Let all that you do be done in LOVE. 

Everyone always says that Making dreams come true is difficult.

But I never thought it would be this difficult...

“The final mission of the program.

NO MERCY...

I will announce the winner in the final round.” Brother Kevin's voice said smoothly, as if there was no excitement, unlike me right now, who had many thoughts bouncing around in my head until I was completely confused.

Will I be able to stand there?

Who will be there?

And if you don't continue?

What will happen after this?

“The first trainee to debut is…” Kevin-hyung continued to use his beautiful voice to ease the pressure, but I felt more uncomfortable. Both excited and worried Before I could think more about it, I heard my name called.

“Juheon.”

I raised my head to say thank you but barely made a sound as the stress probably took its toll until my throat was dry. I slowly walked up to stand on the square podium in front of me but thought, is this really me who is about to debut? Mom must be proud of this son.

I breathed a sigh of relief. At least this path still has room for me to continue...

But the discomfort still hasn't left me. Because I was the first person to pass the final round and there would only be 7 people passing through, that meant that there would be another 6 people who would join the same team, brothers and friends standing behind that. Who will be on the same team as me?

“I will announce the name of the second person.”

I kept staring at my toes and tried not to make eye contact with anyone. This must have been the most stressful time of my life since I was born. Instead of being happy that he's about to debut But I am worried about the list of people who will join my team. Not because I don't want to work with any of the members, but because I want all of us to be together.

“The second trainee to debut is Shownu.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Hyun Woo hyung walking and standing on the edge of the rectangular platform on the opposite side from me but on the same plane. This is a good thing to have him join the team with me. We've worked together before, used to be a group.

NUBOYZ

Let's come together when we think of it. My stomach was churning. And my friend... Will he be able to continue?

K-vil-hyung keeps announcing the names of the finalists. Next to me right now is Kihyun hyung. And the small square pedestal that was the turning point in the lives of everyone who stood on it was only one place left. I can only pray that Brother Kevin will announce my friend's name. I want that space to be his. I want him to join the team with me.

As I said, it's not because I don't want to team up with the other brothers. In fact, I would like to have two more platforms grow so that there would be enough room for everyone to stand. Let us all debut together. But it's just a stupid thing that I don't know why I wasted my time. I know that there will be people who won't continue. And whoever that person is, I'm sad too, but I don't want him to be disappointed and left behind there.

“The seventh trainee who will debut is...”

I secretly turned to look at the three people standing behind me. Before I could fully see them, I had to turn away before this feeling was so uncomfortable that I couldn't breathe. There stood my brothers, sisters, and friends. But only one person will be able to continue and the other two will have to carry the disappointment back. I don't want to accept this cruelty.

“Minhyuk, congratulations.”

As soon as I heard the final names being announced, my heart nearly fell to the floor. I wanted to turn and look at my friend's face, but I was so afraid of the fact that we would never be together again. The most I had left in my strength was to turn my body to the side so I could look. Saw him in the line of sight

I don't know what kind of expression my friend made, maybe she was crying. Or smiling... I didn't dare look and didn't want to remember any pictures at all. If it will be the last time the two of us are together on the same stage

“Ah... I feel strange. Thank you for always taking care of me. I don't know what else will happen. Therefore, I will try harder.”

What the hell was that idiot saying in the silence of the studio? I don't want to pay attention to his words. In my head right now there are only old images from the days we used to spend together. Those feelings are coming back to torture me cruelly. Because it won't happen again. The dreams that he and I had together were about to become just dust that was blown away by the wind.

Even if he tries harder work harder Practice more, however. He and I can't walk together anymore.

We couldn't fulfill our shared dreams...

Whether it's because of fate or whatever. This was too cruel because I kept thinking that he and I would both move on. I couldn't prepare myself to face this kind of pain, so no matter how much I tried to raise my head high to hide it, Finally, tears flowed out.

I could hear my brother saying something but didn't pay much attention to it because right now I wanted to scream as loud as possible. To drown out the sound of something cracking inside, I felt that standing alone on this damned platform was extremely painful. And even though my friend was only a few steps away But from this moment on Our lives are about to be completely different.

I would gladly share this space for my only friend to stand together if I could, but it's impossible. So I wanted to take a step back and stand next to him. Because if you have to be disappointed and sad Or have to go back and start over.. At least we still have two of us.

I heard the footsteps of the two of them walking towards me. But I really don't know what kind of expression those two people are making. Because no matter what, I don't dare to look at it like having to endure watching a familiar fellow traveler walk away on another road when they come to a fork in the road. Each person goes their own way, not knowing when we will meet. together again

“Don't cry, hyung,” my younger brother's voice said as he passed in front of me. My friend walked ahead and didn't think to say anything. I knew he probably didn't know what to say. Like I didn't feel like listening. Maybe it's because I'm worried about what will happen from now on. Having to walk on this path without each other is not fun at all.

My thoughts are all confused. Partly I'm glad that my hope of debuting as an artist is coming true but also sad that my other dream of rapping together with him on stage will never happen.

The soft voice of the original host called me to turn around and face what was truly in front of me, just like everything Kevin hyung had said. This is not a moment where everyone can be 100% happy. Everyone has to deal with joy and sadness at the same time, but we must do our best to compensate for those who did not have the opportunity to walk with us on this path. This road

“It was like another dream for me. To be able to rap on the same stage... With Chupgon, I'm sorry we weren't able to make it a reality.”

This was the clearest thing in all of my feelings right now. I didn't forget to express my feelings to my other brother before a lump of discomfort rose up in my throat and made me unable to speak. I can only hope that the people who had just walked off the stage would hear what I said and forgive our fate.

End

Ha~

Thank you very much for reading up to here.

and will be even more grateful If you can comment so that we know that we are not alone in waiting for Jugon's dream.

Or it might actually be Gunju, I'm not sure. But no matter what, I love the friendship of these two :)

P.S. Thank you very much to Nok for always creating and allowing me to post this fic. Ghosts come in and ghosts come out for a long time. I really got it down. Yay!

Thank you Auntie Saku for giving me advice <3