Page 34 of Idol Prize
"Hyun Woo's team really killed it," Woo Jin murmured beside him.
Min Jae offered a non-committal nod. “It was a smart concept, especially for the inter-fans.”
The screen shifted to the disastrous performance from Team Four. The editors had cruelly isolated the moment their vocalist went painfully flat, even adding a comedic "record scratch" sound effect. It was followed by a compilation of fans cringing inreaction videos. The showrunners were merciless, turning a guy's worst moment into a running gag for the episode.
Next came a behind-the-scenes clip from their own team's first meeting. The footage showed the moment Min Jae had nominated Andy as leader, edited with inspiring music to look like a noble gesture of respect. It cut to a fan comment: "Min Jae is such a great team player! He knows Andy is the best leader for the Dream Team!"
Woo Jin nudged him, grinning. "See? They love that stuff."
Min Jae smiled, knowing full well that there were probably thousands of posts saying exactly the opposite. That he’d given up his advantage or made a bad call to choose Andy as leader. But he hadn’t done it for the fans. He wanted to win.
Woo Jin gasped as the screen filled with a slow-motion clip of Min Jae and Andy, their faces inches apart during the final pose of their duet. The hashtag #MinDy exploded on the screen in a burst of animated hearts. Min Jae’s stomach tightened. A montage of fan-made videos played—their performance reedited and set to a heart-wrenching ballad, compilations of every glance they’d shared on stage, and endless, scrolling comments from fans losing their minds.
The auditorium erupted in whoops and good-natured catcalls. Several guys turned to grin and give Min Jae a thumbs-up. Heat blossomed in his cheeks as his mind froze, stuck between shy, humble smile and proud, cheeky grin. He’d expected a lot of attention. He’d counted on it. But he’d once again underestimated the Dream Makers, just like he had when they’d voted Andy as number one. They’d shipped him with Andy.
Min Jae turned, his face still frozen in an embarrassed half-smile, and found Andy, already looking at him with the same amused confusion. Then he lazily shrugged, a gesture so classically Andy that it somehow unlocked Min Jae’s stuck brain. Min Jae smiled back as Woo Jin clapped him on the back.
“Damn, hyung,” Woo Jin said as a torrent of #MinDy love poured from the screen. “You guys sold the hell out of that. They’re obsessed.”
Min Jae’s plan had worked beyond his wildest dreams. To achieve that level of viral success was something every idol craved. A trending hashtag meant he was being talked about. It meant that, when it came time for the Dream Makers to vote, they’d be thinking of him.
Andy’s laughter burst from the speakers, a clip of him from the winner’s announcement onstage, followed a moment later by a burst of the real Andy’s laughter a few rows ahead of Min Jae. But he could hardly tear his eyes from the screen, watching himself standing behind Andy, his face flushed with exhaustion and–something else. Desire. He couldn’t remember feeling it, but it was there, plain as day.
Damn that boy. And damn his body for betraying him. Even there, sitting in that auditorium, his cheeks and chest warmed at the thought of Andy’s laugh. Traitor. There’d be none of that. His relationship with Andy was meant for professional purposes only. He was there to win, and #MinDy just might be his ticket to a debut spot in Pr1ze. Whatever his feelings–or his balls–were telling him didn’t matter at all. He was there to win.
Min Jae rode out the remaining footage, deliberately calming himself with something Andy told him. They were professionals, and they could perform with one another no matter how they felt. Of course, Andy had meant performing together despite their intense rivalry. But the sentiment applied just as well for any other inconvenient feelings Min Jae might’ve had. His bromance–his ship–with Andy was the ticket to his future. He’d have to submit to it whether he liked it or not if he wanted to reach his larger goal. Hopefully Andy felt the same way.
Si Woo took the stage after the clips had finished, thanking the boys again for their hard work and dedication. Then he announced what everyone already knew. They’d be taking ashort break from filming to celebrate the Chuseok holiday. “I expect you all to be well-rested and refreshed when you return,” he added before dismissing them. He may as well have been dismissing 50 schoolchildren at the end of class.
Everyone launched from their chairs, crowding in a doorway too small to let them all through. Min Jae hung back, letting the throng thin out a bit before heading for the door. He caught up with Woo Jin anyway, who’d tried to beat the crowds.
“I can’t believe we actually get to go home,” Woo Jin breathlessly exclaimed. “I haven’t been this excited about Chuseok in years.”
“Did you have to miss out much when you were still active?”
Woo Jin shook his head. “Only a couple times when we were on tour. Once, in Japan, and once in Australia.”
Min Jae snorted, playing off the opportunities he’d missed out on like touring as an active idol as the terrible inconvenience Woo Jin complained about. Then again, Woo Jin’s privilege hadn’t gotten him any further ahead than Min Jae. They were both competing in a survival show. And Min Jae was ahead. “That sucks,” he lied. “I bet your family will be excited to see you.”
Woo Jin quietly scoffed. “I’m sure they will. I can’t wait to hear a dozen different critiques of my performances.” He chuckled. “You think the mentors were bad? My mom could eat them for lunch.”
Min Jae dutifully chuckled, ignoring his intense flash of pain from Woo Jin’s mention of his mother. He probably didn’t know–or, didn’t remember–that Min Jae’s mother had died. “I can only imagine what the mentoring panels would be like if they were all our parents.”
Woo Jin laughed. “Right? A total shit show.”
Dae Hyun and Seo Joon were already in their room when Min Jae and Woo Jin got there. They’d given up some potential camera time just to sit closer to the door. Seo Joon only had oneof his designer suitcases open on his bed–it was a short holiday–but he’d crammed it full.
“You’re gonna need me to sit on that to get it closed,” Dae Hyun joked. The two had eventually clicked as roomies, despite whatever Min Jae thought of Seo Joon.
“I’m surprised you’re not already inside the thing,” Woo Jin commented as he pulled his suitcase from under his bed. “You’ve been so far up Seo Joon’s ass lately I thought you were going home with him.”
Dae Hyun angrily scoffed. “Fuck you.
Min Jae laughed, despite himself, as he opened and began to fill his suitcase. “You’re just pissed because you have to go all the way to Daejeon. Besides, you’d probably hate it at Seo Joon’s house. His family would think you’re a servant.”
Seo Joon snorted. “Not with his filthy mouth, we wouldn’t.”
Dae Hyun’s mouth dropped open, earning him chuckles from Min Jae and Woo Jin. “Wait. Do you really have servants?”
