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Wooyoung - Fainting on Stage

The cold winter air bit at Wooyoung's skin as he trudged through the snow, the faint outline of the practice room barely visible in the distance. Despite the chill, he felt a warm flush in his cheeks, a sign that he was coming down with something. He shook his head, trying to clear the fog that was creeping into his mind. "I can't be sick now," he muttered to himself, determination setting in. He was scheduled to perform that weekend, and there was no way he would let the team down. But with every step, his legs felt heavier, and a cough escaped his lips, echoing through the stillness. He tried to get through it, but every second put him through agony. He sat on the chair so the makeup artist can put makeup on and get him ready for the concert. She frowned, but didn't comment on it. Wooyoung held back a cough when the members walked in. The makeup artist finished putting the makeup on. It hid most of the paleness and flush in his cheeks. He sighed. As the members filed in, Wooyoung forced a smile, trying to mask his discomfort. Yunho immediately noticed something was off. 

"Hey, Wooyoung, you good?" he asked, concern etched across his face. Wooyoung waved a dismissive hand, though it came out more like a weak gesture. 

"Yeah, just tired from practice," he replied, his voice hoarse. San raised an eyebrow, glancing between Wooyoung and the makeup artist, who was packing up her supplies. 

"You don't look so good, though," he said, stepping closer. Wooyoung could feel his heart race at the thought of worrying his members, but just then, a shiver coursed through him, and he fought to suppress another cough, hoping it wouldn't give him away.

"I'm fine I'll be ok. The concert starts soon." Wooyoung said, forcing a smile and holding back coughs, ticking and scratching at his throat. Hongjoong looked at him, narrowing his eyes.

"Wooyoung, you know you can't just push through this," Hongjoong said firmly, crossing his arms. The rest of the members exchanged worried glances, sensing the tension in the air. Wooyoung felt the heat rise to his face, a mix of embarrassment and frustration swirling inside him. 

"I'll be fine! Just a little cold," he insisted, but the tremor in his voice betrayed him. Seonghwa stepped forward, placing a hand on Wooyoung's shoulder, his expression softening. 

"You're part of this team, and we want you at your best. It's okay to take a step back if you need to," he said gently. Wooyoung wanted to argue, but as he looked into Seonghwa's eyes, he felt the weight of his fatigue crashing down.

"I....I can't just skip the concert. It's too late for that now. I'll be fine." He suppressed another cough, not wanting to show how bad he really felt. 

The room fell silent, the tension palpable as the members exchanged worried looks. "Wooyoung, we're all in this together," Mingi said, stepping in to support Seonghwa. "If you're not feeling well, we can rearrange things. The fans want to see you healthy, not pushing yourself to the limit." Wooyoung clenched his fists, the stubbornness bubbling within him. 

"You don't understand," he replied, voice strained. "I don't want to disappoint anyone." Just then, the stage manager popped her head in, calling for them to gather. Wooyoung took a deep breath, his heart pounding, but he knew he had to go out there. As they started to line up, he felt another cough clawing its way up, and he fought it back, determined to make it through. He groaned, throat hurting more than before. He turned his hands to weak fists and sighed. As they walked toward the stage, each step felt like a challenge. Wooyoung's throat throbbed with pain, and he could feel the warmth of fever creeping through his body. The roar of the crowd was electrifying, but it also made his head spin. Just before stepping into the spotlight, he paused, closing his eyes for a brief moment to steady himself. "You got this, Wooyoung," he whispered, but doubt gnawed at him. As the members took their positions, he felt Yunho's presence beside him.