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the air backstage buzzed with a mixture of nerves and excitement. talia could feel the weight of it in every breath she took. she stood in front of the mirror, her long, straight hair cascading down her back, framing her face like a curtain.
the makeup artists had worked hard to perfect her look—bright eyes, flawless skin, a gentle brush that accentuated her hawiian and taiwanese features.
but none of that mattered now.
all she could think about was the stage waiting just a few feet away. it felt like everything had led to this moment—every sleepless night, every time she pushed her body beyond its limit, every second of doubt.
"talia, are you ready?"
the voice startled her out of her thoughts. it was huening kai, standing behind her with his wide, supportive smile. his youthful energy was conatgious, but even he couldn't hide the nervous tremble in his voice. today was his debut day, too, and the pressure hung over them both like a thick cloud.
she turned to him, forcing a smile. "i think so. are you?"
he laughed softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "i guess? i just. . . i keep thinking, what if we mess up? what if i trip or forget the lyrics? there are so many things that could go wrong."
talia placed a hand on his shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. "we've got this. we've practiced this a hundred times. nothing's going to go wrong. and even if something does, we'll get through it together."
huening kai nodded, his eyes softening. "thank, yunnie."
the nickname made her grin. it was a reminder of the bond they had forged over years of training. the members had become her family in ways that the foster care system never could. they were her brothers—her teammates—and this was as much their moment as it was hers.
suddenly, the door to their waiting room flew open, and soobin rushed in, eyes wide. "guys, it's time!"
her heart skipped a beat. this was it.
talia glanced at herself one last time in the mirror, took a deep breath, and followed her members down the hallway. they moved in a tight formation, their steps quiet but purposeful. around them, staff members buzzed with activity, headsets crackling with instructions, camera operators setting up for what would be one of the most important moments of their lives.
she could hear the faint hum of the crowd outside the stage, thousands of fans already chanting for TXT before they had even seen them. the sound was electrifying and talia felt a rush of adrenaline surge through her body.
as they reached the end of the stage, their manager, who had been with them from the very beginning, gathered them in a circle. his face was stern, but there was a hint of pride in his eyes.
"this is it, guys," he said, he voice calm but firm. "you've worked so hard to get here. don't let the nerves get the best of you. just go out there, give it everything you've got, and have fun. remember, you only debut once."
the words hit talia harder than she expected. she had been so focused on the technicalities—on the dance steps, the notes, the lyrics—that she had forgotten to savor the moment. this wasn't just any performance. this was the start of something much bigger than herself.
the manager gave them a final nod, and as he stepped back, soobin pulled them into a huddle.
"let's do this together," soobin said, his voice steady. "no matter what happens, we've got each other."
talia smiled, feeling a surge of warmth in her chest. "TXT fighting!" she cheered along with the others, their voice blending together in a burst of unity.
they broke the huddle and lined up, waiting for their cue. the lights dimmed and the crowd's excitement grew to a roar. the stage felt like a living, breathing entity beneath her feet, pulsating with the energy of thousands of eyes fixed on them.
the intro of their debut song, crown, began to play, and the music wrapped around them like a blanket of familiarity. talia could feel the vibrations of the bass in her chest as the lights flashed to life.
as the first notes rang, beomgyu stepped forward, his voice smooth and confident as he began the opening lines. talia was next. her heart pounded in her chest, but the moment her voice left her throat, everything else disappeared.
her voice was steady, powerful, the result of years of training. she moved across the stage with practiced precision, her long limbs creating graceful lines with every step. the choreography felt instinctual, like an extension of herself, each move flowing naturally from the last.
as they hit the chorus, the energy in the room surged. the crowd sang along with them, already knowing the words, and the connection between them and the audience was undeniable. talia could feel her nerves melting away, replaced by the pure thrill of performing.
in the corner of her eyes, she saw beomgyu flash her a quick thumbs-up as he danced past her. it was such a small gesture, but it made her smile mid-performance. beomgyu always knew how to lighten the mood, even in the most intense moments.
as the song reached its climax, the lights flashed in sync with their movements, and the final note echoed through the venue, lingering in the air for a brief magical moment. the crowd erupted into cheers, the sound almost deafening. talia's heart raced, not from nerves, but from the overwhelming sense of accomplishment.
they had done it.
breathing heavily, she exchanged glances with her members, who all looked equally dazed and exhilarated. there was a brief pause as they gathered themselves, and then they stood in a line, bowing deeply to the audience. the cheers intensified, and talia could feel tears prickling at the corner of her eyes.
