˗ˏˋ ANXIETY ˎˊ˗

breathe

and it gets harder to breathe,
feel like the walls are closing in.

-

after debut

"excuse me." jeno said as he pushed through the crowd in the dressing room, as he made his way to the waiting room.

he slammed the door shut and as his back supported the door so that it wouldn't open, he managed to take in some oxygen before taking in his inhaler.

when he was done, he fell to the ground, panting heavily as he clutched his chest.

"this is getting harder than i thought.." he managed to say between breaths before the door flew open and revealed a guy standing there, concern obvious in his eyes.

jaemin.

"jeno?" he said as he looked at the said boy lying on the ground, almost unable to breathe, and as jeno faced jaemin, jaemin gasped before closing the door shut and helping him up.

"hey!!" he said as he lightly slapped jeno, desperately trying to wake him up. "wake up!!"

jeno fluttered his eyes open but they were way too weak to see who it was, but by his voice jeno knew way too well that it was none other than jaemin.

"jaemin," he started, managing to take small breaths, "it's hard."

"i know jeno, being an idol is very hard but we didn't train for these years just so that all this could happen." he says as he lifts jeno's chin, making him look jaemin in the eyes.

"you didn't train these years just so you can fall down. i know we are all humans in the end, but we have a purpose too. we need to show that we are eligible enough to complete that purpose."

jeno's eyes widened a little as he spoke. "we?"

jaemin smiled gently. "yes. we."

they both smiled at each other and as they hugged each other, jaemin helped him get up and prepared for their next stage.

"also, jeno."

"yeah?"

"why were you in that condition?"

"it's nothing." and he walked to the stage for his next performance.