Chapter Text
To say it was unexpected news would be an understatement. Because when their manager pulls Wooseok and him aside after dance practice to inform them of their participation in MNet's upcoming survival, Jinhyuk is thrown for a loop. He's absolutely floored. Bewildered. He thinks he might've needed to retrieve his jaw from the floor. Quite unprofessional of him really. Especially when compared to the stoic countenance of Wooseok beside him
"Why?" He blurts out. His abrupt outburst coupled with a nervous chuckle that's a pitch too high.
Their manager shrugs.
"Fuck if I know. If I had to guess, it's probably to garner to group some public recognition. Produce has proven great for generating buzz. Plus you guys are entering your 4th year and..."
He trails off, and Jinhyuk gives a non-committal grunt of acknowledgement.
Neither of them need to guess what was being hinted at. UP10TION wasn't doing bad – they were on lower-middling ground if anything – but they weren't dong great either. Nobody ever talks about it, but everyone knows that this late into the group's lifespan, the fanbase isn't likely to grow much more lest a miracle befell them. Or if not a miracle, a calculated intervention à la Produce.
It's an early diagnosis or sorts by the company executives. And as Jinhyuk mulls over the news, he can sort of see where they're coming from. Though it doesn't stop the uncomfortable knot that has started to form in his stomach.
Jinhyuk finds his head swirling with a million questions. Some of which are barely coherent.
No.
It's not questions that's bogging him down. It's doubt, confusion, anxiety. The last time he remembers feeling this nervous was when UP10TION's debut was first announced. But back then it was a pleasant sort of anxiety. The kind that made him feel 'Oh man, I hope I don't fuck up!' with a excited, giddy exclamation mark. The kind of anxiety he was feeling now was more of a 'Oh man, I hope we don't fuck up.' punctuated with a overburdened full stop.
Public opinion could be brutal. And if the past Produce seasons were anything to go by, said brutality would only be amplified.
Jinhyuk can already imagine all the possible vitriol that could – hell, would – be sent their way. He's pretty sure the nation's producers would have a lot to say about already debuted idols participating in the survival... He's also pretty sure that their entire life history is going to be thrown under a microscope to be scrutinized for even a single flaw that could be used to tear them down. He just knows it.
And what of the fans? It's one thing to have random people swearing at you, but your own fans? Jinhyuk can't imagine Honey10s being pleased with this new development. Hell, he still remembers being asked by a fan at a fansign awhile back about Produce. And they'd say no, they're not going.
They weren't lying then. But it will sure as hell look like they were now.
He casts a glance Wooseok's way, perhaps to find some form reassurance that he's not alone in his inner turmoil.
And it suddenly occurs to him.
Wooseok.
It's been barely a year since he'd returned from his hiatus. And considering the nature of said hiatus, Jinhyuk can't help but wonder how the man feels about all of this.
Beside him, Wooseok is especially quiet. But it's he who breaks the extended silence that had fallen upon them.
"What about the other members?"
"Oh, there's a tour planned. North America I think."
There's another pregnant pause, and Jinhyuk thinks that maybe their manager is trying to show them what he believes to be 'kindness' by giving them time to process the information. Truthfully though, he would probably preferred if he'd just bulldozed them over with the information and details rather that leaving them – actually, mostly him; Wooseok seems to be taking it... decently – drowning in anxiety.
It's Wooseok's muted voice that once again breaks the silence.
"When does it start?"
It's as if the floodgates had been opened.
Seemingly relieved that the duo hadn't gone on to probe more about the reasoning being management's decisions, their manager starts rambling on about all the administrative details.
Audition clips to be sent in next week – don't worry kids, it's more of a PR thing – just do what you'd usually do on a variety. Interviews right after. Photoshoots should be the following week. 1st episode filming in 3 to 4 weeks. You guys need a proper performance for that. It's got to be good.
Jinhyuk's just happy to let his mind slip into 'training' mode. He finds the nauseous churning of his stomach is less noticeable when he forces himself to focus on the present to-be-done tasks laid out before him rather than the pessimistic what-ifs.