Dahyun let out a quiet laugh as they watched episode three of SEVENTEEN, the photoshoot challenge, also known as the album jacket cover.
"Wow… they really toned down the harsh commentaries in this episode."
Dahyun shook her head, remembering how different the aired scenes were from what had actually been recorded. Especially in the third episode, where they received the harshest comments, particularly during the photoshoot.
Llana nodded beside her, her gaze still fixed on the screen. It felt weird, honestly. It was like watching a modified, nicer version of something that really wasn't.
Dahyun remembered how tense it had been, how the comments had actually stung.
She was also a recipient, so she knew how it felt. It's like your heart was being stabbed by a knife. But on screen, it looked calm, almost gentle. The contrast made her laugh a little.
"…You know, I'm kinda jealous of how flawless your performances are sometimes." Dahyun smiled sadly, turning to Llana.
Llana looked back at her silently, letting her speak.
"Every performance of yours… is perfect. Even PD-nim and the other judges can't find a single fault. I've never heard any negative comments at all."
'While mine… mine is always negative after going down to minor.' Dahyun thought, her chest tightening from sadness. She swallowed hard and continued, her voice trembling. "Hey… can I ask you something?"
"Of course," Llana said gently, scooting closer to Dahyun and resting a hand on her back, moving it back and forth in a soothing rhythm.
"What do you think I should do?" Dahyun's voice cracked as tears welled in her eyes.
"Every performance I do… it always gets negative feedback. No matter how hard I try… no matter how much I follow PD-nim's feedback, he always finds something wrong. Something… unsatisfying."
She wiped at her tears, but they wouldn't stop. It was exhausting, chasing a standard that always seemed just out of reach.
Llana gently took Dahyun's hands away from her face and cupped them, wiping her tears with her thumb.
"Unnie, I think you're misunderstanding PD-nim's intentions," she said softly.
Dahyun looked up at her, eyes red and glistening.
"I know it feels unfair… even painful when he makes you do certain things. But in the next episode, he'll probably say something again, right?"
Dahyun nodded slowly. She didn't understand him, and that frustrated her the most.
"Do you know what your real problem is?" Llana asked.
Dahyun shook her head.
"You're looking at it the wrong way," Llana explained. "You keep thinking, 'This is what PD-nim wants, I can't forget it,' so you overthink every move. And because of that, your performance becomes tense.… lacking the energy it should have."
She gave Dahyun's shoulder a reassuring pat."If you want to change that… just be freer. Move naturally, trust yourself, and don't overthink. PD-nim wants you to be aware of it so you can really give your one hundred percent."
Llana smiled warmly. "Your performances are great, okay? Don't put yourself down. Come here." Llana pulled Dahyun into a hug, rubbing her back softly. " You'll do amazing next time. I know you can. You'll show PD-nim what you're really capable of. Arasso?"
"Hm." Dahyun nodded, burying her face in the crook of Llana's neck.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, unnie," Llana whispered, holding her close.
The competition was brutal, draining them both physically and mentally. One by one, images of every participant flashed through Llana's mind, the tear-streaked cheeks, the frightened, wavering expressions, and the hollow, heartbroken looks of those who had already been eliminated, etched deeply into her memory.
That was the price every one of them had to pay for their dreams.The harshness of reality.
Life would not give you sweet treats. It would give you challenges, ones that could make you waver and want to give up.
But Llana also knew one thing: life was like fire, and you were the gold being forged within it. The more you were tested in the flames, the purer and stronger you became.
That was life. The more challenges you overcame, the stronger you grew.
"Say, if I ask you to create a song for me… could you do that?" Dahyun leaned back, feeling much better now.
She wanted to see her friend's amazing composing skills firsthand. Someday, when haters questioned Llana's abilities, she would tell them how Llana had created a song for her in just a moment. She'd make sure everyone knew just how talented Llana really was.
"Like, right now?" Llana raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah. Like right now."
"…Sure. Let me think for a bit." Llana paused before turning back to her.
"Do you have a guitar here?"
"Yes, wait. I'll get it."
Dahyun ran out and came back with her guitar, "Here."
Llana tested the guitar before nodding
"Are you ready?" Llana smiled.
"Ne!"
Dahyun nodded smiling excitedly.
Llana's fingers moved gently over the strings of the guitar, the soft melody filling the quiet space between them. She lifted her gaze, meeting Dahyun's eyes as she played.
"If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea…" Llana looked at Dahyun deeply, then smiled, "I'll sail the world to find you."
She began to play a familiar melody, a song she had often heard being played in her past life: Bruno Mars's 'Count on Me'. It had been a hit song in her world, a well-known song about friendship, but here, Bruno Mars either didn't exist or hadn't become famous yet.
Llana sang, plucking the guitar. Dahyun started waving along. Tasting every lyrics of the song.
"We find out what we're made of when we are called to help our friends in need."
Dahyun couldn't help tearing up, touched by the song Llana was singing for her. She truly felt happy to have Llana as her friend.
She remembered the day she first met Llana. She had been standing alone in the corner of the training room, looking calm and unbothered- Someone who didn't seem like you could just approach easily. She was glad she had gathered the courage to talk to Llana and get to know her that day; otherwise, she might have missed out on the best friend she could ever have.
"You can count on me like one, two, three, I'll be there. And I know—"
Dahyun cut her off.
"You can count on me like four, three, two, and I'll be there." She smiled at Llana as she sang.
A shock of emotion ran through Llana. Dahyun had matched the next line perfectly, singing it in Korean while leaving only the numbers in English.
Llana's eyes stung.
"Cause that's how friends are supposed to do."