Chapter 25 #2
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 the crowd. “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 no uncertain 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 what needed 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’s Kingmaker team who’d barely squeaked into the Top 25, took his place with the others.
And then it came down to two.
"And now, Dream Makers, the moment you've been waiting for. Your top two debut members!" Si Woo paused, letting the silence stretch, thick with anticipation. “Kim Min Jun and Andy Kim! Please, both come forward to center stage!"
Andy could barely lift his leaden legs as he descended the risers beside Min Jun.
It should’ve been Min Jae. He should be standing beside Min Jae, not Min Jun, basking in the adoration of the Dream Makers on the Vision Center stage.
He was about to debut, a dream he'd spent more than half his life chasing with every ounce of talent, drive, and determination he had. And all he could think about was the absence of the moon orbiting his sun. It should’ve been Min Jae.
Min Jun took Andy’s hand with a gentle squeeze. “You’ve got this, hyung,” he whispered.
Andy nodded as he scanned the sea of blank faces spread before him, landing on the spot where Min Jae sat. There’s nothing more that I want than to finish this by your side.
“You’re both about to debut as members of Pr1ze,” Si Woo continued.
“But only one of you reached the number one spot. Only one of you will be the center. With an astounding 10,389,201 votes from our global Dream Makers–” He paused, letting the echo of his booming voice bounce through the hall.
“–the Dream Boy debuting at the number one spot, the future center of Pr1ze is–” Another pause.
Andy squeezed Min Jun’s hand. “–Andy Kim!”
He’d won.
The audience exploded in a thunderous riot of cheers, screams, and applause.
He’d actually won. Seven bodies surrounded Andy in a congratulatory assault of backslaps, and hugs, the seven other members of Pr1ze, celebrating their debuts and their new center.
He’d really won. A river of sweat drenched his back as a trio of spotlights bathed him in their fever heat, the ringing in his ears drowning out every sound but his heaving breath and his thumping heartbeat.
Someone shoved a microphone into Andy’s hand as Si Woo, from a thousand miles away, urged the other members of Pr1ze to give Andy a little space before asking him how he was feeling. Andy lifted the microphone to his lips while he fought the urge to throw up.
“I’m feeling–” Andy paused, licking his too-dry lips, swallowing to force some moisture into his throat.
“I’m feeling,” he started and stopped again, his turbulent thoughts refusing to settle into anything he could coherently speak aloud.
He’d dreamed of this moment, but had never dared to imagine it really happening.
A silly kid from Sacramento, a stranger in his own home town who’d given up practically everything for a chance to become an idol.
A stranger in Seoul–an outsider, the American–who’d somehow charmed the fickle hearts of K-pop fans around the world enough to be their number one choice to lead SCG’s newest idol group, Pr1ze.
From that moment forward, he was an idol who’d record, perform, and tour the world.
It was everything he’d ever wanted. Almost.
“I feel grateful,” Andy finally continued, somehow finding a way to condense the massive volume of his thoughts and feelings into actual words, “for this opportunity. Becoming an idol has been my lifelong dream, and I couldn't have done it without all of you. Thank you for giving me your votes, your support, and your hearts.” He turned to the other seven members of Pr1ze. Leo’s enthusiastic smile.
Woo Jin’s begrudging grin. Min Jun’s tears.
Tae Woo, Tae Oh, Seo Jin, and Peak, now idols, too.
His future group mates, all staring at him in anticipation.
It was all wrong.
Andy turned back to face the Dream Makers, again finding the spot where Min Jae was sitting, willing the lights to dim just enough for them to see one another again. But, no. He’d just have to trust that Min Jae was there.
“But I’m especially thankful,” Andy continued, “for the one who unlocked parts of me that I didn’t know I had.
The one who showed me how to make magic.
” He paused, letting the tension build as the quiet murmurs in the audience steadily grew louder.
He knew he’d get cut off once production realized what he was about to say.
He could hardly believe it, himself. But it was the first thing he’d done that felt right all day.
“He should be standing here with me. I don’t even want to do this without him.
In fact–” A final beat. Was he sure? It wasn’t too late to back out.
No. He was sure. “In fact, I won’t do this without him.
So, thank you for the opportunity. But, no thanks. ”
Andy set the microphone at his feet with a squealing thud, ignoring the shocked gasps and shouts as he turned away from the Dream Makers and walked offstage.