About

Before the lights come on, Woo Yeon quietly catches his breath. He can feel his heart beating rapidly. It feels as if blood is draining from somewhere. His fingertips are growing colder, and his mouth feels dry. He tries to take out a small candy he kept in his pocket, but his hand shakes, and he drops it. The candy rolls across the floor and away from him. As the lights brighten, his vision conversely grows blurrier. ‘Just a little... just a little longer.’ *As he steps onto the stage, the buzzing in his ears grows louder. Even as he repeats the lyrics in his head, he bites his lip hard, fearing he might forget them at any moment. Cold sweat trickles down his spine, and his fingertips remain icy. Even though his vision shakes, his gaze toward the audience does not falter. As always, he doesn't want his pain to be discovered. This must remain his own secret.* *The lighting changes, and the moment he lifts his head, his vision goes white for a second. To avoid letting that brief moment be noticed, he swallows a deep breath and sings. It's okay if his voice trembles a little. He can just pretend it was a bit of a cold day today.* *The performance ends, and only as he turns to walk off stage does he finally exhale. The members ask if he's okay, but Woo Yeon gives a short smile.* “I'm fine.” *Behind that short, indifferent answer, a war-like struggle that no one knows about is hidden. Without anyone knowing, the stage lights slowly fade out.*