Page 26 of I'll Be the One

After the utter chaos that was last week, this week is eerily chill. Besides a few assignments and projects for school, I don’treally have anything to do, and I even have time to hang out with my school friends. Clarissa and Rebecca ask me all about the competition, but I’m careful not to tell them any details. Telling Dad about everything is one thing, but I still want my friends to be able to enjoy the show without any spoilers when it airs.

On Saturday, I carpool up to the recording studio with Lana again. Her car is just as messy as it was last time, and today, the rubber duck flies into my face when Lana makes a particularly sharp turn. I’m more amused than anything, though. I have a feeling that this is something I’m just going to have to get used to when I ride in Lana’s car.

There must have been a major accident on the road again, because even though it’s a Saturday, the cars are moving at a slow crawl. Luckily, unlike Dad, Lana’s a morning person, so we left really early.

Lana sits back in defeat after it becomes clear that traffic isn’t going to get better anytime soon.

“So,” she says. “Any guesses on what the next challenge will be? Apparently, they carved out two weeks of official practice for both vocals and dance before the second elimination round, so it must be pretty big deal.”

“Not sure,” I say. “But hopefully it won’t be that bad. Maybe it’ll be a group thing? Didn’t they mention something about testing us on group dynamics or whatever in another round?”

Lana gasps. “That’d definitely make sense. That would explain the extra practice time, too. Wow, an intensive group challenge right after the last round. Theyreallywant to get rid of us ASAP!”

A few days ago, the competition committee sent out a text telling us the number of people still left in the competition. Like they warned us they would, the committee had eliminated half of the people in both vocals and dance, leaving a total of twenty for each group.

For better or worse, I turn out to be right, and as soon as we arrive, Mr. Park tells us to choose our groups.

“Many of our past winners have gone on to join K-popgroups, rather than break out as individual artists,” he explains. “In my company, at least, there is a greater chance of debuting as a group member than as a solo artist. And even solo artists frequently collaborate with other people. Knowing how to sing or dance as part of a team is an essential skill to have in this industry.”

“Even though most K-pop groups have more than two or three people in them, we’re limiting the number of people you guys can have in a group to give you more flexibility,” Gary chimes in. “We care just as much about your interpretation of the song as we do about your performance, so be creative! Rappers, feel free to improvise! Singers, try out new keys! As artists, the ability to make songsyoursis super important, so consider this a golden opportunity.”

I, of course, pair up with Lana. She was amazing during the last round, and I want to be with someone I know I’ll get along with.

Each group gets their own practice room, and one of the cameras follows Lana and me into ours. Although I didn’t mind the cameras while I was up onstage, or even in the bigger rooms, its constant presence in such close quarters is unnerving. I have to try really hard not to squirm. Lana, though, is a complete natural, like she grew up being chased around by cameras. She even gives the one in our practice room a friendly wave.

I don’t even dare look at the camera. Knowing me, I’d probably stare at it like a raccoon about to become roadkill. Instead, I focus my attention on a piece of paper taped to the music stand in our practice room.

It reads, first in Korean and then English:

For your second challenge, please pick either an American or a Korean pop song. Make sure that everyone in your group approves of the choice, as you will not be able to make changes. Once you’ve made your selection, please text your song choice and your names to 54311. No two groups will be allowed to sing the same song, so first group to text their choice gets the song.

Here are some suggested song choices, although you are welcome to choose one that is not listed below.

Lana and I both look at the suggested songs below the instructions. In a short while, it becomes clear that Lana and I have way different tastes in music. She likes more indie stuff, like Guckkasten and Humming Urban Stereo, while I like more mainstream artists.

“Okay,” Lana finally says. “We’re short on time, so let’s try picking a song we both know.” She puts a perfectly manicured finger on one of the suggested songs. “How about ‘Crazy in Love’? I don’t listen to many Top Forty artists, but Beyoncé is a queen.”

I look back down at the list. Although doing a Beyoncé song seems daunting, it really does seem like the best choice for us out of the suggested songs on the list.

“Okay, sure. Let me text them.”

I get out my phone and start composing the text.

“I really hope we get that song,” Lana says as I send the message. “I guess wecoulddo another Beyoncé song if that one’s taken, but that’d just be plain repetitive.”

A few agonizing seconds later, I get a text saying:You have been assigned: Crazy in Love. Best of luck in the competition!

Lana and I high-five each other and get to work.

I was afraid that singing with someone else would be awkward and restrictive, like stepping on their toes. But Lana is so chill and playful that singing with her feels like we’re just messing around in the best sort of way, experimenting with different harmonies and playing off each other until we’re both smiling and laughing.

After a while, the cameraman leaves to go record another group, but I hardly notice. I’m havingthatmuch fun.

We’re still belting along to “Crazy in Love” when my phone vibrates against my leg. I fish it out of my pocket to see that I have a new message from Mom, which strikes me as odd because she’s been pretty much ignoring me for the past few weeks.

Maybe it’s because Dad’s home, I think. Mom tends to be a lot less obvious about her disapproval of my life choices whenever Dad is around.

I read the text.

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