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Previous Chapter:

If someone doesn't get eliminated, we practiced for nothing and all our hard work would have been for nothing....

Current Chapter:

Episode 3 &4

Aera's POV:

Fireee~ the song started playing, I was awestruck. The beginning was already intense "Bultareone" Heeseung glared into the camera and everyone started singing.

"Sunoooo!!" I yelled when his part came up "Aaahhhh!!" I squealed "Yah quiet! My ears!" Jay scolded.

I gasped "Is that K?" I asked "Yes that's K hyung" Ni-ki said "Omg I'm about to faint" I said jokingly as K blew a kiss towards the camera.

Geonu hit the high note perfectly and the dance break started "Huh? They only have 2 people doing the dance break?" Ni-ki asked surprised, "Wah!! Seungie and K-ssi!!!" I screamed again when they started dancing.

And pretty much during the whole performance I was screaming for Heeseung and Sunoo, "Ahh!! Ta-ki!! My son!!! He's so cute!!" I squealed once again, okay I also screamed for Ta-ki and Ej my fellow grounders.

(a/n: that one scene from Kingdom-)

'Yongseohaejulge (I'll forgive you)" Heeseung sang the last line pointing at the camera with a glare that could kill.

We all applauded when their performance came to an end, "Ayy, not gonna lie, Seungie's last facial expression was kinda hot though-" I said jokingly as jake just chuckled " To be honest I'm kinda scared, they all did amazing, there's only a very small chance that someone might get eliminated.." Jake mumbled quietly, I patted his shoulder nodding at his words.

"We'll be better! WE'RE GONNA BLOW THE PLACE UP!!" I yelled grabbing Jake's hand and held it up trying not to show the pain in my muscles but bringing a smile back to his face.

The screen lit up again

[I-LAND's teamwork test result will be revealed.]

I held Hanbin's hand as we waited for the results to be announced 

The test result is...

Someone will be eliminated from I-LAND.

We all started clapping and cheering for this opportunity, even though this wasn't really an event to cheer about but that didn't matter in that moment.

Now, let the GROUND performance begin.

We were all getting hyped up, we stepped out of the ground and started walking our ways to the ginormous building where our fate would be settled...

To be honest I am very confident in performing my hardest and kill the stage

As we arrived at the door back into the building I felt a little light headed again and stumbled back a little "Hey, you okay?" Nicholas grabbed my arm showing a concerned look on his face. I smiled and nodded before walking again.

We all stepped in the egg like gate that fit all of us, I was confident but nervous at the same time, Jay seemed to notice, he rubbed my back softly, reassuring me. I smiled up at him as he returned the gesture, and like that one by one we stepped on the stage where we would prove ourselves worthy.

The light started flickering my favorite shade of red (a/n: I cannot breath without you being right by my side- sorry) The person who will be recruited to I-LAND will be decided through the teamwork test. Let the GROUND test begin.

"Let's make sure to burn this stage up, hwaiting" I whispered in my mic for everyone to hear.

         𝐀𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐈-𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃        

"Wah!! We get to see the grounders performance?!" Sunoo squealed excitingly looking at the screen in front of him, making the other Ilanders turn their heads towards the screen.

"Let's make sure to burn this stage up, hwaiting" Aera whispered in her mic, a few Ilanders smiled at her words "That's my best friend!!" Sunoo clasped his hands together, while Heeseung glared at his words.

Best friend? She's my best friend!

But before Heeseung could say anything the performance started.

        𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞        

I felt an adrenaline rush when the music started flowing through my ears, I prayed that nothing would happen and that everything would turn out okay.

3rd Person's POV:

As Ni-ki's solo part came up, the screen showed a few grounders including Aera with their powerful and deceiving facial expressions, like they owned the stage, which didn't go unnoticed by the producers and the Ilanders.

"Wah..her expressions are really good" one of the Ilanders whispered. The dance break started and everyone couldn't help but keep their eyes on the powerful trio performing. 

"Huh? Their dance break has 3 people?!" K asked confused keeping his eyes on the screen.

The grounders performance ended with Jay's ending fairy, everyone clapped for them, their were no words left for this performance.

Aera's POV:

Our performance ended, we all stepped back into the gate, I managed to finish my performance with no mistakes but my legs started hurting very badly. I stayed the last in the gate but as I tried walking out the gate my vision suddenly became blurry and my legs gave out. My head was spinning as the voices around me sounded muffled.

I suddenly felt 2 people grabbing my arms and carrying me back to our building. And that's when I couldn't see anything anymore.

3rd Person's POV:

"Hyung, do you think she'll be okay?.." Ni-ki asked Jay as all the Grounders waited in the practice room for further updates. "Don't worry, it's probably exhaustion" Jay ruffled the younger boy's hair and smiled reassuringly.

A few Grounders were pacing around the room nervously

The eliminated participants will now arrive.

The Grounders all stood in front of the door waiting to welcome the newcomers, the door suddenly opened revealing Ta-ki, Sunoo, Yoonwon, Jaebeom and Taeyong. They were all former grounders, everyone embraced each other as tears streamed down some of their faces.

As the eliminated participants settled down Sunoo walked up to Jake "Hyung, where is Aera?" he asked confused "Ah.." he sighed and looked down worrying the confused boy "After the performance she fainted so the staff took her.." "Again?!" Sunoo panicked hearing what happened to his dear best friend. "What do you mean again?.." Jake asked now worried too, but Sunoo didn't hear him as he was panicking.

Their conversation grabbed the attention of the others, Ta-ki ran up to them worried about what he just heard "Did you hear anything yet from noona?" he asked looking at Jake but he only shook his head sadly.

Before anyone else could start panicking, the screen lit up.

We'll now announce the Grounders who'll be going to I-land.

"Huh? Can they do this even when a participant is missing?" Nicholas asked but the others just shrugged.

The first new recruit is.....Jay.

The second new recruit is.....Jake.

The third new recruit is.....Lee Youngbin.

The fourth new recruit is.....Cho Kyungmin.

"Aren't there supposed to be 5 new recrui-"

The fifth new recruit is.....Alex.

Sunoo gasped loudly at the sound of his best friend's name "Wah!! I'm so happy for her!" Sunoo and Hanbin hugged each other and jumped around happily. "Ah..wait, are you okay, hyung?" Sunoo looked at Hanbin sadly realizing that he doesn't go up to I-land "Yeah, don't worry! I'm oka-" he got cut off by a staff member entering the room.

"Hello everyone, I'm here to inform you that participant Lee Aera is all good now and she'll be here shortly." all the Grounders sighed in relief hearing that their friend is okay "So you guys will have to wait a bit before you can go to I-land." she looked at the 4 guys who were now the new Ilanders.

"Don't overwhelm her, okay?" she bowed and left the room again.

...

Aera's POV:

I was walking back to the Ground with a staff member escorting me "Did the new Grounders arrive already?" I asked looking at the staff member "Yes, they also revealed the participants that will go up to I-land too" she said as we arrived at the door. "Really?!" I asked surprised, she smiled and nodded "I have to go now, but be careful, okay?" she patted my head and waved before leaving.

I pushed the door open and yelled to make my presence known "I'm back!!" I saw as everyone got surprised, I walked over to a few Grounders to greet them when I suddenly felt someone hugging me from them back.

"Noona! You're back!" I turned around revealing Ta-ki "Ahh! Ta-ki kun!!" I squealed and hugged him back but then I realized "Wait, why are you here?" he let go of me and looked at me sadly, I already knew what happened "Who? Who voted off my son?" I said and patted his head trying to comfort him.

"Ah, that doesn't matter...It was so tiring there, I hoped I could see you again almost every day.." I suddenly felt my eyes watering at his words and hugged him tightly trying not to let my tears fall "I'm here now.." I whispered in his ear and let go of him ruffling his hair when suddenly I heard someone yell my name.

"Aera!!" Sunoo ran up to me and almost knocked me down as he hugged me "Yah! Why are you here?" I asked and looked him shocked "Because they voted me off, dumbass" he said and let me go "Yeah no shit, but why? Are they blind, I saw your performance and you were absolutely awesome!!" he smiled at my words and pinched my cheek making me whine.

"But now it's your turn to go, I saw your performance too" Sunoo said and wiggled his eyebrows "Let's make sure to burn this stage up, hwaiting" Sunoo mimicked my voice, I slapped his shoulder "Wait, what do you mean now it's my turn to go?" I asked when he suddenly started laughing.

"From now on you're a new Ilander." I looked to my side and saw Jake smiling at me "Really?! Who else is going?!" I asked excitedly "Me, Jake, Youngbin and Kyungmin." Jay said and flicked my forehead, but I was too happy to care and hugged them tightly "Where are the other?" I asked and let them go.

...

"Ni-ki! Hanbin! Nicholas!" I yelled as I ran up to the trio and hugged them tightly "Noona! How are you?" Ni-ki asked as I sat down at the table with them "I feel much better, it was just exhaustion so don't worry about me!" I smiled at him before turning to the other 2 "Are you guys okay though?" they smiled at me sadly but trying not to show "Don't worry, I smelled Rain's perfume. I'm all good" Nicholas joked making me laugh as Ni-ki and Hanbin just looked at us confused.

(a/n: please tell me you know what I'm talking abt) 

After some more talking Kyungmin said that it was time to go.

We all gathered in the practice room for our last goodbye's "Be careful, it's the second time you fainted and it's only been like a week. So please don't exhaust yourself, okay?" Sunoo held me by my shoulders and looked at me seriously "Don't worry, I'll take care of myself!" I smiled and went over to Jake and Jay.

I waved to everyone before turning to leave, once I was out the building I heard someone running after me "Ta-ki! What are you doing?" I looked at him confused "Could you please just tell K hyung that I don't blame him for what happened?" he looked at me with pleading eyes "Don't worry, I'll tell him." I patted his head before he turned and left going back to the Ground.

...

         𝐀𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐈-𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝...         

Seon: "I wonder who's going to come."

Sunghoon: "Ah, who's coming?"

Ej: "Jeaho? Jay? Aera?"

Sunghoon: "I hope Jake comes back."

Jungwon: "I think Jay and Jake will come back."

Sunghoon: "Yeah, I think the 2Js will come."

Jungwon: "I really hope they all come."

Heeseung: "I really hope Lex will come."

          𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐈𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬...          

3rd Person's POV:

"Ah..I'm so excited!!" Aera sighed as she walked next to Jake, she would be lying if she said that her legs weren't in pain but she tried biting through it. "You okay?" Jake asked her noticing her expression "My legs still hurt a little" she said but kept walking.

"This won't do.." Jay crouched down in front of Aera "Get on." he said and before Aera could say anything he started to talk again "Don't complain, just get on. You're in pain." she shut her mouth and carefully got on his back as Jake shook his head smiling at them.

 "Am I not heavy?" she asked him as they were walking "No not at all, do you even eat? You should eat more this is not healthy..." Jay asked worriedly "I'm fine don't worry" she replied hoping the lie wasn't obvious.

"I'm so excited!" Aera yelled as they got in the gate "Yah! Be quiet, my ears hurt!!" Jay yelled complaining "Sorry" she held her hand over her mouth trying not to laugh.

Aera's POV:

I could hear the Ilanders talking as the gate turned, "I'm back!!" Jay suddenly yelled which startled me "And then you say that have to be quiet" I mumbled, but he didn't hear me as he started running down the stairs "YAH!! DON'T RUN I'M STILL HERE!!" I screamed as I clung onto him scared I might fall off.

"Oh yeah sorry" Jay chuckled as he put me down carefully, before I could thank him someone engulfed me into a hug. "Lex! I missed you!" Heeseung hugged me tightly and before I could say anything Ej ran up to me too "I'm so glad to see you back!" he hit my shoulder and I hit his head before hugging him.

Suddenly there was a loud noise "What was that?!" I yelled startled "It's just the flags" Heeseung said laughing at me.

Now, we'll reveal the third test for the I-land and the Ground.

[Representative unit]

"Representative unit?"

I-landers and Grounders will pick representatives to determine their fates in a competition of vocal, dancing and rapping skills.

The number of representatives will be 2 vocalists, 3 dancers and 1 or 2 rappers. the rest of the members will not be performing on stage.

The total of each stage score will determine victory or defeat. If the ground wins, then 6 I-landers will eliminated. If the I-landers win, then there will be no eliminations.

Now, we will reveal the test songs for the unit test.

VOCAL

Butterfly - BTS

As soon as I heard the song I immediately thought of Heeseung.

He would be perfect for this!

DANCE

Rainism - RAin

Three Dopeboyz - Dynamic duo

One of a Kind - GD

"Jay-ssi, You should do this!" I said as I turned towards him, on the video it showed that the first 2 songs had an assigned choreography but on the 3rd song you had to make your own. As soon as the screen showed that K got exited and yelled "I can make the dance!" as he started dancing we were all hyped, he ended in a weird ending pose which made everyone crack a smile.

RAP

Ddaeng - BTS

"Omg...Ddaeng!" I gasped, Ddaeng is a unofficial song by the rap line from BTS, I really love this song. Heeseung looked at me with a smirk "You have to do this" he whispered to me. As the song played it was shown that on this song you have to make your own choreography.

Now, please select the members who will represent the fate of the team. 

Representatives may be changed at anytime. 

The test will be performed in 6 days.

"It's really all or nothing." Jay said as we all sat down on the chairs. "Any recommendations for the vocal representatives?" Seon asked and Sunghoon immediately raised his hand "I recommend Geonu hyung and Heeseung hyung." he said, I nodded at his choices.

They're both good at singing and I'm sure their voices blend in well.

Geonu suddenly raised his hand "Me! I am confident I can do well if you'll let me." he looked around as everyone nodded "I want to do it so badly, and I am confident that I can do it great." he added.

"I agree with him!" Sunghoon raised his hand "Me too!" I added, Geonu looked a little shocked but smiled at me happily. And like that Geonu became on of the vocal representatives.

"But Heeseung...Do you want to sing?" K asked "It's hard to choose what he should do. He's good at everything" Jay stated "I think Heeseung should do the vocal representative.." Jungwon added "I was thinking that too." Jay agreed with Jungwon.

"I want to tell you that if I can do my best, then we'll get good results." Heeseung said and we all cheered him on. "Honestly, you guys really have to remember this. I can perform well and I want to do it too, but I don't think this stage is only about being vocalist." Seon said as we all nodded "Heeseung hyung, say something." Jay gestured to him "Oh, yes, hwaiting!" Heeseung answered as we all laughed.

We then went over to the dance representatives "The ground has too many good dancers." Jay said as he thought about it, I nodded agreeing with him "But...if it's street dance, then I'm really confident." he suddenly added which made everyone laugh.

"I agree with you, I trust you man" I said and gestured with point fingers to him as he chuckled and returned my gesture "Then Jay will be one of the three dance representatives." Seon concluded.

"I want to recommend K." Heeseung said raising his hand as everyone agreed "Then should we pick the last one?" Seon asked looking around for more candidates "In my opinion we have to dance to a lot of different styles. So, I immediately thought we need Jungwon." K outed his thoughts and in the end everyone agreed with him which decided the three dance representatives.

"Now the rap unit, any recommendations?" Seon asked looking around "Me!" Heeseung raised his hand "I recommend Lex!" he added pointing his hand towards me "She is good at rapping." Geonu added and smiled at me.

"Really?!" Ej asked surprised "Please show us!!" K gestured to me "Uh, what should I rap?" I asked nervously.

"Do Daechwita by Agust D" Heeseung said in a joking matter but I guess no one really took the hint because they all looked at me amazed "Ah, the second verse rap?" I asked "Yes that one" "Okay I'll try it, but I can't say that I'll be as good as Agust D" I said and laughed nervously.

I cleared my throat and took a deep breath before standing up and starting.

Hantanghaemeokgo gotbaro nan jeonsegiro nara
Nareul damgien i naran ajik yeojeonhi jaga
Woo nuga siganeun geumirae
Nae siganeun deo bissande
Tic tok seonbisaekkideul
Myeonsangeda chimeul kak baeteo
Kkeokkin jeogi eomneun maechulchulchulchulchulchulchul
Uri bangsihyeok pidineun maeil chumchumchumchumchumchumchum
Cham gamsahane naega cheonjaeime
Gojak geureon iyuro yageul ppaldani aejanhagi geujieomne jaeneungi eomneungeoji mwo
Wonhaneun geon modu gajyeotji ijeneun mwol deo gajyeoyaman manjogi doelji
Naega wonhaetdeon geot osot daeumeun dondon daeumeun goal goal i daeumeun dodaeche mwoji
Geu daeumeun geurae mwolkka simhi neukkyeojineun hyeonta wiga eomneun hyeonsang
Wiman bodeon nan ije gyang araeman bodaga idaero chakjihagopa

(From 2:13 till 2:53)

Once I finished everyone looked amazed, they all started applauding me as I bowed. "Wah! That was really good!" K cheered as the others nodded agreeing "Wait, Geonu hyung how did you know she was good at rapping?" Jay asked him confused 

Jay not now please shut up..

"Ah..w-well. We bumped into each other once in the company and we became f-friends." Geonu said nervously "How did I not know this?!" Heeseung asked me looking offended "Maybe because you cut of all contact with me" I backfired at him and he shut up after that.

"Well anyways it's decided then. Aera will be the rap representative. But it's either 1 or 2 people who does the rap. Anyone else want to do it?" Seon asked but no one raised their hand "It's okay, I can rap on my own" I said "Okay, then it's decided!"

I hope this time everything will be okay..

(a/n: we all know that won't happen-)

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Word Count: 3270

I promise after this chapter it's going to start getting interesting.

-Sunshinee