Letters to K

Out of all those that I have watched, I can’t help but say that this show is top-tier. 

This is the story of the beautiful bond of 15 boys who have gathered to achieve one main goal. One dream. No drama or rivalry whatsoever here. And the concept of the show is unusual for a survival show, where they would have to work as a team in order for everyone to be given the chance to debut. (Then again, HYBE did say it’s a documentary. Haha!)

From left: Hikaru, Yejun, Jo, Hayate, K, Gaku, Taki, Harua, Nicholas, Maki, EJ, Minhyung, Junwon, Yuma, Fuma

I started with four people (K, Nicholas, EJ, and Taki) …  Four who you would think were few but could make everyone in the room, across devices, laugh wholeheartedly. Four whom I thought their chemistry was already at its best. So when they announced that there will be additional members, I was a little worried.

“Would the others be able to match the four’s chemistry?”

“Are we going to have more drama?”

“What if there are members who are a bit…?”

Completely different from what I expected, the four and the eleven clicked as soon as they met.

The four, even when nervous, did their best to give the new members a warm welcome, which the eleven appreciated in return since it livened up the mood and made them feel less intimidated. And I think this give-and-take first meeting really impacted all of them in a good way. As soon as the first shoot ended, you can see them working hard to get to know each other, laughing and talking and playing and everything. The whole room had a comfortable atmosphere, and everyone seemed like they have been friends for a very long time.

I think this comfortable atmosphere made the fans less anxious and worried, knowing what the four had been through, especially K. And the more you watch, the more you agree with what K mentioned that the four of them felt incomplete, however upon meeting the others for the first time, they thought that the eleven were all really good kids, and they are and that he got so much energy from all of them. I think the new members were a healing to the four.

As the show advanced, you would really start to think that they have become a real family. Their bond has reached people outside the group, and everyone has started to wish that the company would just debut them all. No one can blame them though because the chemistry that these boys have is impressive. 

It wasn’t just one time that they mentioned how they treat each other as their family. That the members have become so precious, that they became their safe haven. Everybody has come to love everybody. And you as a viewer, who watched and saw how they slowly built their friendship, and each one of them slowly growing on you, it was getting harder to say goodbye. 

And just when we were down to the last two or three days, they posted the first and last summer trip they had as fifteen. It was so nice to see all of them having fun and not worrying about the show. As nice and fun as it was, it also meant we were really close to the end. Especially the last part of the second part where they were talking about their memories with the members… They were laughing and joking around, but that may have also been their way of masking the sadness. Gaku, however, could not keep the character and broke into tears. Haha. Ha…

It really was nice, don’t you think? This summer spent with them?

I mentioned in the first part, “People you root for and who you think to deserve the spot fail to get in, leaving you with these bittersweet feelings.” Well, here, I could not help but root for everyone. That was the bittersweet part. If only it was that easy to debut all fifteen, then it would also be easy for the heart… 

The final round happened so fast that I could not focus on their performances well. (I was nervous the whole time) And before I knew it, they were already announcing the five debut members. And then they were separated into nine (K, Fuma, Nicholas, EJ, Yuma, Jo, Harua, Taki, Maki) and six (Hayate, Junwon, Gaku, Hikaru, Minhyung, Yejun) …

I felt really bad for the six, especially knowing that Hayate said this was his last chance. However, they all looked really calm about it. Whenever one got announced as a debut member, they genuinely hugged, congratulated, and clapped each other’s hands. Of course, we can’t deny that they still felt bad and cried. But they didn’t look like they were ready to give up. K previously mentioned that “Whoever makes it in, it will be an awesome group,” and then in their debut interview, he also mentioned that the six WILL continue working for their dream, so I figured they all must have sat down beforehand and talked about it. I guess they came to an agreement that whoever makes it in, the remaining will continue and meet each other on stage again. (I may be biased, but something in the way K said it with determination made me want to trust his words and keep hoping.)

Also, looking at the producers’ expressions, especially the four who have been with them since the beginning (Sakura, Soma, Sungdeuk, Pdogg), they looked down. Probably because they experienced first-hand the friendship of the fifteen, more especially Sakura and Soma. Sakura could not control herself and started crying while saying her speech. She said she was aware of how much people wanted the fifteen to debut together, and she must have wanted it too, if only it was within her power. But then again, fifteen would be too much so it had to be done. Such a heartbreaking truth, don’t you think? Haha!

And might I add that the producers were also positive about it. They were encouraging the others not to give up and that the time will come, with Mr. Imai who seemed to be hinting at something by saying that the nine may meet the six again, who knows, after six months, or after a year. I may be assuming this just to make myself feel better, but I think everyone around the fifteen really is aware of their friendship. And I’m sure HYBE is aware. So who knows… Let’s not lose hope.

One last thing I liked about the show is how the six were still given the spotlight in the end, which made me appreciate the host, the staff, the producers, and all those behind it. It would be even more heartbreaking if they chose the debut members and sent the remaining ones away immediately, knowing how they were all good friends. And I think that was their way of letting them spend their last time together, with Hayate even still managing to pull out a joke, making the venue feel lighter. Haha! This is why I’m saying that the show is probably aware of this beautiful friendship and did not want to end it abruptly. Even after seeing this, I hope HYBE’s conscience would keep bothering them and eventually debut them. (Kidding!)

But I really really reaaaaally do hope so. HYBE, please hear our plea.

Among all those that I have watched, this brotherhood is one I have never seen, and one I have never felt so close to before. Not even that darn I-Land can come close to how beautiful this is. No drama, no evil editing, and most importantly, the friendship. It felt like watching the bonding of my favorite sports team. That’s probably it. They were a team who had each other’s back. One falls, the others raise him up, and carry him towards the finish line. A true display of camaraderie.

Thank you, andAUDITION.

To fans of the six, keep supporting them. Keep interacting. Show them that there are still people out there who are waiting. I myself will do the same. 

Let us all enjoy both teams, supporting the debuting team while rooting for the six until the day comes when they all meet again… Let us not give up. 

FIGHTING!

(End note: Sorry it’s all over the place. This is very embarrassing, but I couldn’t help but get emotional while writing this. HAHAHA! As I said, the end happened so fast. I could not bring myself to cry even when I was feeling really bad after the show. And that dragged for the next few days. I felt really heavy, but I still couldn’t bring myself to cry. It was getting frustrating. So I’m glad I was finally able to let it out and smile at the precious memories.