The hallway was quiet—too quiet for someone with a storm in her chest.
Yanniee stood behind three other girls, hands trembling slightly, her hoodie sleeves stretched past her fingers. It was cold inside the building, but her palms were sweating. She could feel her heartbeat in her ears.
All she could think was:
"I've made it this far… don't mess this up."
Her number was called.
"Number 218, please enter."
She stepped inside.
The room was plain but intimidating. Four judges sat in front of her, backs straight, clipboards ready. Cameras pointed from different angles. The smell of new flooring mixed with the sterile scent of air-conditioning.
And then… she noticed him.
Soobin.
Standing near the crew at the side, masked, hoodie up, but unmistakably him.
He wasn't a judge. Just observing. Quiet. But his presence alone made her legs weaker than they already were.
She bowed.
"Annyeonghaseyo… Je ireumeun Marian-imnida. I'm from the Philippines. Thank you for this opportunity."
One judge nodded.
"Start when you're ready."
She closed her eyes for a second, grounding herself.
Her music began: "Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard's Wife" by LE SSERAFIM.
She moved.
It wasn't perfect. Her timing was off on the second beat. Her right turn felt slightly clumsy. But she didn't stop. She kept dancing, pouring her heart into every move. Her eyes burned—not with tears, but with fire.
And when the final beat hit, she struck her pose.
Silence.
She bowed again, breathing hard, heart louder than anything else in the room.
The judges scribbled on their clipboards. One whispered something. The others didn't speak.
But her eyes drifted… to the side.
Soobin clapped.
Just twice. Quietly. His mask covered his face, but his eyes curved gently—like he was smiling just for her.
Yanniee didn't say anything. But in that moment, she felt something shift inside her.
No matter what the judges said after this…
Someone like him saw her.
And somehow, that gave her hope.