For a moment, I forgot the answer to a question I hadn't even asked myself.
Sixteen finalists sat beneath the event lights. Cameras tracked our faces. A few meters away, fans watched with the kind of attention I'd once dreamed of receiving.
PD Kwon waited patiently.
"I'm quieter than some contestants," I said at last. "But that doesn't mean I have nothing to say. Sometimes it's easier to express myself through music."
A few people applauded.
"That's why we love your singing!" someone called.
Another fan raised her hand. "Does being reserved mean you're uncomfortable interacting with supporters?"
The question stung more than I expected. I was trying so hard to make a good impression, and apparently even my silence required an explanation.
"I'm grateful to everyone who's supported me," I said. "I'm still learning how to communicate outside performances. I hope you'll be patient while I figure it out."
It wasn't clever, but it was true.
