At the Ilsan MBC Dream Center, Jennie sat with the other guests, wearing white high waisted jeans, a white top, a black beanie with her curly hair down and her one of many favorite pairs of Nike sneakers. She was elated that she was asked to join these two episodes of King of Masked Singer. When the announcer opened up the show, recapping what happened on the previous episode

“Let’s enter the first gate to see who’s the 4th generation of the Mask King. We’ll begin the duet singing!”

Before the show, Jennie had talked with the other judges, and they were pleasantly surprised that she wasn’t singing on the show and decided to be a judge instead. She had told them that she will love to sing on the show once she improves her vocal skills and to keep their ears open because she could be on the show at any time.

She was looking forward to blowing viewers away once her vocal skills improve. She enjoyed shows like this, where all that people would focus on is the vocals, not the looks.

Jen and the rest of the judges watched the first competition, which was between high frequency pair antennas and daddy cheer up.

Jennie, being a harmony expert when it came to her vocals, paid close attention to the two competitors as they sung The Blue in You. She had no idea who was who and couldn’t give any guesses to the judges as they assumed the man was tall and might be PSY under the mask.

As soon as she heard the female sing, under her pink mask, Jennie felt her stomach drop.
That voice soundly painfully familiar.

Someone that she’s frequently listened to over the years. But she might be wrong and didn’t want to assume right away. But something in her body was telling her that the person that she was thinking of is the person under that mask. And if this is the person that she’s thinking of, then she has no idea how she will react when she might be able to see her face.

“Jennie, have any idea who any of them are?” Bong Sun asks.

“Something in me is telling me that I’ve heard the female’s voice before. But I dunno if I want to make a guess, yet.” She answers as she continues to listen to the vocals.

‘I think I know who that is…and if this is her, I think I’m going to pass out.’ Jennie thought as her butterflies got even worse. She was not ready to be in the presence of this woman if this is was who she thought she was.

This could be the woman she’s thinking about because Jennie has watched a lot of music shows this woman has been on and knows how she handles her microphone and how she sounds. As she continued to listen to her powerful but controlling pitches when she sings, Jennie decided to go with her gut.

‘This has to be Ailee.’ She thought to herself as she exhales and tried to calm herself down.
After their performance, and sharing a few laughs when the man playfully pushed the pink antenna woman, the judges talk about how good their voices are together.

“The harmony was A-1! Loved it, it’s so nice.” Jennie adds.

“One of the great duet songs in Korea. Kim Hyun Cheol and Lee So Ra’s. Both of them sang in a different way, showing different feelings. Now, this is the time for the judges to do the voting. Number one is High Frequency Pair Antennas. Number two is Daddy, cheer up! Please vote for the voice which you’d like to listen again in the next round!” The announcer states.

Jennie automatically presses number one to vote for High Frequency Pair antennas. She was eager to listen to more.

Once it was revealed that high frequency pair antennas was the winner with the result of 54 vs 45 votes, Jennie was thrilled that she still in the competition.

“I’m so happy. I will show you a better stage at the next round.” High frequency pair antennas says. Her voice was on a high pitch to avoid her voice.

---

For the next round, Jennie eagerly watches as Hardware store boss Kim walked onto the stage. “I like that mask.” She comments.

“I agree, he’s cool.” One of the judges remarks.

The next contestant was named SangAmDong whistle. The judges point out that the first guy has long hair. Jennie noticed how shorter SangAmDong whistle was and high key liked his outfit choice because it reminded her of the movie Kill Bill.

The one behind the mask was none other than Taeil, who had a hidden smile on his face, thanks to his mask as he saw his friend being a judge for the show. He was happy to see Jennie and wondered if she’ll be able to recognize him. They sang together back at the MAMA Awards, last year. Will she remember how he sounds?

The judges eagerly listen to the two contestants sing Only Feeling you, as Jennie sways side to side in her seat to the beat while watching the contestants dance to the beat. “The one in yellow looks so cute.” She murmurs. As she listened, she placed her hand over her heart as she heard Whistle's voice and strong vocals. Their voices blended so well together. This would be a tough choice to vote for.

“That harmony! My ears are in love!” She says as she continues to watch them perform.
After they were finished, the judges discussed how confused they were on who they thought was who. When the voting started, Jennie decided to vote for number 2, which was the whistle.

“Why did I think of Kill Bill?” She asks herself as SangAmDong Whistle introduced himself and talked about his love for Bruce Lee. So, that’s why he wore his outfit.

“Why do I keep on thinking that you are Nam Chang hee?” One of the judges asks as some of the other judges agreed. “You are a gagman, right?”

A brief pause before Whistle asked in confusion, “What?” as everyone laughs.

The judges assumed that the one in the yellow was used to performing and has a nice voice, and requested him to play with his nunchucks. Everyone laughs at his efforts.

The two contestants were requested to sing briefly to a song for a short duration of their real voices. They heard the first contestant but when it came to SangAmDong Whistle, it sounded like he faked a voice to keep his identity withheld, causing everyone to laugh.

“What!?” Jennie laughs.

“What was that? Was that your real voice? Whistle!” One of the judges calls him out, causing everyone to bust out in laughter.

After the banter, the reveal the results. They said that the celeb judges were all the same and it looked like the votes were in favor of Whistle. 34 votes to 65. Jennie laughs out loud as his dancing celebration. “He’s so adorable, hahah!”

For the next set of filming, for the first stage of the second round, High frequency pair antennas came on stage. The judges start discussing how high her heels were and that she takes good care of her body. She chose to sing for her solo stage, for you, as Jennie and the rest of the judges watch closely.

It was something about her voice that made Jennie start to tear up.
There was no mistake about it.
This woman was her favorite singer.
It definitely had to be Ailee.

She studied so much about Ailee, she had a strong feeling it was her, from her hand motions and the tone of her voice. Jen had a bright smile on her face, as judges start to notice that she may know who it is. She tried her best not to freak out, but she ended up doing so, silently.

With her eyes closed, Jennie focused on the voice, and once she sang that high note, it was no mistake that this was Ailee.

Sang Am Dong whistle was next for his solo stage, as Jennie couldn’t help but focus on his walk. “I’ve seen someone walk like this before, but I just can’t remember…” She murmurs.
Sang Am Dong had decided to sing Doll.

Once the voting began, Jennie had decided to vote for high frequency pair antennas despite loving the both of them. She wanted to say that it was Ailee but decided to stay silent because she was so tongue-tied and nervous. But a judge did reveal that she couldn’t hide her originality and that it was Ailee.

When asked about Sang Am Dong, Jennie voiced her opinion, “You sound experienced, I have no idea who you are. You’re defiantly an idol.”

“You know me.” Sang Am Dong replies.

“I do?!” She asks in surprise, causing the judges to wonder. “I only know a select few idols so far. Can you give me a hint?” She requests but he playfully refuses her offer.

Once they announced the winner of the third round, which was paired antennas, Sang Am Dong takes off his mask. After he takes off his mask, he puts on his glasses and turns around to reveal his face to the audience.

It was Taeil from Block B.

Jennie drops her jaw and stands up, while the audience, especially the females cheered. “No-way!”

Taeil shoots her a smile and nods. “Way.”

“Hold up! There is no way!” She exclaims while applauding with the judges. How could she miss how his voice sounds if they sang together at the Mama Awards?

For the third round, Paired antennas had performed again, as she sings Bruise. Jennie jams out in her seat as she listens to Ailee sing. Her voice sounded more like Ailee, as she went all out for this performance. And Jen was loving every second of it.

“Yassss! WOO!” Jennie stands up and applauds after she ended the song with a high note. “
Once CBR Cleopatra and Paired antennas were on stage together to see who will be in the final round, it was declared that Cleopatra won the most votes and becomes the nominee of the fourth generation of mask king. Votes were 41 to 58.

“Sadly, you are eliminated.” The host tells paired antennas. “We will now reveal the identity of paired antennas who’s sadly eliminated.”

Once she takes off the mask, Jennie couldn’t help but freak out a little as she saw that it was exactly Ailee in the flesh as everyone applauds.

“Korea’s best skilled singer! Ailee!”

“Thank you!” She happily laughs and bows, fixing her hair. She was even hugged by Cleopatra.

“She received a lot of love and voting. Are you disappointed?” The host asks

“I thought that I got figured out too quickly. I have expected that Hyun Do oppa will figure me out immediately. Because we did several recordings together. I’ve tried my best to hide it but he’s like a ghost. But since I can show all the songs which I’ve prepared, I’m really thankful!” She responds with a bright smile.

‘This woman isn’t real. She is so damn precious, I swear’ Jennie freaks out in her head. She wished that she could’ve spoken up and said something but her butterflies got to her and she was just too nervous and stunned that she was actually here.

After the show, Jennie managed to catch Taeil backstage, giving him a big hug. She expressed how much she missed him and how impressed she was with his singing.
“You know, you should be on the show.” He suggests.

“I want to. But I want to be on the show when my singing improves. I’ll get there. And I’d love to be able to make my parents cry when I sing. I always dreamed of that. That’s one of my goals. I dunno when I'll accomplish it but if I could do that, I’ll feel like I can do anything. Ugh, I’m just upset I couldn’t see Ailee. But I was over there all awkward and nervous, I want to be cool and calm when I meet her.”

Taeil chuckles. “Good things happen to those who wait. Who knows, there may even be a better opportunity to meet her instead of backstage at this show. Don’t beat yourself up. You’ll meet her.”

“That makes me look forward to the future.”

Taking a selfie with him, she posts on Twitter, ‘I-MISSED-THIS-GUY! #HaveANiceDay #AllMyPartyPeopleReady!’

Notes