ISTTIMI

CHAPTER 8: CROWN

October 23rd, the last day of the pageant began.

Taehyung, Jinyoung, and I introduced all the candidates from each class.

"Let's give it up for Ms. Kim Jennie and Mr. Park Jimin from Class 10A - representing New Zealand!" Jinyoung introduced our classmates.

When the rest were already introduced, we announced the chosen candidates to perform their submitted videos for the talent portion live.

Fortunately, all my friends were included. Yeah, I know, they're just that talented.

Personally, I saw some candidates that have high chances of winning.

First of all, of course, are Jimin and Jennie from our class, 10A. They're representing New Zealand, also known as Aotearoa, the country's Maori name which translates to Land of the Long White Cloud. Pretty, isn't it?

From 9C, Lisa and her partner, Jungkook, representing Thailand, have a big chance of winning as well since their singing was stable. Their voices blended perfectly leaving me and Taehyung in awe. Then from 9B, the class who represents Australia, I'm pretty sure the girl candidate can win; not that I'm biased or anything (ok, maybe a little), Roseanne can win since she's prettier than the other candidates anyway. Jaehyung looks good with Rosie too, but since I'm biased, Jimin and Jungkook got my vote.

Lastly, as much as I don't want to admit it, my brother, Seokjin from 12A can win too, together with his partner, Bae Joohyun or popularly known as Irene. They're representing the Republic of Korea. The two of them looked real cute when they wore their matching hanboks, and by the way Jin sang the high note of the famous song, Epiphany, I'm sure he caught the judges' attention.

Loud cheers echoed inside the auditorium with students supporting different candidates, may it be their classmates or not.

When the Q and A portion came, the boys and girls whom the judges have chosen to stay onstage were then asked different questions. For this last portion, the remaining male candidates were Jimin, Jin, and Jungkook while the females were Lisa, Jennie, and Rosie.

Jin was the first one to get called.

"A lot of students are probably wondering, so I'll be the one who'll ask this question for them." Taehyung announced, "Mr. Kim Seokjin, how are you so handsome?"

The crowd laughed as Jin's hold of his mic tightened. "You just have to be born that way. It's hard, honestly speaking." My brother shook his head slowly, acting like being handsome really is tough for him.

"Nice answer but that's not the real question for you, Mr. Kim." I said. Jin tried to stop smiling and managed to keep a straight face. "Mr. Byun, you may ask your question."

"If you were famous and lots of people looked up to you, what timely advice would you give them?"

"Thank you for that question, Mr. Byun." Jin cleared his throat, "Well, since growing up in the society we have today is giving us too much pressure, I'd like people to know that each of us have our own paces. We should remind ourselves to take it slow when we're not yet sure if what we're doing is the the one we're going to be happy with in the present and future as well. Go at your own pace, steadily," he said. "If any of you feel lost, in doubt of anything, or even pressured of starting over again, don't rush.

Just keep calm and rational. With a steady pace, you may realize some things you haven't before - things you've thought of useless but really have a purpose for you - and find that any moment you'll come across can be an opportunity for you. Lastly, allow yourself to take life easy. Take things one step at a time, then you'll learn a lot of things after."