're pretty (I keep dreaming 'bout you, pretty)

She's never had a taste of sincere love

Noona, you're so pretty (I keep thinkin' 'bout you)

Noona, you're pretty (I keep dreaming 'bout you, pretty)

Of a heart filled with sincere love"

Reggie, accompanied by the three others' of Team Seven finished singing well, taking into account that most of them specialized in dancing. Joon-woo watched from his seat in the audience, with Team Ten and their lacking chemistry showing like blinking neon lights in the night.

After their performance of "Just Wrong", Joon-woo knew he had gotten his point across well, through his voice at least. He had asked Teacher Nam for the permission to go higher on the already high notes, as the compensation for unequally divided parts. 

He looked up to the audience of contestants, to his own roommates and Reggie mostly, and by the way they clapped their hands slowly, nodding with small smiles, Joon-woo knew the part distribution had been exaggerated well enough. Nodding and clapping was the way Ha-rin would react at award shows when watching other idols perform. And most of the time, she didn't mean a single second of it.

In silence, Team Ten re-entered the audience to find their team-set seats. They only waved to cameras as they passed, not thanking each other or congratulating each other. Joon-woo knew it would be damaging to his image, his aloof nature, but really– what could he do about a team as uncooperative as this?

He shook his head, clapping his hands as Reggie and the rest of Team Seven exited the stage. 

Reggie had done well. While still a little breath-y, his improvement had shocked Joon-woo. Was Reggie a genius? He could barely hold a note before the competition and now here he was, singing and keeping up with other long-trained contestants. Joon-woo was proud and wore it on his face. He felt like a mother watching her son grow. 

Not to mention the concept they used of messy work attire. Loose ties and buttoned down dress shirts. It suited Reggie well, Joon-woo thought. He imagined how happy the Reggie fangirl he had seen on Witter would be if she saw this…

The contestants of Team Six took the stage and Joon-woo thought, as they began, that Reggie had definitely done better. Maybe not his own team of Team Ten, but Reggie's Team. 

It was as FYP had said, teamwork was important. Even in a challenge that promoted against it, a team getting along was very important. Team Seven got along well, hell– they even congratulated each other while walking off stage. Joon-woo's team barely even looked at each other. 

He figured FYP would scold him and Team Ten and grimaced. Was it him that caused all this lack of connection? It had happened with 'Fire' just a few days before, almost a week ago. Was he just someone who wasn't meant to get along with team members? Even in Cheerleader, Ha-rin and he members were never close. 

He sighed, and did his rehearsed reactions to each team. Team Six, Team Five, Four, Three, Two. They were quite boring, in Joon-woo's opinion. They hadn't messed with their songs concept or switched up any notes. They didn't have the best voices and some even voice cracked. 

He hoped Team One, the team of his roommates plus Mi Yong, his friends, he supposed. He hoped they would do well, and he knew they would do well. They had it all, the looks, the chemistry, the voices, they had it all. Joon-woo ruffled at his hair, a bit jealous. Couldn't he have that? 

They took the stage, taking Joon-woo's with them. Ryeo Hyun and Bo Jaesang went to the farthest microphones, Jung Hyun-Ok and Mi Yong taking the nearest. They wore futuristic clothing– streetwear in bright colors, and Joon-woo chuckled about how unfitting it was for the all stoic Ryeo Hyun. 

The familiar tune to XXIV's Validity filled the room, and Joon-woo couldn't stop the most real smile he had dealt all day from crossing his face.

"I couldn't help it so I threw it away

I erased all of my emotions

But I couldn't erase you (Let me free)

Because my heart was too sad (Let me breathe)

I just need to live like this, I just need to breathe

I just need to be alive, why can't I ?

I said it's okay (Let me free)

This is better for me, oh (Let me breathe)..."

Jung Hyun-Ok and Mi Yong split the verse among themselves and sounded quite good while at it. Mi Yong's voice was stable and Jung Hyun-Ok's just below. They complimented each other's voices and Joon-woo was a bit confused. Weren't they trying to compete?

"Yeah, I was afraid that I'd get cut

By your sharp, knife-like words

I just need to breathe and eat

To endure through this

I was a coward

I wanted to endure through

[I'm holding my heart in my hand

I chose a life that is for me]..."

 This time Ryeo Hyun's voice took over. It was soft, his voice. Softer than his expressions often suggested. Jung Hyun-Ok covered the english lyrics towards the end, but still, it was Ryeo Hyun's voice that shined. 

They continued, foot and soul into their voices, though still wearing smiles. There was no vibe of competition and covered the weak points in each other's voices with each other's strengths. And was part distribution basically equal? Because it was quite close. 

Joon-woo nodded along to the song with a real, not forced nod. If they debuted as such, those four, surely with more experience and training they could be a top contender.

Joon-woo watched them with a fondness he never had with Cheerleader. Could've Cheerleader have been close? Could've they relied on each other more, talked outside of their jobs, spent time in pure fun– no cameras? 

"Too good…" the voice of Baek Du-Ho commented on Team One's performance in awe. Joon-woo nodded. Too good. So good that Joon-woo wouldn't be surprised if they debuted and he didn't. 

He pursed his lips at the thought.

–+–

It was late when every team was done performing. 10:36 P.M. and Joon-woo was tired. He hadn't slept much since he got to the dorms, or even much at all. 

They had sent them off, the staff, though just as tired themselves. And while some teams had stayed to chat, Team Ten broke off immediately. Rank 26 and 21 went to chat to some other contestants they were close to, and Baek Du-Ho and Joon-woo had begun to the dorms. 

And it was awkward. It was awkward because it was just them. Du-Ho and Joon-woo in silence, walking through hallways just barely ahead of each other. Truthfully, Joon-woo was too tired to care enough to shoo Du-Ho off, probably Du-Ho alike. 

Baek Du-Ho was ahead of Joon-woo by a few yards, and they had been walking as such to the dorm wing of the facility like so for a minute now. 

But it was then, Baek Du-Ho stopped. Had he found his dorm? 

Joon-woo just shrugged, walking past the other contestant with ease. But as he began to pass Du-Ho, he paused. 

"Joon-woo." Baek Du-Ho called, voice low. 

Joon-woo stopped in his steps, turning to look at Du-Ho a bit annoyed. Was he really trying to talk to him after their performance? Joon-woo was tempted to ignore him. 

"Joon-woo I think– I think that–" Baek Du-Ho tried to speak, but as if infected by a stutter, he couldn't.

Joon-woo tilted his head, judging the rapper before him. What happened to the all-cocky Rank Ten from before? The one that made fun of Joon-woo's appearance? 

"You did well today." Du-Ho finally finished, looking away as if ashamed to say such words. 

Joon-woo huffed, pursing his lips. Had he really just heard that? From Baek Du-Ho of all people?

"Thank you. You too Sunbae." Joon-woo replied dryly, beginning to walk to his own dorm at a normal, unsuspecting speed. 

Was he crazy? Baek Du-Ho, who had tormented Joon-woo, stood by when he was practically getting assaulted, suddenly cared? Suddenly swooned? He was angry as he approached the door to his dorm room and angry as he opened the door and even angrier as he closed it. 

Kite woke to Joon-woo's heated entrance, and it observed Joon-woo curiously.

"What's got you all pissy?" Kite hissed. 

Joon-woo just stormed past Kite and into the bathroom. It was late and he wanted to sleep. He wanted to sleep and wake up to a world without fake people.

Kite judged Joon-woo, "Rude..!" It called from behind the door.

Joon-woo didn't care. Joon-woo just swiftly began to brush at his teeth, wash at his face, even ignoring the messy contents of the bathroom. Still avoiding the mirror, he didn't want to see how dishleved he looked or at all. He was too tired to dwell on those matters. 

He was too tired to deal with his roommate's antics. Bo Jaesang's constant questioning, Ryeo Hyun's stoic-ly deep comments and Jung Hyun-Ok spectating with his stupid smile.

He was so tired, that as he passed out onto his bed, peering at the empty bunk above, that he didn't register the door to the dorm opening and his roommates he was so much so dreading right now entering. 

In fact, the only thing that registered in his tired brain was the way someone taller, Jung Hyun-Ok, Joon-woo supposed, loomed over him. Looming over him as he drifted helplessly to sleep.