Beyond the Limit- Jay

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It was another late night at the practice room, and Jay was the last one standing. The other members had left hours ago, their energy drained from the day’s grueling rehearsals. But Jay, driven by an unstoppable need for perfection, stayed behind. His body was screaming for rest, every muscle aching from overuse, but his mind refused to let go. There was always something that could be improved—a sharper move, a cleaner transition, a more powerful expression.

He knew the others would be worried if they found out he was still here, especially after they had all agreed to call it a night. But Jay wasn’t satisfied. His relentless pursuit of excellence had always been both his strength and his downfall. He had high expectations for himself, and he wasn’t going to stop until he met them.

As the clock ticked past midnight, Jay ran through the choreography one more time. His movements were sharp but labored, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He pushed harder, determined to get every detail right. But his body was reaching its breaking point, and with one final leap, his legs gave out beneath him.

He collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air, his heart pounding in his chest. The room spun around him as he lay there, drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted. He had pushed himself too far, and now he was paying the price.

For a few minutes, Jay just lay there, staring up at the ceiling, trying to catch his breath. His body felt heavy, weighed down by fatigue and the creeping realization that he had overdone it again. He hated this feeling—this sense of weakness that came when he pushed himself too hard. But it was a cycle he couldn’t seem to break.

Eventually, Jay forced himself to sit up, his limbs trembling with the effort. He knew he couldn’t stay here all night, and he didn’t want the others to find him like this. Slowly, painfully, he dragged himself to his feet, grabbing his bag and heading for the door. Every step felt like a monumental task, but Jay gritted his teeth and pushed through it. He couldn’t let anyone see how badly he had worn himself out.

By the time he made it back to the dorm, the lights were off, and the other members were already asleep. Jay quietly slipped into his room, careful not to make any noise. He collapsed onto his bed, his body finally giving in to the exhaustion that had been threatening to take over all night.

But the next morning, his exhaustion was impossible to hide.

When Jay woke up, every part of him ached. His muscles felt stiff and unresponsive, and even the simple act of getting out of bed seemed like an insurmountable challenge. But practice was waiting, and Jay knew he couldn’t afford to take a day off. Not when there was so much work left to do.

He stumbled into the kitchen, where the others were already gathered, eating breakfast and chatting about the day ahead. Sunghoon was the first to notice Jay’s pale face and sluggish movements.

“Jay, are you okay?” Sunghoon asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Jay nodded quickly, forcing a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired.”

Jake frowned, setting down his coffee cup. “You sure? You look worse than tired.”

“I’m fine,” Jay insisted, though his voice lacked its usual energy. He didn’t want to admit how badly he had overworked himself. The last thing he wanted was for the others to think he couldn’t handle the pressure.

But the members weren’t convinced. As they headed to the practice room, Jungwon kept a close eye on Jay, noticing how his steps were slower, his movements more deliberate. It wasn’t like Jay to hold back during practice, and it was clear that something was wrong.

Once they started practicing, it became even more obvious. Jay’s usually flawless execution was off—his timing was a little late, his moves less precise. He was trying to keep up, but his body wasn’t cooperating. Sweat dripped down his face, and his breath came in short, labored bursts. But still, Jay refused to stop.

“Jay, take a break,” Heeseung finally said, stepping forward after they finished a run-through. “You’re pushing yourself too hard.”

Jay shook his head, his pride refusing to let him admit defeat. “I’m fine. I just need to keep going.”

But as they started the routine again, Jay’s body reached its limit. In the middle of a spin, his legs buckled beneath him, and he collapsed onto the floor. The music stopped abruptly as the members rushed to his side, panic written across their faces.

“Jay!” Sunoo exclaimed, kneeling beside him. “What happened? Are you hurt?”

Jay winced, trying to sit up, but his body felt like it was made of lead. “I’m fine,” he muttered, though it was clear he wasn’t. “I just… overdid it.”

“Overdid it?” Jungwon repeated, his voice laced with concern. “Jay, you’ve been pushing yourself too hard for days. Why didn’t you tell us?”

Jay looked down, guilt washing over him. “I didn’t want to hold everyone back. I thought if I just worked a little harder, I could get it right.”

Heeseung sighed, shaking his head. “Jay, you’re not holding anyone back. We’re a team. If you need to rest, you rest. No one’s going to think less of you for it.”

Jake nodded, his expression serious. “Pushing yourself to the point of collapse isn’t going to help anyone, least of all you. We need you at your best, and that means knowing when to take a step back.”

Jay’s eyes stung with unshed tears, a mix of frustration and relief swirling inside him. He had been so focused on being perfect, on meeting his own impossibly high standards, that he had forgotten the importance of balance.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “I didn’t mean to worry you guys.”

Sunghoon placed a hand on Jay’s shoulder, giving him a reassuring smile. “It’s okay, Jay. We just want you to be okay. Take a break, rest up. We’ll cover for you.”

The others nodded in agreement, their concern evident in their expressions. Jay felt a wave of gratitude wash over him, knowing that he wasn’t alone in this. They were a team, and they would support each other no matter what.

With their help, Jay slowly got back on his feet, though he still felt weak and unsteady. The members insisted that he sit out for the rest of the day, and though it was hard for him to let go, Jay knew they were right. He needed to take care of himself if he wanted to be there for the group in the long run.

As he sat on the sidelines, watching his friends continue practicing, Jay realized that pushing himself to the limit wasn’t the answer. It was okay to rest, to admit when he needed help. And with the support of his members, he knew he could find that balance.

Because in the end, they were stronger together.

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**End.**

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