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Jake got used to seeing his old friends quite quickly, due to the fact that many companies had begun to actively encourage friendships and bonds between groups as they realised that fans preferred to see the idols as friends. The idols who had participated in I-Land had slowly begun to showcase the special bond that being on the show had forced them to have. However due to Jake’s contract, he was unable to share or appear in any content with idols that he didn’t work with, so even five years later Jake was the only participant who had not been heard from since the scandal that caused him to give up on his dream.
So, when a reunion show was announced to mark the ten year anniversary of I-Land, Jake was nervous to appear, as he knew people would learn that he worked with Le Sserafim. He had become known as the attractive manager that the girl group didn’t think of as a member of staff but as a brother, who they often pulled into their chaotic actions.
As he stood backstage, it felt weird. Usually Jake was the stage manager as it was his expertise out of the regular crew, so to know that he was there with the intent of going on stage, it was nerve racking. He looked at Seon and Echan, who were both with him as they were the last to go up on stage due to them being the only ones to not formally debut under a company. Soon enough though the duo was called to join the others on the stage and Jake was left alone, his heart racing as it set in that he was doing this.
“And finally, there is one contestant who has barely been seen since the ending of I-Land Part One. Please everyone, welcome Jake!” the voice echoed throughout the staduim.
A chorus of surprised yet pleased screams bellowed from the crowds, the fans appeared to be losing their poor minds.
Stepping onto the stage, Jake felt oddly at ease. He could do this. He had done this. He would be fine.
Jake found himself smiling at the audience and shaking the presenters hands with a firm grip, shakily yet still somehow just confidently enough managing to say, “oh wow…” he let out a small chuckle, “I’ve never actually been in front of an audience this big…uh…” he glanced at the continuously screaming fans, then the others on stage, “I’m, uh… I’m Jake? I guess,” another nervous laugh, “some of you may or may not recognise me… I'm a manager for Le Sserafim now, have been for quite a while, actually, “ the laugh this time was not scared, but… excited, “a little over seven years now.”
He finally sat on the simple stool that had been provided. Jake calmly looked at everyone on stage, he had never been given the chance to see them all together due to his scandal as they had forced him to leave the show officially before they all were able to get together. The cheers and smiling faces gave him the confidence to keep going, “I just want to say that, despite me leaving the show not being how I wanted everything to go… I’m incredibly grateful for the show ‘cause it helped me meet the people on stage with me, and they've each changed my life in different ways… I- I know it's ‘sappy,’ or whatever, but I- I love them. I love them all so damn much and if… if i could go back and change anything, I wouldn't. I don’t think I could bring myself to.”