The bustling sound of the crowd echoed through the large stadium, an electric atmosphere igniting excitement in the air. Fans waved colorful banners and chanted TXT's name, a wave of energy sweeping across the arena. On stage, the five members of Tomorrow X Together—Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and Hueningkai—were ready to kick off their concert.
As the lights dimmed and the first notes of their opening song filled the air, Hueningkai stepped forward, his heart racing with adrenaline. The choreography was tight, and his movements flowed effortlessly with the music. He gave it his all, dancing under the spotlight, feeding off the energy from the crowd. But amidst the excitement, a sudden slip sent him crashing to the floor, a sickening sound echoing in his ears."Hueningkai!" a chorus of voices cried out from the other members. He felt the sharp sting of pain radiating from his ankle, and the world spun around him for a moment."Are you okay?" Soobin rushed to his side, his face a mask of concern. Hueningkai tried to stand up, but the pain shot through him, causing him to grimace and fall back down."I— I don't know," Hueningkai managed to whisper. Yeonjun squatted beside him, his worry palpable. "Just breathe, okay?" Yeonjun said, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Get him some water and ice!"In the chaos, Taehyun and Beomgyu quickly worked to create a makeshift waiting area for Hueningkai, forming a protective barrier around him as the concert continued, music still playing in the background. The sounds felt distant to him now as he tried to focus on keeping his breathing steady."Is it bad?" Hueningkai winced as he attempted to move his foot, but the pain shot up his leg. "Just stay still," Soobin instructed gently, his voice soothing. They helped him to lay back on the ground, his foot elevated on Beomgyu's lap. "I don't want to ruin the concert..." Hueningkai said, his voice barely above a whisper, guilt creeping into his thoughts. "Don't think about that right now," Taehyun said firmly, glancing at the raging crowd. "We'll handle it. Just focus on resting and getting better.""If you're not okay, we can't shine, you know?" Beomgyu added with a small smile, trying to keep Hueningkai's spirits up. After a while, the relentless thudding of his heartbeat calmed slightly. The remaining members finished their performance, their energy never wavering. However, behind the scenes, they were visibly worried. Beomgyu and Taehyun stayed close to Hueningkai, whispering encouragements.Finally, the performance came to an end, and there was a moment of silence as the members huddled around Hueningkai once more. The staff quickly arrived with ice and a medic, and as they began to assess the situation, Hueningkai could feel the warmth of their concern enveloping him like a hug."Please don't let it be broken..." he murmured, blinking back tears that were a mix of pain and worry. The medic examined his foot, pushing against the ankle gently. "You've got a pretty bad sprain, possibly a fracture. I would advise you to rest as much as possible. It'll hurt, but we'll get you some pain management," the medic said, frowning slightly."Okay," Hueningkai nodded silently, the sting of fear creeping into his heart. He didn't want to let his members down or the fans. "They'll understand," Yeonjun said softly, sensing Hueningkai's turmoil. "Your health comes first, and we'll win this battle together—even if it means missing a show or two."The sounds of the crowd still resonated outside, cheers echoing through the halls, reminders of the stage where they had just performed. But the cheers felt distant now, lost to Hueningkai as he processed the reality of the situation. "Can we... can we go back on stage?" he asked, voice weak but determined. "No, Kai," Soobin shook his head gently. "You need to rest. We had a great show, and now, it's your turn to take care of yourself.""But—""But nothing," Beomgyu interjected, his tone firm yet comforting. "Trust us. We'll take care of it out there. You focus on healing."The medic wrapped his ankle with care and secured it with a soft bandage. "Rest as much as you can. You'll need it after this.""I'll be okay..." Hueningkai whispered, fighting back the urge to break down. But deep inside, fears of disappointing his members, the fans, and himself bubbled violently like a boiling pot of water—all of it spilling over as he realized he was stuck on the sidelines."Hey," Taehyun caught his attention. "You're our heart, okay? We need you healthy and happy. That's what matters most."Hueningkai felt the steady beat of support from each of his members, and bit by bit, his anxiety faded—replaced by the strength of their unwavering bond.With a sigh, he nodded slowly, allowing the reality to sink in. "Okay. I'll rest. Just... don't forget me out there.""Never," Soobin promised with a warm smile. The boys stood up and maneuvered back toward the stage, ready to finish the concert without him.With some distance, it was hard to hear the music. Instead, the sounds of his friends echoing in the hallway surrounded him, and he closed his eyes, imagining their performance—his brothers shining bright as he laid tangled up in thoughts of regret and worry.A few moments later, the cheering grew louder as their encore began. The frequencies of laughter, music, and cheers melded into a soft anecdote that set the rhythm of his heart. He had to focus on healing, both physically and emotionally. Heuningkai felt a wave of relief that his members were still there, still cheering each other on, even without him. But somewhere in the back of his mind, a small flicker of dread remained—a fear that the stage might feel incomplete without him. As he laid back against the cool floor, temperatures fluctuating between the concert lights and nervous energy, he breathed in deeply. He would heal. This wasn't the end—merely a pause. After all, Tomorrow X Together meant more than just performances. They were brothers, and this was just one of many moments they would face together. And when he returned, he would shine even brighter than before.
