CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
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Tonight was the final test. We stayed in our rooms in silence. No words were spoken. We were not depressed. But we were a bit somber that tomorrow was our final day in I-LAND. And I hadn’t felt so accomplished in many years. Especially after training at the other agency.
“We’ve been here since June. Not a single thing has ever stopped us from reaching this point of our time here.” said Juliet, bringing up a conversation as always.
“You can say that again,” said Holly, “And Y/N was always here…helping us with choreography and such. She sings well, too! I have a feeling we will debut without a doubt.”
“I can’t wait to join BigHit Entertainment!” said Isabelle.
“Or maybe even HYBE or BE:Lift!” said Lara.
“JYP!” exclaimed Keira.
“I think we are more in HYBE and such, ladies.” I said, “More or less…I just want to see what happens next after this. The final determines our fate as trainees. Let us all make sure we achieve the dream we all have. It’s what we got for now.”
“Y/N’s right,” said Maeve, “AO3 should be arriving soon. So let’s plan our final song for I-LAND.”
Our selected song is As if it’s Your Last by BLACKPINK. The very first song I performed when I first came here. And now that I got my girl groups along with me, I had nothing to lose. But it was Jake that I was worried about. I know he is my best friend. However, I still believed that, after he apologized for his reckless behavior towards me, he could be jealous of me.
Before, when SEVENTEEN made an appearance, we couldn’t practice the song, since we were kicked out (by the way, a lot of fans find them “rude” for some reason). Luckily, we knew the entire dance and we were able to finish it all off, with props and all.
Suddenly, Jake signaled me to come to him. I then told the girls that we will take a break. I rushed over to Jake outside of the practice room.
“You wanted to see me?” I asked.
“I just want to say…” Jake said, stammering, “I hope you will debut with me. You and your girl groups.”
“But there are twelve of us and ENHYPEN needs only seven boys…not girls. And besides. I have a strong feeling that we are going to debut.”
“Yes. I only came to wish you good luck.”
“And I wish the best for you as well, m’boy.”
Four hours before the test, I then notice the portal opening. It wasn’t the GROUNDers. The GROUNDers were now I-LANDers that had to take this last test. But it was none other…than my mother…and Kanade Nishimura.
I was in the living room with my mother. Kanade was with Ni-ki. It felt as if I hadn’t seen my mother in YEARS.
“I thought I’d never see you again.” I said.
“But I did,” said Mummy, “I contacted HYBE. And they said that any time before the final test tonight would have been great for me to see you and the girls before seeing the live performance from all over the world.”
“I’m still surprised about that.” I said, trying to change the subject.
“And Jake seemed to have been taking care of you through it all Even though there were a few moments when he was jealous.”
“You’ve seen that?”
“Yup,” Mummy nodded, “I’ve seen it all on TV. Personally, I understood where he was coming from. And you seemed to have noticed the signs quickly. But I have missed you terribly, my dear. You’re ol’ man would have been so proud of you.”
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Everything was ready…BTS came…SEVENTEEN came…and to our surprise, TXT came too!
We were ready to take our places. And the boys went first…
“We will win this thing, right?” asked Livia.
“Don’t worry…” I said, “Nothing is going to stop us right now. I won’t let anything stop us.”
Eventually, it was our turn. And who would have thought that even TXT would be so impressed by our dance skills.
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What are you that I keep thinking about?!
I feel sad because my pride is hurt
My face is hot and my heart keeps pounding,
My body doesn’t work the way I want it to and I’m dizzy!
You are like a handful of sand!
It seems like I can’t get caught...
It’s not easy for you, that’s why I’m attracted to you even more!
It’s ridiculous that my heart doesn’t go the way it wants!
I want you now!
Can you feel my breath?
Even though I’m looking at you, I’m missing you!
So tonight, won't you set me free?
Darling, hold me like I’m about to explode
Stop thinking about it, what’s so difficult about it?
Kiss me like it’s another lie, I’m telling you
It’s as if you were my very last love!
As if it’s your last;
Just love me as if it’s your last love!
As if it’s your last;
Let’s live it as if it’s our last love!
I shall fall in love, darling
You can come catch me, uh
Give you all of this, darling
Call me pretty and nasty
‘Cause we’re going to get it, my love
You can bet it on black
We’re going to double the stack on them, hey!
I’ll be the Bonnie and you’ll be my Clyde
We’ll ride or die, Xs and Os
As the days go passing by
My lonely heart just becomes anxious.
You are the only one in my world. I’m missing you!
So tonight, won’t you set me free?
Darling, hold me like I’m about to explode
Stop thinking about it, what’s so difficult about it?
Kiss me like it’s another lie, I’m telling you
It’s as if you were my very last love!
As if it’s your last;
Just love me as if it’s your last love!
As if it’s your last;
Let’s live it as if it’s our last love!
It’s a brand new beginning.
Because I will never look back
If I throw you at me, you will catch me!
Because the world won’t be able to break us!
(We are in your area–
We are in your area!)
Darling, hold me like I’m about to explode
Stop thinking about it, what’s so difficult about it?
Kiss me like it’s another lie, I’m telling you
It’s as if you were my very last love!
As if it’s your last;
Just love me as if it’s your last love!
As if it’s your last;
Let’s live it as if it’s our last love!
As if it were the last time…
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BTS applauded louder than the I-LANDers that were standing in the back. And they looked as if we were saints. Or goddesses! But I didn’t think we were going to get such an ovation. They didn’t have anything else to say…only…
“Maeve…” said RM, “I want you to marry me.”
“Awh…!”
“I want to marry you too,” said Maeve, “But…maybe in a few years.”
“Then I’ll be waiting for you.”
It was time for the chosen seven members to form the future legendary ENHYPEN.
“The chosen seven that were selected by the female I-LANDERs are…”
1. Heeseung Lee
2. Ni-Ki
3. Jake
4. Jay
5. Jungwon
6. Sunghoon
7. Sunoo
It was done…it was completely done. ENHYPEN was officially formed. And us…well…we became their sub-units…meaning that we girls get to debut along with them! As cover artists! The girls and I were elated and so happy! I never said this…but I think this happened for the best for us.
After the ceremony and such…we then headed back to the living room, where the parents were there to greet us. And our families, mine and the girls, could not be happier. Things were going so well, I could have kissed Jake. But I didn’t. But I really wanted to though.
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Chapter Epilogue: Leaving I-LAND
Y/N and the girls packed their belongings; they had prepared to bid the other I-LANDers that didn’t make the cut goodbye. But before they went to HYBE Building, they found a ton of farewell gifts stashed in their rooms. Y/N’s gifts were from Jake and her mother.
But she didn’t want to open them yet. She was going to wait until the right time to do so. She then wondered about her idol life.
I am going to be an idol now, she thought, I thought that this day would never come. And now it has come. I hope that it will all work out.
Indeed it might. But there is a question that all fans of the new boy-band ENHYPEN and the now-debuted female cover artist unit are asking: what will the future hold for them?