The voice came back again.
Its cheerful tone felt so out of place, so detached from everything we'd seen.
It almost sounded like a children's show host, bright and welcoming.
["And now, our next fun feature!
The Skip Turn Box!"]
A glass box appeared out of nowhere, floating just at waist level in front of us.
It was see-through, glowing faintly blue, like a giant cube of ice.
["Here's how it works, everyone!]
[Those who've already sung may now write their names on a little piece of paper and place it in the box.]
[ Only two lucky names will be chosen this round to skip their turn! ]
[Oh, how exciting, right?"]
The voice chuckled, light and easy, like static in a candy-colored dream.
My stomach twisted.
Everyone looked at each other.
I didn't move.
I just watched the others whispering among themselves, the tension in their eyes still raw from everything that had happened.
"Let Bae Nari and Yura skip this round," someone suggested.
I think it was Hyunwoo.
"They've already sung once and have lost their partners...and Yura's still shaken."
Everyone agreed.
No one wanted to argue after what had just happened to Park Mina.
Hyunwoo tore two small pieces from his ever-present notebook.
His hands trembled slightly as he handed them to Nari and Yura.
The faint sound of paper scratching filled the heavy silence as they wrote their names down.
Yura's handwriting looked careful, neat even under fear.
She folded hers once, twice, and slipped it into the glowing box.
Nari did the same, her hand still shaking as she let go of the paper.
The box hummed softly, then sealed itself.
A new sound filled the air.
["Perfect! Thank you, contestants!
[Now let's see who's next up to sing for our lovely audience!"]
A screen appeared above us, flickering with faces ...mine, Seori's, Yura's, Taegyu's, Hyunwoo's, Miri's, and Nari's.
Each portrait rotated like cards in a digital roulette.
The sound of spinning wheels mixed with the faint click-click-click of gears.
I held my breath.
The wheel slowed down, ticking louder, echoing in my ears.
Then it stopped on two faces.
I felt every muscle in my neck tighten.
The air itself seemed to hold its breath.
["Looks like we have our next pair of shining stars!"]
["Contestants Kim Namgyeong and Bae Nari!"]
The voice clapped.
Nari froze.
Her eyes widened as she stepped forward, confusion breaking across her face.
"I… I can't..."
She said, her voice trembling.
"I put my name in the box.
I had a skip turn."
There was silence then the voice returned, all honey and laughter.
["Oh my! A confusion? ]
[That can't be right! Our system is flawless, you see. We never make mistakes!"]
A soft sound like fingers tapping glass followed.
The pieces of paper began to float up from inside the box, spinning slowly in midair. We all watched.
There were only two.
The glowing letters unfolded for everyone to see.
[Han Yura]
[Choi Taegyu]
A chill shot down my spine.
Even the air felt heavier, thicker.
Nari's voice cracked.
"T-That's not possible!
I...I wrote my name!
You all saw it!"
She turned toward us, eyes darting from face to face.
"You saw me, didn't you?"
Nobody spoke.
The silence felt like a punishment.
Her gaze fell on Taegyu who was standing there, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
She took a step toward him, her voice breaking.
"You didn't put your name in the box, did you?"
Taegyu didn't answer.
That was enough.
Something in Nari snapped.
She lunged at him, shouting, her hands swinging wildly.
"Say it!
Say it!
You were supposed to..."
Taegyu caught her wrists mid-air, his expression dark, and pushed her back.
The sound of plates crashing echoed from a nearby table as she fell to the floor, breath catching.
She started crying.
The sound didn't even sound human anymore ... just broken air coming out of her lungs.
Her hand reached out, grabbing something from the mess of fallen utensils .
A fork glinting faintly under the neon light.
She rose, trembling, tears streaking her cheeks, the fork shaking in her hand.
"Nari," Yura whispered her voice hoarse.
She took a step and another progressively approaching Taegyu fast.
Inches away from reaching Taegyu Nari's head exploded spraying blood over Taegyu.
Her body stood still before it dropped hitting the floor.
The room went cold.
["Contestants..."]
The voice said, still bright and cheerful,
["...please refrain from harming each other in any way!]
[Your only task is to perform for the audience. Disrupting the flow of the show will result in… early departure!"]
Every word was coated in sugar, but it made my stomach churn and I'm sure I wasn't the only one feeling that way.
["Now then!"]
The voice continued, rising to that unbearable pitch of happiness.
["It's time for Kim Namgyeong to take the stage!]
[Let's make it special this time, shall we?]
[You even had a bathroom break, so we expect something wow-worthy!"]
I stared at the glass floor where Nari had fallen.
I could still hear the faint echo of something...was it my own heartbeat, maybe the hum of the box?
I couldn't tell anymore.
A faint chime rang again.
A song selection window appeared in front of me.
There were two choices, glowing softly like candy wrappers in the dark.
[Song Selection – Round 6]
"Sweet Pop Paradise" – by MELTYKISS
"Choco Rush" – by CREAMPOP
My throat felt dry.
A microphone floated before me.
The handle was warm unnaturally so, like someone had just been holding it.
I gripped it tighter, my knuckles whitening around the metal.
The stage lights shifted, turning soft pink and pastel blue.
They reflected faintly off the shattered glass scattering light like broken sugar.
Behind me, I could feel the others' eyes on my back.
The air tasted like dust, iron and static.
["Sing, Kim Namgyeong.
Let's show them your smile."]
I raised the mic to my lips. My heartbeat drummed in my ears, drowning everything else.
I didn't know if I could smile.
I didn't even know if I could even breathe right now...