The air in the waiting room was heavy with unspoken anxiety.
All five of them sat there, props in hand, staring at their respective dooms. No one said it, but it was obvious: this round was going to be brutal.
Everyone's eyes instinctively drifted towards Terrence, their unofficial survival guide. If there was anyone who could think of a winning strategy, it was him.
But even Terrence was deep in thought. His fingers tapped against his knee, his gaze distant.
Not a good sign.
Kai exhaled in defeat. "Great. If even Terrence is lost, we're officially doomed."
Ben groaned, rubbing his temples. "Thanks for the encouragement."
Kai ignored him and instead turned into a menace. Like a restless spirit, he hounded each of them for ideas.
"Sean hyung, what's your plan?"
Sean, who had been staring at his monocle as if it would magically whisper a solution, exhaled. "I don't know."
Kai turned to Daniel. "Hyung, do you know what you're doing?"
Daniel stretched his arms and yawned. "Nope."
Kai visibly deflated. "Ay no, de verdad vamos a morir." ("Oh no, we're actually going to die.")
Sean rolled his eyes. "Relax. We just need a concept."
Daniel, as if summoned, tilted his head and smirked. "A concept, huh? Just think of your monocle as something magical."
Sean's eyebrow twitched. "...Magical?"
Daniel nodded. "Yeah. Pretend you're blind, and finding the monocle gives you vision. You can tell a whole story through your dance."
For a moment, there was silence before Sean admitted begrudgingly, "That's actually not bad."
Daniel's grin widened. "See, I'm a genius."
"You're insufferable," Sean muttered, already beginning to piece together a plan in his head.
Daniel put on an exaggerated look of offense. "Why do you hate me?" he gasped.
Ben, who had been watching this ridiculous exchange, cut in. "Hyung, if you're so smart, what about me?"
Daniel turned to him with a knowing look. "You," he said, voice lighter than air, "are the luckiest one here."
Ben blinked. "What?"
Daniel leaned in slightly, lowering his voice just enough to feel conspiratorial.
"Have you ever heard the tale of Bluebeard?"
A shiver ran down Ben's spine. "That dark short story? The guy with a blue colored beard who married women and—"
"Killed them?" Daniel finished smoothly.
Ben nodded slowly.
Daniel's smile sharpened. "Use that. Put the mask on the back of your head. Start as the perfect romantic partner. Turn midway and reveal that your perfect side is just a mask hiding something much darker."
Ben froze.
It was brilliant.
It was also terrifying because deep inside, he knew. Sporting dual faces, that story was too close to home.
Ben swallowed thickly.
His lips parted as he whispered, "Hyung, you've been watching too many thrillers, haven't you?"
Daniel just winked and walked away.
Even Terrence, who had been quiet all this time, finally spoke. "That's an impressive idea."
Kai dropped to the floor in mock despair. "Wèishénme a?! Why does Ben get free help?!" [Why?]
"Because I didn't chase him around like a rabid squirrel," Ben said smugly.
Kai groaned. "This is nepotism.
***
The Third Round began.
One by one, the contestants stepped onto the stage.
And one by one, they failed.
Some forgot about their props.
Some fumbled with them, awkward and unsure.
Some delivered routines were so technically flawed that the judges didn't even wait for them to finish before marking them for elimination.
This round wasn't just difficult; it was merciless.
Finally, it was KPT University's turn.
***
Terrence was up first. The moment he stepped onto the stage, the atmosphere shifted. The crowd quieted. The air thickened.
He chose the haunting track "I Am You" by Depeche Mode.
What followed was a masterclass in precision and intensity. Terrence fused krumping and locking with jazz elements, crafting a visceral descent into obsession. It began with small, gentle movements and calculated footwork, showing a man in love.
But midway came the turn. His fingers dragged the toy knife slowly across his palm, miming the act of carving a name into his skin with the toy knife. His movements turned frantic, jagged, and possessive. His body trembled, unraveling piece by piece, consumed by a love he could not have.
When the final beat struck, Terrence made a last carving on his chest, collapsing on his knees, head bowed, eyes manic.
The judges were stunned into silence. Only after Terrence got onto his feet and bowed did they finally speak.
"That–" Yoon Byeol exhaled, visibly shaken. "–was the first time today someone truly embodied their prop."
Judge Kim Do-yun, the eldest of the panel, nodded with a soft murmur. "It was chilling."
Terrence bowed again with a soft murmur of 'Thank you' and walked off the stage.
Backstage, Kai immediately latched onto him. "That was disturbing," Kai muttered, eyes wide.
Terrence smirked. "Good."
***
Sean was next.
Backstage, Sean had been quietly doing breathing exercises, battling his nerves. But once he stepped onto the stage, he shed it all like a second skin.
He chose his strength: contemporary dance. But he surprised everyone by pairing it with a female idol song—"Impurities" by Le Sserafim.
Unlike Terrence's descent into madness, Sean's performance was like watching a poem unfold.
He began with a metaphor of a blind man, a lost and uncertain individual.
After that, he found the monocle.
With that one discovery, his movements transformed. Hesitation gave way to clarity. He moved with grace, strength, and aching vulnerability. Each step told a story of discovery, about how perception, insight, and truth can change a person.
By the time Sean finished, several judges were visibly moved.
"You felt that performance and expressed it very well. You used a wide range of movements and took advantage of the full stage. Outstanding!" said Min Jang, clapping gently.
"Truly shows how lost youth nowadays are," sniffled Kim Soojin.
"Exceptional storytelling," Judge Kim Do-Yun added with a solemn nod.
Sean bowed deeply and exited the stage.
Immediately, Daniel threw an arm around him. "That's my Seannie."
Sean shoved him off with a scowl. "Don't call me Seannie."
TO BE CONT.
IMPORTANT
During revision, I noticed that a few chapters felt a bit too long for a comfortable reading experience, so I've divided them into shorter parts to make things easier for everyone. I've also made sure each chapter stays within about 1.5k words for a smoother, more enjoyable read.
I hope you'll take your time with the updated chapters, and if you enjoy them, please consider leaving a like.
Enjoy!