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talia's phone buzzed on the beside table, the sound cutting through the silence of her dimly lit dorm room. she reached for it, squinting slightly at the brightness of the screen.
a text from rina popped up:
hey talia! just checking in. heard about the show! how are you holding up?
a small smile tugged at talia's lips. rina always had a way of brightening her day, even miles away. she quickly typed back, her fingers pausing to consider her words.
i'm okay, just tired. i'll fill you in later!
with a sigh, she tossed her phone aside and lay back against the pillow, staring at the ceiling. the memories of the music show replayed in her mind like a slow-motion film. the cheers, the confetti, the thrill of winning—they all felt distant now, overshadowed by the throbbing pain in her head that had lingered far longer than she'd hoped.
talia turned onto her side, pulling the blanket closer around her. she tried to remember the excitement of the day—the anticipation, the performances, and the electric energy that filled the air. but the dull ache in her temples clouded those vibrant memories, making them feel unreachable.
her thoughts drifted to her members and the conversation they'd had after the show. soobin had been particularly supportive, reminding her that it was okay to rest. he had always knew how to say the right thing, but the guilt still gnawed at her.
she couldn't shake the feeling of disappointment at having to miss the upcoming award show. it was supposed to be a huge celebration, and she had looked forward to it for weeks. talia had wanted to share the stage with her members, to cheer them on as they took their well-deserved place in the spotlight. now, all she felt was a sense of emptiness.
talia glanced at the clock on her nightstand. it was early evening, but she felt the heaviness of the day pulling her into the depths of fatigue. she closed her eyes, trying to find solace in sleep, but the rhythmic pounding in her head made it impossible to drift off.
suddenly her phone buzzed again. she grabbed it, hoping for another message from rina or maybe a meme to lift her spirits. instead, it was a group chat notification from TXT.
hey, how are you feeling? yeonjun had sent a message, followed by a string of concerned emojis.
she couldn't help but feel a flutter of warmth at his words. she was always looking out for her, even when she wished they wouldn't. she was the strong one, the one who took care of everyone else.
i'm okay, resting now! promise i'll be back to my usual self soon!
as she hit send, a small part of her felt guilty for lying. she wanted to be strong for them, but the truth was, she felt anything but. talia tossed her phone back onto the bed, staring at the wall opposite her.
