A Recap of the Announcement
The hall was dead silent, save for the ticking of the stage clock. Jay Park stood in the center, his presence commanding as he faced the sea of students from Rhythm High, Groove Institute, and Beat Music High. The weight of his words still lingered in the air.
"In one week, the final interschool competition will take place," Jay Park had announced. "Only the top seven from each school will be given the chance to compete. This is your last shot. From this competition, a supergroup will be formed - a team of the best of the best. This group will represent Korea on the global stage. The world is watching. Are you ready?!"
JL had sat frozen in his seat, heart pounding.
"A global stage?"
His hands curled into fists on his lap. This wasn't just about school pride anymore - this was about something much, much bigger. His future. His dreams.
Beside him, Steven had exhaled sharply, his usual carefree smirk replaced by a rare look of seriousness. Across the room, Groove's Park Han leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his sharp eyes locked onto Jay Park like a hunter eyeing prey. At Beat Music High's section, Woongki had sat up straighter, determination burning in his gaze.
The game was on.
---
A Day Later: Goodbyes and Changes
The sun was mercilessly bright the next morning, but JL barely noticed. He stood in the campus courtyard, watching as Li Zhinuo and a few other exchange students from China and Thailand packed up their luggage.
"Mac!" JL called as his close friend zipped up his suitcase. "You're really leaving?"
Mac sighed dramatically. "Don't make it sound like I'm dying. It's just Thailand." He patted JL's shoulder, then grinned. "Besides, I promised I'll be back before the competition. And when I do, we're going shopping!"
JL rolled his eyes and smiled. "Yeah, yeah."
Nearby, Li Zhinuo adjusted his backpack and turned to JL. "You better not slack off while I'm gone," he teased. "I expect to see your name at the top when I come back."
JL chuckled. "And here I thought you'd say something sentimental."
Zhinuo smirked. "Sentimental? I am sentimental." He spread his arms. "Come here, let's have a dramatic goodbye hug."
JL shoved him away. "Get out of here before I cry."
Zhinuo laughed, but as he picked up his suitcase, a flicker of sadness passed through his eyes. "Take care, okay? I'll be cheering from China."
As the students waved their final goodbyes, JL felt a sinking weight in his chest. His friends were leaving, one by one.
And yet, the world wasn't slowing down for him.
---
Back at the dorm, JL flopped onto his bed, exhausted. But something wasn't sitting right.
Chih En.
Ever since last night, Chih En had been avoiding him.
Even at breakfast, he had acted normal - expressionless, quiet, composed. But when JL tried to start a conversation, Chih En had swiftly excused himself and left.
JL groaned and covered his face with a pillow. "What did he even say to me last night?" he muttered. His brain had been replaying it over and over, but the whisper was too soft. Too fragile.
And that kiss on the cheek.
JL sat up abruptly, his face burning. "Ugh."
Just then, his door burst open.
"Yo, 3-pick."
JL blinked. "Steven."
His friend strolled in like he owned the place and flopped onto JL's bed, uninvited.
"What the hell?" JL muttered, shoving Steven's leg off. "Knock first, will you?"
Steven ignored him, rolling onto his side and propping his head up with his hand. "You've been looking like a lovesick idiot all day."
JL scowled. "Excuse me?"
"I mean," Steven continued, "First you look miserable about Mac, Zhinuo, and others leaving. And then you keep looking around like you're waiting for someone." He smirked knowingly. "Someone like... Chih En?"
JL immediately threw a pillow at him. "Shut up."
Steven caught it with ease, laughing. But then, his expression softened. "Seriously, though. You good?"
JL hesitated. "I don't know."
Steven sat up properly. "You're thinking too much again, aren't you?"
JL sighed. "How can I not? The competition's in a week. My friends are leaving. Chih En is... weird. Everything is happening so fast."
Steven hummed. "Well, whatever it is, you don't have to figure it out alone." He slung an arm around JL's shoulder. "You've got me. And Shuaibo. And the team. So don't go sulking like a K-drama protagonist in his sad arc."
JL chuckled despite himself. "Shut up, Steven."
But the warmth in his chest stayed.
---
Elsewhere.
Meanwhile, at Groove Institute, Park Han stood in the practice room, sweat dripping down his temple. He wasn't resting. He couldn't.
The competition was in a week, and he refused to lose.
His group was practicing tirelessly. Joohyoung, Kenta, Kyungho, and the rest of the top seven barely took breaks.
And yet, Park Han's mind wasn't on practice.
It was on JL.
At the last event, he had noticed something - JL's gaze always seemed to follow Chih En.
A flicker of something dangerous lit up in Park Han's eyes.
"Chih En, huh?" He exhaled sharply, his muscles tense.
If he wanted to stand at the top, he had to crush everything in his way.
---
At Beat Music High, Woongki tightened his grip on the microphone. His team stood behind him, just as determined.
"This might be our last chance," Woongki said, eyes blazing. "We're going to give it everything we have."
His teammates nodded in unison.
Across the city, in Rhythm High, Groove Institute, and Beat Music High, the same thought ran through every top student's mind.
One week.
One final showdown.
And only the best would make it to the top.