The Gauntlet - Babowa Cheonsa
Ch. 6 - Mirror Evaluation Pt 4
Angel
It's nighttime, and I spent my free hours practicing the parts I didn't get that well. I also practiced my vocals with the others.
Angel
I went out to buy some food, and something I've been meaning to buy for a while. I then got back to my room where I found oppa awake.
Angel
Oh... hey, oppa.
LD
Nikita told me Bruce made you cry. Want me to beat him with a belt? I got a pretty thick belt waiting to flog someone.
Angel
No, please don't. You'll get in trouble, oppa. It's not worth it.
LD
I just don't want anyone talking to you like that. I'll let them talk smack to me, but to you, I won't let it happen.
Angel
...You're really sweet....
LD
...Really?
Angel
I'm really lucky to have someone like you, oppa. Thank you.
LD
....
Angel
I won't mind if you... ask me out sometime.
LD
...Like a date?
Angel
Yeah. I mean... you're really cute, oppa. You're shorter than me but you're the bigger man compared to Kang and Bruce.
LD
Even Adam?
Angel
Adam's creepy, so no. You are the cutest.
LD
I... thank you, Angel....
Angel
...What's happening...? I feel... so warm... my heart's beating so fast...!
LD
I... have to practice now.
Angel
Yeah... I'll see you later.
Angel
Last night was... an eye-opener. I'm helping oppa improve, and suddenly... we feel really comfortable with each other.
Angel
I said things that I never thought of saying... I hope it won't feel awkward.
Ivy
Okay, take it easy. Don't put pressure too much on it.
Angel
Ivy? Who's she talking to?
Angel
I sat up and suddenly, I found Ivy, Randy and Sali helping oppa to his bed.
Angel
O-Oh my God! Oppa, are you okay?!
LD
I sprained my ankle....
Angel
Poor baby...! Did you go to the medic?
LD
Dear God, no. They'll send me home.
Angel
But you're hurting!
LD
I've had worse. This is nothing.
Angel
Oppa....
Randy
Yiiiieeee. We'll leave you lovebirds alone.
LD
We're not!
Ivy
Oh, Lawrens-ssi. Don't do that, you'll hurt Angel.
LD
But--
Angel
Oppa, I got some painkillers here if you need them. They're pretty strong, so just take them once.
LD
Angel....
Angel
Please...?
LD
...I don't want you to cry because of me, so... okay.
Angel
...I'm happy just as long as you're with me...
LD
????
Angel
I-I mean... I'm happy to hear that.
Ivy
(Did you see that?)
Randy
(Yeah.)
Sali
(They must be dating.)
Ivy
(Wow....)
Angel
I have to freshen up now before practice. Will you be okay?
LD
I have Ivy here, don't worry about me.
Angel
Oh, oppa.... You know how to calm me down....
Angel
I walked past Ivy, Randy and Sali with a big smile on my face, but it wasn't until I got out that I shoved my face on my towel and went--
Angel
Kyaaaaa~!!!
Randy
...Not dating, huh?
LD
We're not!
Ivy
Soon, perhaps? If not... how about you and me?
LD
.....
Ivy
Just kidding! I can take a hint if you like someone else.
Sali
We'll head back to our rooms now. Good night!
Randy
But it's morning.
Sali
Shut up.
LD
(Sali and Randy left.) ...I bet those two are dating.
Ivy
But you and Angel aren't?
LD
I...I don't know. Angel's pretty but I... don't know how to come to her.
Ivy
"Wave wave?"
LD
What does that mean?
Ivy
It means "come to her" in Korean. Usually it's "come to me," but it can also mean "it's coming."
LD
Okay.... But... do you think I... have a chance in case she feels the same way?
Ivy
You underestimate yourself, Noodle-ssi. You're short, but hell, you're a cute one.
LD
.....
LD
I reached down to Angel's medicine bag to look for the painkillers. I found some Tylenol so I popped a capsule. Mmm, watermelon....
LD
Then something caught my eye.
LD
....
LD
...Angel....
Angel
The day went by like a blur. I got so hyped that the others noticed I wasn't my usual self.....
Nikita
Uhh... ate Angel? Are you okay?
Angel
What?
Aika
You've been doing the choreo all the way without flinching. Plus, you've been all smiles since we started.
Michelle
Everything okay, girl?
Angel
I'm just happy today.
Rat-Rat
You had sex last night, didn't you?
Angel
Ehhh? No, I didn't! I just... had a revelation.
Jordan
Revelation? Wow, big word, babe.
Aika
Just make sure you have some energy after tomorrow, Ange. We all need to be in good shape.
Angel
I will.
Goeun
I know that expression. I can liken it to someone who's in love!
Angel
......
Aika
Yiiiiiieeee!
Angel
Wait, it's not what you think!
Jordan
Don't worry, babe. Whatever keeps ya goin', go for it.
Angel
....
Night time came again, but this time, oppa's already up. He wasn't in our room, but this was actually good for me. I'll give him something.
Angel
I went to the kitchen to make something for oppa and went straight for the shed. It was loud and when I went in, I was like "wow!"
Hannah
Hi, Angel!
CD
We fixed the place. We spent all afternoon cleaning, and we'll start vocals soon.
Angel
Wow...! You guys are amazing!
Elina
This won't be possible if it weren't for you and Lawrens-ssi.
Angel
Aww, shucks, unnie. It's all oppa's doing, he found the shed.
LD
Huh?
Angel
...Hey, oppa... I made gimbap for you.
LD
Gim-what?
Angel
Here. I made it myself.
LD
T...Thank you. W-What happened to your hands?
Angel
Oh... don't worry about me. Just a little nick from the knife.
LD
Don't make me worried now. I care for you too, y'know?
Angel
Y...You do?
LD
Yeah. I don't want you getting hurt and all.
Angel
Th...Thanks, oppa.
Angel
I hugged him in front of everyone, and the boys were just like "whoooo!" It's not everyday that this happens.
Angel
Less than 2 days left. You can do it, oppa.
LD
Thanks, Ange.
Angel
I left quickly before anyone could notice, and I was on my way back to my room when this happened.
Kang
You seriously believe those losers can rank up? You gotta be kidding, sweetheart.
Mira
Clarens and the others have nothing to lose at this point, mr. Kang. You, Bruce and Mimi - you three have everything to lose.
Kang
I won't let them beat me.
Jennifer
They already have, mr. Kang. You and Bruce haven't practiced since yesterday.
Bruce
Then we'll sabotage them because we're class A. That's our privilege.
Mira
You're both not class A material. Class A meanies, that's more like it!
Kang
Suck my dick, sweetheart.
Michelle
You're both hopeless.
Mira
Yeah! You're both mean, selfish and conceited!
Bruce
Wow, big word.
Angel
Mira's right. You and Kang are really terrible people.
Bruce
Nobody asked you, Angel.
Angel
F*ck you, Bruce.
Bruce
Ordinary monkey.
Angel
You'll fall hard against oppa. Mark my words.
Angel
I left the scene, completely disgusted. If I feel happy whenever I see Oppa, I feel sick just looking at Bruce and Kang. I hope they crash.
Angel
Day 4 of practice went by faster, and everyone was so laser-focused that we only exchanged greetings.
Angel
Then it was judgement day for us. We had to record ourselves performing the whole song and show it to boss Eddie to be re-evaluated.
Rat-Rat
Good luck, guys.
Michelle
Yeah....
Aika
Let's do it!
Jordan
Game time!
LD
Hey, Ange....
Angel
Yeah, oppa?
LD
...Do your best.
Angel
O-Oh my God... he smiled!
Angel
T...Thank you, oppa...!
*an*
LD
!!!??
Angel
Tee-hee.... So we can share the luck, oppa. See you later!
LD
......
Angel
The entire class B gathered at the recording room, and we were told we can start our recordings at anytime.
Angel
I came in fourth after Rat, Michelle and Aika. This feeling I had wasn't like anything I've felt before. I was like, I have to do well here.
Angel
The song started as I waited for the cue, so I missed a second, but I didn't care anymore. I just had to pop off now....
Angel
Everyone clapped when I finished. Nikita immediately approached me and said:
Nikita
Ate Angel, you missed your cue at the start!
Angel
Yeah, I knew that. But I focused on the rest of the song instead.
Nikita
You think we'll move up to A?
Angel
I don't think I will, but you, Michelle and Rat-Rat have the highest chances.
Michelle
Still, maybe the boss would give you a chance.
Angel
I hope so. Let's watch Jordan now.
Jordan
Eyy, don't pressure the big man, girls. You'll make me sh*t my pants.
Rat-Rat
Tell that to Ronnie.
Ronnie
TODAY!
Rat-Rat
Kidding!
Angel
We wrapped up quick after two hours, and because we had a lot of free time, I ran to the shed where class F was.
Angel
Mira was there too, and class F looked really beat. They all slept for like six hours then got back to work from around 1 pm to 5 am.
Angel
I sat beside Oppa, who was nursing his right ankle.
Angel
Hi, oppa~!
LD
....
Angel
What's wrong? Are you finished with the recording?
LD
Yeah. I landed on my bad ankle at the dance break, stumbled a bit. Couldn't sing for a few seconds.
Angel
Ohh, poor oppa. Are you fine now?
LD
Yeah. Compared to Clarens and Randy, I still have my left leg. Clarens busted both his knees, while Randy twisted both of his ankles.
Angel
You're all warriors, oppa. I admire you all.
LD
....
Angel
I leaned my head on his shoulder. I could feel his cheek rustling against my hair and he was discreetly smelling me. Tee-hee, oppa, stop it.
LD
...How did you do?
Angel
Missed my cue at the start, but I came back big.
LD
Sounds better than mine.
Angel
I looked silly, you dummy dum-dum.
LD
Still, you did it well. Here's hoping we can go beyond....
Angel
We will, oppa. We will...
.....
RANDY, WHAT THE HELL?!
Hahahahaha...!
Randy
Goodbye, world!
Sali
You danced like an idiot...!
Angel
That was a nice thing to do to cap off the Mirror Evaluation.
Angel
Aside from Randy dancing like an idiot again, that was the end of the Mirror Evaluation. Four days of hell being terrorized by class A....
Angel
And now we wait....