No matter the glitz or glam, award show days were always a whirlwind of chaos. And today, Eclipse was no exception.
Award season had arrived in full force, and the weight of it was already taking its toll on Aerin. Just the night before, she had poured her heart out to Hyunjae, but now she couldn't help but downplay her confession, pretending as though nothing had been said, nothing had changed.
"Alright, everyone! Let's get going!" Manager Yoo's voice cut through the air, and one by one, the members piled into the sleek van waiting outside. They hadn't yet slipped into their stage outfits, and that was a relief for Aerin. She'd felt lightheaded all day, and the thought of squeezing herself into a tight dress was enough to make her stomach churn.
She masked her discomfort well, but the pounding headache and the growing blur in her vision were hard to ignore. She was fighting to keep herself together. This was the last thing she needed—not today. One wrong step, one miscalculation, and it could all crumble. Their debut was fragile enough as it was, and she couldn't afford another scandal.
Yes, the company had released a statement the night before to clear the air, and things had settled—for now. But Aerin knew better. If anything happened today, if she faltered in any way, Eclipse could be on the chopping block before they even had the chance to prove themselves.
. . .
"Rinnie, you're sweating." Yuna's soft voice broke through her thoughts. Aerin touched her forehead—feverish to the touch. The dizziness hadn't relented. If anything, it was only growing worse.
"I'm fine, Yuna. Let's go! It's our turn on the red carpet," Aerin replied, trying to sound more confident than she felt. Yuna gave her an uncertain look, but she said nothing more, following the rest of the group as they prepared for their entrance.
As Eclipse made their way to the red carpet, they were met by the last remnants of Seventeen's time on it. Jihoon caught a glimpse of Aerin from the corner of his eye, followed by Seungcheol, who couldn't quite hide the flush creeping across his cheeks. He cursed under his breath, trying to push the emotion away.
Aerin's outfit was flawless, elegant in its simplicity, but something about her presence felt... off. Her smile didn't reach her eyes, and her shoulders were tense in a way that spoke volumes. Seungcheol made a mental note to check on her later, to see if she was really okay.
"Thank you, Seventeen! Now, let's welcome K-pop's next big thing—Eclipse!" The MC's voice rang out, and Aerin took a deep breath, steeling herself. All she had to do was get through this. Once the red carpet was over, she could break down all she wanted in private.
The tight waist of her outfit dug into her stomach, making the nausea worse, and every step felt like it was pushing her to the brink of collapse. She just had to make it through, to make a good impression. It was all she could focus on.
The moment they finished their appearance and bowed in unison, Aerin made a swift exit, slipping into the dressing room. She barely made it to the washroom before her body rejected the food she hadn't even had the appetite to eat that day.
It was fifteen minutes before Aerin could stand again, enough time to regain some semblance of composure. She popped a mint into her mouth, hoping the fresh taste would quell the lingering bitterness in her mouth, and made her way back into the hallway.
"Holy shit—what are you doing?" Aerin's thoughts were cut off by a hand covering her mouth and pulling her into the shadows.
She blinked, startled, only to find herself face-to-face with someone she hadn't expected.
"Jeonghan Sunbaenim?" She stammered, confusion flooding her senses. They hadn't even properly met before, so why was he the one to help her?
"What? Were you expecting someone else?" His voice was playful, but Aerin's heart still raced in disbelief.
"Let me explain," Jeonghan continued, his tone shifting to something softer. "I saw you rushing to the washroom and figured something was wrong. I wanted to check up on you. I know we haven't met before, but you're Woozi's family, and—well, it was just instinct." His blunt honesty struck Aerin in an unexpected way, and she found herself smiling.
"And please, just call me Jeonghan. No need for the formalities."
Aerin's cheeks flushed slightly at the slip, and she corrected herself. "Sure, Jeonghan."
He raised an eyebrow at her, clearly amused by her flustered demeanor, but didn't comment on it.
"You're still not okay, are you?" Jeonghan's voice was gentle, though it carried a sense of concern she hadn't expected. But Aerin, too proud to admit it, forced a small smile.
"I'm fine," she said quickly, even though every part of her screamed otherwise. "But you need to get on stage soon, right? Go ahead. Thank you for checking on me."
Jeonghan gave her a last, lingering look before he backed away. "Any time."
The performance had been flawless—at least to everyone else. To the audience, it looked like another incredible display from Eclipse as they performed "Psycho" and "Impurities," but Aerin felt like she might collapse at any moment. The smile she wore was a mask, and though she was used to playing the part, today, it felt heavier than ever.
Seventeen, sitting in the artist seats, had no idea that beneath Aerin's bright smile, she was battling the worst of it. They clapped and cheered, singing along to the song, but not a single one of them noticed the way she was struggling to stay upright.
The moment the song ended, Aerin was beyond relieved. She was too exhausted to stand, but she forced herself to make her way offstage, focusing only on the next step.
"Great job, you guys!" Aki cheered backstage, but the celebration faltered when the members took a closer look at their leader. Aerin was paler than she had been before, and there was a hollow exhaustion in her eyes. Her movements were sluggish, uncharacteristic of the energetic leader they were accustomed to seeing.
"Hey, Rin, you okay?" Yuna asked, her voice laced with concern. Aerin nodded, but just as quickly, the world seemed to tip sideways. Her vision blurred, and before she could respond, everything went black.
