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talia's heart races as she hit the final pose, breath coming in sharp gasps. every muscle in her body screamed, but she forced herself to stay still, holding the position until the music cut off. she could feel the others collapsing around her, but for her, this was more than just exhaustion.
every rehearsal felt like a battle—one she couldn't afford to lose.
"five-minute break," the choreographer called out, clapping his hands. the members collapsed onto the floor, a collective groan echoing around the room.
talia wiped the sweat from her forehead, stretching her arms behind her back. her limbs ached, but the soreness was a welcome reminder of how far she had come. this was the grind she had chosen, the life she had worked for. it wasn't glamorous, not like the people thought.
behind the flawless stages and polished performances was the constant push to be better—to be perfect.
she found her spot by the wall and leaned against it, letting herself sink down until she was seated. across the room, soobin sat cross-legged, chugging water like his life depended on it. his eyes met hers and he gave her a tired smile.
"you okay?" soobin asked, voice low but caring.
talia nodded, though she knew she looked exhausted. "yeah, just feeling it today."
he scooted over, sitting beside her. soobin was the member who always noticed when something was off, even if she wasn't ready to admit it. as the leader, he carried his own weight too—more than anyone realized—but he was always checking in, always making sure his members were holding up the pressure.
"you've been working yourself too hard lately," he said gently, nudging her shoulder. "we all see it."
talia sighed, resting her head against the cool mirror behind her. "i guess i just don't want to fall behind. everyone else seems to have it all together."
soobin chuckled softly, shaking his head. "you're kidding, right? you're one of the hardest workers here. you don't have to prove anything to anyone." he paused, glancing at her with a knowing look. "besides, we're a team. if one of us falls behind, we all help each other out."
there was something reassuring in the way he said it, but talia still felt that knot of pressure in her chest. she knew her place in TXT wasn't just a spot she could take for granted.
she wasn't like other girls in the industry—she was a towering figure, standing at 5'10", often towering over her peers. she was the female member in a group that wasn't originally supposed to have one, a visual in a world that scrutinized every inch of her body and face.
it was a lot to carry.
"i know," she said softly, fiddling with the hem of her shirt. "i just. . . i guess i put a lot on myself."
soobin didn't push her. he just sat with her, giving her the space to breathe. that was one of the things she loved about him, his patience. he didn't always need words to be there for her.
the other members, however, weren't subtle.
"tk! come over here!" beomgyu's voice rang out from the other side of the room. he was sprawled across the floor, half-upside down, his hair a mess from all the dancing. his mischievous grin was in full force.
talia rolled her eyes but smiled anyway. "boo, i'm tired. you come here."
"nooo, i'm too comfy!" he whined, kicking his legs in the air like a toddler throwing a tantrum.
before she could respond, yeonjun walked over, holding a bottle of water out to her. "here, drink this. you're turning red."
she raised an eyebrow, but took the water. "thanks, dad," she teased, but he just shrugged.
"someone's gotta make sure you stay alive," he shot back, though his eyes softened. "for real though, you're doing great. you always are."
the compliments from her members helped more than she liked to admit. it wasn't just that they supported her, but that they believed in her, even on days when she didn't fully believe in herself. it was like a safety net, reminding her that no matter how high the stakes got, they'd always have her back.
beomgyu, never one to let a moment pass quietly, scrambled over and flopped down next to her, resting his head on her shoulder. "you know," he said, poking her cheek, "you're too hard on yourself. you're like, perfect already. except for when you steal my snacks."
talia laughed, the sound bubbling out of her before she could stop it. "i don't steal them. you leave them unattended."
beomgyu pouted dramatically. "that's what a thief would say."
the playful banter lightened the mood in the room, and soon taehyun and huening kai joined in, their laughter filling the space. these moments, the carefree ones, where they could be themselves, were what talia treasured most.
she was their family, and they were hers.
as the day wore on and their rehearsal continued, the exhaustion became palpable. hours of dancing, refining, and perfecting left them drenched in sweat, muscles aching, and minds worn out. by the time they were dismissed, talia could hardly keep her eyes open.
back at the dorm, she took a long shower, letting the hot water wash away the day. her body felt heavy, but her mind was restless. even after such a tiring day, her thoughts didn't slow down. she had learned, in moments like these, to be gentle with herself.
when she was younger, she might've pushed harder, thinking that rest was a luxury she couldn't afford. now, she knew that taking care of herself was essential, not just for her, but for her members.
she stepped out of the bathroom, hair wrapped in a towel, and found herself drawn to the small collection of keepsakes on her beside table. photos, mementos from her travels, a shell necklace from hawaii—it was a small reminder of the many places she'd called home. each object carried a story, a piece of her that she hadn't lost despite the whirlwind of her life in south korea.
her phone buzzed on the table and she picked it up. it was a text from her best friend, rina.
rina: "hey, miss you! how's everything going? don't forget to take care of yourself, okay?"
talia smiled softly at the screen. rina had been the only constant in her life before TXT, the one who had stood by her when everything else had shifted. she missed her, missed hawaii, missed the sound of the waves and the warmth of the sun on her skin.
but she also knew that this—right here—was where she belonged now.
talia: "miss you too! it's been tough, but i'm hanging in there. let's catch up soon?"
she hit send and sighed, flopping back onto her bed. the weight of the day settled over her like a blanket, pulling her toward sleep. tomorrow would be another day, another challenge, but she was ready.
with a deep breath, she closed her eyes, letting sleep take over. tomorrow could wait. for now, she was at peace.
