Page 70 of I'll Be the One

ME:SO CUTE.

HENRY CHO:Looking at these pics makes me realize how much I spoil this dog.

ME:She deserves it!!!!

I smile to myself until, out of the corner of my eye, I spot Melinda scowling at me from across the room. Her face is full of accusations, as if she knows I’m texting Henry. I try toignore her the best I can. I really don’t want any drama today.

But of course, at that moment, since this isthattype of show, the stage manager walks into the room and says, “Skye and Melinda, you two are up. Please come stand by backstage.”

Why am I even surprised?

I suppress a groan as I follow Melinda out of the green room. It’s clear from the pairings today that the show producers did everything they could to make things as “dramatic” as possible. I’m honestly disappointed in myself for not expecting this.

If looks could electrocute people, Melinda would have fried me a hundred times over by the time we get onstage. I try to shake it off as best I can. I’ve already been eliminated from one part of the competition. I really can’t afford to be distracted now.

“Ladies,” Davey says after we reach our marks. “Here’s how this round will proceed. First, we will ask Melinda to sing. Then Skye. The judges will give evaluations for both of you after Skye finishes. The winner of this round will move on to become one of the top five vocalists for the final round ofYou’re My Shining Star.”

Unlike the other times I’ve stood onstage, the studio audience is completely silent, waiting in hushed anticipation as Melinda gets ready to sing. The moment the opening notes of her accompaniment begin to play, though, everybody—including me—gasps.

She’s singing “No One,” by Lee Hi, the artist I covered in the first round.

Oh no she didn’t!I can’t stop my jaw from dropping in disbelief, even with one camera trained on me to capture my reaction. Although it’s not as bad as singing a song by the same artist I’m singing today, it’s still pretty bad, and the audience’s reaction confirms it. For the first few lines, they remain completely silent.

I have to give it to her, though. Melinda’s Korean pronunciation is excellent, and she’s serving every bit of the sultriness that this song deserves. Swaying her hips back and forth to the beat, she’s soon got the audience captured in the spell of her fairylike soprano voice as she sings about being lonely at night. All the while, she looks straight at the camera with sexy confidence, like a teenage Victoria’s Secret model.

By the time Melinda reaches the chorus, everyone cheers for her, and a few guys at the front evendroolas they watch her sing. I try not to grimace too noticeably on camera. Melinda’s song choice, the audience’s reactions... it’s all a bit too much.

I have to win against Melinda, I think.I have to.

But even as I try to focus, my vision starts blurring under the hot stage lights.

“... Skye?”

At the sound of my name, I jerk back to attention. Melinda’s finished singing, and the judges, the audience, the cameras,everyone, is staring at me. I want to scream. How could I have let myself be so overwhelmed?

“It’s your turn,” Mr. Park says in a slightly annoyed tone.He’s probably thinking about how I’m bringing shame on him as his mentee.

“Right.” I nod, indicating that I’m ready to start.

“Next up is Skye Shin!” Davey announces.

The opening flute notes of Chungha’s “Gotta Go” start playing, and I let out a quick breath before I come in. I can’t pull off wispy fairy magic like Melinda can, but sexy confidence? I can do sexy confidence.

Snapping my fingers to the beat, I come in at my cue, trying my best to convey the wistfulness of having to leave the love of your life at midnight. I sing, letting the music take over me so I’m completely lost in it by the time I hit the chorus.

Chungha is such a dance-focused artist, so I can’t help but break into some of the choreography as I sing the song, rocking my hips back and forth and waving my arms around my body. Bora raises her eyebrows, but Mr. Park watches me with a proud look in his eyes.

By the time I hit the bridge, the audience is roaring, and I spot a bunch of people dancing along with me in the audience. When I hit the high note toward the end of the song, I let my voice ring out in the theater to thunderous applause.

“There you have it, folks!” Davey says. “Melinda and Skye, two ladies of wondrous talent. Who will be asked to stay and who will be sent home?”

Mr. Park picks up the mic first.

“Miss Shin,” Mr. Park says with a twinkle in his eyes. “Well done. You made me proud today, no matter the result.”

Gary looks at Melinda, and then me.

“Wow,” he says. “This is a really hard choice to make. Melinda, you did an amazing job. This round was definitely not easy for you, with the language barrier and everything. And your rendition of Lee Hi’s song was so well done. You took all my tips and suggestions to heart.” He then turns to me. “Skye, you were phenomenal as usual. The emotion, the high notes, the sexiness. It was all there. This is going to be a really hard decision for me to make.”

---