Min Jae’s laugh was surprisingly warm, even for him, as he imagined what that GIF probably looked like. It was a good thing he was so occupied over the break and hadn’t bothered looking up things like that online. He good-naturedly patted Woo Jin’s shoulder. “You know it’s going to be like that forever if we both debut, right?”
Woo Jin snorted. “The unflappable Min Jae, huh? Maybe around me, but not around Andy.”
“What about Andy?” Peak poked his head between them, holding out a can of beer. “Here, hyung. I brought this for you.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Jin Hwan’s got one for you, Woo Jin-hyung.”
“Something rocked the #MinDy ship today,” Woo Jin explained as he took his beer from Jin Hwan. “I’ve been trying to get him to tell me what happened.”
Peak nodded. “Oh, that. Yeah, I was wondering that, too. Andy seemed pretty mad at you back at the Vision Center, hyung.”
Min Jae desperately wanted to swat away Peak and Woo Jin’s gossipy comments like flies. But he’d agreed to play his role, and play it he would. “It’s nothing, really. He’s just being sensitive about what I said during our diary after the ceremony.”
Peak nodded again, slipping in closer. Maybe Min Jae had picked up some satellites of his own. “What did you say?”
“It was nothing really,” Min Jae repeated, leaning into his power position. “They asked me to comment on the differences between us, and I said his style is overly sentimental. I know it’s played well with the Dream Makers, but it’s not a strategy that will work for every performance.”
Woo Jin barked out a harsh laugh. “You did not say that, did you?”
“Of course.” Min Jae casually shrugged. “It’s the truth.”
“Is it?” Peak frowned, shaking his head. “I don’t know.”
“I think he’s right,” Jin Hwan offered. “I mean, don’t get me wrong. Andy’s great. Really talented. But he leans into the heart thing a little too much. He makes too many of his decisions based on vibes. Most stages require precision and synchronicity.”
Min Jae firmly nodded, accepting Jin Hwan’s support while silently willing him to shut the hell up. He had maybe half Andy’s talent, and was in no position to criticize him.
“Min Jae’s been our number one rank twice, Peak,” Woo Jin added. “I think he knows what he’s talking about.”
“And I’m not saying he’s untalented, either,” Min Jae confirmed. “Only that he can be a bit inflexible with his choices. If we’d gone with his original choreo for the last mission stage, we wouldn’t have won it.”
Woo Jin nodded. “That’s right. You changed it after the midpoint evaluation with the mentors.”
Peak confidently mirrored Woo Jin’s nod. “I guess he didn’t like being reminded of that.”
“It’s a competition,” Min Jae continued, his soul dying a little more. “If he can’t take the critiques, then he won’t keep his rank.” He turned to Peak. “Speaking of ranks...”
Peak immediately turned away, blushing at Min Jae’s faint praise. But it served to change the subject well enough, as the others congratulated Peak on the highest rank jump of the day. Min Jae let the conversation naturally move away from the topic of Andy, having performed his role as well as he would allow himself. His justification for their rift would no doubt make it into some behind-the-scenes clip, stirring the Dream Maker pots. He’d been very careful with his words. None of them had been a lie. And it was Woo Jin who’d implied that the choreo change was his, not Andy’s. That would end up hurting Woo Jin’s reputation, but he wanted to be in more memes. He was probably about to get his wish.
“Attention, Dream Boys,” Ji Ho eventually called out from the serving table once everyone had eaten at least one box of chicken. “I just wanted to congratulate you all at once on achieving Top 25 ranks in the Dream Boy Project. I hope you’ve enjoyed your special reward.” A chorus of whoops, cheers, and applause rumbled through the cafeteria. “That’s good. And I’m excited to say that it’s not the only surprise for the evening. We’re offering you another perk of survival. Starting tonight, and for the rest of the competition, you’ll only be two Dream Boys per dorm room!” Ji Ho smiled, clapping along with the renewed cheers and applause.
Min Jae immediately locked eyes with Woo Jin, sharing a subtle nod with him. It was decided. Dae Hyun was out. Min Jae dispatched Woo Jin to find Dae Hyun and let him know before the chaotic spread of the room shuffling news made itimpossible to find another open bed. In another world, Min Jae might’ve chosen to share a room with Andy, just as he had over the holiday break. In that world, it wouldn’t matter whether they were rivals or lovers. It wouldn’t matter if they snuck secret kisses and cuddles, comforting each other after enduring the nonstop survival show stress. But Min Jae didn’t live in that world. No idol did.
As if Min Jae’s thoughts had summoned him, Andy appeared in his view. He stood across the room, staring at Min Jae for just long enough to catch his attention. Min Jae’s breath hitched, his pulse quickening as Andy tilted his head toward the exit in a single, subtle nod before disappearing through it.
A few quick looks side to side, scanning the room, confirmed that the cameras in the room were all pointed elsewhere. Without wasting any time on thinking, Min Jae hurriedly walked toward the exit, following Andy into the corridor. A bad idea, according to some of the voices in his head. Min Jae ignored them. He and Andy had played their part well enough for the day. The other contestants had co-signed on their renewed rivalry. The editors had plenty of footage to confirm it for the unwary Dream Makers. As long as they weren’t seen directly, there was no issue.
Andy’s destination quickly became obvious, despite the subtle detours around common gathering points and their angry nests of cameras mounted in ceiling corners. The service stairwell. A onetime sanctuary, supposedly free of cameras and observers. A lie. But Min Jae didn’t slow or deviate from the path Andy had set.
Min Jae hurried as Andy quickened his pace, catching up to him only when he’d finally stopped at the door to the service stairs. For a long moment, Min Jae just watched him stare at the door handle. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”
Andy finally turned, half-grinning in a devilishly handsome way that meant trouble. “It’s definitely not, but we can’t go upthere even if we wanted to.” He reached for the handle and pushed. It didn't budge. "It's locked now."
Of course it was. A bitter, humorless smile touched Min Jae’s lips. Director Choi wouldn't leave a single variable to chance. Their one-time sanctuary was now officially off-limits. Their escape route had been sealed. “So, why are we here?”
Andy turned, his half-grin now a full smile, a gleeful sparkle in his eyes. “Because this corridor doesn’t have any cameras.”
“What?” Min Jae whirled, scanning the walls and ceilings, finding them devoid of any boxy white or rounded black protrusions that were so ubiquitous everywhere else at Sky Village. “How did you know?”
Andy chuckled. “One of my stylists this morning was complaining about how far he had to go to smoke now that the roof access had been closed off. Apparently, this was where all the smokers went, and we ruined it for them.”
