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being at music shows was always talia's favorite thing. the bright lights, the pulsating energy, the sense of community that came from performing alongside fellow k-pop idols—it was where she truly felt alive. not only did she get to showcase her talents, but she also reveled in the chance to watch other group perform and, if she was lucky, meet her favorite artists backstage.
today was particularly exhilarating, as it was time for the much-anticipated episode of the show!
the stakes were high today—TXT was up against another incredibly talented group, and the thought of winning sent butterflies fluttering wildly in her stomach. yet, amidst the excitement, talia felt a weight pressing down on her. she had been feeling off since she woke up that morning. a persistent headache throbbed at her temples, and whenever she sat down, she had to cover her eyes to ease the pain.
the anticipation hung thick in the air, and as she stood anxiously with her wrapped around yeonjun's wrist, she stole a glance at his face. he wore a mask of concentration, eyes focused on the stage, but she could sense his awareness of her discomfort. just them, the host's voice cut through the tension.
"and the winners are. . . tomorrow by together!
as the confetti cannons erupted with a loud pop, talia instinctively covered her ears. the noise felt like a bomb going off in her head, making the throbbing worse. a sharp pain pulsed above her ears, and she winced, squeezing yeonjun's wrist tighter.
"thank you, MOA!" soobin's voice rang out, a beacon of joy in the chaos. the rest of the group joined in, cheers erupting, but talia felt like she was in a different world, separated from the euphoria that surrounded her.
as the other idols began to leave the stage, yeonjun slowly maneuvered around her, gently encouraging talia to bow and greet their peers. she nodded mechanically, her gaze distant.
"are you alright?" he leaned over, concern etched in his features.
"this headache is killing me; it just got so much worse. i feel like my head is going to explode," talia admitted, fighting the urge to grimace.
yeonjun nodded, his eyes scanning the crowd and back to talia. "let's get through this encore and then we can figure it all out. do you think you can handle the sound?"
she took a deep breath and nodded, determined to push through the pain. as the opening notes of "run away" filled the arena, talia fought to keep her spirits high. despite the volume, she sang along with her members, forcing a smile for the fans, all the while hiding the struggle that bubbled beneath her facade.
but backstage, the battle became more intense. talia felt dizzy as she approached the steep steps leading down. she paused on the first step, gripping the railing tightly. everything around her began to spin, the bright lights and loud cheers blending into a dizzying blue.
"where is talia?" soobin called out, looking around for their female member, worry creeping into his voice.
the remaining boys exchanged anxious glances. how far had they walked without her? surely she would have told them if she needed to go to the bathroom.
"she's still on the steps!" taehyun pointed over at her. talia's hand gripped the stair railing, her eyes locked on the next step, fighting against the nausea threatening to overwhelm her.
"is she okay?" beomgyu asked, his tone laced with panic as he led the group toward her.
talia barely registered their voices, her focus consumed by the sickness swirling in her stomach. "everything is spinning," she confessed in a whisper.
yeonjun reached for one of her arms, urging kai to grab her other side. "okay, let's take it slow. one step at a time," he encouraged, and they began to help her descend the remaining steps.
"are you alright?" beomgyu asked again.
talia shrugged, trying to mask the truth behind her smile. before she could fully respond, yeonjun interjected, "is the room still spinning?"
"yeah," she replied, feeling her stomach churn. "can i sit down, please?"
just as her legs began to give out, yeonjun and kai tightened their grip, catching her weight. they carefully guided her to a stylist chair, a small refuge amidst the sickness. talia closed her eyes for a moment, willing herself to breathe through the discomfort.
"water!" soobin shouted, quickly returning with a paper cup filled with cold water. talia took it gratefully, sipping slowly as the cool liquid soothed her dry throat.
"when did this start?" soobin asked, concern deepening his gaze.
"this morning," talia replied, placing the cup down and rubbing the side of her head. "i woke up with a throbbing headache, but the cannons out there made it ten times worse."
her members exchanged worried glances, their hearts breaking for her. they hated seeing her in pain, especially after all the hard work they'd put in leading up to this moment.
talia hated being sick. it was the only time people actually had to care for her, and she wasn't fond of that. she liked tending to others, not the other way around. the thought of being the center of their concern made her feel guilty, even though she knew they were just worried about her well-being.
"will she still be able to attend the award show?" beomgyu asked, unable to hide the desperation in his voice.
their manager, who had been watching quietly, shrugged. "if she feels better tomorrow, maybe. but as of right now, it's not looking good. we want her safe and healthy before she gets on another stage."
later that evening, the manager joined talia at the doctor's office. the bright overhead lights felt harsh, intensifying the headache, but she gritted her teeth, determined to get through it. after a thorough examination, the doctor explained what was going on and what she needed to do to regain her health.
it turned out that her symptoms were a combination of stress and exhaustion—something she often ignored.
at the dorms, the boys waited impatiently for the rundown on talia. they were on edge, hearts pounding as they worried about their beloved members. each passing minute felt like an eternity.
their attention snapped to the front door as it swung open. talia walked in, her expression a mix of sadness and exhaustion. the manager followed closely behind, his face serious as he took in the mood of the room.
"go get some rest," he urged her gently, "we will make a plan tomorrow."
as he watched her disappear into her room, the heaviness in the air lingered. they could all sense the weight of disappointment hanging over them. talia had been looking forward to the MMA, talking about it incessantly, and now the thought of her missing broke their hearts.
"she needs to take at least two weeks off," their manager had explained, "and her condition makes attending the MMA impossible. she needs to focus on recovery."
talia's absence would be felt deeply—not just by her members, but by all the fans who adored her. the thought of their performance without her presence felt incomplete, like a missing piece of a puzzle.
beomgyu sighed, running a hand through his hair. "she was so excited. i hate that she has to miss out on this."
"let's make sure she knows we're here for her," yeonjun suggested. "we can help her though this."
"yeah, we'll be her support team," taehyun added, his determination evident.
as they gathered together, they made a silent pact. they would do everything in their power to lift talia's spirits and support her through this challenging time. they were more than just a group; they were a family.
