The assistant waved us forward. "Room 312, you're up!"
My pulse hammered as we stepped into the spotlight.
Below the lens, a monitor displayed a stream of live comments scrolling past at breakneck speed.
Who are these nobodies?
The tall one's cute though
B-rank? Already boring
"Thirty seconds on my mark," the assistant called out. "Introduce yourselves and show us your charm!"
Before any of us could strategize, Jisoo bounced forward like an overexcited puppy.
"Hello everyone! I'm Oh Jisoo!" He threw both hands up in exaggerated finger hearts, his round face scrunched into the most ridiculous aegyo expression I'd ever witnessed.
"I'm your cute bunny boy!"
He launched into what could generously be called dancing—flailing arms, wobbly hip movements, and a spin that nearly sent him crashing into Yuhyun.
The finale came with an aggressive wink that looked more like a facial spasm.
The comments exploded.
WHAT IS HE DOING LMAOOO
Second-hand embarrassment but I can't look away
He's so bad it's good???
Bunny boy energy is SENDING me
This kid has zero shame I respect it
Actually kind of endearing wtf
Jisoo beamed at the camera, completely oblivious to his train wreck performance.
His genuine enthusiasm radiated through the screen despite—or maybe because of—the complete lack of polish.
"Your turn!" He bounced back toward us, cheeks flushed with excitement.
Yuhyun stepped forward next, his expression caught between amusement and mortification at having to follow that spectacle.
"Hi, I'm Park Yuhyun."
His voice dropped to that warm, honeyed tone that always made people lean closer.
The awkward energy from Jisoo's performance melted away as Yuhyun stepped into the light with natural confidence.
He flashed that boyish smile—the one that crinkled his eyes just enough to seem genuine rather than practiced.
"Hope you'll cheer for me."
The wink came next, smooth and unhurried.
Not Jisoo's spastic facial contortion, but something that looked effortless, like he'd been charming cameras his entire life.
Then he opened his mouth to sing.
"Even when the world turns cold, your warmth finds me..."
One line in perfect pitch.
The note hung in the air like silk, rich and textured, wrapping around the small space until even the production staff stopped shuffling papers.
The comments shifted instantly.
WHO IS THIS ANGEL
That voice though??? MAIN VOCAL MATERIAL
I'm deceased he's so boyfriend coded
Park Yuhyun write that down WRITE THAT DOWN
Prince charming vs. shy boy… can I have both??
His smile just cured my depression
Yuhyun stepped back with casual grace, as if he hadn't just made half the viewers fall in love through their screens.
Jinwook crossed his arms, jaw set in that familiar stubborn line.
"This is stupid."
The words came out flat, dismissive. He turned his shoulder toward the camera like he couldn't be bothered with the whole charade.
At one point, I believed he might genuinely refuse to participate.
The assistant shifted nervously behind the monitor, probably calculating how to salvage this disaster.
Then Jinwook did something unexpected.
He tilted his chin up just a fraction—barely noticeable, but enough to catch the light differently across his sharp features.
One corner of his mouth quirked into the faintest smirk.
Not practiced or deliberate. Just... there.
Like he found the entire situation amusing in a way only he understood.
He flicked the collar of his jacket with two fingers, a gesture so casual it seemed unconscious.
But the effect was immediate.
The comments went absolutely feral.
OH MY GOD, THE TSUNDERE ENERGY
He's so cool it hurts
That smirk just ENDED me
reluctant king behavior we STAN
I want him to ignore me like that.
Jinwook's expression didn't change as he stepped back, but I caught the smallest flash of satisfaction in his eyes.
All eyes turned to me.
Ten seconds left on the timer, and my mind went completely blank.
Panic flared in my chest—what charm did I have? What could possibly follow Jinwook's effortless cool or Yuhyun's natural warmth?
The countdown ticked in my peripheral vision. Five seconds.
Four.
Three.
Instinct kicked in.
"Hi, I'm Han Jiwon."
My voice came out softer than intended, almost uncertain. No grand gesture, no practiced move.
Just me, standing there feeling completely exposed under the bright lights.
Heat crept up my neck as I realized how plain I must look compared to the others.
Without thinking, I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear—a nervous habit I'd never been able to shake.
Then I smiled.
Not the wide, camera-ready grin I'd practiced in mirrors, but something smaller. The kind of smile that happened when I felt genuinely shy, corners of my mouth lifting just enough to crinkle my eyes.
The monitor lit up with a cascade of reactions.
OH MY HEART!! PROTECT HIM AT ALL COSTS!!
That shy smile just WRECKED me
Basic energy but cute I guess.
Meh. Next.
The way he hides behind his hair????? ILLEGAL
Kind of boring after the others tbh.
My stomach twisted as I watched the comments blur past. The assistant called out before any of us could react.
"Group pose! Quick bow to wrap up!"
We scrambled into formation—Jisoo throwing finger hearts again, Yuhyun's arm sliding naturally around my shoulders, and Jinwook standing slightly apart but still part of our cluster.
We bowed in unison, a mess of mismatched energy that somehow worked.
As we straightened, the comments were moving so fast they blurred together.
WAIT THAT'S IT?? WE NEED MORE
Jiwon barely got any time!!!
Give us a full episode of these four.
Their chemistry though???
Jiwon's shy energy with Yuhyun's warmth I'M CRYING
The assistant waved us off, already calling for the next group. But the monitor kept flashing with demands for more content, more of us—more of me.
My chest tightened with an unfamiliar sensation. Not panic this time, but something lighter.
For those few seconds, I hadn't been hiding. I'd just been... myself.
We shuffled away from the cameras, the bright lights fading behind us.
"That was amazing!" Jisoo bounced beside me, practically vibrating with leftover adrenaline. "Did you see all those comments? They loved us!"
Yuhyun squeezed my shoulder. "You did great."
However, doubt began to creep in like a cold wave. Had we done enough?
"Think we passed?" I asked quietly.
Jinwook glanced back at me. "Does it matter now?"
It did. Everything depended on this.
Because if we hadn't done enough, we'd go hungry tonight—and be forgotten tomorrow.