From Thug to Idol: Transmigrating to a Survival Show

June, too, watched Lee Sik from his side of the stage, admiring the vocal techniques and emotions he poured into the song.

Mimi sang the next lines, her spotlight increasing with brightness. Her smooth skin sparkled under the light, and the shimmer in her eyes accentuated the unshed tears hidden inside them.

Mimi couldn't quite relate to the song since she had a great family growing up, but she worked really hard to channel her feelings through other people's stories.

"In your shadow, I was happy to stand.

For me, Dad, you were the strongest in the land."

The pre-chorus was sung by Xion, earning some screams from his fans but quickly being shushed by other audience members.

"And I know you'll listen to this with a smile on your face,

So, stop filling up your suitcase."

Tres and Nico sang the chorus, harmonizing while looking at each other. Their expressions spoke of the emotion they were singing, projecting it well so the audience could fully feel the meaning of Lee Sik's masterpiece.

"I love you, father.

You made me wonder.

If I had another life, I would want you again."

June knew his part was yet to come—in the next pre-chorus and the third verse, to be exact. So, for now, he closed his eyes, enjoyed their raw voices, and channeled the feelings buried deep within his heart.

"But clouds did gather, storms did brew.

The father I once loved was not the father I knew."

Growing up, he had heard this song multiple times. His mother listened to it quite often, and June always thought the lyrics were too painful from a father's perspective. As a young and innocent child, he thought he would only ever relate to the first parts of the song—where his father was considered a hero.

However, a few years later, he found himself relating to the song more and more. Listening to it was comforting yet painful at the same time. It was comforting to know there were other people who went through the same experiences as him, but it was also painful since he wondered what he did to deserve any of it.

"I watched the strong man use his strength…

…to inflict wounds within arm's length."

His father never laid a hand on his mother, but June knew his mother struggled with his father's lack of emotional support.

He claimed he always did his best, but June knew his father was just making excuses.

With these thoughts running inside his mind, he brought the microphone to his lips to sing his very first lines of the song.

"And I know you wouldn't listen to a word I would say,

So, fill up the suitcase; I won't make you stay."

Lee Sik was taken aback by June's delivery. His voice held a delicate ache, and it felt like the 'father' in the song was truly June's. It was even more emotional compared to their rehearsals.

The members of EVE, all watching backstage, were annoyed in the beginning since June appeared to not have any lines.

However, their frustrations were quickly replaced with amazement as the camera panned away from June after his short line.

It was so short, yet so powerful, and Jaeyong found himself getting choked up with tears.

The audience, too, was now fully immersed in the song. People from all generations, even those who couldn't relate to the lyrics of the song, felt empathetic.

The singers on stage were not only singing—but they were also telling a story.

And in June's mind, he was telling his.

"I'm starting to unlove you, Father.

You made me wonder.

If I had another life, I'd pray for another."

The third verse was once again started by Lee Sik, his voice becoming even more powerful than before. The painful message of the song has reached its peak, with the protagonist fully realizing the resentment he had for the father he once loved.

"Behind closed doors, a secret pain,

My young heart, it couldn't contain.

The strongest man was a coward instead.

And I cried every night, alone in my bed."

June harmonized with Lee Sik during the last two lines, their voices blending perfectly with each other.

Now, not only was Jaeyong felt emotional among the artists watching in their respective waiting rooms, but multiple idols began to get choked-up, tears welling up in their eyes.

Amira, whose father left their family when she were young, was one of them.

In that second, she forgone all the romantic feelings she felt for June. At that moment, all she felt was pain—pain for the two of them.

With this song, it felt like she was understood.

"And I hope you listen to every word,

I hope you feel the pain you deserve.

I wish someone would explain if this is how it really feels…

Does having a father mean you'll never heal?"

June had listened to the song plenty of times during their rehearsals, but these lyrics still brought chills down his spine every time he heard it.

"I hate you, father.

To the point where I don't want to wonder.

If I had another life, I wish I'd never met you."

The stage was bathed in a warm glow, the plain white backdrop now infused with some gold to add to the emotional resonance of the performance.

As the last verse approached, the emotion in the stadium reached its peak. Mimi stood straight to deliver her next lines, feeling the gaze of the audience fixated on her.

Yet, just as Mimi prepared to grace the audience with her vocals, an unexpected and unfamiliar tune resonated through the air. The melody was like a sudden breeze, catching the idols on stage off guard. Confusion etched across their faces as they exchanged uncertain glances, questioning the deviation from the familiar script.

However, amidst the perplexed expressions of the idols, two figures remained composed—Lee Sik and June.

And that's when Mimi realized the meaning of Lee Sik's words a while ago—"whatever happens on stage, just go with the flow."

Her eyes met with June, a silent understanding passing between them.

With that, Mimi brought her microphone down and went with the flow.

"What's this?" Jia whispered, her gaze still fixed on the stage.

"Have you heard this before?"

"This doesn't sound familiar anymore."

Murmurs of confusion were heard amidst the sobs in the audience. However, it quickly became silent when Lee Sik and June stepped forward, the spotlights following their figures.

They took one step closer…and closer…until they met each other face to face.

With that, Lee Sik prepared himself to deliver the hidden bridge he had written after the subject of this very song, his father, died.

He felt like his heart was being squeezed. However, as he gazed into the young man's eyes before him, he knew he needed to do his best.

Because currently, it looked like June was in his element.