Jackie had dropped Aera off at the dorm. She had planned to slip in unnoticed, but she had completely forgotten about Hae Yoon—the obsessive girl who seemed to track her every move.
And of course, she ran right into her at the entrance.
Hae Yoon glanced at Jackie's car and smirked.
"So, who do you love more? Or should I be more specific—Chuwon sunbae or Jackie sunbae?"
Aera's temper flared. The more she ignored her, the bolder Hae Yoon became.
"What's wrong? Don't like it when someone says it to your face? Then shut up and leave this company."
"I thought I warned you, but I guess you didn't get the message."
"Do you seriously think you're in a position to warn me right now?"
"Yes. Who do you think you are, sticking your nose into my private life? Wow, the same Hae Yoon everyone ignores can only bare her claws to me. Pathetic."
"You're acting bold just because Chuwon sunbae and Jackie sunbae are backing you. But once they find out who you really are—and how you're juggling both of them—they'll walk away from you."
"I'm done listening to your nonsense. I didn't report you before because I pitied you, but I won't tolerate your harassment anymore."
Enraged, Hae Yoon raised her hand to strike Aera. But her hand froze mid-air.
When Aera opened her eyes, Jackie was standing between them, gripping Hae Yoon's wrist.
"So you're the one spreading baseless rumors online. Pack your things and leave. You're disqualified."
Hae Yoon snapped.
"Sunbae, you don't know the whole story! She's been lying to everyone. She's using you and Chuwon sunbae. You can't kick me out!"
"If you don't leave willingly, I'll call security."
The commotion had drawn attention—people began to gather outside, staring. Hae Yoon collapsed onto the ground, sobbing. From the outside, it looked like a total scandal.
Jackie turned to Aera.
"Are you okay?"
She shook her head. No, she wasn't. She didn't want to be part of any of this, but thanks to one idiot, she was now stuck in the middle of it all.
"Do you want to come with me?" Jackie asked softly.
"No. I've been humiliated enough for one day. I'm going to my room."
Under the weight of everyone's stares, Aera walked off. She had always known that reaching her goals wouldn't be easy—but she hadn't expected this level of difficulty. Maybe she was finally reaching her breaking point.
Her phone kept ringing. It was Jackie. But she was too exhausted, too emotionally drained to talk. She felt hollow.
Someone who had worked for years had just been disqualified. Yes, Hae Yoon had been cruel, and yes, Aera had warned her—but still, there was a heaviness in her chest. Why did she feel guilty?
She could pack her bags and flee back to her grandmother's house. Pretend none of this had ever happened.
But that wouldn't solve anything.
...
The next morning, she received a call from the company's administration. The board had held a meeting about the previous night's events—and about the online rumors circulating her name.
When she arrived at the conference room, Hae Yoon was already there. Her eyes were swollen from crying, and she shot Aera a venomous glare.
Soon after, Jackie and Chuwon sunbae arrived as well.
Both of them sat down in the chairs beside her.
"I called you all night," Jackie whispered. "Do you have any idea how worried I was?"
"Rookie, are you alright?" Chuwon added, voice full of concern. "Don't let this get to you. I'm here for you."
"She doesn't need you. I'm already here."
"Well, while you were busy ignoring her, I was the one by her side. Unless Aera tells me to leave, I'm staying right here."
As the two of them bickered, Aera felt herself sinking.
What kind of mess have I fallen into?
"Look at yourselves," she muttered bitterly. "Because of you two, people think I have special privileges."
But of course—neither of them acted like they'd heard her.
After a short wait, Aera and Hae Yoon were called into the meeting room. Jackie and Chuwon tried to follow, but the board did not allow them to enter.
Inside, Ms. Park and several other senior officials were seated at the long table. They asked Aera to explain what had happened, and she recounted the events as clearly and concisely as she could.
Then, they turned to Hae Yoon and asked for her version.
Toward the end of her statement, the topic shifted.
"She's been deceiving all of you," Hae Yoon said, her voice sharp.
"Deceiving us? In what way?" one of the officials asked.
"She is Yeppo Gumiho. But she's been hiding it from both the judges and the viewers."
Gasps filled the room—everyone looked surprised, except for Ms. Park, who remained calm and unreadable.
"You entered a fellow trainee's room without permission, attempted blackmail, and caused false rumors to spread online," Ms. Park said firmly. "These actions could be pursued legally. But because we don't want the company's name associated with such a scandal, we've decided to settle this with disqualification. Pack your belongings."
Hae Yoon burst into tears and began to beg—but it was useless.
"Don't make this harder for us or for yourself," another official added coldly.
Eventually, Hae Yoon gave in and left the room sobbing. Now, Aera stood alone before the board.
"Now, to you, Aera," Ms. Park said, folding her hands on the table. "Is it true? Are you Yeppo Gumiho?"
"Y-yes, ma'am," Aera replied quietly. "I didn't expect to get this far in the competition, so I chose to keep my identity hidden."
"What do you plan to do? Eventually, the truth will come out."
"I know," she said. "But people really love the channel. I don't want to disappoint them."
"I don't think they'll be disappointed," one of the judges said. "You won the first round by a huge margin."
"Yes, but… people voted for Aera, not Yeppo Gumiho. If I reveal the truth now, it might feel like an unfair advantage. I want to win on my own merit."
"If you do win," Ms. Park asked, "will you reveal your identity then?"
"I don't know. But right now, I don't want anyone to know. Not even Jackie or Chuwon sunbae."
"It seems we don't have much choice but to respect your decision. However, hiding this information technically violates the rules. We asked for social media details in the application. This alone could be grounds for disqualification."
Disqualification? Just when she was finally starting to feel like she belonged?
"You're right, ma'am," Aera said, her voice trembling slightly. "But I hid it because I wanted to prove myself. Please… let me stay. Even if I get eliminated in the finals, I want to reach the end."
Ms. Park exchanged looks with the others before responding.
"If you agree, we might be able to turn this situation into an opportunity. Having someone as well-known as you reveal her identity during the finale, under our company's name, could create a huge buzz. Think about it—and let us know your decision soon."
She paused, her expression softening slightly.
"In the meantime, we ask that you be more careful about your interactions with Jackie and Chuwon. People can be... harsh when it comes to things like that. You may leave now."
"Thank you," Aera murmured as she stepped out of the boardroom.
Her plan was to immediately gather the team and rearrange their performance. With Hae Yoon gone, her parts would need to be redistributed. And there wasn't much time left.
But the moment she opened the door, Jackie and Chuwon swarmed her.
"Why were you in there so long?"
"What did they say to you?"
"You look exhausted. Let me buy you a coffee."
Her head was pounding, and their voices weren't helping.
"Enough," she said sharply. "I was in there so long because apparently, I need to be more careful around you two. It'd be better for me if you both kept some distance until the competition ends. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to work."
Without waiting for a reply, she walked away and joined Hannah and Chan Mi.
Hannah looked almost cheerful—clearly thrilled to have fresh gossip.
"Aren't you going to tell us what happened?"
"No. Let's focus on the task at hand."
"Wow, who would've thought Hae Yoon unni was a full-blown psycho? Quiet Yoon had a monster inside her all along."
"Unni, you clashed with her a lot. What if she targets you next? I got chills just thinking about it."
They kept trying to drag her into the drama, but Aera wasn't going to give them what they wanted.
"Focus, please. We're short on time. If we divide her parts now, we might just make it in time. We've already lost too much."
"Ugh, we should be getting extra points for this mess. Everyone else started rehearsing days ago, and look at what we're dealing with."
"I see it as an opportunity."
"What kind of opportunity, Miss Pollyanna?"
"If we can handle this last-minute crisis professionally, the audience might actually admire us for it."
"As annoying as it is to agree with you, I think you might be right. But we've got a problem—none of us can rap."
She was right.
Aera let out a tired breath. No one ever said this would be easy.
"One of us will have to do it. Let's try it one by one and give the part to whoever does it best."
They passed around the lyrics sheet and took turns. Everyone gave it a shot—and surprisingly, Hannah stood out.
"Your rap is way better than your vocals."
"Are you insulting me right now?"
"It's not an insult. I mean it. You're much stronger at rapping—why didn't you ever try it before?"
"Unni, Aera's right. You should take the rap part. Let's split your other lines between the rest of us."
After a tough hour, the new arrangement was finalized. Without wasting any more time, they dove into practice. To Aera's surprise, things were going smoother than expected. None of them were particularly close, but as a team, they were managing to pull it together.
For the rest of the week, Aera tried to focus solely on their performance. Jackie and Chuwon kept showing up whenever they could—but after the company's warning, she did her best to keep her distance.
Nights had become pure torture for Aera. She used to be able to sleep peacefully, knowing Jackie was nearby. But now, he wasn't.
It was true—she hadn't seen a single ghost since saving Jackie. But that didn't mean she wouldn't.
Almost as if he sensed her insomnia, Jackie kept calling her on video every night. If it were up to him, she'd already be living with him. As if it were that easy.
And now, he was calling again.
"Yes?" she answered.
"Why are you avoiding me?"
"I'm not."
"Every time I try to talk to you, it feels like you're slipping away."
"There's nothing going on. I just didn't feel like talking."
"Did the managers say something to you?"
"No, Jackie. I just… needed some quiet."
"I wish you'd talk to me before bottling everything up. But you're still trying to hide how you feel."
"Fine. If that's what you want to hear—yes, I feel awful."
"I know. And it makes me feel even worse that I can't take that pain away."
"I remember the time you told me to audition. I kept saying no. I knew that if I joined, it'd never be easy for me. I didn't know how I'd survive it. And it's been even harder than I feared. But I also got more support than I ever expected. Still… sometimes it just feels unbearable. I want to quit. Go back to my room and hide. I used to live in my own little world, and I was never truly happy there—but I understand that better now. I want to see this through. But I'm so tired."
"If you don't go all the way now, all your effort—everyone who believed in you—it'll all go to waste. There's not much time left. You need to shake off this gloomy mindset. I used to fall into despair, thinking I'd never get my body back. But every single time, you'd punch and kick me back to my senses. Maybe it's my turn to knock some sense into you."
"Are you going to punch me now?"
"I'm not a sadist like you. I'd never use violence. But I can say something just as powerful."
"What's that?"
"Do you remember when you were singing in the bathroom and I barged in?"
Just hearing that memory made her face burn with embarrassment. She flushed all the way to her ears.
"Why would you bring that up now?!"
And it was a video call—even worse.
"I told you I didn't see anything that day, right?"
"Whatever it is—just say it already!"
Jackie was clearly enjoying this. He let out a laugh before answering.
"I lied. I saw everything."
Her eyes widened in horror.
"You're joking—ugh, I'm hanging up!"
"You're totally my type."
"You perv!"
She slammed the call shut, her face blazing red.So this was how he took revenge for all those punches and kicks.
Ughhh, he was infuriating.
...
And finally, the performance day had arrived once again. This time, Aera felt more confident. The team had worked hard, and they were ready.
While everyone waited backstage, Taec-Yeon sunbae stepped onto the stage.
"I know you're all excited, but before we bring out our trainees, I have an announcement. Due to personal reasons, trainee Hae Yoon has withdrawn from the competition. That leaves us with eleven remaining contestants. Today, two trainees will say goodbye to their dreams. And next week… we'll reveal the final debut group in our final episode. That's right—next week is the finale. So your votes are more important than ever. Please consider not just your favorites, but each trainee's talent as well."
The final... next week?
No one had told them how many episodes there would be, but Aera hadn't expected the end to come this soon. Just a little more to go.
The other girls were buzzing with excitement.
Stepping out into the hallway to get some water, Aera stopped dead when she nearly ran into Jackie standing by the door.
The last person she wanted to face—especially after what he did.
"Wow, Aera... you look adorable today."
Adorable? That's what he came here to say?
"Leave before someone sees you. You're on the judging panel, remember? Because of you, people think I'm getting special treatment."
"You mean because of me and who else?"
"I think she means me."
Chuwon sunbae? Great. Just great.
She wanted to scream, "Why can't you both just leave me alone?!"
Before she could even respond, Chuwon leaned in and started pinching her cheeks.
"Rookie, I can't take my eyes off you. You're just too cute."
"Take your hands off my girlfriend."
Her heart nearly stopped.
Girlfriend?Jackie had never called her that before—not even once. It had always been just Aera.
"I was only joking," Chuwon replied coolly. "What? Are you jealous now?"
"Why would I be jealous? Her heart belongs to me. But I don't like anyone else touching her."
If she didn't step in, this was going to turn into a full-blown fight.
"Sunbae, Jackie, please calm down. This isn't the time or the place. Just leave before anyone sees."
"Alright," Jackie said, glaring at Chuwon. "But we need to talk later. Something private."
"I'm looking forward to your performance, rookie," Chuwon added with a warm smile. "You can do this—fighting!"
Before Chuwon could even walk away fully, Jackie pulled Aera into a tight embrace—and kissed her right there in the hallway, as if to make a point.
She tried to push him away, but he was strong. Only after Chuwon left did Jackie finally let go.
"Was that really necessary?"
"I just wanted to kiss my girlfriend. What's wrong with that?"
"He's my friend. Can't you just be polite to him? What you did just now wasn't okay."
"He touched your face. I gave him a polite warning."
"Whatever. Just go now. I need to get back backstage."
"I know you'll do great."
Leaving him behind, Aera returned to the backstage area. The first group was already performing on stage. Everyone was watching attentively.
The performance was going smoothly—until the main vocalist's voice cracked at the most critical part of the song.
It was a bad slip. But the group recovered quickly and finished the performance professionally, without letting it show on their faces.
Hopefully the voters will be forgiving.
When the group returned backstage, the lead vocalist was sobbing.
"I ruined everything… we're going to lose because of me…"
"It's okay. You did your best."
But even the trainees who were saying "It's okay" were crying themselves.Aera couldn't help thinking:If there weren't cameras around, this would've turned into a full-blown blame-fest by now.
Their turn was almost up. Aera stood backstage with Hannah and Chan Mi, waiting as the final minutes ticked down.
All three of them had sacrificed sleep, pushing themselves harder than ever for this performance. Now, they stood hand in hand, silently bracing themselves.
Maybe it looked fake—standing there holding hands with someone who had thrown barbs at her since day one. But the truth was, their personal feelings had never interfered with their commitment.
This was a group performance. They all understood the weight of that responsibility.
The second group had just wrapped up a flawless performance. The crowd's energy was high, the judges visibly impressed.
And now…
It was their turn.
They stepped onto the stage with confidence and composure. Aera could feel the strength of their preparation in every movement.
When their performance ended, she was proud of them—of herself, too. Despite a few minor hiccups, they had given it their all. It was their best yet.
"And now, after witnessing the powerful performance of our final team, we'll move on to the voting phase."
Backstage, tension filled the air. Everyone waited nervously. The finale was just one step away, and every single vote mattered now more than ever.
"The votes have been counted," the host announced, "and I'm about to reveal the results. Each member of the team that ranks first will receive a bonus of +10,000 votes."
Aera felt her heart beating faster.
"Let's not keep you waiting any longer.
With 35% of the votes, the second-place team is… Team Lion."
A ripple of murmurs spread across the room.
"One team received 50% of the votes… while the third-place team received only 15%.
And now, the team who captured half of the audience's hearts—and gained a bonus 10,000 votes—is…
Team The Feels. Congratulations!"
When she heard their name, Aera couldn't stop jumping. They had done it.
Chan Mi was the first to take the mic.
"I couldn't have done this without my unnies' support. We faced so many setbacks, but they never gave up. Thank you to my teammates—and to everyone who voted for us!"
Then Hannah stepped forward.
"I had so many doubts in the beginning. I didn't think we could come in first. Honestly, I didn't even feel connected to my team at first. And that felt like a huge wall I couldn't climb. But we pushed through every obstacle. And with time, I realized I'd ended up in the best possible team for me. Thank you to my teammates for believing in us, and to the viewers—we won't let you down."
Finally, it was Aera's turn.
"My teammates have already said everything I was going to say. I don't even know what more I can add. But… thanks to them, I learned how to trust. And through our work together, I learned that maybe we could be friends too. We were a fun team. Thank you—for your friendship. And to the audience who's been supporting me since the beginning... thank you, truly. I won't disappoint you."
As the stage lights shone down on her, Aera knew.
She had made her decision.She would work with the company—and reveal her identity in the final.