System! This Prince Doesn't Want To Be An Idol Popstar!

Back at the competition, Shun was on the couch just staring blankly at the television screen. He felt hollow, as if someone carved a hole within his stomach. Not just carving a hole but scraping and digging the edges with a spoon. First, Wen Dong didn't make it. Next, Kiki was eliminated. Now…

'Ping…'

A cup of tea was handed to him and he looked over to see Kaiden offering it to him. Taking it, he held it in his hands as he stared at the blank television. He felt a hand cupped his shoulder and he shut his eyes.

"Shun," the popular trainee paused, "We will miss Ping, but don't lose hope. He is a strong kid. He will definitely make it in a team."

"I know. I just don't get it. Ping is popular and have done well in all the challenges. I don't understand why he was so low," Shun shook his head with a deep sigh.

"Remember what the mentors said? The audience saw everything that happens. Maybe they think sending Ping back was best for him. He had been crying a lot more and have nightmares. Maybe they think being here was too stressful for him."

Shun looked at Kaiden and stared into those warm brown eyes that just made him feel so comfortable. He wondered if he could sleep in them. Flushing from that thought, he nodded and sighed. What the popular trainee said was right. Ping had been emotional lately, had consistent nightmares, and maybe the fans saw that. That was the only reason for such a low score, right?

"You really are a leader," Shun breathed out a smile, "Thank you."

Kaiden smiled at him with those pearly whites and Shun did his best to blink away the blindness he felt from staring. He smiled back and pulled his cup to him to drink, but a shout behind the couch caused him to jump. As he jumped, he landed on Kaiden's lap and his tea was thrown up and spilled onto the intruder's head.

"Ah!" Heeang shouted wiping the tea off his hair, "Shun!"

"You scared the crap out of me!" He reprimanded, "What the hell were you doing?!"

"I was trying to make you not look like you died!" Heeang frowned wiping his bangs back.

"By scaring me? You could have just, you know, talk to me like Kaiden? Offer me some food or something! God! It was a good thing the tea got cold!"

"I didn't know you would get that scared!"

"Well now you know!"

"Yeah!"

"Okay!"

"Fine!"

"Yeah!"

"…"

"…"

"Shun…"

"What?!"

"Why are you sitting on Kaiden?" Heeang furrowed his brows and Shun looked to see those warm brown eyes watching him.

"Ah! Sorry Kaiden. Are you alright?" Shun helped Kaiden to sit up on the couch and heard the laugh from the popular trainee.

"Never scare Shun. Noted."

Shun laughed and then looked over to the youngest boy in the competition now, Heeang. Smiling, he reached out and patted the boy's shoulder.

"I am sorry Heeang. I shouldn't get mad at you and sorry for the tea on your head."

"I get it. You will miss Ping because you two were close. I still miss my brother, you know. But I know I have to win for him."

'That's right… I was so caught up in him being a traitor that I forgot his brother didn't make it…'

Shun felt his heart dropped and he went to grab a towel to help dry the boy's hair. As he was doing so, the television came on and he tried not to scowl too hard. It had not even been a day yet and they were going to have another challenge?

'Give us a break, witch!'

"The 3 highest votes will be given one call for ten minutes. They are: Kaiden, Xiong Shun, and Mikey. Please get your phones from the bottom floor. Tomorrow's challenge will be duet battle of the same song. Global votes will be 1 point and judges votes will be 5 points. Choose your partner wisely. 3 people will be going home. Good luck."

There were 2 songs shown on the screen and Shun did not recognized who were the singers or the songs. Sighing, he patted Heeang's back as he followed Kaiden and Mikey to the elevator. Once on the bottom, he stared at his phone unsure who to call. He wanted to call Wen Dong to see how his friend was doing, but he also wanted to call Ping to see if he was okay.

'But I… also want to hear Ah Jin's voice…'

He scrolled the contact list up and down unsure what to do.

"Xiong Shun, don't take too long," one of the staff members spoke up and Shun quickly nodded, accidentally pressing call.

'Ah! Who did I call-'

"Shun."

Shun's face blossomed like a rose and he covered his face with a hand. Suu Jin. Of course, it was him. Just as he was reveling in happiness that the idol prince picked up his phone, he felt guilty not calling his friends. Closing his eyes and sighing, he wished he were home with them.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I… I know you are busy. Sorry for bothering you…"

"You aren't bothering me. I am with my cousin. He misses you already. I am getting jealous how much he loves you, Xiong Shun."

Shun laughed and wiped his sweaty palm on his slacks.

"Can I speak to him too?"

"Mm. Let me put you on speaker. Oh, Shun."

"Hm?"

"Finish strong. Keep fighting," Jin spoke softly and Shun found his heart bursting with colors. Swallowing the lump of words he wished to say, he nodded.

"Gege!" Ping's voice came through the speaker and Shun found his eyes watering, "Gege! I miss you, but I know you will do awesome! Don't worry about me, okay? I have Ah Jin and Ah Dong. You take care of yourself and don't get sick again! And, make sure you eat and drink lots of water!"

"Ping Ping," he chuckled rubbing his head, "I get it. I get it. I won't risk my health again."

"Good!" Ping paused and then another voice came through the speaker.

"Ah Shun!"

"Ah Dong?"

"AH! I miss you, brother!"

Shun covered his eyes as tears welled up once more. He had not heard his best friend's voice in so long and hearing it now… it just reminded him of the distance between them. Xiong Shun and Wen Dong grew up together, did almost everything together, but now… they were not together like they had promised one another.

It hurt his heart.

****

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