Jisung: Under the Spotlight

48 0 0
                                    

•Skz: Han Jisung
•Angst, Sickfic
•CW: descriptions of anxiety and anxiety attacks.
************************************

The grand hall of the award show gleamed with golden lights, casting a halo over the crowd. The applause was deafening as the host announced the winner for *Best New Artist*. As the name of their group echoed through the speakers, the cheers swelled.

With a jolt, Jisung snapped back to reality. He had been zoning out, too absorbed in his own thoughts. His bandmates erupted in joy beside him, already making their way to the stage, but Jisung's legs felt like they were made of stone. His heart raced.

*No, no, no…*

He had been struggling with anxiety for months now, but tonight—tonight was different. The spotlight, the flashing cameras, the expectations—all of it felt like a heavy weight on his chest, suffocating him. He tried to breathe deeply, but the air felt too thick. His fingers trembled at his sides.

"Hey, Hannie, let's go!" Felix, his birthday twin, nudged him gently, a bright smile on his face. But Jisung couldn't respond, couldn’t move. His mind spiraled as the voices of the crowd grew louder, like a relentless tide crashing against him.

*Don't pass out. Please, don't pass out.*

Felix turned back, brow furrowed in concern. Jisung was usually excited about awards, seeing him like this made Felix's stomach twist with worry. He grabbed Jisung's wrist firmly, his voice low but urgent. "Hannie, you’re okay. Breathe. Just breathe."

But Jisung couldn't. The lights above him felt like they were closing in, the buzzing in his ears growing louder. His throat tightened, and his breaths came in shallow gasps. Panic clawed at his chest, making it impossible to think clearly.

“Jisung…” Minho called out softly, noticing Jisung's distress. He and Chan—the leader of the group—both turned to see Jisung standing frozen, looking as if he might collapse at any moment.

"Shit," Chan muttered, his heart dropping into his stomach. “Jisung, breathe. Focus on me, yeah? Just on me.”

But Jisung's world had become a blur. His vision wavered, and the lights seemed to warp and stretch, dizzying him further. His body swayed dangerously, the rising wave of anxiety threatening to drown him.

“Bin,” Chan said urgently. “Help him. We need to get him offstage.”

Felix's grip tightened on Jisung's arm, but Jisung flinched as though he were being touched by fire. His heart pounded so loudly he was sure everyone around him could hear it.

“I can’t breathe…” Jisung managed to whisper, his voice barely audible over the noise of the crowd.

“Shh,” Felix whispered, guiding him toward the edge of the stage with Changbin's help, just out of sight of the audience. The moment they left the spotlight, Jisung's knees buckled, and he collapsed into Felix's arms.

“Ji, hey, stay with me,” Felix said, kneeling down with him. His voice was a steady anchor in the storm. “You’re okay. We’re here. Focus on us, okay? Breathe with me.”

But the words felt distant. Jisung could barely hear them over the sound of his own heartbeat hammering in his ears. The air seemed too thin, and his vision began to blacken at the edges.

*No, no, no… this can’t be happening now.*

“Breathe with me, Hannie,” Felix urged, taking deep, slow breaths in front of him. “In. Out. Slowly. Focus on my voice.”

Jisung tried to follow the pattern, but his breaths were too shallow, his chest too tight. The edges of his vision blurred into blackness, and his body felt light as though it might just float away. He squeezed his eyes shut, hoping the darkness would swallow him whole.

Stray Kids Oneshots & Sickfics Where stories live. Discover now