"1....2...3 let's go"
Inside the practice room of Star King Entertainment seven boys were working hard for the upcoming concert in Los Angeles.
"Jun Hyung please don't wear oversized t-shirts while dancing, I can't see your moves in the mirror"
The maknae of the group, Baek Se-hun was tapping his feet impatiently on the ground. As a perfectionist he was cautious about every step.
"Forgive your me baby se-hun, I will remember next time"
Kim seok jun replied without missing the choreography.
"Taemin you are doing it wrong, you have to do it with the left hand" Teacher B-Bang commented.
Seo Hyeon young or B-Bang was the best dancer of the group. He was the most energetic and funniest member of the band until someone misses the step messing up the choreo.
He was very serious about the dance, whenever a member doesn't takes the practice seriously he will turn into the most scariest Man on earth and eat you up until you manage to bring out your best moves.
"oh right, sorry I missed"
Park Taemin being the leader of the band was already working harder than ever but with those constant diets to loose his weight, having only one meal a day was taking a toll on his health.
"1....2.....3...Go"
"Taemin!!! you missed again" Lee sungwoo complained. B-Bang waited patiently "its okay lets do it again"
Everything was going on alright until Taemin made a mistake again. "PARK TAEMIN! where is your mind?"
The oldest member KB was loosing his patience.
"I don't know what's wrong with me. I am really sorry lets do it again"
"No" B-Bang came forward and patted Taemin's shoulder. "cool down, don't go so hard on yourself. Eat something. you are really overworking both your mind and body."
They were worried to see him suffering like that. Recently all the members were discussing about the seriousness of this matter. They knew Taemin will put on a tough front and act like there is nothing to worry about but the members were not blind.
Even after being international stars earning millions of money, they were extremely helpless.
Taemin sat down for a minute, took some deep breaths to clear his mind and then got up "I am ready, lets do it"
KB wasn't convinced after looking at his pale face "are you sure Taemin?" he asked.
"yes"
"okay then, everyone take their positions 1...2.....3 let's go"
Taemin was dancing smoothly when he felt his breath going down as if his lungs were malfunctioning. "it's okay, I can do it" he didn't stop. His chest started to pain, his legs almost numb.
"No. I can't stop this time. I can't make anymore mistakes. I shall not disappoint my brothers." he thought and continued to dance.
His vision turned blur, his mind was unable to focus anymore. Before he could catch up anything he fainted.
All the members were focused on their performance when Park Taemin's body fell on the floor with a loud thud!
"Hyung!!"
"Taemin!!"
everyone rushed to his side only to find him lying unconscious on the floor like a dead man. "Hurry call the doctor" KB shouted.
They took him to the rest room.
Everyone waited patiently while the doctor treated him.
"his body needs supplement." the doctor declared.
"Hypertension, stress, anxiety is constantly tiring his mind and due to the lack of nutrients, his body isn't responding unable to handle the tough schedule. who let him go on a diet like this? it seems he is barely eating anything"
No one answered.
"President Ji min seok" Baek Se-hun cursed within his mind.
"I have put on an IV drip, let him rest until he recovers. don't let him stress over anything at all"
"Thank you doctor. we will take care of him" Choi Youngsik assured the doctor.
All the members were busy with their own thoughts when Taemin slowly opened his eyes. The first thing his brain asked "why am I here?" he waited for a few seconds recollecting his memory. The members gathered around him watching him with a look of both concern and relief like his face was the most important thing in the world. A look of guilt flashed accross his face "I am sorry.I made all of you worried"
Lee sungwoo quickly answered "Taemin I will break your face if you act like a hero again"
"Exactly" Kim seok jun joined in "if you are tired then rest. we can wait or continue without you. No one is forcing you to practice until you're dead. can you start thinking about yourself first? I was terrified by your pale face"
Taemin smiled, a little embarrassed. He leaned on his pillow and closed his eyes relaxing his body. "Give me 15 minutes, we can continue after that"
"This crazy Man!!" B-Bang signed.
"you will not step a foot out of this bed until you finish the IV drip. Afterwards we will take you back to the dorm" Choi Youngsik warned him.
Taemin immediately refused. KB glared at him
"should I break your leg? only then will you listen to us."
"What about the president? I don't want to go for another lecture in his office." Taemin sulked.
"listen" Choi Youngsik spoke in a serious tone "your health is more important than the president's insignificant words. do you want to faint on the stage too? take some rest. you are already perfect with every step. you can rehearse with us in L.A before the concert."
All the members agreed and finally Taemin nodded in approval.
Baek Se-hun was silent all this while. Taemin noticed him and said in a teasing tone "Hey baby why are you silent?"
"Nothing" Se-hun abruptly got up and left the room.
"what's up with him now?" Lee sungwoo was tired of these mood swings between the members.
"who knows" Taemin preferred to ignore the matter.
His mind was too tired to think about anything else. He remembered something and checked his phone but this time his Sunny didn't left him a text. He didn't know her life was already a mess.
***********
"President I want to talk to you"
Baek Se-hun directly entered Ji Min seok's office.
"Don't you know How to knock?"
President Ji sat on his desk buried in a pile of documents. "if it's about your leader then I am well aware of his condition."
Baek se-hun clenched his fist "but you don't care right?"
"what's there to care? he just fainted due to stress, after taking some medicines he will be fine." President Ji said in a plain voice.
"How can you be so selfish" se-hun shouted "would you only care if he dies someday?"
President Ji turned to look at him "don't act like an emotional fool. I have no time to waste on silly arguments with you."
Baek Se-hun smiled "I don't have the time either so let me get to the point. we are aware of your expectations for our future and we are working hard enough but that doesn't gives you any right to starve Taemin hyung, denying him his meals."
Se-hun was shaking with anger. "From today onwards he will have all three meals per day as usual." he declared.
Ji min seok answered firmly "don't act arrogant because I treat you better then the rest."
Baek se-hun smiled again in ridicule "very well President, we all know you treat me better because my father is a major investor of this company."
He turned around and walked away in frustration slamming the office door loudly.
Ji min seok ignored him "all this bromance will disappear once your stardom fades away."