Chapter 53 - I Would Eat Shun First

"You two were arguing about who gets the bed, but it fits both of you. Anyways, let's go swim in the lake! I hope there are fishes!" Shun's blue eyes sparkled as he quickly looked in his bag to change.

"I don't want fishes touching me," Heeang shivered and frowned.

"If you feel it touching you, tell me Ah Ang. I have been wanting fresh fish for a long time now," Mikey rubbed his nonexistent belly.

"If we were ever in an apocalypse, kill Mikey first," Heeang stated.

"Hey! Why me?"

"Cause you are always hungry. You will eventually eat us to survive a few more hours."

"I wouldn't eat you."

"…"

"How can I eat my best friend? I would eat Shun first."

Shun's ears perked up as he held his shorts in his hand. He turned with a frown at the lanky male. Him? Why him?

"Why me?"

"Cause you are a wet noodle. Those would be rare during an apocalypse, right?"

Mikey laughed and Shun grinned, pushing the boy playfully.

When he changed in the bathroom, he could not stop staring at himself. Shirtless, he could see muscles! He had never had muscles before! Out of his family, his 2nd eldest and the brother before him were the only ones who really had muscles. Now… looking at himself in the mirror, he could not believe he grew abs.

He looked down at his body and poked his abs and flexed his arms. The scar that he received when he was younger was still visible, but it did not bring down Shun's mood! He was too happy to see his body looking in shape.

'Wow… I look like Tae and Jin…' he grinned, 'Well, Tae is much more muscular and Jin… Jin…' he flushed and bit his bottom lip. Shaking his head, he threw on his black tank top and left to the lake.

Finally at the lake, Shun relaxed in the cool water.

"Shun, look what Taemeng found!" Heeang shouted from a cliff a few feet away.

He opened his blue eyes and found his face heating up. Standing on the cliff beside the boy was the dancer. A shirtless dancer. A shirtless dancer with muscles and abs. Beside him was Kaiden, who just stepped onto the cliff. The popular trainee was wet. The shirt was wet. The white shirt was wet and sticking to the all-rounder like a second skin.

Shun sunk into the lake to cool his heated skin. Slapping himself underwater, he pulled back his fangirling eyes and broke the surface of water. Waving at them from below, he watched as Heeang swung from the thick rope and dropped into the lake. His eyes brightened and he quickly got out of the water so he could join in the fun.

Mikey was too busy looking for fishes to join them, but everyone took their turn in swinging and dropping into the lake below. When the sun was lowered, they all returned to the cabin to shower. Kaiden and Shun were given the showers first, which was convenient since they were the ones making dinner.

Once everyone finished eating quietly, they gathered around the fireplace and stared into the flames. Deep in thoughts, this was the last day of the competition. Tomorrow they would find out who would be debuting and who would be leaving. Shun believed, or he strongly hoped, he would be part of the debuting team.

"Shun," Heeang spoke quietly, "I know you couldn't record your reason why you wanted to be an idol because of what… my brother and I did, but can you tell us? I am curious."

"I will if everyone else does too."

"But… we already did."

"Again."

"Okay."

Shun smiled and sighed, dropping his shoulders.

"I saw 9xU on tv and begged my parents to take me to their concert. Even though we weren't rich, they found a way to take me on my birthday. When I saw Donny Wang live, I knew I wanted to be just like him. My parents were encouraging and despite it being hard, they did everything they could to support me. Even Wen Dong, my best friend, joined me in my pursuit to take care of me. Especially after… after my parent's death."

He stared at the fireplace and saw the flames recreate his memories.

"So I made a promise that I will become an idol for them, for everyone who had sacrificed for me. I am quite spoiled, aren't I?"

He breathed out a smile and a hand patting his arm in comfort. Patting the hand back, he looked at the shy trainee.

"Can you remind us your reason?"

The boy stated he wanted to be like Suu Jin and his parents weren't happy with his decision. The expectation was for him to become a doctor and be successful that way. Next was another trainee who said Suu Jin was also his role model, earning an eye roll from Heeang. The other trainee stated he just wanted to meet pretty female idols.

At least the boy was honest.

"Honestly, I didn't even think about becoming an idol," Mikey stated, "I only joined cause my cousin wanted me to, but he was dropped after the first challenge. He told me, "Mikey! Don't lose face! You better do extremely well or I will tell your parents not to make good food for you!" So, of course I have to win! My parent's cooking is the best!"

Shun laughed. Of course, Mikey's reason was food. He would have loved that restaurant Jin took Ping and him to.

"I have to be part of the debuting team and make it successful! I cannot be the bad luck. I will not be able to handle it if I was," Heeang stated with watery eyes, "If I am part of this group and it failed… I just… I don't know what to do anymore. I am sure the studio will not want me anymore."

"Then come to mine," Mikey threw an arm around his best friend, "I'm sure they wouldn't mind. Oh! If we don't make it, let's do a duet. Just us two!"

Heeang smiled and leaned against his lanky friend. Mikey had that innocence that he once had so many years ago, even though Mikey was a year older.

"Hey, the votes aren't in yet," Kaiden smiled, "But I am sure you won't give up, Heeang. You are quite stubborn for a young man."

"And you are quite old."

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