ع˖⁺ ☁⋆ ୭

"since part 5 is in front of 6 for majority of the time, i think someone short should do it so both people can get enough screentime.." lia starts after watching the new mission, "and i'm kind of the shortest one here.."

"yeah you can do part 5."

"sure i agree with her."

"yeah, you fit well."

lia blinked a few times before thanking the group repeatedly and couldnt stop smiling like a dork. in the end, lia and jungwon received part 5 and 6.

the final contestants walk into the item room to check out their next performance outfits. at first they saw the guys clothes but lia knew better, she knew this was the one performance where she has to wear a skirt and when she turned her head she was proven right.

there was a similar outfit just a skirt instead of pants, she flushed a bit when she held it to her body because of the shortness but calmed down when she saw the added skirt shorts for under it.

the guys were talking about who would get the most international votes but paused when lia laughs, trying to hide it but failing miserably. she looks to heeseung with a knowing look before he too chuckles, leaving the rest confused.

"what is it? why are you two laughing?" jake asks curious, wanting to know why she was laughing.

"guys, she really didnt tell you?" heeseung asks genuinely.

many shake their heads before jay laughs loud aswell, "you gotta be kidding me."

lia's back was to them before she turns around making her hair fly to the side, "hiya my dearies! today is vlog number 586 and we'll show you exactly how the i-landers react to finding out the truth!"

acting like she is holding a camera that is filming herself while doing a finger heart.

many groans were heard, finally knowing who she is and why she was so familiar. there were two that didnt tho.

"wait, so your an influencer?" jake asks stupidly.

lia lets her arm fall to her side and went to answer but heeseung beat her to it, "of course she is, she has more that 300 thousand followers that know she's in the show so you bet they'll vote her."

she hums, "the fact that i have subtitles in 8 different languages and speak english in all of my vlogs means i reach my fans internationally."

jay laughs, pointing at jake and jungwons confused expressions, "she isnt joking, man. she really has over 300 thousand followers out there."

the two just stood there dumbfounded while the rest laugh and resume to their business.

"wait so.. not only did the ones that watch i-land see me flirting with her but also her fans?"

⸻

the group was was currently finished with practicing the choreo of i&credible and lia stood on the sidelines watching the demo video on her ipad closely while zoning out a few times and re watching the scene she missed.

after she zoned out again she felt the ipad slip from her fingers, she noticed it in time and catched it with her foot yet again and taking it back into her hand.

she looks up to see if someone saw it but was greeted by jake lifting his sleeve, flexing his muscles to sunghoon and a few others lifting their shirts. k, seemingly the only one, noticed she was looking and scolded her playfully.

"yah! lia you're too young!" he states, covering her eyes.

she laughs, "k.. i know you want to show off as well."

as k joined the others showing off his abs as well, lia was curious if her abs were still there. so she lifts her loose shirt to the mirror, revealing little chiseled abs that were noticeable on her petite body.

"lia! why are you- huh?!" jake lets out, getting flushed quickly and turning the other way quickly, his hand trying to get her shirt down but due to him not looking he was too slow and the other boy's mouths were now agape upon seeing her competing as well.

"i did a lot of sports.. guys.."

⸻

it had been bad for lia, it was the finally thirteen and she, in her head and mindset, thought that she was not enough yet so when heeseung was searching for his love he couldnt find her in the usual spot, the balcony, or in the kitchen.

walking down the stairs he finds jake looking for something or rather someone aswell.

"jake! what are you searching for? i can help you if you want." heeseung offer a tiny smile.

"oh! uh- i'm searching for lia.." he mutters, "she said she wanted to ask my opinion on something but i cant find her."

"have you checked the balcony? she usually goes there if shes not in the kitchen."

"yea i checked every room.." he confirms.

suddenly the two hear a female voice singing i&credible, the song they have to perform tomorrow. both look to the direction before looking at each other and walking towards it.

turns out lia was on the treadmill running, for the two boy, a bit too fast while singing. heeseung got an idea of why she was doing that, she wasnt perfectly stable with the song and instead of doing to choreo over and over she sometimes decides to use running as another option to make her out of breath.

to not make her jump and possibly injure herself he just joined into the song while walking towards her and stopping next to the treadmill, crossing his arms and leaning on the armrest.

as heeseung was staring at her with possible heart eyes while jake stood in the door frame like a tree, lia jumped up and set her feet to each side of the treadmill to turn around and grin at jake, "cmon i wanted to show you that!"

"show me what?" he tilts his head to the side.

"i noticed you were still a tiny bit unsure about steady singing!" she answers, "i myself feel like that and thought i would show you a method i did as a trainee often and helped me a lot when i had evaluation coming up."

jake nods his head, walking to the second treadmill as lia jumps a bit up and runs on her own again, it looked so casual for her, as if she would do it everyday. the running, he means. he was sure lia is doing sports in the gym everyday regardless because she was so fit.

after lia explained to him to just warm up and when he feels like it to start singing he felt a bit awkward since she wasnt singing her part anymore but when she noticed his hesitance she started with his part. she could remember lyric's quicker than others as she has a photographic mind.

when she noticed jake get steadier more and more she felt proud that her method worked. heeseung stares at her the whole time, glancing at jake from time to time with a smile.

⸻

it was showtime, lia was nervous but thought it couldnt go any more wrong. negatively thinking, the worst that could happen was for her to get kicked out of the show and not debut with heeseung and the other members but positively thinking, she would rock that stage and kill it like the day she auditioned first in 2017 and go to the next round.

walking to the egg she glances at heeseung, taking his hand in hers as she gives it a squeeze before letting go again.

he noticed that she worked harder, it wasnt often but lia did have a performance mode sometimes, especially when evaluations were coming up.

her face went from nervous and biting her bottom lip to firm lips pressed into a line and her eyes that were once flying all over the place just stared straight ahead now.

the picking on her fingers stopped and she instead shook them to loosen up a bit more.

so in his eyes lia was indeed in her performance mode now, he knew she was nervous, hell who wasnt but somehow lia felt like this performance could mean the end to her.