Llana started plucking the grass blades absentmindedly as she sat cross-legged.
She'd been sitting for almost ten minutes, and still, the next person hadn't arrived. "If everyone took this long, wouldn't I be stuck here for over more than an hour?" Llana asked the camera man who is currently filming her, helplessly.
The camera man shrugged his shoulders as if to say, Seems like it.
Llana sighed. Waiting alone only made her thoughts spiral.
What would I do if I got demoted to Minor because of this?
She would definitely feel down. She was at a disadvantage this round. The others didn't know her well, and three votes were too precious to waste on someone unfamiliar like her.
Jihyo, Nayeon, Jeongyeon, and the others who had trained for more than three years would definitely have the edge in this voting round.
Everyone knew them better.
"Llana-unnie!"
A shout came from afar, making her head snap up. There was Jeon Somi, jogging toward her like she'd just survived a midterm exam.
Llana couldn't help but laugh.
Then a sudden realization hit her.
'Why does this feel like déjà vu? Wait… did I look like that earlier?'
[Yes.]
Llana's lip twitched.
"Hey, how's it?" Llana chuckled, switching to English as Somi reached her.
"Ugh~ I feel terrible," Somi grimaced, also answering in English. "Did you vote for yourself, unnie?"
"No." Llana shook her head. "What about you?"
"I was actually torn about putting my name down, but I decided not to. I'd feel guilty knowing others deserve it more than me. I swore a few times too, so… I don't think I deserve it." Somi gave a tight smile.
Llana nodded. She understood. Somi had lived half her life in the U.S., so adjusting to different norms here couldn't have been easy.
"Me too," Llana said softly. "That's what took me so long. But after thinking about it… I decided not to either."
"Huh? Why not?" Somi blinked. "I think you deserve a point. You should've voted for yourself, unnie."
She looked genuinely puzzled. Even though she hadn't given Llana a point, Llana was still in her top five. If they'd been allowed to vote for more than three people, Somi would've definitely written her name down. Somi would have definitely written her name down. Llana is talented, humble and polite.
Somi had never once heard her swear or speak badly about anyone behind their back.
Llana only shook her head, a soft smile curving on her lips.
"It just doesn't sit right with me," she said gently. "I'd be happier if someone else chose me on their own."
Not long after, Minyoung joined them.
Neither Llana nor Somi realized they'd been speaking in English the entire time. It was only when Minyoung sat there quietly with a polite smile that Llana sensed the awkwardness.
Catching on quickly, she smoothly switched back to Korean and changed the topic so Minyoung wouldn't feel left out.
They ended up waiting for almost an hour and a half before everyone finally finished.
Once everyone had arrived, they were called into position. Majors lined up on the right, Minors on the left, as they waited for JYP to enter.
Soon after, JYP arrived, greeting them briefly before speaking. "The recommendations and the reasons you gave helped me understand you better." He paused, looking at them seriously. "I hope no one takes it too personally if they weren't chosen. Think of it as motivation to improve."
Llana nodded along with the others.
"I will be making changes between Major and Minor members," he continued.
Her stomach tightened at that.
Llana felt the nervousness coming back to her as she listened to JYP. She hoped she wouldn't go down to minor. Llana bit her lip lightly at that. This time, she really felt so unsure and nervous. She had never felt so nervous compare to this in all the previous rounds.
This was the only round where she truly felt uncertain.
"The first member moving from Minor to Major is… Nayeon. Please step forward."
Nayeon stepped forward as instructed.
"Nayeon received 9 points and ranked third. Please take the envelope and announce the Major who will move down to Minor."
Nayeon walked to the table, picked up her envelope, and read aloud, "…Somi-ya, please come forward."
Llana secretly let out a breath of relief.
"The second member moving from Minor to Major is… Jeongyeon. She received 12 points, placing second."
"Jeongyeon announced the next major to go down." JYP instructed.
Jeongyeon nodded and read from the envelope. "Natty, please come forward."
"Natty, you received the least votes among your unnies. I hope you use this opportunity to look back and reflect." JYP looked at her seriously, his brow knitting slightly. She hadn't received a single vote from her unnies but he didn't say that out loud.
"The last person to move from minor to major is...Sana."
Sana let out a relieved sigh and stepped forward, carefully opening her envelope, only to blink in confusion. "There's nothing inside, PD-nim."
A ripple of confusion passed through the group as they processed Sana's words.
JYP chuckled at their reaction.
"The next person to swap is no one," he explained , "However, The planned number of Major members was eight. Since the votes resulted this way, Sana will be added as the eighth member."
He looked at Sana.
"You ranked seventh alongside Tzuyu and Momo so you will be joining the Major ranks."
Wait does that mean she's safe?
Llana's eyes widened in surprise as the realization sank in.
___
[Ding!]
[Task: Defend your position for the 5th week's challenge. COMPLETED]
[You have received rewards:
+0.007 Dancing, + 300,000 virtual coins.]
____
The system notification rang in her ears, confirming what she'd just heard.
"Llana, you ranked eighth with seven points. The older trainees obviously had the advantage in this round. I never expected the foreign members, and especially you, Llana, to make it into the top eight," JYP said, sounding genuinely surprised.
"Being ranked eighth shows that the other members recognized more than just your talent. They saw your character as well, even in such a short period of time."
JYP paused, his gaze sweeping over the trainees. "Now… in every challenge," he continued slowly, "there's always an elimination among the minor ranks. "
" That would be.... "