From Skid Row to Superstardom: An Idol System Novel-Chapter 332: Performance Day (2)

"Stop laughing at me. It’s not funny."

"You’re right. It’s not funny. I’m not laughing." Ari lied as he avoided eye contact with Jamie, so he didn’t burst out laughing when looking at Jamie’s outfit.

Their song was based on Roman mythology, specifically Heracles, so the entire team was dressed as gladiators.

They were draped in a white, robe-like tunic with a leather skirt over it, leather gladiator sandals tied around their legs, and bits of leather and gold artistically positioned all over their limbs.

The stylist had also rubbed them down with some glimmering oil, so all the visible, muscled skin shimmered in the light.

Additionally, Jamie’s long blond hair was once again curled into ringlets held back by a leather and gold band, and although the outfit highlighted Jamie’s muscular body, all Ari could stare at was the leather skirt that swished when Jamie walked and the hairless pale leg that it revealed before he burst out laughing again.

"Puahahaha!"

"I said it’s not funny!"

"I’m not laughing. That was a cough. Ahem, ahem. I love your skirt." Ari pretended to clear his throat before looking away, before he began laughing again,

He made eye contact with the rest of Benjamin’s team, the rest of whom looked embarrassed, apart from Justin, who was stomping around with his makeshift spear and boot, and Benjamin, who was carrying a mirror and began flexing in different poses in front of it.

"Benjamin."

"I’m not picking sides, mate."

".....there’s no side? I agree with Jamie, British food is nasty, and I don’t even like food."

"Watch it, snail boy. That’s not what I’m talking about."

As Ari looked at him in confusion, the British boy explained.

"You and Vishal’s fight. Figure it out between the two of you. I’m not picking a side."

"You’re fighting with Vishal? Since when? Why?" as Jamie looked back and forth between the two of them.

"I guess? Dunno. Dunno? Open your mouth."

"Ahhhhh."

Ari flicked a pill into Jamie’s mouth before turning to Benjamin incredulously.

What the hell was going on in Vishal’s head, and what had he told Benjamin that Ben felt the need to say he wasn’t taking sides?

Especially on the day of the performance?

Was he crazy?

"Do I look like someone who needs people to pick my side during a fight? Me?"

"Not at all, but when lads fight, I have to put it out there. By the look of it, you’re ready to tear him a new one. Be gentle, he’s sensitive right now."

"So am I, so next time he comes to talk to you about me, tell him that whatever sensitive feelings he’s having, he’d better sort them out before I actually get angry."

"I said it, yeah? I refuse to be the middle man, and I’m not picking sides, innit? Sort it out between yourselves."

"Oh, I will," Ari promised before turning to look at Jamie, who had his face tearfully scrunched up.

"Poison? It’s so bitter."

"Anti-nausea, so you don’t throw up. Here’s a candy. Good luck, and I’ll see you later. And Benjamin, I like your skirt too. Though Jamie’s is better."

Unlike Jamie’s toga-like robe, Benjamin had opted for the leather skirt and a cropped vest-like top that exposed his chest and stomach, which were covered in metal buckles.

"It’s a battle dress! It’s not a skirt!"

"Sure thing, Goldilocks. Enjoy your dress. Good luck with your performance. I’m leaving."

"It’s not a dress!" 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Ignore him, mate. He’s jealous that he can’t show his abs. Bye, Ari," Benjamin replied as he continued flexing his muscles in the mirror.

"Bye."

Spotting Ari leaving after rolling his eyes covered with smoky make up, Benjamin let out a sigh.

He was quite relieved that he wouldn’t have to get involved in Ari’s fight with Vishal and hoped that whatever was going on between the two would be resolved sooner or later.

For now, though, his focus was on this performance.

He had to make sure all their hard work and practice paid off today.

"Let’s see what’s happening, shall we?" With an energetic jump to clear his head, Benjamin turned on the TV to see what the cameramen were sharing.

*******

"This....this is quite a big stage and turnout, no?" Jelissa spoke to Areum as the two of them walked toward the judges’ table.

They both glanced at the audience seats that were quickly filling up before turning away.

"Yes, PD Emily was quite excited to share that interest rapidly increased in the show, and since a slot at this venue opened up at the last minute, she tried hosting it in the same place as the greatest hits concert, and to her surprise, the tickets sold out."

"I just think that the interest in an unreleased group with no official music out pulling these kinds of numbers outside of America is very impressive. Seeing both native Koreans and foreigners, it’s quite lovely, and I hope this success follows them even after they debut." Jelissa smiled as she glanced over at the crowd once again, seeing a variety of banners and flags.

There were quite a few American, Korean, and British flags, but the one that caught her eye the most was the French flags that were fluttering throughout.

Naturally, she knew which flags those contestants represented, and if the number of fans correlated to ranking, it was quite easy to tell who the front-running contestants were.

"Well, survival shows are usually like this. They garner interest far and wide, but the issue is maintaining that fan base when the group is formed, because the fans are always fighting, and then, the group members begin fighting too. It’s almost inevitable because the group was created basically in a fight ring." Areum explained as she began reminiscing about her own time in a survival show and her early years in a group.

Those were some of the toughest years of her life, and there were several times when her group almost disbanded.

Thankfully, Red Lace had made it out of those trying times, and while things were occasionally hard, it was a much more enjoyable experience that she wouldn’t trade for the world.

"Ah, that’s right. Your group was created from a survival show, so you have first-hand experience navigating these waters. What advice do you have for being able to stay together for so long?"

"Hmmm."Areum tapped her shin before responding, "There are lots of things, but identifying what everyone’s individual and shared goals are is very important. You can either be a group of soloists who care about their individual careers over the group, who fight constantly, and will disband once the contract is up, or you can be a group that has its members do solo activities while cherishing the group. If you’re the latter, you need somebody willing to fight to keep things together when everyone wants things to fall apart; you need to be able to block out the external noise, maintain mutual respect, and remember that at the end of the day, you’re all one team striving for the same goal. It’s not easy, but that’s what Red Lace has tried to do, and even when one member shines more than others in the public eye, at the end of the day, we’re all Red Lace and Red Lace is us We’re the only ones in the world who have gone through the same things and understand each other thoroughly."

"That’s very profound. I know it’s a bit presumptuous, but I would appreciate it if you could give the boys this kind of advice as a senior who has gone through the same thing. As you know, I’m a solo artist, so these group navigations are not my strong suit, and I think your insight would be important to them."

"Of course. It would be my pleasure to do so."

"Thank you."

The two women smiled at each other before Jelisssa took her seat and Areum went to the back of the stage for a final check of everything.

And once the audience had filled out and all the safety checks had been put into place, the beautiful Korean woman stepped onto the stage and began speaking into her microphone.

"Welcome to Performance Day. The performances that you’re seeing today are a result of the production mission completed by the contestants. They were tasked with creating a performance from end to end. This means choosing their team members, producing the song, creating the choreography, choosing the costumes, the effects, the stage directions, the camera angles, and even the performance order. All of it was decided by these contestants, and today they’re going to show you what they can do when talent meets creative freedom and an unlimited budget. Are you all excited?"

- Yesssssss

- Woooooooooo

As the audience, which was composed of die-hard fans and newbies who wanted to know what all the fuss was about, screamed, Areum smiled beautifully as she continued her announcement.

"Good. The first team, composed of the Team Leader Benjamin, the producer Jamie, and other members Justin, Jin, and Mathew, will transport us to the time of Ancient Rome, where gods and strange beasts walked the earth, and where heroes who defeat such gods and beasts are created. This team will be performing the song Roar which was produced by Jamie with the help of Jelisssa. Please give them a warm welcome as they come up."