Chapter 1: Introduction
The MC announced for Boys Planet 2 "Hi Planets ~ I'm sure you're excited by your masters who will guide you in the 2nd round of the competition. I'm sure in the past season, you remember having dance, vocal and rap masters. This season we're also adding another category of master." The audience cheered, eager for the reveal. "Please welcome our Creative Group Performance Director, the one and only, Ricky!"
The curtains parted and a tall, lean figure stepped onto the stage. He wore a sleek black suit, his short black hair spiked up in a stylish mess. Sharp features softened by a smirk, Ricky surveyed the room, his dark eyes scanning the crowd before coming to rest on a figure in the back row. Ma Jing Xiang.
Jing Xiang felt his heart pound against his chest. He hadn't expected to see Ricky here. Not after their last encounter.
The memory of their heated argument during the first season of Boys Planet still stung. Jing Xiang tightened his grip on his audition form, his knuckles turning white. Ricky noticed the change in him and raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. His aura was cold and professional that he felt a huge gap between their current status. He couldn't believe that his past team mate is his current mentor. The year gap felt like a decade with the tension building up between them. Jing Xiang remembered the day he was eliminated from the show, the day he saw Ricky in the audience, clapping for the winner. The bitterness he felt then was still fresh in his mind.
"Ma Jing Xiang," the MC called out, snapping him back to the present. He stepped forward, his muscles flexing with each step. The audience murmured, recognizing him from the first season. He stopped in front of the judges' table, his dark eyes meeting Ricky's.
The smirk was gone, replaced by a cool, assessing look. "Nice to see you again, Jing Xiang," Ricky said, his voice neutral. "I must say, I didn't expect to see you here again this season."
Jing Xiang's jaw tightened. "Nice to see you too, Ricky," he replied, his voice laced with sarcasm. "I guess you're just as surprised as I am."
Ricky leaned back in his chair, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Surprised? No. Delighted? Yes.
I'm looking forward to seeing how much you've grown since last season."
Jing Xiang scoffed, "I don't need to prove anything to you, Ricky. I'm here to win, not to please you."
Ricky chuckled, "And I'm here to find the best talent, not to please you. But since we're both here, let's make this interesting. Show me what your group got, Jing Xiang."
Jing Xiang took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.
He called out his Group 1 to rearrange to the formation and performed what they have practiced so far for their cover group performance "The Eve" by Exo. The room was filled with tension as they started to showcase their set. As they started to perform the choreography, Ricky's eyes narrowed as he watched them move, his expression unreadable.
Other trainees were expecting them to perform the best since Jing Xiang was the leader and he had past experience in past survival shows. As they finished the bridge, the group transitioned into performing their own group choreo during the dance break section.
Jing Xiang knew this was their chance to impress Ricky with their creativity and teamwork. He led the group in a synchronized move, their bodies moving in perfect harmony. Ricky watched, his expression still inscrutable.
Suddenly, one of the members, Sang-hee, stumbled. He quickly righted himself, but the damage was done. His face flushed with embarrassment, he stumbled again, throwing off the group's rhythm. Jing Xiang could see the panic in Sang-hee's eyes, but all of the members stopped because they still did not memorize the rest of the song. They could see that the judges were surprised by this sudden halt. The room fell silent, except for the distant whisper of the air conditioning.
Ricky's expression darkened, his gaze cold as he looked at Jing Xiang. "Is this a joke?" he asked, his voice sharp. "You call this a performance?"
Jing Xiang's grip on his microphone tightened. "We... we had a slight mistake," he said, his voice steady despite the chaos inside him. "We know we can do better."
Ricky scoffed. "Better? You can't even get through the whole performance because your group can't remember. Yah Jinxiang-ah, what's the point of you making a leader if your result is this whole mess. Look at your members right now, you picked them and most of them are top trainees who have the highest scores. At this point, it's your fault that you didn't fulfill your responsibility." Ricky's voice was like a whip, cutting through the tension. Jing Xiang's cheeks flushed with anger.
"So nice to see you haven't changed. At this point, you should be ashamed that you still only care about yourself and practicing, but not caring about the in-depth details when performing" Ricky replied, his voice still not losing some of its edge.
Jing Xiang opened his mouth to reply, but Ricky cut him off.
"Save it. I don't want to hear your excuses. I want to see your improvements and final results," Ricky said, his eyes scanning the group with disdain. "Your group should rethink who the current leader is because you're not clearly suited for it."
Ricky's words were like a slap in the face, and Jing Xiang felt the sting of humiliation. The other trainees shifted uncomfortably, sensing the tension between the two.
Min-woo, a dance master intervened and announced "Ricky, give them a break. They're all nervous. They can do better." His voice was calm and reassuring, a stark contrast to Ricky's harsh tone.
Ricky glanced at Min-woo, his expression softening slightly. "Min-woo, always the mediator," he said, a hint of his former smirk returning. "Although you guys did great at the beginning, you know that one mistake can cost you everything in this competition. That's the cold, hard truth." He looked back at Jing Xiang, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "But since we're talking about cold, hard truths, let's not forget that you guys have not finished practicing the whole performance. You are competing with the K-Group, who have more experience and have rigorous discipline when it comes to training."
The room was silent for a moment before the other trainees started to murmur among themselves. Jing Xiang could feel the weight of their gaze on him, but he refused to show any sign of weakness. He took a deep breath and nodded.
"You're right, Master Ricky-nim. We haven't finished practicing the whole performance, but we know we can do better. We just need more time," Jing Xiang said, his voice steady.
Ricky raised an eyebrow, looking unconvinced. "Time is a luxury you don't have in this competition. You either shape up or go home. This isn't a game, Jing Xiang. This is a fight for your dreams." Ricky's voice was stern, his eyes piercing into Jing Xiang's.
Jing Xiang's jaw clenched, but he held Ricky's gaze. "I know that, Ricky. And I'm not going down without a fight."
Ricky nodded, a glint of respect in his eyes. "Good. Then prove it. Show me why you deserve to be here. Show me why you deserve to be the leader of that group." He turned to the other judges. "Their performance today was below our expectations, but we've seen potential. Give them another chance to prove themselves. Let's see how they fare in the actual stage."
As the judges nodded in agreement, Jing Xiang let out a sigh of relief. He felt a weight lift off his shoulders, but he knew this was only the beginning.
---
Backstage, the atmosphere was tense. The other trainees avoided looking at Jing Xiang's group, their faces a mix of pity and relief that it wasn't them on the hot seat. He was relieved that the recording for the 3rd episode was finished, but the weight of Ricky's words still hung heavy on his shoulders.
His pride was wounded and took the critique personally since it was coming from Ricky. The one who he wanted to reconcile the most but their gap seems to be wider now than ever. He took a moment to collect himself before turning to his group.
"Alright, everyone. We knew this wasn't going to be easy. But we've got another chance, so let's not waste it," Jing Xiang said, his voice firm. He could see the anxiety in their eyes, but he also saw the determination. "We're going to practice non-stop until we get this right. No more mistakes. No more excuses."
Chenyu stepped forward, his boyish charm replaced with a serious expression. "Jing Xiang's right. We can't let this happen again.
We need to step up our game," he said, his eyes scanning the group. "And Jing Xiang, you're right. We need to support you. You're our leader, and we won't let you down again," Sang-hee added, his voice filled with resolve.
Jing Xiang nodded, appreciation filling his eyes. "Thank you, Sang-hee. Now let's get to a fresh start for tomorrow. We have a lot to make up for," he said, his voice steadier than he felt.
He knew his members were looking up to him, and he couldn't let them down again. "Let's start with the basics. We'll go through the choreography step by step, and we won't move on until everyone has got it down pat."
The group nodding in agreement, they started their practice. Jing Xiang could feel the tension in the air, but he also felt a renewed sense of determination. He couldn't change the past, but he could sure as hell change their future.
All the members from Group 1 dispersed and went to their allocated dorms to rest. Jing Xiang, however, found himself unable to sleep. The sudden appearance of Ricky and the harsh critique still lingered in his mind. He knew he had to face Ricky eventually, but he didn't expect it to be this soon and this intense. He changed out of his stage clothes and went out for some fresh air.
He saw Ricky outside
the building, leaning against the wall, smoking a cigarette. He looked deep in thought, the glow of his cigarette illuminating his face in the dark.
He walked over to him, his footsteps echoing in the quiet night. Ricky looked up as he approached, his eyes meeting Jing Xiang's in the dim light.
"Can't sleep?" Ricky asked, his voice neutral.
Jing Xiang shook his head. "Too much on my mind," he replied, his voice low.
Ricky nodded, taking a drag of his cigarette. "I know the feeling."
They stood in silence for a moment, the tension between them palpable.
The night air was cool, a sharp contrast to the heat of the rehearsal hall earlier. Jing Xiang could see the smoke from Ricky's cigarette curling up into the night sky, disappearing into the darkness.
He wanted to ask a question, but couldn't find the right time since all he wanted was to reconcile with Ricky and talk about his experiences. He could feel the weight of their past differences hanging heavy between them.
"You know, I never expected to see you here this season," Jing Xiang finally said, breaking the silence.
Ricky turned to him, his eyes reflecting the dim light of the nearby streetlamp. "Neither did I," he admitted. "But the universe has a way of bringing people together."
Jing Xiang snorted softly. "Or tearing them apart."
Ricky took a final drag of his cigarette before stubbing it out on the wall behind him. "We both know that's your own doing, Jing Xiang."
He sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"What do you mean Ricky? You avoided me like plague after the 'Rush Performance' in Season 1. I really thought we would have each other back since we made up and spoke the same language," Jing Xiang said, his voice laced with bitterness.
Ricky leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. "You and I both know that after that performance, things were never the same. Your ego was bruised, and my reputation was on the line. We were both too proud to admit it, but it tore us apart. We pretended everything was fine."
Ricky paused, his eyes searching Jing Xiang's. "But we both know it wasn't. You pushed me away, and I let you."
Jing Xiang looked away, the memory of their heated argument still fresh in his mind. "You know that I'm a perfectionist right. As much as I wanted to reach out to you all the time, I wasn't good enough back then. I was selfish wanting to be center and performing all the parts because I thought it would be the last chance."
Jing Xiang admitted, his voice soft. "I know I pushed you away, but I never wanted to hurt you. You were the only one who understood me, who could push me to be better."
Ricky was silent for a moment, then he uncrossed his arms and stepped closer to Jing Xiang. "I know you didn't mean to hurt me, Jinxiang. But sometimes, our pride gets in the way of our feelings. And I was just as guilty as you were. Still you weren't there when I need you the most. I called you many times asking help for the 3rd round because I felt alienated and struggled so much that I lagged behind others." Ricky's voice was barely above a whisper, but it held a weight that cut through the night air like a knife.
Jing Xiang looked up at him, his dark eyes reflecting the vulnerability he saw in Ricky's gaze. "I'm sorry, Ricky. I should have been there for you. I was so caught up in my own world, I didn't see how much you were struggling."
Ricky sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's not just about that, Jing Xiang. It's too late hyung. It's been only two years and you apologized only the day we met at this show. I don't know what to make of that. Ricky's voice was tense, his jaw clenched tight.
Jing Xiang felt a pang of guilt in his chest. He had let his pride and ambition get in the way of their friendship, and he had hurt Ricky in the process. He took a deep breath, his voice steady as he spoke.
"I can't change the past, Ricky. But I can tell you that I regret what happened. I regret pushing you away when you needed me the most. I was selfish and blinded by my own ambition. But I'm here now, Ricky. I'm here to make things right."
Ricky looked at Jing Xiang, his eyes searching his face. "And how do you plan to do that, Jing Xiang? By winning this competition? By proving you're the best?" "No. By being a better leader, a better friend. By supporting those who need it, just like you did for me all those years ago."
Ricky was silent for a moment, then he gave a small nod. "Alright.
Prove it," Ricky challenged, his voice soft but firm. "Show me that you've changed, Jing Xiang. Show me that you're not just in this for yourself. Still, I won't easily forgive you because after the Project 7 Show ended, you could have chosen to communicate with me. I was never your priority but you always put me in sideline, when I always have been giving my attention to you."
Ricky's voice was heavy with the weight of their past, his eyes reflecting the pain he still carried.
Jing Xiang nodded, understanding the gravity of his words. He knew that winning the competition would be a good start, but it wasn't enough to earn Ricky's forgiveness. He had to show him that he had truly changed, that he was no longer the selfish and proud trainee he used to be.
"I will, Ricky. I promise."
Jing Xiang meant every word he said. He knew that the road ahead would be challenging, but he was determined to make things right. He couldn't change the past, but he could shape his future.