The first trainee to be upgraded to Tier 1 entered the Tier 1 classroom.
The first trainee to enter had a large 4 printed on her T-shirt, signifying Tier 4.
In other words, she had risen straight from Tier 4 to Tier 1.
“Hello! I’m Lee Seung-ah!”
Lee Seung-ah seemed to take a deep breath in an attempt not to show how happy she was, but she couldn’t hide the smile escaping across her face.
After Lee Seung-ah, the trainees who had been upgraded to Tier 1 entered one by one.
There were two Tier 3 trainees and two Tier 2 trainees.
Fewer trainees had come in than I expected.
It seemed the trainers’ evaluations had been that strict.
The existing Tier 1 trainees seemed relieved.
“There are currently eighteen trainees in the Tier 1 classroom.”
“How many of the existing Tier 1 trainees will be able to maintain their Tier 1 ranking in the final evaluation?”
“Trainee Kim Na-eun?”
At the sudden call, Na-eun unni jumped in surprise.
“Yes?”
“Of the original thirteen, how many do you think will be able to remain in Tier 1?”
Na-eun unni looked around before answering.
“Everyone is so talented that I think all thirteen of us will be able to remain here.”
“Really? But not every trainee can maintain Tier 1.”
“From this point onward, I will call out the trainees who have been downgraded.”
Moon Jin-woo spoke in a solemn voice while holding the evaluation sheets.
“The first trainee to be excluded from the final Tier 1 is…”
“Trainee Jung Eun-ah. Please come forward.”
Eun-ah unni, who had forgotten the choreography during the video evaluation shoot.
She was the first trainee in the Tier 1 class to be downgraded.
Eun-ah unni went to the front and received the evaluation sheet showing her new classroom.
After opening it, Eun-ah unni looked troubled, but Trainer Moon Jin-woo spoke coldly.
“Please move to the classroom listed on the sheet.”
Eun-ah unni left the classroom, and Trainer Moon Jin-woo continued calling out names.
“Trainee Cha Hee-hyun, please come forward.”
Hee-hyun unni, whose dancing had been the most unstable among us.
“Trainee Yoo Ye-rin. Please come forward.”
And Ye-rin unni, who had constantly been told during vocal lessons that her pitch was unstable.
After three of the existing Tier 1 trainees left, it seemed that things had finally settled down.
But Trainer Moon Jin-woo still called my name in a solemn tone.
“Trainee Lee Do-hee.”
…Was I supposed to leave too?
“Yes…?”
“Yes, Trainee Lee Do-hee.”
I stood up and went to the front.
Trainer Moon Jin-woo twitched his lips before finally giving in to his laughter.
“No, I didn’t mean for you to come out… Just go back to your seat for now.”
What was that about?
When I returned to my seat, Moon Jin-woo continued.
“Trainee Lee Do-hee. Among the final Tier 1 trainees, how many can stand at the center during the title track performance?”
Ah.
“Only one.”
“That’s right. Even among the Tier 1 trainees, there can only be one center, the trainee who receives the most spotlight, correct?”
“From this moment on, we will begin the center selection.”
“Within one hour, create a one-minute performance to the MR track of the title song, ‘I’m Smitten.’”
One hour…?
…I was screwed.
“The center will be chosen by a vote among the trainees.”
***
I sat quietly in my seat, looking around to see what the other unnis were doing.
A moment ago, I had been spacing out while staring intently at Seoyoon unni.
Seoyoon unni looked at me and asked,
“Do-hee, aren’t you coming up with anything?”
“I have to…”
Was this the pain of creation?
I couldn’t think of anything at all.
Everyone else was clearly doing something.
Some were creating choreography, some were writing rap lyrics, and some were planning to win people over with their vocals.
Of course, I could rap or create choreography too.
But I felt that wouldn’t be enough to make me the center.
To be chosen as center, it seemed I needed to show off my flair rather than my skills.
There were only forty minutes left until the performance.
To be honest, there was one thing that came to mind.
But I didn’t want to do it…
Yet I wanted to be the center…
But I didn’t want to do it…
I wanted to be the center…
Even if I did it, I didn’t know whether I would become the center, but if I didn’t do it, wouldn’t I at least feel satisfied…?
Or would I?
I didn’t know. I wanted to be the center…
***
I took the stage for the one-minute creative performance in front of the trainees.
Unlike usual, I was wearing my hair in pigtails.
Ah.
Was this really the right thing to do…?
I didn’t know anymore…
The MR track for ‘I’m Smitten’ began.
Looking toward the audience, I poked both my cheeks with my fingers and said,
“Unnies! I want to be the center!”
Then I sent a heart toward the audience.
“Please vote for your maknae Do-hee!”
I began dancing energetically to the MR track, putting my own spin on the choreography.
The coolest performance I could manage…
And in the middle of my powerful dancing, I repeatedly made playful expressions, blowing kisses, forming hearts, and winking.
“Fighting, everyone in Jeodol Season 3! I love you~”
When the performance ended, I returned to my seat in the audience.
Kim Seoyoon burst out laughing when she saw my bright-red face.
“Ah, don’t laugh.”
“Lee Do-heeeee—”
“What?”
“‘I love you~’ Pfft-hahahaha.”
“Don’t.”
“‘Maknae Do-hee.’ Pfft-hahahaha.”
“Stop…”
“Ah, this is so freaking funny—pfft-hahahaha.”
“Please stop…”
What was so great about being center…
I should’ve just not done it…
Fortunately, I was chosen as center in the trainee vote that followed.
***
The next day.
Today was the day we would shoot the participants’ profile photos.
The production crew converted the large practice room into a profile photography studio.
After having my makeup done by the stylist and changing into the outfit we would wear for the title track performance, I looked at the numerous props placed around the studio, wondering which one to use and what pose to strike.
“Oh! Aren’t you Maknae Do-hee?”
Seoyoon unni approached me with a self-cam.
She seemed to be filming footage for the behind-the-scenes video.
I couldn’t say anything with the camera in front of me.
I covered the camera with my hand and said,
“Don’t film me.”
“Oh my, Maknae Do-hee, why are you being so grumpy?”
“Ah, come on.”
It would be one thing if only Seoyoon unni did it, but now even Na-eun unni, along with all the unnies I had become close to after practicing together for five days, was calling me Maknae Do-hee.
There was even a cool word like “center.”
Fuck.
“Trainee Do-hee, we’ll start shooting once you’ve chosen all your props.”
“Okay~”
I walked toward the profile studio, where various lights shone against a pink backdrop.
My prop was a little cliché, but it was an Ion sweat drink.
I stood in front of the camera and struck a refreshing pose with a bright, refreshing expression to match the prop.
“Ah, this doesn’t feel like Maknae Do-hee.”
Fuck.
Now even the production crew was doing it.
“Trainee Do-hee, you know the feeling you showed onstage yesterday, right?”
I wanted to say that I absolutely hated it, but as a mere trainee…
There was nothing I could do.
“Yes…”
I forced a smile and struck a cute pose.
“Good~ So cute!”
***
A week after the center selection.
Two weeks after the first recording.
After spending two weeks filming various segments, interviews, and profile photos, as well as practicing the title track performance, the trainees arrived at Olympic Gymnasium early in the morning to film the prerecording of ‘I’m Smitten,’ the title track that would be performed on Mwave’s music show, Mpulse.
The moment we entered Olympic Gymnasium, we saw the enormous stage.
Between the dazzling deep-purple and blue neon lights stood a star-shaped stage glowing white.
And, shining brightest of all, was the center position at its heart.
My heart, which had been worn down by all the humiliation, melted away in an instant.
I approached Seoyoon unni, the source of all my humiliation, and whispered in her ear.
“This is what being center is, Kim Seoyoon.”
“Don’t you call me unni anymore?”
“This is what being center is.”
“Good grief…”
Of course, I had whispered it because I didn’t want the other trainees to see how happy I was.
Before the first episode of Jeodol Season 3 aired, the title track performance would be broadcast on Mpulse as an Episode 0 prologue.
Every single shot captured by the camera could change our early rankings.
On top of that, the title track stage was arranged according to a strict hierarchy based on tiers.
Starting with the center at the very front, the heart of the star, came the Tier 1 trainees.
As the star spread outward came the Tier 2, Tier 3, and Tier 4 trainees.
Finally, the Tier 5 trainees had to perform beneath the star-shaped stage.
Of course, the somewhat vicious arrangement was only natural, considering how heavily the early episodes focused on the trainees’ tiers. It was an obvious production choice.
That was why even the trainees assigned to the lower tiers could do nothing but wear dejected and cowed expressions without voicing their complaints.
The trainees changed into T-shirts bearing their tiers instead of the outfits for the main performance.
They were the costumes for filming the behind-the-scenes version.
“We’ll have the Tier 1 class come up onstage first!”
a staff member shouted.
The trainees were positioned one after another.
“Let’s begin the rehearsal!”
***
After rehearsing for about three hours, it was time for lunch and a break.
Pizza from a famous franchise had been brought in as product placement.
“Mashisseeooh.”
“Wow, it’s so good.”
We finished our meal while giving the biggest reactions possible for the cameras, then began another grueling rehearsal.
Of course, we still hadn’t even started rehearsing the main performance.
“Euuugh… When is this going to end…?”
“Wow… I think I’m seriously going to die.”
“Me too…”
Since it was a large-group performance, every time they found something that needed fixing, it took ages to correct it.
But the staff callously did nothing but shout, “Smile~ Watch your expressions!” at the contestants, who were exhausted to the point of death.
If not for the air conditioners blasting throughout the gymnasium, every contestant would have been drenched in sweat and a complete mess.
After three hours of rehearsal in the morning and five hours in the afternoon, it finally ended.
“Everyone, great work! Now, before the main performance, go change your outfits and get your makeup done!”
All the contestants came down from the stage, changed their clothes, and moved to the hallway where the makeup rooms were located.
There were three makeup rooms, but that wasn’t enough to accommodate all ninety-nine contestants at once.
Most of the contestants had no choice but to sit on rows of chairs in one of the makeup rooms and wait for a long time.
Before starting my makeup in earnest, the stylist asked me,
“Do-hee, is there a particular image you want?”
“Something cool…?”
“Come on, we still have to match the concept. I’ll take care of it, okay?”
“Okay…”
The stylist applied and drew various things on my face, then smiled with satisfaction.
“How is it? It’s okay, right?”
The touch of a professional was certainly amazing every time.
I gave her a thumbs-up.
“It’s so pretty.”
“Okay, then I’ll do your hair quickly, all right? The others are waiting too.”
“Yes~”
The stylist gave my hair some moderate waves with a curling iron.
At least I wasn’t wearing pigtails.
***
Another round of practice followed.
The difference was that this wasn’t just a rehearsal. It was a rehearsal for the main stage.
Though that did sound like nothing more than wordplay…
Even that rehearsal for the main stage finally ended, and at long last, it was time for the actual shoot!
Unlike my hope that the actual shoot would be finished in one take, it seemed we had already done the actual shoot at least four times.
I had lost count of how many times it had been.
“Ending fairy~ Ending fairy~ Look at the camera! Give us a pretty expression~”
Every time the song ended, they filmed the ending fairy shots.
We stood still and filmed just that scene for ten minutes at a time…
Since I was the center, it was obvious I would appear no matter what, so I couldn’t just do it halfheartedly and move on.
My eyelid trembled as I winked, and my smiling face felt like it was cramping or seizing up.
The PD finally gave us the okay.
“Yes, that was great! Everyone, you worked so hard~”
The production crew applauded and cheered for the contestants.
It was finally over… Whew.
Before wrapping up the shoot, a staff member gathered all the contestants together.
Main PD Im Hyeon-ung took the microphone.
“Everyone, you’ve really worked so hard. I’m sure there were many moments over the past two weeks when you wanted to give up, so I’d like to thank all of you for not giving up and continuing to work hard. You know this stage will air on Mpulse on June 2, about two weeks from now, right?”
“Yes!!”
“Right. We’ll begin filming again on June 3, the day after it airs, so I’ll see you all then. Everyone, you’ve worked hard. Rest well for the next two weeks, and you’ll have to practice hard again too. Understood?”
“Yes!!”
I wasn’t really sure what the PD was saying.
For now, I just shouted “Yes” out of habit…
It was finally overrrrr.