Page 68 of Idol Prize
Leo quietly helped Andy finish packing so he’d have time to get something to eat before they left for the Vision Center. They joined the remaining guys who had yet to eat, the mood in the cafeteria lively and intense. Andy normally would’ve loved it, but his heart wasn’t into faking a charming smile when all he could think about was his missing Min Jae. He did his best to participate anyway, plastering on a grin that probably didn’t fool anyone. Then again, no one seemed to pay him any attention. That was fair. They were all wrapped up in their own shit in the competition’s waning hours. All but eight of them were headed home that night, and Andy was most likely one of the eight. He had nothing to worry about as far as that went.
If only Andy’s other worries were so easily dismissed. His anxiety had him so wound up on the final bus ride back to the Vision Center he probably could’ve jumped out and run alongside. He would’ve missed the now familiar Gyeonggi landscapeblurring past, but he was hardly paying attention anyway. He fidgeted instead, rapidly tapping out a random beat on his knee for a while until Leo finally made him stop.
When they arrived, everyone was herded off the bus into the backstage holding area and handed off to the dozens of stylists and makeup artists to perfect their final, on-camera appearances as Dream Boys. After that, they’d either debut as members of Pr1ze, or go home. The muffled roar of the crowd was a distant, drowsy, monstrous sound, a physical vibration that traveled up through the soles of Andy’s shoes and settled deep in his chest. Woo Jin mentioned that he’d heard there were five thousand Dream Makers in attendance. It was the only thing he’d said to Andy that day.
Andy had managed to pack away enough of his worry by the time makeup handed him over to wardrobe that he could fake acting more like his old self. Maybe it was the pre-performance ritual he’d slowly gotten used to over the course of the competition, the rhythmic ceremony of fixing his hair and face, his hairstylist’s soft tutting every time he moved.
Andy's wardrobe stylist mostly approved of what he’d chosen to wear. He called it Sacramento chic. Light khaki pants with an athletic fit rolled at the ankles, a blue denim jacket dyed so dark it was almost black, and a burgundy, Western-style button up with black piping and white pearl snaps. She vetoed his skate shoes, swapping them out for a pair of chunky, military-inspired boots that he reluctantly agreed were a much better choice.
Finally stylist-approved, Andy watched the live feed on a wall monitor as a sound tech fitted him with a lavalier mic and wireless pack. The main soundstage had been transformed into a small concert hall, packed to the rafters with thousands of screaming Dream Makers, a sea of glowing light sticks and hand-painted signs. The slick, smoothly curving risers for the final contestants were set off to one side, angled to face both the roaring crowd and the main stage. The scene would’ve terrifiedhim a couple months ago. He was a long way from his little dance studio in Sacramento.
A roar shook the building as the house lights went down and the bright, poppy Dream Boy Project theme song blasted through the hall. The towering video wall behind the stage exploded to life with the show’s high-energy opening graphics before transitioning into a slick highlight reel of their journey since first arriving for the competition. Selections from the first ranking performances and their chaotic Field Day. Clips from their rehearsals and the winning mission stages. Some funny behind-the-scenes footage from Sky Village, including random corridor dance practices wearing shaving cream beards, a practice room shoulder massage circle, and that time Tae Woo spilled a whole bowl of kimchi on the front of his pristine, white shirt.
Si Woo finally took the stage as the highlight reel wrapped up to generous applause. “Welcome, Dream Makers,” his voice boomed, “to this year’s Dream Boy Project finale! And now, please welcome your Top 25 Dream Boys!"
Andy was nearly blown back by the force of the crowd's roar as he walked out with the others, the heat of the lights and the sheer scale of the audience a dizzying sensory overload. He found his spot on the risers, the number 2 at his feet, grinning to cover for being overwhelmed as he faced the crowd, mostly hidden as his eyes adjusted to the stage lights. His heart sank as he glanced beside him. The number 1 spot was empty.
Si Woo, standing at center stage, let the applause die down, his expression turning somber. "Dream Makers," he began, “as you can see, one of our Dream Boys isn’t on stage with us tonight." A wave of concerned murmurs rippled through the audience. "Following the last performance, Kwon Min Jae sustained a serious injury to his knee. On the direct advice of SCG's medical team, he’s had to officially withdraw from the competition." A collective, heartbroken gasp surged through thecrowd. “But he’s still here with us, along with all of our previously eliminated Dream Boys!”
Min Jae dropped out? What the hell? Andy whipped his gaze to the video wall as a camera panned toward the front row of the stage right seating, catching Min Jae sitting with the other Dream Boys who’d been sent home. A pair of crutches rested against his seat back, with a heavy, black, brace clearly visible on his right leg. Pale and obviously exhausted despite his makeup, he still managed a grim smile and wave to the camera.
Andy turned toward the crowd. Shielding his eyes from the brightest overhead lighting with a hand to peer into the shadowy faces in the audience, he desperately searched for Min Jae, trying to make eye contact, even for just a moment. To bridge the ever widening gap between them with their impossibly electric connection. But the lights were his enemy, shielding him, keeping him from– No, wait. There. Those broad shoulders. The graceful curve of his jaw. That had to be him. If only–
“We’re all truly heartbroken for Min Jae,” Si Woo continued. “But, in that moment of tragedy, we also witnessed a moment of incredible, unbreakable loyalty.” Andy turned back to the video wall as it began playing the clip of him rushing to Min Jae's side. “A true testament to the bonds of brotherhood forged here on Dream Boy Project.”
Andy white-knuckled the sides of his chair, forcing himself to sit still when all he wanted to do was squirm, watching his face projected three stories high. His most dangerously impulsive act of love and terror repackaged and sold to the world as a tragic bromance. A burning hot anger flared to life inside him. Choi had gotten his rivalry. Now the showrunners were squeezing the last, profitable drops of drama from their pain. Knowing that half the cameras in the room were focused on his reaction, he held his sad smile through the wave of sympathetic, emotional cheers and applause from the audience, all the while fighting to keep from exploding off his chair and letting SCG know in nouncertain terms exactly where they could shove their sympathies.
“Kwon Min Jae,” Si Woo continued as the video package wrapped up, “perhaps you have a message for Andy and your other brothers among the Dream Boys.”
Andy’s heart crashed to a stop as a spotlight lit Min Jae. Park Si On helped him stand while the producer who’d kicked Andy out to the hall after Min Jae’s accident stood beside him with a hand mic in his grip. He leaned in to say something into Min Jae’s ear before handing over the mic.
Min Jae silently cleared his throat before lifting the microphone to speak. “I first want to say thank you to all my fellow Dream Boys, all the Dream Makers, and everyone from SCG for making Dream Boy Project something special.” He paused, his distant gaze sweeping across the risers until he found Andy and locked in. Andy’s knees trembled. Even from a distance, their electric connection could’ve set the whole auditorium on fire. “I’d also like to apologize. I’m sorry I couldn’t continue with the competition. I’m sorry I’m not sitting up there with you. There’s nothing more that I want than to finish this by your side. I–”
The producer tapped Min Jae’s shoulder, drawing an irritated glare that Min Jae quickly covered. “Thank you,” he glumly added before handing the microphone back.
Spellbound, Andy’s gaze stayed fixed on Min Jae as he returned to his seat, soaking up every possible second of seeing him before the spotlight vanished and Min Jae disappeared into the shadows. But his words echoed in Andy’s head.There’s nothing more that I want than to finish this by your side.He’d never said Andy’s name, for obvious reasons, but his message was clear. He wasn't really apologizing. He was making another confession, laid bare for the entire world but coded in a language only Andy could truly understand. A promise that, together or not, what they had was worth fighting for. And in that moment, a new, unbreakable resolve settled in Andy’s heart. He knew whatneeded to be done, even if he didn’t yet know how. And he made a silent promise of his own.
I’ll fight for us.
“We wish Min Jae all the best during his recovery,” Si Woo announced, signaling the end of the show’s official sympathy for him. Fucking vultures. “Before we move on to the reason we’re all here, we have one final announcement. As you know, the final mission was unfortunately interrupted before the audience vote. Therefore, in the interest of absolute fairness to all contestants–” He paused, letting the surprised murmurs roll through the audience, quickly echoed by the hushed whispers among the Dream Boys on the risers. “–the production team has decided to nullify all voting advantages for this final mission!"
A collective gasp burst from the crowd.
“Good,” Woo Jin said, either forgetting or not caring that he was mic’d. “We shouldn’t get penalized just because Min Jae got hurt.”
Si Woo's smile returned, sharper now, charged with the energy of the moment. "And now, the wait is over, Dream Makers. It's time to reveal your debut group! Let's find out who will debut as the eight members of Pr1ze!"
The giant screen behind him flared, displaying the colorful but minimal Pr1ze logo. The music pulsed, mirroring Andy’s frantic heartbeat. Min Jun shifted beside him, amidst the nervous murmurs and sharp intakes of breath from the other Dream Boys. The tension in the soundstage became a living, breathing thing, vibrating with the hopes and dreams of 24 young men.
Beside him, Min Jun’s rapid breathing quickly escalated to the point that Andy thought he might hyperventilate. Andy reached for his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Hey, relax. You’ve got this.”
Min Jun gulped, nodding as he squeezed back. “Thanks, hyung.”
They’d announce seventh place first, Si Woo explained,climbing to third place, before announcing the eighth place member of Pr1ze and, finally, the top two. Andy forced himself to breathe, the pressure in his head so tight he was ready to burst. He was in the final lap, headed for the finish line after a long, grueling race that had tested every bit of his endurance and resolve. He fought to keep from wiping off the sweat beading on his forehead for fear of leaving a smear of makeup smudged across his sleeve. Everything he’d done since arriving in Seoul–everything he’d done since he started learning how to dance–came down to that moment. He wanted to scream. It was all wrong.
The auditorium seemed to go silent as Si Woo announced the first name. Seo Jin rushed forward, wide-eyed, tear streaks painting his cheeks, to take his mark on the stage. People must’ve been cheering, but all Andy could hear was the high-pitched hiss from the increasing pressure behind his skull. Next was Tae Oh, followed by Leo. Some presence inside Andy’s body forced him to move, excitedly congratulating his friend on his impending debut. Andy only watched through the peepholes behind his eyes. Tae Woo. Woo Jin. Each newly minted member of Pr1ze took their places on the stage beside Si Woo, with only the gravity of Andy’s borrowed boots holding him in place.
The remaining Dream Boys held their collective breath as Si Woo announced eighth place, their last and final chance to walk away a winner. Peak, the rapper from Andy’sKingmakerteam who’d barely squeaked into the Top 25, took his place with the others.
