CHAPTER 230: ARGUMENT

"And why not?"

Instead of answering Jelissa’s question, PD Emily pointed upwards without saying anything.

"Emily!"

"No need to yell my name, Jelly, I can hear you. Nothing is going to change regardless. Unless he gets eliminated because of his ranking, even if he murders somebody, I can’t get him off this show."

"Pardon my language, but he’s a cheating leech! Every team he’s joined has somehow become worse because of his presence, and he doesn’t care if he does them harm. That is not okay!"

"I’m aware. And I’m just as frustrated as you are. I can assure you."

"Don’t give me that. You’re only protecting your job, Emily! If you actually wanted to get rid of him, then you would."

"Obviously. I have bills to pay and a career to advance. I don’t want to get blackballed in the industry for some kids who might not even be successful in the future."

"So you’re just going to continue to let this happen? Let him cheat at the expense of the other contestants."

"I didn’t say all that. I can’t stand outsiders meddling with my show, but there’s nothing I can do right now. This is not enough to remove him, especially when we’ve made bigger allowances for other contestants who are still here."

"Those are two different issues."

"Just because you like one beneficiary over another doesn’t mean they’re different. Once you start making exceptions, you have to continue doing so even if you don’t like the person."

"Still. This is a clear violation of the rules. You need to punish him!"

"And I will. His screen time will be drastically reduced in the next couple of episodes. That’s the best that I can do."

"And you’re telling me I need to be okay with that? That just because he’s getting less screen time, that’s punishment enough?"

"Yes. Because apart from that, nothing else will happen to him. There are people with a vested interest in him succeeding."

"I can’t believe you would allow this!"

"I don’t have a choice. At the end of the day, this endeavor is expensive, and the ones funding it have a say and I have to make my own concessions. So, while I appreciate you bringing this, it’s got to disappear."

PD Emily then took a paperweight from her desk and smashed the flash drive into bits before sweeping the debris into the trash can.

"You can’t believe that I only have that one copy."

"Of course not, I know you’re smarter than that. But my recommendation for you is to let it go since there’s nothing to be done right now. He’s basically a shoo-in unless a miracle happens."

"You’re telling me this thing is rigged? Emily! What happened to you being the god of your own show?"

"Don’t play innocent, Jelissa. Even gods are dependent on money, and if you don’t need money or a job, sorry, but I do. I’m doing my best to do things my way and, fortunately, we did a little to well with the casting this time, so the composition at the top isn’t what the top brass want it to be, and the dark horse is coming up from the back who will probably push out the rest of the contestants they want, but unless something crazy happens, William will probably debut.

"Dark horse? Who?"

"Your favorite contestant."

"I don’t have a favorite contestant."

PD Emily simply gave Jelissa a look.

"It’s not that he’s my favorite. It’s that he’s talented, has shown the most growth, and is quite kind despite the way he says things somehow."

"No need to be shy. You can say he’s your favorite." PD Emilly couldn’t help but laugh as she noticed the slightly embarrassed look on Jelissa’s face

"...he’s one of them. You think Ari is a dark horse who can make it to the top?"

"50/50 chance. His popularity is definitely at rock bottom among the Asian voters. He’s way too controversial, lacking respect for his elders, and outspoken for traditional Confucian values and the way they want their idols to behave, especially with the amount of Korean contestants we still have. But in the West? He’s great TV. Love him or hate him, he’s the most talked-about contestant because his story is pretty crazy. He’s gotten the villain edit and seems not to care anymore, has way too much personality, shown the most growth skill wise, fits the beauty standard of a lot of people, is an academically smart student with a bit of a bad boy flare, has a sad family backstory with tragic things happening to him now, and has been repeatedly praised by the a performance director. He’s like a lab-manufactured reality TV contestant that people can’t help but root for or love to hate. And his fanbase is quite strong since they’ve been fighting since the beginning and is the only one tightly run like the military. I’ve actually been trying to reach the chief moderator in his communities and offer them a job because I admire their work. Additionally, whoever is doing his PR, focusing on pushing his academic accomplishments and sad backstory to the GP, is doing great because the general population is aware of him and his story, which is drawing eyes that usually wouldn’t be watching. Despite the incident yesterday, which injured his face, he still profited. The pity points he gains will do him a lot of good, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he actually makes it to the top."

"But you still only gave him a 50/50 chance?"

"Yeah. His dislike for William is too obvious. I don’t know what it is between the two of them, but it’s clear that the feeling is mutual. And unfortunately for Ari, he’s the one who will suffer because it’s not William’s fans he has to worry about, it’s his hidden support."

"But the director likes him."

"Bing Yongsun cares about talent and making money. Right now, despite his talent, Ari is not worth more to him than William is."

"Then that makes it all the more important that something is done to get William out of here. If his credibility is sunk and people become aware of it, he’ll have to leave the show."

"Don’t do anything stupid, Jelly. The kids love having you here, and the show needs your strong stance and unbiased viewpoint as a judge. And you don’t want to be blackballed for crossing the wrong person."

"I also don’t want kids suffering when they’re working hard and doing their best, while expecting their hard work actually to make a difference. It’s not fair."

’This world is not fair and will never be fair. If it were, we would all be born looking, sounding, and acting the same."

"Even if that’s the case, I can at least say that I tried to keep my morals and my conscience is clean. See you later, Emily." Jelissa said before walking out of the office.

Bang!

As the door slammed shut. PD Emily stared at it for several seconds before sighing.

"Where’s Ji-ho. I really need a cigarette." PD Emily muttered.

She had some things to discuss and some calls to make.

**********

While PD Emily was suffering, the Pop Star Academy Community was on fire.

[Pop Star Academy Fan Show Case Performance Review]

[First, let me say wow. Wow. Wow. I’ll write another post on the fan showcase later, but just know that I enjoyed meeting the contestants, eating with both my mouth and eyes, and buying merch, but the performances were wow! So amazing. I’ve never been to the Waterbomb festival, but I want to imagine that it was just like this. There was water splashing everywhere, and I was still thirsty for more. Although the team compositions were very surprising(they didn’t match the survey results at all), I think overall it turned out all right, and I’m happy with the chosen concepts.

If I were to rank my top 3 teams, I would say...

(Honorable mention: Team Rainbow Sprinkles. I don’t like cute concepts, but they ate. I also want a raincoat, matching boots, and an umbrella for a rainy spring day.)

3. Soldier x Watergun concept - I loved it so much. All the tall, extra muscular contestants performed in uniforms that fit just right. They killed it, no pun intended. I have no notes. Best performer: the one and only golden retriever contestant with long, luscious hair. Whoever told Jamie to get an undercut while leaving the rest of his hair long, I love you. You will always be famous.

2. Bad Boy Concept - FYI, I’ve decided to buy a motorcycle and run away with a motorcycle gang. This one was so good! The leather, the wet hair, the sweat. I’m hooked. Thank you, India, Peru/Mexico, South Korea, Brazil, and Japan, for creating such handsome boys. Best Performer: Carlos. I feel like there’s a new fire in him because he was singing and dancing that tight leather-covered ass off, and he looked cooler than ever. D. Sauvage, Suzuki, Harley Davidson, please take notice and give him a modeling contract since he actually knows how to ride a motorcycle.

Honorably Mention: his performance was a bit lacking, but Vishal’s visuals ate. He is so darkly handsome to me that I couldn’t believe it. This concept with his glasses? Mwah. Chefs kiss.

1. Sexy water concept. The best team for me, hands down. My eyes have been blessed forever. All I have to say is thank you, Jamaica, Nigeria, South Africa, England, France, America, South Korea, and, most importantly, France. Once again, with all of my heart, thank you, France. I will be burning incense and praying for prosperity for the entire country (and region, if someone knows which part Ari is from). Best Performer: the contestant with the prettiest sea green eyes you have ever seen. May his lashes stay long and may his hair stay curly. Thank you once again, France.

Honorable Mention: Big Ben himself. If Ari hadn’t performed as if it were his last day on earth and kept my gaze solely on him, especially after the incident, he would have taken it all. He’s perfect. My bias. I love him to death.

└ Was the performance that good that you had to thank France four times?

└└ Please look at this and tell me what you think (video snippet attached)

└└└ That face, wet hair, soaked outfit, blind folded eyes, sexy floor work, and telling me to pay attention to him? I’m sat! Thank you, France!

└└└└Thank you, France! x10

└└└└ Thank you to the stylist, the Matisse family genetics, the water, my glasses, and to the great country of France for allowing me to see greatness.

└└└└└Where’s the full video?

└└└└└└ They keep copyright striking it and taking it down! We just have to wait for the episode to be released.

└└└ Wth? I didn’t even think the song could be arranged like this, and I didn’t even know Levi and Benjamin could sing. It gives off an entirely different vibe.

└└└└ It’s kind of better than the original performance, no?

└└└└└ ntm on BTZ, they performed this song when they first debuted! They love it when juniors cover songs, though, so tag them!

└ You know what? I didn’t know Ari was so funny and charming! He’s always so shady and mean in the episodes, but he seemed really fun in real life and clearly knows how to work a crowd. Even the PD had a slight smile on her face as she watched him force the audience to clap for the production team so he wouldn’t get into trouble.

└└ No frrrr!! When his eye focused on me, it felt like he was telepathically ordering me to clap my hands, or it would be my fault for his suffering at the hands of the PD. I immediately began clapping T_T

└└ Or when he basically lay on the ground with the microphone above his head so the fan wouldn’t bow lower than him, and then blamed the PD before pretending to apologize? No wonder they constantly mute his microphone.

└└└ "Shout out to the production team for giving me back my First Amendment Rights," I screamed bc why would he say that? Why is he like this?

└└└└ It’s because he was dropped on his head as a child and broke all the serious bones in his body, so his personality turned out like this.

└└└└└ That’s mean! Don’t say that!

└└└└└└ It’s a joke, he said himself.

└└└└└└└ Oh.

└ Wait, why is Ari the only one blind folded? Was he the center?

└└ It’s not a blindfold, and no, that was the raggedy prince. His scarf kept slipping down his little face, and after the incident, he just kept it on his face.

└└└What incident?

└└└└ A Royal Family princess threw a bottle at the stage, and it hit him in the eye. Even though he came back with an eyepatch, he was really energetic and very unserious on stage, so hopefully it’s not too bad.

└└└└└ Why are you spreading false rumors? You don’t know that it’s a Royal Family fan! It could be an imposter! Stop villainizing William and his fans just because you and your fave don’t like him. You stupid fricking Angel.

└└└└└└ I was literally there and saw it in person. The person who threw the bottle had on a tiara and was waving a banner for your prince while screaming insults as she was dragged away. Don’t try to gaslight me on my own post, Royal Family weirdo.

And then a new post popped up.

[Breaking My Silence - Pop Star Academy Contestant Ariel Hates William, and I have proof.]

[Have you noticed that Ariel really doesn’t like William? At the recent performance, when he was praising his teammates, he listed and praised everyone individually except for William. He even thanked the trainers, but didn’t mention William at all! And when a fan asked a simple question about how he felt about William, his eyes definitely twitched in disgust, and maybe it’s just me, but he looked as if he were about to say how much he hated William. If the MC hadn’t said they were out of time, he definitely would have said mean things about our prince. I don’t know him personally, and it’s just a guess, but I just think it’s weird, you know?]

└ You’re crazy. It’s just you.

└ You said there’s proof. Where is the proof?

└ Delusional ahh fans.

While a few comments tried calling out the facts, they were quickly drowned out.

└ OMG same! I definitely noticed he has a bad vibe around him.

└ Right??? He always has to be the center of attention and tries to outdo everyone on his team. It’s disgusting

└ My thing is that he’s so cocky and rude. When he came back on stage, he acknowledged everybody but William. The way he treats him is disgusting because William hasn’t even done anything to him.

└ Exactly, first it was accusing William of hurting his hand in the livestream, and he was wearing a fake bandage. He was initially pretending he couldn’t use his arm, but then he conveniently began using it halfway through the performance. I sense an #agenda. Protect the prince!

└└ Right, I notice that he always looks past William and pretends he doesn’t exist, even though William always tries to include him because our prince is so kind to everyone.

└└When they were on a team before, he would frown each time he looked at William (attached img)

└ Ugh. He’s so ungrateful; even our fans supported him by voting for him to be the best performer, and what do we get in return? Hate. He only acknowledged his fans and didn’t even acknowledge us. I understand the person who threw the bottle because I would do the same if my favorite got disrespected.

└└ Instead of throwing shots, why don’t you tell your contestant to learn how to sing? He did terribly and brought the whole team’s vibe down with his off-key screeching. How can you let a rapper out-sing you when you’re the main vocalist and center? What a waste of space!

└└└ Sybau! Fish boy is a loudmouth who always tries to outdo everybody. That’s why he got a bottle thrown at his head. Next time, it should be a brick! Then he’ll get a black eye so big that an eyepatch can’t cover it lol.

└└└ Reported!

└└└ Reported!

└└└You think that this is funny? Instead of falsely accusing someone based on your delusions that can’t be backed up, why don’t you go talk to your fandom and stop those delusional selves from assaulting a poor contestant!

└ It’s not that serious. They only threw a water bottle.

└ Yeah! It’s not that serious. Who hasn’t thrown things and booed a contestant they didn’t like before?

└└ It’s not that serious?! The creative director had to say that they’re going to up the security because they don’t want a repeat situation! They might stop fan showcases! All because of you, stupid Royal Family **** ruining things for everyone! What if it had hit Rex or another person on the team? F*** You!

└ └ └ Exactly! Poor Levi was right by Ari. If the bottle had missed, it would have hit him in the face instead. Get that nonsense out of here!

└└ You’re saying that it’s okay to boo and throw things at a contestant just because you don’t like them? Reported!

└└ What do you mean, it’s not that serious? Ariel is not even my bias, but no contestant should have to deal with things being thrown at them when they’re trying their best to perform. Reported!

└└ I don’t even go here, but I think the Royals are crazy. What do you mean it’s okay to throw it because it’s only a water bottle? I hope that mermaid guy presses charges!

└└└ Hello newbie! While you’re here, please sign up to vote for Ari to push him up the ranks so we can convince him to dye his hair red. Thank you!

└└└└ You’re advertising right now? Really?

└└└└└ Yes! Here’s the link to sign up, and if you show proof of voting, you win a 70% off pizza coupon.

└└└└└└ Ykw, why not? I’ll go vote.

The Pop Star Academy community was having a rare moment of unity as they ganged up on the Royal Family fandom and began dragging them through the mud.

The threat of their own contestant being injured and the lack of accountability being displayed by the Royal Family fans was a keystone moment that was bringing everyone together.

******

And across the ocean,

"Oh, wow. Even when it’s this shaky and blurry, this is still a pretty good performance. I never would have thought our song could be arranged like this, and the translation to English is great, too. Kids these days are so talented. This guy used to be our backup dancer, right? And this one..." A slender finger tapped the tablet screen, pausing the illegally recorded and distributed video that showed a slim boy with a bright red scarf covering his eyes, leaving only parted red lips, which exposed slightly pointed canines and a tongue flicking over them.

Even though the eyes were covered, Ji-yong could easily imagine those vivid sea green eyes that had caused several idols to ask their managers to contact various eyewear companies if they could create contact lenses that matched that unique hue that reminded you of the sea.

"He’s getting pretty popular, huh. And Bing hyung is always paying him compliments, which makes me a little jealous. I can’t wait for him to come to Korea so I can see this little star in person."

"What did you say, Ji-yong hyung?"

"Nothing. Just waiting for our cute juniors to come to Korea. They’re currently enjoying an easy time with all the money we earned for the company, right?"

"You look like you plan on causing someone trouble. Please don’t. I need you to be on your best behavior!"

"Maybe I will, maybe I won’t. It just depends on how I feel when the full performance is released and I see one particular contestant in person."

The eyes of Shin Ji-yong, leader of BTZ, the first of his group to leave military service, were on the comments that were not only calling Ari more handsome than him, but also saying that his performance of the song was better than the original, even though they were around the same age when the song was first released.

As he went to unpause the video, his finger accidentally hit the refresh button, and by the time the page reloaded, the video had been taken down.

Clicking his teeth, he turned the tablet off and closed his eyes.