After thirty whole minutes of pointless arguments, Mari and I finally come with a consensus and opt to interpret a fan favorite, 'Senseless' by Jo Dohee, with a pop punk touch but also adding a heavy hitting rap section to fit the hip hop theme. If it goes well, it can be a game changer.

Meanwhile, Saesong realizes that working with a different partner can make the difference. Seoyoung may still be detached and hide her emotions, but at least she isn't a bully. On the other hand, I can see Saeha and Hyanggi struggling with their respective teammates, while Boyeon and Daha surprisingly get along.

Considering the former's abrasive attitude, this means that Daha has either managed to strike the right chords, or one of them is putting an act. I hope this is actually a sign that Boyeon is changing her ways. Although we have butted heads several times, there have been a couple of instances where we were on the same wavelength.

After a few intense hours of prep, the staff call us back on stage, where Seungsik awaits us with his usual flashy grin. The judges are in good shape, which means their critiques on performances can be particulary sharp. I have to take them well and make good use of it for the next challenges.

Saesong and Seoyoung are the first ones to perform, and they brilliantly mix R&B and indie pop with ballroom pop in their version of 'Take your Hands.' The interpretation gives a late 1990s vibe, which Dohee appreciates. Seungsik even improvises a few dance moves.

Mari and I are next. 'Senseless' is a hit. The panel applaudes, and so does Seungsik. I hear cheers from Saeha, Saesong and Hyanggi. Seungsik jokes. "Saesom, Mari, you should work together more often. Finally some good chemistry!" I just shrug this comment off with a handwave and a forced smile. I don't look forward to a third collaboration with her, but at least this performance is much better than our first one.

The third pair to be judged consists of Boyeon and Daha. They were assigned trot as their "out of the box" genre, and the result is pretty hilarious, considering they had to combine it with punk and acid house. The song might sound disjointed, but this rendition is bound to be a meme.

Boyeon doesn't seem to be happy about it, though—she expected a far better performance. I don't blame her, but I don't think I will take the line, 'Bebop, bepop, pop it, lock it, we so fresh, we so pretty, move it, move it, shake your butt, just wanna dance my head out,' out of my head soon.

Seungsik announces, "Boyeon, Daha, you have officially started a new trend—#bebopsong is now the most researched hashtag on X and Snapchat. Are you happy?" Boyeon shakes her head, while Daha keeps her head low, looking at the floor. Disappointment lingers around them as they wanted to be popular for who they are.

They're right. If the production team forces them into a trend, making them lose their authenticity, they're dead wrong, and I'd make sure to point that out.

Up next are Daneung and Hyanggi. The former has had a major input in the creative process behind their performance, with the judges pointing out that Hyanggi should've contributed more. I try to step up and defend her, but Songbin shuts me down cold, "Stay out of it, Saesom. You're not in charge of judging. Or do you want us to deduct points from your total score?"

I bow in apology and stay quiet from now on; however, I'm pissed off. Songbin is clearly biased against Hyanggi, which doesn't sit well with her and leads her to underperform, blinded by emotions. Daneung throws a heavy glare at her, wanting to bang her head against the wall in frustration.

Their potential poor score is also her fault, though. She should've scaled down on some ideas, allowing Hyanggi to give her input, as well. The latter is in clear distress and believes only an even worse performance by Saeha and Hyewon will save her from the shame of earning the least points for this round.

Speaking of them, they're the last two pair to perform. This doesn't sound like a duet, it sounds like two separate songs by two separate artists. There's no harmony, just sorrow. It looks like they're two parallel lines, never meant to form an intersection.

As expected, when scores are announced, Saeha and Hyewon are deemed the worst performers, earning only ten points. Daneung and Hyanggi get twenty, even though I suspect Songbin might've wanted to give Hyanggi a zero. Now, it's as clear as the day. I hate that panelist. She's biased and full of prejudice—how the fuck could I look up to her when I was younger?

Never mind. Boyeon and Daha bag 30 points, Saesong and Seoyoung 40. Lastly, Mari and I are the winners of this round, earning the full 50 points. To say I'm stoked is an understatement. I thank everyone on stage, including the panel, for this result.

"It's because you and Mari found the perfect blend and turned it to a sublime performance on stage," explains Dohee. "Give yourself some well deserved credit, Saesom. And you, Mari, keep up this way. You look much better when you don't let your own negative energy drag you down."

For the first time since the show started, Mari finally lets out a timid smile. Is this a sign of her change of mindset? Who knows? All I know is that there's still a long way to go, and I'm looking forward to what awaits us next.

***

I can feel a sense of renewed confidence. After brilliantly passing the fourth challenge, I look forward to the next one. This time, I notice the panel is completely absent. Seungsik is alone. This has to be another surprise from the production.

"Girls, as you notice, the judges are not here. This doesn't mean they're gone for good, of course!" Does he really have to be that specific? Never mind.

"As you know, we're heading to the fifth challenge. Unlike the previous ones, you'll be competing individually. Give your all, because this is a tough one." I believe him when he says so. No challenge so far has been easy. While exciting, it can also be mentally draining. I can feel a few of the other contestants are gradually losing their cool.

"Now, go and get ready, because you'll only have thirty minutes before the judges start calling you one by one. Are you ready?" Unlike what we actually feel, we all shout 'yes' enthusiastically.

When we head backstage, tension rises as we prepare for the surprise challenge. Not knowing what it could be, I imagine it may have to do with busking, so I focus on that.

Suddenly, I feel the urge to pee. I look for someone from the staff. When I see one lady not far from the cameras, I ask her if I can go to the restroom. Since she explains I can't go unsupervised, she takes me there. She warns, "You have ten minutes. Make it quick, okay?"

I take her order to heart. In nine minutes and thirty-five seconds, I manage to pee, flush the toilet, and then wash and dry my hands. The staff lady says, "Nice. Twenty-five seconds to spare. Let's go back in. You can be called at any time."

When I'm in the backstage, I take a seat on one of the chairs scattered around and start thinking of how I could wow the audience or, alternatively, what awaits us.

Hyanggi, who has a hard time retaining her tears, approaches me. She delicately touches my shoulder, then bows before me. "Saesom unnie, can we talk?" Realizing how serious she sounds, I scan the backstage to see if there's a secluded spot... Well, not easy with all the staff in the surroundings.

We resort to staying where we are currently and speak in a very hushed tone. "Tell me, Hyanggi, is it about the last challenge?"

She sobs. There has to be more behind her sadness, and I highly doubt it simply has to do with Daneung.